Study on gamers - younger than you think?

[Shifty Geezer]

This is worth reading. http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3831&Itemid=2
It's a summary of a survey of gamers that suggests the idea of a core group of 18-30-something gamers as a backbone to the gaming industry is unrealistic.

IMO this is way PS2 did so well. It's not about big sellers and key titles, but appealing to the larger diversity of people that make up gamers. By comparison I'd say XB was much more targetted at the 18-34ers, losing a lot of it's wider appeal.

Still, I suppose what's really needed is a breakdown of the segments, showing the purchase behaviour, because at the end of the day that's all these companies care about. Even if 8 year olds play more games than 28 year olds, if the latter actually buy the things, they're the people you want to attract!

 

[ninzel]

The age thing suprises me a little(too much time islotated on gaming forums I guess). The fact that core gamers make up a very small percentage doesn't.
The article aludes to the health of the industry which is interesting because so many people assume that things are going along just fine. We alway's here about huge revenues, but what about the actual profits? It seems like a month can't go by withouth hearing about some big company posting losses.

 

[ninzel]

Still, I suppose what's really needed is a breakdown of the segments, showing the purchase behaviour, because at the end of the day that's all these companies care about. Even if 8 year olds play more games than 28 year olds, if the latter actually buy the things, they're the people you want to attract!

Well not really,just the fact that the 8 year old is playing more is enough, unless every 8 year old get's their games through pirating and every 28 year old buys the games legit.
If an 8 year old is playing a game, either someone bought it for them or they bought it themselves.Either way it's game that was purchased targetted at an 8 year old.

 

[iNoV]

This is worth reading. http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3831&Itemid=2
It's a summary of a survey of gamers that suggests the idea of a core group of 18-30-something gamers as a backbone to the gaming industry is unrealistic.

IMO this is way PS2 did so well. It's not about big sellers and key titles, but appealing to the larger diversity of people that make up gamers. By comparison I'd say XB was much more targetted at the 18-34ers, losing a lot of it's wider appeal.

Still, I suppose what's really needed is a breakdown of the segments, showing the purchase behaviour, because at the end of the day that's all these companies care about. Even if 8 year olds play more games than 28 year olds, if the latter actually buy the things, they're the people you want to attract!

I think its interesting Sony managed to appeal to more people by targetting a specific demographic, while nintendo had less appeal because they were trying to target a much wider set of demographics.

Even more interesting is i'd say they both haven't changed their strategies going into the next generation. They only seem to have become more aggressive/focused/refined in them, while also trying to further differentiate themselves from the other 2 competitors.

 

[zed]

im sure theres been studies with all kinds of results eg

The average gamer was said to be thirty-three years of age, with 31 percent under eighteen years of age, 44 percent between eighteen and forty-nine and 25 percent fifty years or older. The average age of the most frequent game purchaser is forty years of age.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=9342

shows that 52 percent of all games played on line are puzzle/board/game show/trivia or card games. This compares to 22 percent for action/sports/strategy/role-playing games, 9 percent for browser based games and 7 percent for persistent online worlds.

my girlfriend used to do homesupport (helping disabled ppl at home) now her impression was a lot of lonely ladies 40+ are online 8+ hours 7 days a week, teenage boys cant attain these figures (not allowed to use the comp or internet so much, or school or other commitments etc)

 

[scooby_dooby]

One-third of its “avid console gamerâ€￾ segment (the largest group in the study) were between the youthful ages of six and 17.

So of the larger segment in the study, avid gamers, 66% were older than 17.

55% of the hardcore gamers are also over 17.

Doesn't really seem to contradict anything.

 

[standing ovation]

Apparently, NPD are trying to replace the existing classification (by age and sex) with a more politically correct one. But as you've pointed out, facts are facts. For some reason, they don't want them to be THAT obvious. :neutral:

 

[Shifty Geezer]

im sure theres been studies with all kinds of results eg

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=9342

It seemed to me this latest effort was a much larger sample base than previous invetigations.

So of the larger segment in the study, avid gamers, 66% were older than 17.
55% of the hardcore gamers are also over 17.
Doesn't really seem to contradict anything.

I couldn't understand that either. I think a lot depends on the actual sizes of the segments. eg. If Avid Gamers is 24% total and has the largest makeup of 18+yo's, perhaps the other 76% has a far smaller 18+yo presence? I presume Anita Frazier's conclusions are drawn from a greater overall view of the study than a few quoted specs.

 

[ninzel]

I think its interesting Sony managed to appeal to more people by targetting a specific demographic, while nintendo had less appeal because they were trying to target a much wider set of demographics.

I agree with this completely.It took me awhile to see it but it's very clear now.
Hopefully Reggie's latest comments are evidence they get it now as well.

"Said Fils-Aime: "We're reaching out to every publisher, frankly every day. I'll be spending some time later today with the folks over at Take Two to see what type of support they can give our console. ... The fact is there will be M-rated content on the Wii console. EA has already announced that they're bringing 'The Godfather' to our console. And we want every single best-selling game to be available on Wii. Whatever that content is."

 

[NavNucST3]

Judging by how most of the threads on most boards turn out, I would say, NO, I am in no way surprised at the age. Don't even get me started on mental age