Twenty-five years ago on October 18, Nintendo launched its
Nintendo Entertainment System in the United States and—depending
on your point of view—began a video game revolution that has
taken entertainment technology to previously unfathomable
heights. Or it has captivated the attention and interest of
millions of children and adults, in over two decades of software
and console development, prompting Americans to stay indoors and
avoid exercise. Perhaps you see it both ways. On the surface,
video games and nature have very little in common. And there are
plenty of reasons to think this way: Several studies suggest
that spending time outside—which can vary from scaling a
mountain to sitting on a park bench and admiring birds—improves
cognition, attention and eyesight, and even reduces stress. On
the other hand, research has shown that video games can improve
reaction time and decision making and even promote lucid dreams.
But no matter the opinions surrounding video games, current
statistics from the gaming ind