If you’ve been watching the news today then you’ve heard about this study that shows that playing the lowly game of Tetris reduces the incidences of flashbacks in people who are suffering from PTSD [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder].
I posted a video on the 4th about casual gaming reducing stress so this most recent study doesn’t really surprise me.
However, the magnitude to which Tetris seems to help people aflicted with PTSD did surprise me.  The gist of the study is that if you play Tetris right after a traumatic event then then worrying about the placement of the brightly colored blocks …read more

Get Your Gamez, Inc., a local video game renting company in Phoenix, Arizona just announced their partnership with Phoenix Children’s Hospital.  They started a Family Game Night for patients and their families.  The activity was held last Friday, September 12. 

And guess how many of them are casual games?I’d like to share this list that someone emailed me a few days back.  Although the guy who sent me the link didn’t take time (nor words) to introduce himself, I know he’s not a spammer (see comment below) The guy didn’t even took time (nor words) to introduce himself.  I don’t know if he’s not a spammer and he’s or for real but and i 

Financial magazine, Forbes, just featured a list of their favorite casual games. Well, at least those that they believe, didn’t get all the bells and whistles that each deserved.
The article also mentioned the start and the boom of casual games which forked in millions of dollars for developers like PopCap and others. Then suddenly people realized that with a little know-how on programming game logic, one can create a title, hoping they can take a chunk of the pie. That’s why casual titles started mushrooming everywhere.

I must admit, I’m a sucker for these studies about casual gaming. I mean, who would have thought that casual gaming can relieve stress, help kick bad habits, be beneficial for the disabled, improves work productivity, and now this?
According to a site, 4-ADHD.com, playing games like Tetris or Bejeweled can help improve concentration, relieves stress and promotes relaxation in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

First Popcap, now RealGames , the games division of RealNetworks. They’re all commissioning studies about the health benefits of casual gaming. PRNewswire reported that the survey done by Information Solutions Group by the media network came out with positive effects to those burdened with vices.

After the study that developer Pop Cap Games did previously on how casual gaming beats stress, comes another study about the benefits of gaming for the disabled.
According to a survey done in the U.S., one of five players of casual games are disabled, whether it be a mental, physical or development disability. Information Solutions Group, who did the survey for Pop Cap, said that out of 13,296 respondents, 2,728 claims to have some form of disability. That’s more the declared 15.1% disabled according to U.S. Census data.

Now here’s one article that’s right up my alley. *grin*
PopCap recently published a press release showing that banning internet personal use can actually cost around $7.5 billion in business money. Gasp! It also states that casual gaming in the workplace has a positive effect on the work environment.
How do you say?

Believe it or not, East Carolina University revealed the results of a study they did and its health benefits, as sited in AusGamers.com. They used 3 family-friendly, casual titles from PopCap games which can soon be used to address serious mental and physical disorders. Study data can be found here.