Survey says Americans play more games than Europeans
Today's Gamers recently conducted a survey of over 13,000 internet users from the Netherlands, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the United States to see gaming trends across the various nations. According to their findings, a larger percentage of American respondents said they played video games of any kind: 87% of American males said they play games, versus 74% in the UK, 67% in Germany, and 66% in France. Not only are more Americans playing, they're spending much more time with games: the average American male spent 11.5 hours playing each week, versus 6.5 hours in the UK, 5.2 hours in Germany, and 7.1 hours in France. (Female respondents were less likely to game than males, but the ratios remain nearly identical.)
According to the survey, MMO games are vastly more popular in the US than in Europe, with 21% of respondents saying they play games in virtual worlds. In most other surveyed European nations, that rate is halved, at 10 or 11% percent, depending on the country.
While these numbers paint a very optimistic view of gaming as a whole, these results should -- as with all surveys -- be taken with a grain of salt. Considering internet access is a prerequisite for taking the survey, it excludes people most likely not to play video games. Regardless, the full report features a great deal of information ready for you graph-lovers to peruse through.
[Via IndustryGamers]
According to the survey, MMO games are vastly more popular in the US than in Europe, with 21% of respondents saying they play games in virtual worlds. In most other surveyed European nations, that rate is halved, at 10 or 11% percent, depending on the country.
While these numbers paint a very optimistic view of gaming as a whole, these results should -- as with all surveys -- be taken with a grain of salt. Considering internet access is a prerequisite for taking the survey, it excludes people most likely not to play video games. Regardless, the full report features a great deal of information ready for you graph-lovers to peruse through.
[Via IndustryGamers]







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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Markez (attempting to call me less of a man because i knew so much about pans) @ Oct 27th 2009 3:03AM
Sacré bleu!
Markez @ Oct 27th 2009 3:08AM
I'm a bit surprised to see the male/female bars so comparable. I'd be curious to see how other places like Japan, Australia, or perhaps Siberia would show up on this graph.
WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 27th 2009 3:19AM
I notice that, especially in Belgium.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Oct 27th 2009 3:21AM
I've got a 'male bar' for you.
Markez @ Oct 27th 2009 3:25AM
I appreciate the gesture and all, and am slightly comforted by the fact that at least it isn't a 'female bar' that you have for me. Ever so slightly comforted, urm, kinda.
Mogster @ Oct 27th 2009 5:19AM
You gotta remember that this is an internet survery. 3/4 the people that said they're female are probably 12 year old boys.
WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 27th 2009 3:07AM
AMERICA!!! FUCK YEAH.
Azerael @ Oct 27th 2009 4:21AM
Freedom costs a buck o'five.
Jack_Jackington @ Oct 27th 2009 7:40AM
U.S.A.!! U.S.A.!!
Latin_Trident @ Oct 27th 2009 12:04PM
No wonder we are no longer first place in math and science. We're not even first place in StarCraft. The Koreans have been holding on to that title since... Day one
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Oct 27th 2009 3:20AM
Probably because Europe always gets the shaft.
KarlW @ Oct 27th 2009 4:47AM
It doesn't matter: some "industry analyst" will write a piece about how its due to government socioeconomic policies. It's probably a result of the welfare state or free healthcare.
DomoBraden @ Oct 27th 2009 2:25PM
Don't feel bad. We Americans are the greatest couch-sitters in the world, without a doubt. That's all we do -- sit on the couch. The rest of the world simply can't compete with our shear laziness. Don't let that discourage your own couch-sitting, but just know that you have absolutely no chance of knocking us off our throne... which is a couch... or sometimes a toilet.
Whoppy @ Oct 27th 2009 3:32AM
Scandinavia would've saved us. There's bugger all else to do up there :P
Rop @ Oct 27th 2009 3:36AM
Here, down under, in Australia, we socialize more (not through gaming)...
Games are just a distraction to hold us out until the typical weekender comes along.
Anti-Villian @ Oct 27th 2009 7:48AM
Yes, I'm sure we socialize way more then people in other countries because you have traveled across the world and studied the social behaviors of their locals.
Anti-Villian @ Oct 27th 2009 7:49AM
haha I fucked that up. ya get it
Space @ Oct 27th 2009 8:39AM
also the weather is nice all year. and 90% of the population lives on the coast close to the beaches....and extremely low bandwidth caps discourage online gaming.
Vidikron @ Oct 27th 2009 10:41AM
I'd probably rationalize too if my government were banning all the good games.
CheeziePotato @ Oct 27th 2009 3:38AM
USA REPRESENT
GoldN @ Oct 27th 2009 3:38AM
I wonder what type of games this includes. I know it's a pretty shitty stereotype, but 80% of the girls I know do not play console games. Do these games include random internet games and other stuff like that (like Farmville)?
EDIT: After typing my above comment I noticed the asterisk that said the stats were based on people who say they play "computer games." So I guess that could include anything (Farmville, flash games, etc.).
Fullmetal Salchemist @ Oct 27th 2009 3:47AM
Americans play more games than Europeans?! This turns my entire world view on its head. Next you'll be telling me that water is wet and fire is hot. BALDERDASH, I SAY!
Maverick Saturn (Igor) @ Oct 27th 2009 4:12AM
There are more female gaming nerds in America then there are male gaming nerds in the UK :D
Filthy Assistant @ Oct 27th 2009 4:42AM
Too bad they're all ugly. : (
RageOverdose @ Oct 27th 2009 5:01AM
Ugly? Some, but your comment is incorrect.
Although, considering the little disclaimer at the bottom, I doubt many of these females are "gaming nerds."
Maverick Saturn (Igor) @ Oct 27th 2009 5:01AM
You telling me that that high number isn't made up of Megan Foxes? :O
RageOverdose @ Oct 27th 2009 5:04AM
You know, I noticed at the bottom that it states that all of the respondents confirmed that they play "computer games." My mom plays computer games, and would admit it, but she's no gamer. Take it as you will.
Stupidiot @ Oct 27th 2009 5:05AM
Hardly surprising. Not that I can source it, but this is pretty much in line with television viewing figures I've seen.
mlataupe @ Oct 27th 2009 5:13AM
I think that what this survey implies is that probably more people in Europe do other things than gaming : wether it is working, studying, socializing or attending cultural events.
I'm French and from my experience the people I know play very little video game as opposed to going out with friends to bars, restaurants or expos.
The larger concentration of people living in city centers in Europe probably helps having a broader choice of activities outside of gaming.
Also Europeans do tend to spend their vacations away from home while I don't think it's the case for most Americans. Spending more time at home must somehow make you more enclined to play games on computer or home consoles.
Not facts just some hypothesis.
zefur @ Oct 27th 2009 7:30AM
I have to agree with the part about more people in city centres everytime I have been to America I have hated it because I cant get around and be independent cos I'm to far from everything and cant drive (yet) so I'm not too surprised with this
Mogster @ Oct 27th 2009 5:21AM
Arn't the results of this kinda wrong? Surely has a whole, a large % play of Europeans play video games than their American counterparts?
Pegsinho @ Oct 27th 2009 5:49AM
I'm wondering if these surveyors know that "Europe" is made up of more than 5 countries
Spartan [Planeteer | Power of Sunshine & Lollipops] @ Oct 27th 2009 11:57AM
I dislike how the european flags seem to just copy each other and rotate the image 90 degrees. or swap the place of two colours. To this day i still have difficulty telling italy and ireland's flags apart.
JeezWhiz87 @ Oct 27th 2009 5:50AM
I wonder how many survey respondents heard about the survey through gaming blogs. That wouldn't skew the results AT ALL.
koehler83 @ Oct 27th 2009 6:22AM
That's hugely skewed.
J.Goodwin @ Oct 27th 2009 6:32AM
Stands to reason. Less people play games when they're on vacation, and those Europeans..are ALWAYS on vacation.
Between that and the 35 hour workweek, it makes you want to learn German.
Birddrz @ Oct 27th 2009 6:52AM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7598467.stm
Don't put us in with those continentals!
-Z- @ Oct 27th 2009 6:35AM
*looks down at gut* Yeah, statistic seems right.
uncle jesse @ Oct 27th 2009 10:00AM
Haha. I appreciate the honesty.
-Vexx- @ Oct 27th 2009 7:25AM
This is surprising?
Ashkental @ Oct 27th 2009 8:00AM
Obvious Sourvey is Obvious
Danthok @ Oct 27th 2009 8:01AM
Ok so let see ... US population is 304,059,724 as of July 2008. Now lets take the low female numbers of 80% at 8.7 hours/week.
That is 2,116,255,679.04 man hours/ week "wasted" on gaming in America alone. Just think if this time was utilized towards something more important.
Just for the record, I think this study is skewed severely in the choice of people polled. I think the number is much lower percentage wise.
Peter Moore [Planeteer | Power of Fucking Your Mother] @ Oct 27th 2009 8:07AM
You're on a gaming blog.
You have no right to talk about other people wasting time.
Danthok @ Oct 27th 2009 8:37AM
Notice the quotation marks around wasted.
Don't get me wrong I love gaming and I am on the high side of the America numbers with 12 -15 hours per week. Regardless of your stance it is a lot of resources that is allocated elsewhere could get a lot accomplished.
I'm sure the numbers for just TV watching are much higher both percentage and time/week.
Danthok @ Oct 27th 2009 8:38AM
*if
Peter Moore [Planeteer | Power of Fucking Your Mother] @ Oct 27th 2009 8:47AM
Yeah, you put quotations around the word, but you then went on to continue with:
"That is 2,116,255,679.04 man hours/ week "wasted" on gaming in America alone. Just think if this time was utilized towards something more important."
Once again, you are on a gaming blog...
Danthok @ Oct 27th 2009 10:01AM
Thanks for pointing that out .... again.
I love video games, I have played them since I was 5 when NES entered my life and will continue playing them until my hands are crippled with arthritis. That being said I will probably in total spend about 5 years of my life playing a video game.
I do not consider them a waste of time, but also realize that they are only for entertainment purposes.
Mr Numeros @ Oct 27th 2009 12:36PM
Check the fine print: respondents had to be 8 years or older and have internet access. Your numbers assume all of the USA meets these two criteria which is clearly wrong.
Lurkero @ Oct 27th 2009 8:34AM
There is no way 80% of US girls play games unless its Sims or Facebook type games for time wasters. I'd like to see this survey broken down even more
Jimbo @ Oct 27th 2009 8:42AM
Of course. Video games are still an incredible social taboo over here. Can't possibly admit in public to enjoying them lest one be labeled some kind of retarded manchild by equally ashamed people.