It’s that time of year again. The ESA (Entertainment Software Association) has released their essential facts about the computer and video game industry. While they focus on America, they give some helpful insight into the gaming industry in general. Plus, pretty infographics are easy to digest.

According to the facts, 51% of US households own a dedicated game console (which may or may not be used for Netflix as well) while 42% of Americans play video game regularly, defined by 3 hours or more per week. Additionally, the trend towards women playing more games continues with women aged 18 or older representing 33% of the gaming population. That stereotype of boys aged 18 or younger? They’re only 15% of the gaming population.

As for the spending power, the most frequent game purchaser is 37 years old while 39% of the most frequent gamers play social games. What are the top 3 types of video games that the most frequent gamers play most often? 31% social games, 30% action and 30% puzzle/board game/card game/game shows. I totally blame Hearthstone for that last stat. However, 56% of the most frequent games play with other people; 54% play multiplayer mode at least weekly. That’s a lot of COD.

Those who are playing more than they did three years ago have found that extra time by watching less TV, going to the movies or watching movies at home. Maybe they’re also switching to Twitch based on the rest of this pretty infographic.

At least there’s been progress in parents’ awareness about the ESRB rating system and 91% of parents say that they control what their kids play. A similar 91% of parents are present when games are purchased or rented and require their children to get permission before buying or renting a game. I’m always glad when I hear about parents being responsible. Even better? 63% of parents say video games are a positive part of their child’s life. At last! So nice to hear that parents aren’t moaning about gaming and seeing it as a problem hobby. I suppose they can’t seeing as 59% of them play games with their kids at least weekly.

The total consumer spend on gaming in the US was $22.41 billion in 2014. $15.4 billion was on content with “only” $5.08 billion on hardware. Obviously, it really is all about the games. Those games are continuing the trend towards digital as well; for the first time, 2014 saw more digital sales than physical. Farewell brick and mortar retail.

I’m so glad the ESA does this sort of research. I think we all have preconceived notions of what the average gamer is like, and these always seem to turn everything on its head.

http://www.lazygamer.net/industry-2/the-average-gamer-is-a-35-year-old-13-year-long-gaming-veteran/

I know gender is fluid but... 44% female? That sounds oddly specific and precise.

Hard to believe I'm a decade away from being of average videogame playing age. And still so many people would consider playing videogames as childish.

Perhaps? We don't know that this person isn't some percentage undetermined. Could well be they feel they are 44% female, 30% male,  16% unsure.

I'm more surprised at the 27% of gamers that are +50. I'm going to assume most of those were like in their 20s when Nintendo NES came out.

Wouldn't that require being over one-hundred?

Or for you mean the NES...

Yes anything you don't agree with must be fake.

I would barely class smartphone players as gamers.Easy to say 44% of gamers are female when most of them are playing flappy bird or another latest smartphone fad once a month.I've seen some stats recently from Australia, One of the hardcore PC gaming mags readership was 97% male.Forums like this it'd be 90%+ male easy.

They would have to be 145 years old for this to be possible.

He probably moreso means that if you rate the number of devices which have been used to play something like candy crush it is unlikely that device was purchased with playing said game in mind, ie no one buys a gaming pc/phone because Candy crush is available on it, it just happens to be there as a time waster while waiting for a bus. Something like GTA5 on the other hand is a game which influences buying of gaming specific hardware because it is a reason to own a system it on.

He also didn't claim it to be fake information, just invalid since the 22billion spent wouldn't break down well over all "gaming" if people are including pcs which are used for a facebook game once a month as a gaming purchase or a mobile phone which you bring with you for dropping kids off at the pool being a 600dollar gaming spend.