U.S. computer and video game software sales grew six percent in 2007 to $9.5 billion — more than tripling industry software sales since 1996.
Sixty-seven percent of American heads of households play computer and video games.
The average game player is 35 years old and has been playing games for 12 years.
The average age of the most frequent game buyer is 40 years old. In 2008, 96 percent of computer game buyers and 86 percent of console game buyers were over the age of 18.
Eighty-five percent of all games sold in 2007 were rated “E” for Everyone, “T” for Teen, or “E10+” for Everyone 10+. For more information on game ratings, please see www.esrb.org.
Eighty-three percent of game players under the age of 18 report that they get their parents’ permission when renting or buying games, and 94 percent say their parents are present when they buy games.
Thirty-five percent of American parents say they play computer and video games. Further, 80 percent of gamer parents say they play video games with their kids. Sixty-six percent feel that playing games has brought their families closer together.
Forty percent of all game players are women. In fact, women over the age of 18 represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (33 percent) than boys age 17 or younger (18 percent).
In 2007, 26 percent of Americans over the age of 50 played video games, an increase from nine percent in 1999.
Forty-nine percent of game players say they play games online one or more hours per week. In addition, 36 percent of heads of households play games on a wireless device, such as a cell phone or PDA, up from 20 percent in 2002.
