I frequently hear some technologist/educators advocating gaming in education and education in gaming. Then we have the whole Second Life experience which isn't really gaming but more of a virtual life. Perhaps this report from the CDC suggests a more thoughtful approach to these instructional strategy.

The average gamer, far from being a teen, is actually a 35-year-old man who is overweight, aggressive, introverted — and often depressed, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (download PDF). The study also shows that when children and teenagers become game players, a trend toward physical inactivity and corresponding health problems extends — and is exacerbated — into adulthood.

link: Forget Teens: Gamers Are 35, Overweight — And Sad, CDC says | Epicenter | Wired.com