Quick. Tell me the age of the average game player. 12? 15? 17? Nope.
According to a new report from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the average game player age is 37.
Even more surprising is the finding that in 2011, 29% of gamers were over the age of 50. In all, 72% of American households play computer of video games.
Here are some other interesting stats from the 2011 Essential Facts About the Computer & Video Game Industry report released by ESA on the demographics of video game players.
You can read the full executive summary after the jump.
Parents & Games
"Kids play video games for fun with the goal of progressing to the next level and eventually conquering the oppoent, whether that's another player or the computer.
What's more, the social aspect--sharing tactics, experience and explanations--help cemet what they've learned." ~ James Paul Glee, author of What Video Games Have to Teach us About Learning and Literacy
- 91% of the time parents are present at the time games are purchased or rented
- 86% of the time kids receive their parents' permission before purchasing or renting a game
- 9 out of 10 parents pay attention to the content of the games their kids play
- 68% believe game play provides mental stimulation or education
Top Four Reasons Parents Play with Their Kids
- 85% Because they're asked to
- 84% It's fun for the entire family
- 81% It's a good opportunity to socialize with the kids
- 57% It's a good opportunity to monitor game content
Video Games and Parental Controls
- 98% of parents are confident in the ESRB ratings
- 86% of parents are aware of the ESRB rating system
- 75% of parents believe that the parental controls are useful
- 80% of parents place time limits on video game playing
- 74% of parents place limits on Internet usage
Gender & Gamer Demographics
"There are games now for pretty much every age, every demographic." ~ Jesse Schell, professor of entertainment technology at Carnegie Mellon University
- 58% Male 42% Female
- Women age 18 or older represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (37%) than boys age 17 or younger (13%)
- 33% of gamers say that playing computer or video games is their favorite entertainment activity
How Gamers Play
"Gaming is productive. It produces positive emotion, stronger social relationships, a sense of accomplishment, and for players who are a part of a game community, a chance to build a sense of purpose." ~ Jane McGonigal, PhD. author of Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World
- 55% of gamers play games on their phones or handheld device
- 65% of gamers play games with other gamers in person
- 47% play puzzle, board game, triva or card games
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