The stereotypical gamer is often thought of as a young male who possibly lives in his parents’ basement. In reality, this isn’t the case. According to research published by the Entertainment Software Association, nearly half of all gamers, or 47%, are female and the average age of gamers in 2012 was 30 years old. Interestingly enough, woman 18 and older represent a significantly greater number of the game-playing population, 30%, than boys aged 17 or younger, who represent 18%. Adult males, however, have been playing games longer than their female counterparts, an average of 16 years compared to 12 years. Smartphones and tablets have shaken up the gaming industry, and mobile games have been successful in appealing to young and old consumers. The average U.S. household owns at least one dedicated game console, PC or smartphone. In fact, the ESA’s survey found that 33% of respondents play games on their mobile devices, with the most popular category being casual games such puzzles, card games and trivia.
[Via G4]
