December 10, 2008

I am switching back this week to discuss some research I did on my hero for The Claw and Fang, My stereotypical online gaming addict Justin. In the story our hero is a gaming addict who has pretty much given up on succeeding in life and is focusing on success in the virtual world. I have stated previously, many if not all of us know someone who spends far too much time online playing video games and suffer some type of consequence either work, school or relationship related because of it . The facts about online gaming were not what I was expecting so I thought I would share them.

This information was posted Wednesday, March 05, 2008 at WIRED's Game|Life, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). This is a few their "Top Ten Industry Facts." I was focusing on the information that pertains to gamers like my hero and was a little surprised by some of the data.

•  Sixty-seven percent of American heads of households play computer and video games.

• Thirty-eight 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 (31%) than boys age 17 or younger (20%).

• Thirty-six 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-nine percent of game players say they play games online one or more hours per week. In addition, 34 percent of heads of households play games on a wireless device, such as a cell phone or PDA, up from 20 percent in 2002.

• The average gamer is 35 years old and has been playing for 13 years.

• Twenty-six percent of game players are over the age of 50, an increase from nine percent in 1999. This figure is sure to rise in coming years with nursing homes and senior centers across the nation now incorporating video games into their activities.

•  Thirty-eight percent of homes in America have a video game console.

• Fifty-six percent of online game players are male and 44 percent are female.

• Thirty-six percent of heads of households report they play games on wireless devices such as a cell phone or PDA, up from 20% in 2002.

I hope you found this enlightening. I think the cliché image of the unemployed 40 year old guy living in the basement of his parent’s house will always exist, but Justin doesn’t and won’t fit that image.

Cheers,
Mike
THE CLAW AND THE FANG