According to the Entertainment Software Association, an American association whose purpose is to serve the business and public affairs of companies that manufacture computer and video games, approximately 185 million of Americans play video games (2014 Essential Facts 2). This concerns not only children, but also adults and the elderly. Even though that's more than half the country, many people think those who play video games are lazy, aggressive, and antisocial. Many games are violent and can be highly addictive for some, so it's understandable why people believe this. But even if this is true, there is plenty of evidence showing the good things that video games can do for gamers. Numerous studies have shown that playing video games has positive effects that benefit physical and mental health, improve various skills and boost motivation. Video games improve physical and mental health in different ways. They can encourage physical fitness and have been used in the medical field. An example would be the Nintendo Wii, which is a gaming console that uses motion controls to play games. The motion-sensing system allows players to see their actions on a television screen with near real-time sensory feedback (Wii Video Games par. 12). Wii Sports, a game included with every Wii console, asks players to stand up and perform various movements, such as swinging their arms to imitate tennis or boxing. In a study conducted by the American Stroke Association of twenty stroke survivors around the age of sixty, researchers found significant motor improvement in the speed and extent of recovery using Wii technology (Wii Video Games par. 8). Wii Fit is another game whose main focus is exercise and fitness. Players can do yoga, fitness training, aerobics...... middle of paper...... April 10, 2014.Vedantam, Shankar. “Researchers explore mental health benefits of video games.” Washington Post. The Washington Post, August 18, 2009. Web. April 7, 2014. Wilson, Lee. “Being Wrong: Busting Myths About Video Games.” » Technology and learning September 15, 2007: n. page. Rep. in Violence in the media. Ed. David M. Haugen and Susan Musser. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2009. Opposing Views. Opposing viewpoints in context. Internet. March 13. 2014. .