Industry facts
by Mikael Pettersson · 07/26/2008 (12:17 pm) · 3 comments
back in 2005 I had a 9 month internship at a professional game developer. and one day the boss told me to make a fact sheet about the business for a press conference. And back then a great site really helped me.
ESA ... no I'm not talking about the European Space Agency. I'm talking about the Entertainment Software Association.
Back then i didn't know much about games development... I had this kind of romantic idea that many newcomers on this site have (and some oldies as well =) ).
Since then I've taken a big interest in project and company management. And i recently found the site again. some of the information that i remember since my last visit was that game development is one of the few businesses that are expected to grow double digit in percent over the next decade.
Some more fun to know facts about hte business. (Yes It's copied straight from the site):
1. U.S. computer and video game software sales grew six percent in 2007 to $9.5 billion - more than
tripling industry software sales since 1996.
2. Sixty-five percent of American households play computer or video games.
3. The average game player is 35 years old and has been playing games for 13 years.
4. The average age of the most frequent game purchaser is 40 years old.
5. Forty percent of all game players are women. In fact, women over the age of 18 represent a
significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (33 percent) than boys age 17 or younger
(18 percent).
6. In 2008, 26 percent of Americans over the age of 50 played video games, an increase from nine
percent in 1999.
7. Thirty-six percent of heads of households play games on a wireless device, such as a cell phone or
PDA, up from 20 percent in 2002.
8. Eighty-five percent of all games sold in 2007 were rated "E" for Everyone, "T" for Teen, or "E10+" for
Everyone 10+. For more information on game ratings, please see www.esrb.org.
9. Ninety-four percent of game players under the age of 18 report that their parents are present when
they purchase or rent games.
10. Sixty-three percent of parents believe games are a positive part of their children's lives.
And ofc I'm good enough to link to my source: The Entertainment Software Association
I strongly recommend any self respecting Game Entrepreneur to read what they have to say on this site. Citing information form this site might be the drop in the glass that lands you that development contract.
ESA ... no I'm not talking about the European Space Agency. I'm talking about the Entertainment Software Association.
Back then i didn't know much about games development... I had this kind of romantic idea that many newcomers on this site have (and some oldies as well =) ).
Since then I've taken a big interest in project and company management. And i recently found the site again. some of the information that i remember since my last visit was that game development is one of the few businesses that are expected to grow double digit in percent over the next decade.
Some more fun to know facts about hte business. (Yes It's copied straight from the site):
1. U.S. computer and video game software sales grew six percent in 2007 to $9.5 billion - more than
tripling industry software sales since 1996.
2. Sixty-five percent of American households play computer or video games.
3. The average game player is 35 years old and has been playing games for 13 years.
4. The average age of the most frequent game purchaser is 40 years old.
5. Forty percent of all game players are women. In fact, women over the age of 18 represent a
significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (33 percent) than boys age 17 or younger
(18 percent).
6. In 2008, 26 percent of Americans over the age of 50 played video games, an increase from nine
percent in 1999.
7. Thirty-six percent of heads of households play games on a wireless device, such as a cell phone or
PDA, up from 20 percent in 2002.
8. Eighty-five percent of all games sold in 2007 were rated "E" for Everyone, "T" for Teen, or "E10+" for
Everyone 10+. For more information on game ratings, please see www.esrb.org.
9. Ninety-four percent of game players under the age of 18 report that their parents are present when
they purchase or rent games.
10. Sixty-three percent of parents believe games are a positive part of their children's lives.
And ofc I'm good enough to link to my source: The Entertainment Software Association
I strongly recommend any self respecting Game Entrepreneur to read what they have to say on this site. Citing information form this site might be the drop in the glass that lands you that development contract.
About the author
Web and interface design consultant.
#2
07/27/2008 (8:14 pm)
Solid!
#3
Now i have knowledge for that 'The average age of the most frequent game purchaser is 40 years old'
nice... several fathers and several players fathers :)
09/11/2008 (3:32 pm)
I am 49 years old now and my first game is a chess in cartridge on Radio Suck TRS-80 (1979 with 16k memory)! 2 years ago i play less time 1-2 hours for 2-3 days on week with my 3 sons 12,13 and 18 years old.Now i have knowledge for that 'The average age of the most frequent game purchaser is 40 years old'
nice... several fathers and several players fathers :)
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