Video games are a popular form of entertainment for people of all ages, but who plays them the most? You might think that Generation Z, the cohort born between 1997 and 2012, would be the most avid gamers, since they grew up with digital technology and have access to a wide range of gaming platforms. However, according to a recent survey by Redmond Pie, people in their 30s actually play video games more than Generation Z.
The survey found that 86% of respondents aged 30 to 39 reported playing video games in the past six months, compared to 81% of those aged 18 to 29. Moreover, people in their 30s spent an average of 8 hours and 13 minutes per week on gaming, while those in their late teens and twenties spent only 7 hours and 20 minutes. So what explains this surprising trend?
One possible reason is nostalgia. People in their 30s grew up with classic video games such as Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, Tetris, and Pokemon. These games have a nostalgic appeal for many older gamers who may want to relive their childhood memories or share them with their own children. In fact, some of the most popular video games today are remakes or sequels of old favorites, such as Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Another possible reason is financial stability. People in their 30s tend to have more disposable income than younger generations who may be struggling with student debt or low wages. This means that they can afford to buy more expensive gaming devices such as consoles or PCs, as well as more games and subscriptions. They may also have more leisure time than younger generations who may be busy with school or work.
A third possible reason is diversity. Video games today offer a wider variety of genres, themes, styles, and modes than ever before. There is something for everyone’s taste and preference: from casual puzzle games to hardcore shooters; from realistic simulations to fantasy adventures; from single-player campaigns to multiplayer online battles; from indie titles to blockbuster franchises. People in their 30s may enjoy exploring different types of games and finding new experiences.
In conclusion, while it may be assumed that Generation Z is the most hooked on video games, people in their 30s are actually more likely to be gaming enthusiasts. From nostalgia to financial stability to a wider variety of game offerings, there are many factors that may contribute to this trend.
Microsoft Africa Development Center (ADC) is launching the 3rd season of its sponsored Game of Learners (GOL) student hackathon competition. The GOL initiative aims to improve digital and coding abilities among African university students. The Microsoft student hackathon participants will seek to find solutions that address the effects of climate change on the continent.
This year the 5-week hackathon’s objective is to propose solutions that reduce or reverse gas emissions and footprints, based on the theme Climate Change & Sustainability. Season 3 has a total of 8 teams made up of 5 participants from across East Africa participating. A Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador will lead each team and they will get mentorship and training from Microsoft.
The program’s main objective is to establish a fun, hands-on learning experience for students. It provides a virtual environment where students learn new technologies and build impactful solutions for their community. Overall, the program provides a platform for Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors to hone their leadership skills as Team Captains while leading and building impactful solutions with the learners.
The best project will collaborate with the Green Belt Movement to advance the winning solution. Weekly episodes of the GOL Show will be available online as the teams document their progress. Other winning categories are; people’s choice (project with most votes on DevPost), Best Media Presence (best video content) and Learners (highest team average points on Microsoft Learn).
”Part of our mission in ADC is solving Africa’s problems with Microsoft technology,” said ADC Managing Director Jack Ngare while making the announcement. “Africa is not immune to climate change challenges, and this is one of the issues we’d like to see tackled using Microsoft technology while also upskilling and enabling higher education tech enthusiasts in the region.”
Green Belt Movement’s Paul Thiong’o welcomed this year’s theme on climate change, noting that it’s in line with the organization’s vision to have a values-driven society of people who consciously work for continued improvement of their livelihoods and a greener, cleaner world.
“At the Green Belt Movement, we believe in empowering communities to take action against climate change, whose effects are already being felt across Africa. Our experience shows that when the communities understand the linkage between their actions, environment, and their livelihood situations, they are more likely to muster their energies and act for change. As a result, we are delighted to be a part of this noble initiative, which will see our young people contribute positively to ongoing efforts to address climate change challenges.”
“The GOL engages directly with students regardless of the higher education institution they come from. Born virtual, GOL is a program without borders. All GOL activities are supported by volunteers from Microsoft and partners as coaches, mentors, judges, speakers, and trainers,” Ngare explains, adding: “GOL is formed like a sports league, starting with a season, and followed by off-season clinics and exhibitions.”
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12 teams made up of 60 university students across Kenya and Nigeria are participating in the second season of the Microsoft Africa Development Center, Game of Learners (GOL) virtual hackathon.
Over five weeks, the teams will take on the challenge of solving the education accessibility problems in Africa using technology. They will develop a solution, corresponding code and shippable product that will be judged by Microsoft and partners. Each team is led and captained by a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador.
The students will get access to developer resources and learn new technologies to build their products. Assisted by 40 volunteers from Microsoft who will train, mentor and coach them.
Meet the 12 Microsoft Hackathon Teams
Blooming education in Africa – Team Bloom
Team Crowducate – Crowd for education
Education to all – Team Elimisha
Team Kaizen – Change for better education
Making quality education accessible to Africans – Team Blazers
Team Tulearn –
Empowering every student – Team Eagle
Team Elite – Next stop, mass education
Aim for the peak – Team Peak
Where Africans can all be sabis – Team Sabi
Phoenix –
Team Shauku –
Each member of the winning team will be awarded with one year Azure credits, one year LinkedIn Learning vouchers, digital certificate and digital badge for winning and one on one mentorship from preferred professionals.
Follow the journey of the teams on social media platforms using the hashtag #GameOfLearners.
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Check out other stories making the news in the technology ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East.
Microsoft Kenya announces that over two thousand three hundred Kenyan graduates and interns will receive Microsoft training and certification by the end of this month.
The initiative by the company is aimed at closing the skills gap. As well as prepare the students for the world of work after college.
The program which started in December 2019 has seen 800 Kenyan graduates and interns trained so far. It is expected to see 1500 more students trained on Soft skills and Microsoft technologies by September 2020.
Martin Ndlovu, Head of Skills Development at Microsoft 4Afrika, notes that ensuring workplace readiness for our young graduates is important in Africa.
“What’s even more important in Africa, given the youth bulge and widening skills gap, is ensuring workplace readiness for our young graduates who are finding that their degree doesn’t quite fit the requirements of 4IR and the digital economy.”
Maurice Oduor, a participant in the programme shares, “the initiative has prepared me to venture into the world of cloud. From here, I plan to invest in my career towards cloud computing and maybe be an evangelist in the future.”
Microsoft opens up its student scholarship program globally. Students in Nigeria can now apply for a Microsoft Tuition Scholarship.
The Microsoft scholarship program is an initiative to encourage students to pursue computer science and related STEM disciplines. Microsoft awards this to students who demonstrate passion for technology, academic excellence and leadership. The award was previously opened to university students in United States, Canada or Mexico.
The scholarship page says;
Welcome to the Microsoft Tuition Scholarship application page! Each year Microsoft awards Tuition Scholarships designed to empower the students that study Computer Science and related STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) disciplines. We look forward to reviewing your application.
Note: To be eligible for the scholarship, you must be enrolled full time in a bachelor’s degree program at a four year university at the time you submit the application.
If this is an opportunity you’ve been looking for, click to apply and submit your application.
