Video games penetrate psyche of over a third of US adults

Mike Bantick
Wednesday, 14 March 2007 08:53

Your IT - Entertainment

A Nielsen/NetRatings report shows that the demographic of the average “gamer” is growing up.

The report shows that 36.5 percent of U.S. adults own a game console with 15.9 percent owning a hand held portable console of some kind. 

A stereotype shattering 71 percent of these adults have managed to snare a spouse and two thirds have at least one child.

As game consoles have become increasingly sophisticated, families have incorporated them into their centralized home media centers, which include the television, digital recording device, digital music player, and the PC,” said Carolyn Creekmore, senior director of media analytics, Nielsen//NetRatings. “Video game technology will only benefit other media, since what makes a video game fun and exciting brings life to movies and music as well. Companies that can leverage these new technologies across a number of products will have a distinct advantage in the competitive marketplace.”

he report goes on to comment on the Nintendo Wii phenomenon, showing that traffic to the official web site Nintendo.com had increased 91 percent to 1.6 Million form February 2006.  Microsoft had enjoyed a similar rise in online popularity with a 47 percent increase of those hitting Xbox.com, rising to 1.2 million in the year.

Playstation.com conversely saw a drop off of 8 percent down to a 1.0 million unique visitations.  Still Sony realises that the demographic for the massive video gaming and entertainment industry is an aging one.  Hence, for better or for worse, they are targeting a more mature market with their PS3, this Neilson reports seems to verify this as a just long term strategy.

Check out the full report here.