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Women Comprise 40% of US Gamers, 26% of Whom Are over Age 50 »
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Women Comprise 40% of US Gamers, 26% of Whom Are over Age 50

Some 40% of gamers are women, and the average age of videogame players has risen to 35 - with 26% of gamers now over age 50 - according to a new survey by the videogame industry trade group Entertainment Software Association (via DMW).

“No longer is there a stereotypical gamer. With deeper market penetration and the broadening of our audience base, videogames have incorporated themselves into America’s cultural and social fabric,” said Michael D. Gallagher, CEO of the ESA.

Among the survey’s findings:

• 65% of American households play computer and videogames.
• 38% of American homes have a videogame console.
• Women age 18 or older represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (33%) than boys age 17 or younger (18%).
• 41% of Americans expect to purchase one or more games this year.

The 2008 Essential Facts About the Computer and Videogame Industry also includes statistics on the top selling titles and genres of 2007, provided by NPD Group.

Based on unit sales, 85% of the games sold last year were rated “Everyone (E),” “Everyone 10+ (E10+)” or “Teen (T).” While only 15% of the games sold in 2007 were rated “Mature (M)”:

The new research also shows how involved parents are in the way their children buy, rent and play games:

• 94% of parents are present when games are purchased or rented.
• 88% of parents report always or sometimes monitoring the games their children play.
• 63% of parents believe games are a positive part of their children’s lives.

About the data: The data included in the 2008 Essential Facts About the Computer and Videogame Industry report was gathered in an annual study conducted by Ipsos MediaCT for the ESA. The study gathered data from over 1,200 nationally representative households that have been identified as owning either or both a videogame console or personal computer used to run entertainment software.