Mainstream game industry stats & selling serious games

Jude Ower of www.digital2point0.com sent me these stats earlier today. Although they are very US-biased, several of these are particularly relevant to the use of ‘games’ for learning and development and overcoming the perception that ‘games are for kids and dropouts’. The stats originated from within IBM and their work at Sony Computer Entertainment. It was entitled “Top 10 Facts: US Gamers”.

1. US computer and video game software sales grew 6% in 2006 to $7.4 billion – almost tripling industry software sales since 1996.
2. 67% of American heads of households play computer and video games.
3. The average game player is 33 years old and has been playing games for 12 years.
4. The average age of the most frequent game buyer is 38 years old. In 2007, 92% of computer game buyers and 80% of console game buyers were over the age of 18.
5. 85% of all games sold in 2006 were rated “E” for Everyone, “T” for Teen, or “E10+” for Everyone 10+.
6. 86% of game players under the age of 18 report that they get their parents’ permission when renting or buying games, and 91% say their parents are present when they buy games.
7. 36% of American parents say they play computer and video games. Further, 80% of gamer parents say they play video games with their kids. 66% feel that playing games has brought their families closer together.
8. 38% 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%).
9. In 2007, 24% of Americans over the age of 50 played video games, an increase from 9% in 1999.
10. 49% of game players say they play games on-line 1 or more hours per week.