So much for the idea that games make kids inactive and lazy. According to a recent research study commissioned by UK-based music charity, Youth Music, 19 percent of kids who have played a music-based video game such as Rock Band or Guitar Hero have been inspired to take up a real musical instrument.
Music industry expert, Andrew Missingham, commented: "The music games are popular because they are family friendly and inclusive. And it is this take-up of the games that is credited with the take up of musical instruments, the development of transferable musical skills and even the development of performance confidence.
"This research for the first time shows conclusively that young people are being inspired to make their own music by games that first piqued their interest."
While even some of our own reader comments sometimes suggest things like, "Why not learn a real instrument?" It seems the only viable answer would be, "They are."