Women Love Video Games, Says ESA Survey

We say DUH. According to survey results released by the ESA, 40 percent of gamers in the United States are women. The survey also found that 65 percent of American households play computer and video games and 38 percent of American homes have a video game console.

Want more? The average game player is 35 years old; one out of four gamers are over age 50; Women age 18 or older represent greater portion of the game-playing population (33 percent) than boys age 17 or younger (18 percent); and, 41 percent of Americans expect to purchase one or more games this year. The survey results are catalyst for companies like Nintendo, Microsoft, and Ubisoft to create more games that cater to this demographic.

The new research also shows how involved parents are in the way their children buy, rent and play games, with 94 percent of parents present when games are purchased or rented; 88 percent “always” or “sometimes” monitoring the games their children play; and 63 percent holding the believe that games are a positive part of their children’s lives.

The survey, “The 2008 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry,” also includes statistics on the top selling titles and genres of 2007, provided by The NPD Group. Based on unit sales, 85 percent of the games sold last year were rated “Everyone (E),” “Everyone 10+ (E10+)” or “Teen (T).” While only 15 percent of the games sold in 2007 were rated “Mature (M).”

Fascinating stuff.