Game Player Data
Video games are now a mass medium, widely enjoyed on a variety of platforms by a diverse audience. The ESA's 2012 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry reveals interesting demographic facts about today's gamers and the games they play, including:
- The average gamer is 30 years old and has been playing for 12 years. Sixty-eight percent of gamers are 18 years of age or older.
- Forty-seven percent of all players are women, and women over 18 years of age are one of the industry's fastest growing demographics.
- Today, adult women represent a greater portion of the game-playing population (30 percent) than boys age 17 or younger (18 percent).
- Sixty-two percent of gamers play games with others, either in-person or online. Seventy-eight percent of these gamers play with others at least one hour per week.
- Thirty-three percent of gamers play social games.
- Gamers play on-the-go: 33 percent play games on their smartphones, and 25 percent play on their handheld device.
- Ninety percent of the time parents are present when games are purchased or rented. Ninety-eight percent of parents feel the Entertainment Software Rating Board rating system is helpful in choosing games for their children. Seventy-three percent of parents believe that the parental controls available in all new video game consoles are useful.
- Parents also see several benefits of entertainment software, with 52 percent saying video games are a positive part of their child’s life. Sixty-six percent of parents believe that game play provides mental stimulation or education, 61 percent believe games encourage their family to spend to time together, and 59 percent believe that game play helps their children connect with their friends.
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