Gaming Still Growing, Study Says
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Jun 11, 2009
Sixty-eight percent of American households play computer or video games, according to new research from the Entertainment Software Association released last week. The trade group representing electronic game publishers says the rising number of player households - up 3 percent from last year - shows gaming growing across all demographics. The ESA released the findings as part of its Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry 2009 report during the e3 Expo.
The report includes figures suggesting parents are very involved in their children's gaming: 63 percent of parents who have children younger than 18 with a gaming system in the home say games are a positive part of their children's lives. Those parents are present when games are bought or rented 92 percent of the time, and they say they are "always" or "sometimes" monitoring their children's playing 91 percent of the time.
Other findings include:
- 42 percent of American homes have a video game console; adult gamers have been playing for 12 years on average, a decrease from 2008, indicating more Americans are video gaming for the first time. The average video-gamer is 35 years old.
- 77 percent of parents believe that the parental controls available in all current-generation video game consoles are useful; 45 percent of all games sold are rated 'E' for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.
- 43 percent of online gamers are women.
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