And that includes just about everybody in the age-group, apparently. A recent survey released by the Pew Internet & American Life Project finds 99 percent of teenage boys say they are gamers. About 94 percent of girls say the same.

The happy news is that teens playing video games are not the solitary and dark people we may imagine or fear. In fact, this Yahoo news report on the study, says:

If any kids are reading this, here’s the part that should really win

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Hmmm. How to punish teen vandals without having a crime appear on their “record”? The AP reports that the New Smyrna Beach, Fla., home of Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy was vandalized two weeks ago by teenage girls. They used fire extinguishers, eggs and running water to damage the 87-year-old’s home. Cathy requested the girls not be charged with a crime, but he did want them to learn a lesson. As a result, they were banned from playing video games and watching TV.…

We’re hosting a “Dangerous Camp for Boys” this week, a take-off on the best-selling The Dangerous Book for Boys. For the week, Andy and his a few of his buddies get to do all sorts of dangerous and old-fashioned boy stuff. (They’re off fishing as I write this.) Today I happened to stumble upon this old clip from Esquire (always one of the cleverest mags out there, imho) that instructs on some really dangerous activities for boys. It’s a hoot. The last one, which…

My friend Paul sent me this link about the number of parents who play video games with their kids. I have to admit, I haven’t done this much lately. Until this month. We received a wonderful TV-plug-in miniature golf game from my brother for Christmas, and the whole family has been playing the Pirate’s Cove course like crazy. The graphics are straight out of Atari and the ’80s, and it’s a leisurely pace, but it truly feels like you’re standing on a tiny…

This is interesting data and analysis on how game systems compare, in terms of game ratings. (A common factor in selecting a game system is the number and types of games available.) Wii wins for the highest percentage of E-rated games. And PS3 lives up to the myth that its games are oriented to a more mature audience.

This is a present-day morality story, if there ever was one: The tale of one father’s generosity, a son’s foolishness, his forfeighted treasure, and the treasure recouped 100-fold (by the generous father only). But the moral may well be to be careful what you pay on eBay.

I was recently talking with a friend — a parent of teens — who said she suspected game developers purposely insert violence and questionable content deep enough into a game so that when parents “test” a game through play, they never reach it. While that’s possible, it seems unlikely, given the process used to rate video games. Which totally underscores why I think it’s important to read these ratings carefully — and to trust them.

The Entertainment Software Review Board (ESRB–esrb.org) determines games’ ratings and enforces advertising guidelines.…