Mike Bantick
Monday, 27 October 2008 16:53
Opinion and Analysis
Page 2 of 4
88 percent of Australian households have at least one gaming device installed (this does not include mobile phone of PDA devices). Once again this figure is a huge leap on the 76 percent in 2005 and 79 percent of 2007.
27 percent of households have 2 gaming devices installed, 16 percent have three, whilst 2 percent have a staggering 8 or more gaming devices humming away within their walls.
Of these, the most popular gaming devices are listed as consoles, 43 percent of gaming households contain at least one gaming console. Though PC’s are installed in 90 percent of gaming households, only 39 percent of these are used for games, with the other 18 percent attributed to handheld gaming devices.
Much of the report gives a demographic breakdown of gamers compared to non-gamers. If one thing is glaringly obvious, it is that there is no significant difference in just any pursuit or definition between the groups.
This is especially prevalent in non-media specific leisure activities. When it comes to dining out, going to the pub or cultural event or more extended activities such as camping or surfing, the gaming community cannot be split from the non-gamers.
Where they do differ is in categories such as playing with children or pets (51 percent gamers, 43 percent non-gamers), gardening (33 percent gamers, 45 percent non-gamers), exercise (31 percent gamers, 41 percent non-gamers), sport (25 percent gamers 17 percent non-gamers) and board games/cards (29 percent gamers, 15 percent non-gamers).
In media preferences, the differences between gamers and non-gamers were a little more marked. 87 percent of gamers compared to 80 percent of non-gamers hit the internet regularly whilst gamers were less likely to read newspapers or magazines, listen to the radio or read a book.
Continued on page 3
