UP FRONT | HOBBIES
CONSOLING CONSOLES Video gamers find comfort in online communities during pandemic
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ideo games have always been a source of solace in tough times for Rosemary Kelley, and as states continue to encourage and enforce physical distancing, she has increased her streaming frequency from two to three times a week to nearly every day. “Now, I’m spending a lot more time just play-
34 HOME | 2021
ing games for fun,” says Kelley, an esportscaster and host for games like Pokémon and Overwatch. “It’s been an outlet for me to be creative but also to keep my mind working.” In the U.S., the average gamer plays for six hours and 46 minutes each week, slightly more than the global average of six hours and 20 minutes each week, according to The State >
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BY JAZMIN GOODWIN AND MIKE SNIDER
