About

Future Gamer is a model of what researchers at OnlineCasino.ca believe "avid" video game players will look like in 2040. Named Michael, the character shows signs of various health and physical conditions associated with "video game addiction."

Origin

In April 2020, the website OnlineCasino.ca^[1] published a study entitled "Meet Michael, The Future Gamer." The article includes a rendering on what the future gamer would look modern-day "avid gamers" do not change their "lifestyle habits" (shown below, left). They write:

From sleep deprivation and dehydration, to lack of vitamin D, digital eye strain and 'playstation thumb' – these are just some of the physical implications of spending hours online, in a gaming chair, away from sunlight and physical activity.

They included a chart pointing to the various health conditions associated with extensive game playing, including vitamin deficiency, "Nintendo arthritis," blisters, bloodshot eyes, an "indent in skull from pressure and over-use of headphones" and more (shown below, right).

Spread

Various media outlets covered the story, including GameRant,^[2] Mirror,^[3] Daily Mail^[4] and more.

Some have responded to the study with skepticism. For example, Twitter ^[5] user @batsdinerbonds sarcastically replied to the article with "Sounds legit 'Researchers from http://OnlineCasino.ca'" (shown below).

The model also spurred conversation on 4chan. One anonymous user wrote, ">Terrifying model shows what avid gamers could look like in just 20 years / Is this accurate?" on the /v/^[6] board (shown below, left). Another anonymous user on /pol/^[7] wrote, "Is it time to ban video games for public health and safety reasons" (shown below, right).

Search Interest

External References