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Study says 40% of U.S, gamers are women

Doesn't say what it is they play though...

A new survey in America called The 2008 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry has revealed that women make up 40 percent of U.S. gamers. Conducted for the video game industry trade group, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) the survey is home to some really rather interesting findings.

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Key statistics for you to munch on include

65 percent of American households play computer and video games;

38 percent of American homes have a video game console;

The average game player is 35 years old;

One out of four gamers is over age 50;

Women age 18 or older represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (33 percent) than boys age 17 or younger (18 percent);

41 percent of Americans expect to purchase one or more games this year;

94 percent of parents are present when games are purchased or rented;

88 percent of parents report always or sometimes monitoring the games their children play;

63 percent of parents believe games are a positive part of their children's lives.

Speaking about the findings Michael D. Gallagher, CEO of the ESA said "This new data underscores the fundamental principle that computer and video games are a mainstream entertainment form, which captures the imagination of every segment of our society,"

"No longer is there a stereotypical gamer. With deeper market penetration and the broadening of our audience base, video games have incorporated themselves into America's cultural and social fabric."

1. There's one indisputable fact here: "Women age 18 or older represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (33 percent) than boys age 17 or younger (18 percent)", i.e. little girls don't play video games - no, really?? While I agree that the percentage of female gamers is approaching 40%, this is due almost entirely to MMOs and The Sims. Try to find one female who plays Crysis that isn't a either lesbian or a member of the gaming press. Slightly less than half of parents monitor their kids time on consoles or PC, but of course their not going to ADMIT it. So there's "no longer a stereotypical gamer" but "one out of four gamers is over age 50". Have you SEEN who's buying stuff in Gamespot (or getting games off Bittorrent)? College kids, and virtually nobody else. If the average age of today's gamer is 35, that would mean that nobody under 18 is playing games! And of course, they managed to get "penetration" and "broad" into the same sentence, which is pretty amazing.

   What a giant steaming load.

   Psycros Friday, 18 July 2008, 04:48:17