Spectrum

The days of video or computer games being just for the entertainment of a small segment of our population are over. The gaming industry is exploding and developing beyond the confines of simple games into applications for healthcare, rehabilitation, education and even finance. The business of gaming is worth over a $100 billion globally per year. Games bring in more money that music and movies combined, says Chris Volpe, entrepreneur and CEO of Multivarious Games headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Volpe is also the co-founder of the Ohio Game Developer Association, a group designed to bring more gaming business to the heartland. Volpe says that the Midwest is perfect for start-up game development companies. As more and more people become internet connected at younger ages, Volpe says that developers need to take advantage of this “opportunity for growth.” Volpe notes that the average age of a gamer is 36 and a game purchaser is 40 years old. He also says that 42 percent of gamers are female. It is no longer