The Entertainment Software Association releasing the results of its annual gamer demographic study is an important E3 tradition. With the entire industry gathered in Los Angeles, The ESA's "2011 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry" revealed the following somewhat surprising facts:
- The average gamer is 37 years old, and has been playing games for 12 years. (Wow! I don't feel like such a grandpa now!)
- The average game buyer is 41 years old.
- In 2011, 29 percent of Americans over the age of 50 play video games, an increase from nine percent in 1999.
- 72 percent of American households play video games. (100 percent of my household plays games.)
- 42 percent of gamers are women.
- Adult women represent a greater portion of the game-playing population (37 percent) than boys age 17 or younger (13 percent).
- Seventy-six percent of all games sold in 2010 were rated "E" for Everyone, "T" for Teen, or "E10+" for Everyone 10+.
- In total, the video game industry generated around $5.9 billion in revenue in 2010.
- Forty-five percent of parents reported playing video games with their children on a weekly basis,
- nine out of ten parents saying they pay attention to the content of the games their children play
- 68 percent of parents believe that games provide mental stimulation or education value
- 57 percent believe games encourage their family to spend time together.
- 54 percent believe that games helps their children connect with friends.
- 65 percent of gamers play games with other gamers in person.
- 55 percent of gamers play games on their phones or handheld devices
- 86 percent know of the ESRB and 98 percent are confident in its accuracy and recommendations.
- Consumers spent $25.1 billion on game content, hardware and accessories in 2010.
Now that we have all this demographic data, I'm sure the tired stereotype of gamer as acne-pocked adolescent will end... actually, I'm sure it won't. Stereotypes die pretty hard, but still, eventually, gamers will be taken seriously and understood as the large demographic force they actually represent.
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Edwardo555
hmmm...well...I'm 44 yo grandpa and I consider myself a "gamer". I primarily game on a console(PS3). My favorite games that have came out over the last couple years include MW2, BFBC2, Demon's souls, Dark Souls. I have played lots of others, but these have been my core games. Not only do I game, but I would consider myself an above average gamer, in that with the FPS games, I almost always finish in the top scores. My latest feats with Dark souls include beating the entire game in 4.5 hours and also beating the game without leveling up(staying at lvl 10), just to give myself a challenge. I win more than I lose in Dark souls PVP. I'm not trying to brag. I am just trying to give a few specific details to describe what I consider a "gamer". I spend a lot of my time gaming. I'm embarrassed to admit how many hundreds of hours lol.
FYI - I have no idea if I am an average 44 yo, but my core group of console gamer friends are in their 30s and 40s.
VickiM
You guys are so picky. I'm 55, female, and play both console and PC games including RPGs and FPS from Dragon Age to Dead Space 2. I'm psyched for Deus Ex, Rage and Skyrim. I look forward to spending my baby boomer dollars on my grandkids.
lowkevmic
The average gamer age is 37?? 29% of Americans over 50 play video games?? 41 is the aver age for buyers of games??
This survey has to be including data from Computer games, online social networking games, and cell phone games. Because I'm really having a hard time thinking all this data is coming from straight console gameing alone.
bolo73
I also wonder what types of games each group is playing. That would help breakdown which genre of games. I beleive there are more female players, and older player but playing what type of games? I am right there in the 37 year average and I have way more then 12 years of playing.
Offbeatalchemy
They dont clarify what a "gamer" exactly is. Technically speaking, a gamer is someone who plays games. That includes Angry Birds, Farmville, and other iOS and facebook games that many adults, men and women, play. They don't really specify console, daily playing length, and other stuff. A large chunk of that are causal gamers. All this servey says to me is that there's more causal gamers than there were 10 years ago. It's a good thing, but a middle aged mom playing tetris on her iphone isnt what we consider a "gamer". This servey could have been done better.
tha_destroyer_86
really 37yrs old well i cant hate on them ill be doing the same thing when i hit that age but i got 12 years before i get their .
rifleshoot
i'm a little curious about the average age being 37, i've not seen too many 37 year olds play games. and anyway, how do they even collect this data? this is obviously only representative of a single region and not of the country as a whole.
Aaron82
In total, the video game industry generated around $5.9 billion in revenue in 2010.
Consumers spent $25.1 billion on game content, hardware and accessories in 2010.
DOES NOT COMPUTE
Are you talking about 5.9 profit? Cause that's different from revenue.
FullerAbyss
"42%" are women,this is obviously one of those "surveys" were if you played solitaire or chess on a computer at least ONE time you're a gamer"
nowhatsgud
It's unfortunate that the 13% of 17 and under sometimes have to ruin the online gaming experience.
Sam00
"42 percent of gamers are women and that women."
What does that mean?
Displaying 1–11 of 11