New game industry facts, straight from the ESA

by Kyle Orland { Jul 16th 2008 at 8:30PM }

Today's "State of the Industry" E3 keynote by ESA CEO Mike Gallagher also marked the release of the organization's new annual set of "Essential Facts" about the game industry. Among the interesting findings from the ESA-commissioned survey of the American public:

65 percent of American households play computer and video games;
38 percent of American homes have a video game console;
The average game player is 35 years old;
One out of four gamers are over age 50;
Women age 18 or older represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (33 percent) than boys age 17 or younger (18 percent);
41 percent of Americans expect to purchase one or more games this year;
94 percent of parents are present when games are purchased or rented;
88 percent of parents report always or sometimes monitoring the games their children play;
63 percent of parents believe games are a positive part of their children's lives.

Tags: e3-2008, entertainment software association, EntertainmentSoftwareAssociation, ESA, statistics, stats

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

theturtle363 @ Jul 16th 2008 8:33PM

That one about women is quite surprising.

ButtonMashers.tv @ Jul 16th 2008 8:33PM

This is great news, fuck you Jack Thompson.

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Jul 16th 2008 8:36PM

And Glenn Beck.

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Jul 16th 2008 8:37PM

Oh, yeah, and FOX. Definitely FOX.

John Z @ Jul 16th 2008 8:36PM

These numbers give me a warm fuzzy feeling. I like these numbers. These are good numbers.

mr mobius @ Jul 16th 2008 8:37PM

So a large amount of Joystiq is in the gaming minority.

Interesting statistics, especially to see how things have developed from the spotty teenager in his basement of the NES days.

Kenofthedead @ Jul 16th 2008 8:45PM

I'm rather impressed, I didn't think most of those would have such high numbers for the States.

Good for them.

Dovi @ Jul 16th 2008 8:49PM

I was wondering what percentage of U.S. gamers game naked nut NOOO.

Korova of the highlands @ Jul 16th 2008 8:51PM

Even more disturbing would be the number of Joystiq readers reading Joystiq naked ... right now, at the same time as you!

Korova of the highlands @ Jul 16th 2008 8:49PM

I always wonder whether how these facts are extrapolated?

They dont actually know who plays games. They only know who buys stuff and maybe who registers for stuff. In this day and age of internet, that would be usually parents attempting to control their kids from internet social exposure by controlling all registrations.

This may skew the numbers toward payors rather than players. That goes for the women and ave. age numbers.

As for 63% of parents think GAMES are positive for their children!!!!! What about the other 37%? Do they chain their children to a book on the left and the loan mower on the right and prohibit them from playing Games at all! F'n nazi's!

Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jul 16th 2008 9:18PM

"As for 63% of parents think GAMES are positive for their children!!!!! What about the other 37%? Do they chain their children to a book on the left and the loan mower on the right and prohibit them from playing Games at all! F'n nazi's!"

Unfortunately, thats what my Indian parents and elders think. I'm 21 and I'm always chastised for playing my PSP, playing videogames, always making me feel like I am way too old for videogames now and yet the average age for a gamer is 35. I will game until I die!