Parents playing videogames

More than a third of us, in fact. "Thirty-five percent, or about one in three parents, say they play, too, and 80% of that segment play videogames with their children," reports the Associated Press, citing a just-released survey commissioned by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the videogame industry trade group. Among other findings: The average 'gamer parent' is 37 and spends 19 hours a month playing videogames, roughly half that with his/her kids; almost half of gamer parents are women; two-thirds feel that playing videogames has brought their families closer together; 27% began playing videogames around the time their kids started. The AP adds that the ESA, "which is challenging various state laws banning the sales of violent video games to minors, noted that about two of every three parents surveyed agreed it is not the role of the government to protect kids from violent games." [Readers, do you agree with the parents in that last finding? Email me anytime via anne@netfamilynews.org.] Videogame violence was a fairly big topic in tech news last week, though in the sense of a number of smaller stories strung together. A commentary at Blogcritics.org rounds 'em up.