It’s that time of year again. The ESA (Entertainment Software Association) has released their essential facts about the computer and video game industry. While they focus on America, they give some helpful insight into the gaming industry in general. Plus, pretty infographics are easy to digest.
According to the facts, 51% of US households own a dedicated game console (which may or may not be used for Netflix as well) while 42% of Americans play video game regularly, defined by 3 hours or more per week. Additionally, the trend towards women playing more games continues with women aged 18 or older representing 33% of the gaming population. That stereotype of boys aged 18 or younger? They’re only 15% of the gaming population.
As for the spending power, the most frequent game purchaser is 37 years old while 39% of the most frequent gamers play social games. What are the top 3 types of video games that the most frequent gamers play most often? 31% social games, 30% action and 30% puzzle/board game/card game/game shows. I totally blame Hearthstone for that last stat. However, 56% of the most frequent games play with other people; 54% play multiplayer mode at least weekly. That’s a lot of COD.
Those who are playing more than they did three years ago have found that extra time by watching less TV, going to the movies or watching movies at home. Maybe they’re also switching to Twitch based on the rest of this pretty infographic.
At least there’s been progress in parents’ awareness about the ESRB rating system and 91% of parents say that they control what their kids play. A similar 91% of parents are present when games are purchased or rented and require their children to get permission before buying or renting a game. I’m always glad when I hear about parents being responsible. Even better? 63% of parents say video games are a positive part of their child’s life. At last! So nice to hear that parents aren’t moaning about gaming and seeing it as a problem hobby. I suppose they can’t seeing as 59% of them play games with their kids at least weekly.
The total consumer spend on gaming in the US was $22.41 billion in 2014. $15.4 billion was on content with “only” $5.08 billion on hardware. Obviously, it really is all about the games. Those games are continuing the trend towards digital as well; for the first time, 2014 saw more digital sales than physical. Farewell brick and mortar retail.
I’m so glad the ESA does this sort of research. I think we all have preconceived notions of what the average gamer is like, and these always seem to turn everything on its head.
Last Updated: April 15, 2015
fleshtwister
April 15, 2015 at 15:04
44% Female..
I guess I need to move to America..
Pieter Kruger
April 15, 2015 at 15:07
It used to be more but then Zoe got kicked out of ‘Merica…..????????????
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:12
* ‘Murica
BagofHammers
April 15, 2015 at 16:04
Damn imaginary patriarchy.
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:13
Twitch attracts 100 million visitors per month…..
Greylingad
April 15, 2015 at 15:14
I’m still letting that figure sink in…
RinceThis
April 15, 2015 at 15:22
I don’t believe it! *twitches
LivingBane
April 15, 2015 at 15:55
It doesn’t say unique visits like it does for it comparison.
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 16:08
Yeah but still, even 10 million would be a lot
Gr8_Balls_o_KFM_Fire
April 15, 2015 at 17:32
What on earth is a twitch?
Hammersteyn
April 16, 2015 at 07:38
Must be an Apple store of some sort.
Gr8_Balls_o_KFM_Fire
April 15, 2015 at 17:32
What on earth is a twitch?
Greylingad
April 15, 2015 at 15:13
Interesting stats, especially with the parents giving positive feedback about kids playing games, just goes to show that a minority of people can leave such an impression. I’d definitely have my kids play games!
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 15, 2015 at 15:15
Only 13 years? Filthy casuals.
Greylingad
April 15, 2015 at 15:16
Hahahaha!!! So you’re in agreement? you need at least 60 years worth of experience to be an intermediate gamer?
Loftus
April 15, 2015 at 15:19
How do you kill that which has no life?
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:21
LOL was thinking the same thing
RinceThis
April 15, 2015 at 15:23
I know, that’s not even as long as the ‘Final’ in the Final Fantasy series has been promising us…
Umar
April 15, 2015 at 15:20
Playing games since I was 4. 21 years of gaming….I guess I like games a little bit.
Dutch Matrix
April 15, 2015 at 15:24
30 years myself. Gods I am old!
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:30
Jis jy moet omtrent vir my oom sê
Greylingad
April 15, 2015 at 15:32
Hah!? Kannie hoor nie man!
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:34
Askiesie seuna? Wat mompel jy daar?
Greylingad
April 15, 2015 at 15:35
My oor ook jong!! Miskien is daar pannekoek by die ouetehuis!
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:39
Wag lat ek net my battery vir my oor change
Greylingad
April 15, 2015 at 15:40
Haai nee sies man!
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:41
Vee net die oor was af.
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:41
Lekker op toast daai
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:43
Dit kort van daai hare wat die voetspore dood vee
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:44
Janee, flos en vreet dieselfde tyd
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:45
BWAHAHAHA!
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:30
I’m older………..
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:31
Jou holhare vee al jou voetspore dood
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:32
Hahahahaha wait, you saw that?
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:34
All the way from Google Earth!
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:28
Too bad they don’t list the average maturity age. I think it should be around 12?
Dutch Matrix
April 15, 2015 at 15:28
Ag your Momma is 12 years old!
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:30
Oh yeah! Well I’m 12 inches deep in yours!
Oh my, sorry, been playing to much COD
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:31
Yoh yoh yoh
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:31
You see my point?
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:31
I’m trying to, just don’t have a magnifying glass handy
Jonah Cash
April 15, 2015 at 15:32
Hammer just lined himself up for a headshot with that statement!!
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:35
Bwahahahaha
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:38
I love lining myself up
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:38
And I love taking headshots
Dutch Matrix
April 15, 2015 at 15:35
Are you that desperate to see Hammer’s nail?
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:36
Just stating the obvious here, he was asking a question after all
Dutch Matrix
April 15, 2015 at 15:32
Clearly my mother did not! 😛
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:32
Sorry bud, did not know.
Dutch Matrix
April 15, 2015 at 15:35
No man. It’s cool. We all crack jokes. Only mostly mine is immature and oh look BEWBS!!!
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:37
XD
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:39
LOLWHERE?
Dutch Matrix
April 15, 2015 at 15:49
Here!
And remember you asked for this…
http://visionnoventa.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/stacey-poole-1-pinterestcom.jpg
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 16:04
Hoekom laaik jy haar so baie?
Dutch Matrix
April 15, 2015 at 16:14
Man, dis moeilik om te verduidelik. Ek kyk na haar, my oë en brein vertel my sy is baie nice om na te kyk en dis dit.
Dutch Matrix
April 15, 2015 at 16:14
Man, dis moeilik om te verduidelik. Ek kyk na haar, my oë en brein vertel my sy is baie nice om na te kyk en dis dit.
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 16:54
Stacey Pole……I mean Poole
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 17:00
Haar gesig se form is baie uniek en haar bates laat my bates reis.
Sageville
April 15, 2015 at 16:50
Shes pretty
Léo Hung
April 15, 2015 at 17:29
That’s the AVERAGE female player. Online. 😛
Dutch Matrix
April 15, 2015 at 15:31
Oh yeah? So necrophillia is your thing?! Thought as much you mentally deficient piece of cow poop!
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:31
XD
Brady miaau
April 15, 2015 at 16:08
ouch!
RinceThis
April 15, 2015 at 15:31
EISH!
Jonah Cash
April 15, 2015 at 15:31
Well I am below average in the age department but way ahead of the 13 year long gaming veteran stat… Winning!!
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:31
LOL same here
Her Highness the Hipster
April 15, 2015 at 15:34
me too!
Drake
April 15, 2015 at 15:54
Ditto Ditto
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:37
Everyone here is I think.
Jonah Cash
April 15, 2015 at 15:38
What older than 35 or playing longer than 13 years?
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:38
Playing 28 years myself
RinceThis
April 15, 2015 at 15:39
You mean 28 years with yourself? *RUNS
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:39
LOL headshot #2
Dutch Matrix
April 15, 2015 at 15:40
Yowch!
RinceThis
April 15, 2015 at 15:41
I’m here all week folks!
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:40
No that would be 22 years, had to reach some form of puberty first.
RinceThis
April 15, 2015 at 15:46
XD
Dutch Matrix
April 15, 2015 at 15:43
Frequently heard in Hammersteyns childhood home: “Hammer, come out of the toiliet and stop turning yourself into a sex symbol!”
Jonah Cash
April 15, 2015 at 15:41
I have for years tried to get the name of the console I first played on and stumbled upon it this morning on twitter… So I am definitely over 20 years into my gaming habit, uhmmmm I mean hobby!
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:41
Which one was that?
Jonah Cash
April 15, 2015 at 15:41
Refresh for pic….
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:42
Too lazy 😛
Jonah Cash
April 15, 2015 at 15:43
Mattel’s Intellivision…
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:45
Was kidding XD I started on the Atari 2600 but it was long before the NES arrived.
Brady miaau
April 15, 2015 at 16:07
Let me guess, you are 29 now, right? 🙂
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 16:08
Hahahaha
caponeil
April 15, 2015 at 15:55
I am above both…not sure if it is winning or just sigh!!!!….sigh…..
coip
April 15, 2015 at 15:35
“The average gamer is a 35 year old [sic], 13-year-long gaming veteran”.
It’s amazing that in the very same sentence, separated by only a comma, the author completely butchered and then completely nailed the hyphenation rules of compound adjectives.
It should be “…a 35-year-old, 13-year-long gaming veteran”.
Jonah Cash
April 15, 2015 at 15:37
I had to read your comment twice to understand and see the difference…. Ooo Afrikaans is really not good for my English…
Sageville
April 15, 2015 at 16:49
TA:DR (Too Anal: Didn’t Read)
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 16:59
Yeah, how dare they butcher grammar like that. You should do something about it, like post another comment.
Léo Hung
April 15, 2015 at 17:30
But in proper English! 😛
Hammersteyn
April 16, 2015 at 07:38
XD
Léo Hung
April 15, 2015 at 17:30
But in proper English! 😛
coip
April 15, 2015 at 19:56
An obnoxious moderator. How fitting. I guess it’s too much to ask for a site to have moderators that care more about journalistic integrity than contentious sarcasm.
Hammersteyn
April 16, 2015 at 07:43
Journalistic
integrity means not plagarizing, checking sources and facts to ensure
they’re accurate, assuring there is a good solid basis for the story, btw. welcome to Lagz. We poke a lot of fun here. Didn’t mean to sound sarcastic. Also I moderate comments only.
Dutch Matrix
April 16, 2015 at 08:09
MODERATE THIS, YOU OCD UPVOTING SWINE!!!
Hammersteyn
April 16, 2015 at 08:42
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/jcn.gif
Dutch Matrix
April 16, 2015 at 08:52
WUSS!!!!
Brady miaau
April 16, 2015 at 09:16
Yeah, there is a bit of a core of regular posters that tend to use sarcasm a lot.
Also, I try not to pay too much attention to grammar and spelling in articles. I do think they, as a site, need to pay more attention to that.
coip
April 16, 2015 at 14:02
I mean, it was the title of the article. The title. Is it really too much to ask for them to get the title right? The state of Internet journalism is frightening.
Ryanza
April 15, 2015 at 15:38
Yes we the 30 year old’s are the ones who grew up with gaming and supports gaming now. Problem is the gaming industry still heavily markets towards the kids. The 30 to 40 year old bracket is where money is at but the gaming industry is not making games for them. They market games to these kids who pirate. The gaming industry needs to change.
The Witcher 3 is coming. A game for adults from a company who trusts the people who buys their games. In other words, NO DRM.
Don’t Support DRM. The Witcher 3 is coming. A perfect game for the average gamer.
RinceThis
April 15, 2015 at 15:53
I’m not an average gamer. I’m an AWESOME gamer!
Blood Emperor Trevor
April 15, 2015 at 16:01
Very special indeed!
RinceThis
April 15, 2015 at 16:06
Hang on… 0_O
Brady miaau
April 15, 2015 at 16:07
I am older than average? Bollocks to that!
I demand a redefining of average. And gamer.
ReaperOfSquirrels
April 15, 2015 at 15:40
Give or take 25 years of gaming experience… and I’m not 35.
Eric
April 15, 2015 at 15:41
67 Million AMERICANS play League of Legends a month… out of 317 Million population.
Something seems wrong there.
Hammersteyn
April 15, 2015 at 15:44
I bet the other 250 million plays Dota
Admiral Chief asked for this
April 15, 2015 at 15:45
XDXD
Brady miaau
April 15, 2015 at 16:05
Not all the figures are America centric. For example, the 960 million people who play mobile games cannot all be from the US.
BUT it is stupidly confusing, some figures America Centric and others not.
Ryanza
April 15, 2015 at 15:50
Doom on a floppy disk lol.
Ryanza
April 15, 2015 at 15:52
http://regmedia.co.uk/2012/02/13/lsl_4.jpg
Klipkop1980
April 15, 2015 at 16:07
Mostly single?
Kromas is drunk with power!
April 15, 2015 at 16:10
Missed it by a year. 😛
nick
April 15, 2015 at 16:17
the average gamer is between 18 and 35. quite a large bracket there. my wife and daughter spend time playing games every day, one on her tablet the other on her ds3. I would predict the sterotype of 15yo COD player is probably true. Pull these stats for specific games and I’ll bet you find large differences.
Léo Hung
April 15, 2015 at 17:28
That’s me: 35, male, playing since I was 9 on my Atari!
Damn nerd! 😛
Glad I got married and broke out of the saddest statistic share (35, single, fat fuck living in parents basement) 🙂
Léo Hung
April 15, 2015 at 17:28
That’s me: 35, male, playing since I was 9 on my Atari!
Damn nerd! 😛
Glad I got married and broke out of the saddest statistic share (35, single, fat fuck living in parents basement) 🙂
Z. Maya II
April 15, 2015 at 19:10
38 here. Gaming since ’84 or ’85.
fred
April 15, 2015 at 19:56
I’m above average … as usual.
Peet Luckhoff
April 16, 2015 at 10:19
Almost…I’m 35, but have been gaming for about 23 years
Torsten Fink
April 16, 2015 at 10:28
10 years above average