According to the ESA (Entertainment Software Association), the average American gamer is 30 years old – 32% are under 18, 31% are between 18 and 35, and 37% are over 30. Fifty-three percent of American gamers are male, while 47% are female, and the average U.S. household owns at least one video game console. In 2011, American consumers spent $24.75 billion on video games, hardware and accessories. Do any of these statistics surprise you?
AMERICA!!! YEAH!!
The problem with these kinds of stats is the definition of “gamer”.
Are they counting anyone that calls themselves a gamer? Anyone that plays 10 minutes of Angry Birds a week? Or actual gamers?
I play golf maybe three times a year, and I’m terrible at it. So that means I’m a golfer, yeah?
No, these numbers ARE legit. You can not belive how many people I know over 25-30 that plays video games on a daily basis.
I was expecting the average gamer to be 20
Me too!
So much for the “consoles are doomed” crap we keep hearing from mobile developers and Michael Patchy the hormonal pirate.
LOL… Luke, the numbers are completely accurate because the definition of a gamer is: “A person who plays a game or games, typically a participant in a computer or role-playing game.” This is what ESA used. It doesnt matter what “You” “Personally” think a gamer is. What matters is the actual definition. So yes, those who play Angry Birds are counted as well because Angry Birds is a game…
Does not sound legit.
The average gaming age has been around this number for years. The idea of a “gamer” came around in the mid-80s, and most kids who got into them at that time were around 10 years old. They’ve stuck with the medium, so now they’ve aged.
Well being 17 myself, the majority of gamers I know are about 15-25, while the older people I know hardly ever play games. But what does being a “gamer” even mean now a days?
Unless you’re an elitist, it doesn’t really mean anything other than denoting your biggest hobby, really.
Elitists like to use it to describe only those like themselves, though, these days, and anyone who isn’t like them is usually referred to as “not a real gamer”.[pathetic, right? We’ve got at least two well-known trolls like this on this site.XD]
oh mah gawd imma true core gamer i play games at the highest resolution because 480p is horendously bad and makes my eyes bleed because its so shit! wii f*cking sucks worst graphics all games is kiddy shovelware omg omg! anyone who disagrees is a a fanboy and needs to talk to girls!
My impression of a ‘gamer’?
A gamer’s someone who plays games, not someone who criticizes everything gaming is about. Yes, criticism is helpful at times, but not when the criticism is like your obviously sarcastic impression.
Of course it was sarcastic, it was making a joke about the people who comment frequently on this site (not going to mention names)
I don’t really need names, seeing as it’s so incredibly obvious. I was just pointing out my own beliefs in response.
Oh ok, sorry about that :)
No worries :)
A “gamer” is a person that plays games. That’s all it is. Simple. Fantastic. It shouldn’t form stereotypes or any of this “hardcore” crap. I’m also 17 and know quite a lot of people who are over 25 that play video games, but that’s mostly because I don’t play the popular kind of “hardcore” games such as Call of Duty etc, and rarely even play online, but when I do, I tend to play with more mature people between the ages of 25 and 30.
Yup I’m 31 we where called the Nintendo generation after all. All the youngins must of forgotten when the NES came out
Ah the Nintendo Generation good times! Nice to see so many of us still around these days. Without Nintendo the game Industry wouldn’t have revived. Between Sony and Microsoft I see a lot of bad business decisions being made, like when Atari and Intelivision were going at it. Which lead to the Fall of Gaming in 83 and 84.
The most common is the person keep playing while gets old. It’s not a surprise at all.
Oh ok, I’ll just stop being surprised by it. Thanks. -_-
I’m over 40 and love to play video games ever since I started. My first gaming device was the Atari 2600.
I’m a gamer and I’m 46. My first gaming system was the Atari 2600.
I haven’t stopped playing since. I doubt I will ever stop, it’s just too much fun :)
Not to be mean or anything but, 46! Wow. I had know idea there were people on this site that old.
I’m 31 but my father is 68 and plays the crap out of skyrim lol
It is a proven statistic….as “legit” as you get…
statistics in general are farce
I’m not so surprised if this were true actually.
⑨
It’s not surprise me, I have 29 years old, started with Atari and I intend to play for the rest of my life.
you started with Atari? D: dude you’re awesome!!! :) i started with the super Nintendo, and just heard of the NES :P but i love playing nes games every day, and gb games as well, i guess am a real gamer!!!!
NES I used to play at my cousin’s house, but not much (I started to play again on VC of 3DS). That time I had a Master System (that had great games too like Mickey mouse Land of illusion / Castle of Illusion, Rastan, Alex Kid, Spider-Man vs The Kingpin, Phantasy Star, and many others.. Good times!
SNES has a special place in my heart, Top Gear, DKC, Zelda, Super Metroid, Killer Instinct, Contra, Bomberman, Motal Kombat 2-3, Act Raiser 2, SSF 2, R-Type 3, StarFox, International SSS, and many others that I didn’t said, all of these games were played thousands and thousands times. It was the best part of my childhood. A time that you really had fun and that’s what really matter.
yes it does! :)
Am not surprise… I am 29 and i have been playing nintendo since it came out in the 80’s and I will continue to play them. Love Nintendo.
Get N or get OUT!!!
Yeah but judging my alot of “gamers” the average mental age is about 15
or less.
This.
America alone spent $24.75 Billion on video games, hardware and accessories?
Tell me more how the video game industry is going bankrupt.
the 31% is best percent
The average gamer may be 30 but most of them act like they’re 12
It surprise me I’m 15 and I started playing video games ever since I was 8 (more specific GBA)
i’m 16, been playing video games since i was three (Ocarina of Time)
28 yrs old I started off the right way and skipped out on Atari and got a Nintendo entertainment system along with super Mario bros. My life would never be the same and I used to walk to the laundrymat to play the game with a single quarter and be there for hours till my dad came looking for me everyday. Got my ass beat most of the time for it. Rip dad I would do it again.
I was also 3 BTW
Those whippings and whoopings made you wiser. Your father was a great man. He is in heaven with Jesus. Unlike some ignorant parents we have today that let their children buy M rated idiot games because the M stands for mundane. Game on my friend game on.
GTA is mundane D:?
Not all m rated games are garbage. There’s a lot that are really well made, lots of metal gear solid games, halo, and resident evil and many more. Its just steryotypical to think all m rated games are, are mindless killing and gore which is wrong for the most part. That’s like saying mario is mundane because its mindless jumping.
47% are women and yet we still have booth babes…. -_-
But booth babes are the shit! Even women likes them ;D
Bravo america :)
dude you started with the N64 right? i started with the SNES and in my opinion was the best video game era!!!! :D
Now we know why gamers who leave comments online are such fucking losers
lol fail…
Are these 30 years old American fat, bald, live with their mothers and in a relationship with them?
Well arent u cool
More cooler than you.
after you can’t get cooler than the North pole.
Hell yeah! Your mom love that, piece of “Joker”…
HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT?!
You gotta stop spying on me or I will called the police.
Wtf is your problem.
How did they find this out?
I’m a big cautious into believing this… like most percentages….
wow im soooooo far behind from mostly all of you im 14 and my first console was a gameboy color with kirby pinball it was so much fun and im going to stay a nintendo gamer for ever :)
I’m 14 too, but I started with a Nintendo 64 and Super Mario 64, it’s what got me hooked on gaming forever, Nintendo gaming especially, but other systems too like Genesis and my PC.
Makes perfect sense to me. Adults are the ones with the money to buy games anyway. Video games are connecting people like never before with online multiplayer and dedicated handheld and iPhones will play a part in this as well. The more the merrier I say. There’s enough room for everyone. Leave luck to heaven.
And the more people the bigger it will grow.
There’s a downside to that, though. More gamers mean more immature, name calling ignorant fanboys.
30 and over in age, this is for you. If you are part of that group and hate Nintendo, then you are a moron :
1) because you were there when the company from Kyoto Japan saved video games
2) Nintendo gave us use of the Konami code so love them
3) Nintendo helped other gaming companies being real competition
4) You know the real reason microsoft are douches
5) know that the playstation started of as an add on CD-rom player for the SNES ( family hates the most i.e drones).
6) should not play COD but battle field in two hour increments period.
7) should find great women from the 47% marry them and start you children out on a Nes super Mario bros game, then Zelda.
I now know why ms and Sony hate Nintendo, a large chunk of the $24.75 billion goes to buying Nintendo Wiis, Wii peripherals, Wii knock of peripherals, 3DSs, all the ten 3DS original iterations. Nintendo software, eshop, my goodness no wonder Sony as Microsoft are mad, am Nintendo and listing all that is getting me a little mad too lol :).
This money mostly went to Nintendo???
Tell me again how Nintendo is losing so much money.
they don’t hate nintendo, its just competition, its like if your playing a soccar game and you don’t know the other team, you don’t instantly hate them, you just play the game and try to get the upperhand in the game and the business.
I’m one of the 47% gender-wise. I am 31 and first played video games on my brother’s Commodore 64. Have never looked back. I plan to die with a controller in my hand.
You are true lady with class and wisdom. I played the letters of the commodore. To bad not too many Americans were exposed like the rest of the world to the largest video game console selection like the rest of the world. Icicle works and treasure island yeah :).
This is probably really accurate. It would make sense as to why America doesnt have as much support for Nintendo as other countries do(like Japan). America has more gamers in their 30’s(who are more likely to play rated M games such as C.O.D and whatnot) Japan has a younger audience so Nintendo flourishes there. Also to think…Xbox and PS4 fanboys are most likely in their 30’s and Nintendo fans are younger which means that 30 year old men(and women) are arguing with children over which company is better -.- pathetic…
You are 1/4 correct. The majority of the 30 year old gamers are responsible adults that graduated from theNES and SNES generation. The are intelligent, cool calm and collected. In fact they make up majority of great parents. Thus the Wii has sold 100 million planet wide. The angry 30 year olds and older must be Sega retirees that are hurt Nintendo exists and the mega drive died. Some of them as angry as the were in the 80s and 90s jumped ship onto the psone 1/3 of Sega fans. The other two thirds grew wiser and became Nintendo and moved to Nintendo platforms with sonic. The angriest ones joined ms and made the xbox.
hahaha! Well Im glad my guesstimate is at least 1/4 correct. Still the thought that some of those Microsoft and Sony trolls could be 30 years old and are arguing who’s favorite company is superior with kids like 14-17 years old is a little weird… like I understand why some teens are bored or angry or somthing and go on to chat rooms and try to prove their company best and whatnot, but I can’t picture adults doing the same. I have this feeling of “GET A LIFE and STOP ARGUING WITH KIDS!”
You are welcome. Sad but true a lot of Sony drones and exbots are older and should know better.
Whoa whoa whoa I started with Sega once they screwed up I picked the company with similar games. Nintendo
Well I’m 12 so this sounds kind of wierd 0_0
26yrs here (though not american)…my first console ever was the amazing SNES :’-) I will never forget the day my parents bought us the SNES with DK country, it was a day to remember.
Nowadays, I gave up my “3rd” (2 died before) X360 to my cousins, I have a Vita (collecting dust) and a powerful gaming Laptop (PC master race), and planning to get an XL (Sold my 3DS long back), and getting all 3 next-gen consoles is on my list ;-)
I owned a Wii and a PS3 before, but sold them soon after.
Of couse, PSP, DS, GBA, GB Color, lite, PS1, PS2
… and lives in there parent’s besement. :0
i was surprised by the male vs female stat
Well. Honestly, it does surprise me a bit. Here, in Latin America most of gamers are under 20 years old. Probably, it is still thought that videgames are for young people or sth like that. But, in my case I’m 25 and I’ll never stop playing videogames, why? it’s my hobby…… By the way, interesting news….
Wow i always thought it was a 95% sausage fest and 5% females
I’m 19, and I’ve played games since the Nintendo 64 came out. Nintendo has always been my favourite.
yeah I did research on that a long time ago. seems believable.
isn’t EA run by some down’s syndrome kid?
I have trouble believing the average american gamer is 30 years old when comments like these are so common
Comment sections are used by the younger crowed ,so u will get the immature comments.the older gamers really do not care with news that often.usally they like game BUT it is mostly for fun and they are not really going onto the Internet and write about games.
Also older gamers work so their playing is usually on the weekend or days off.
AMERIKA FAWK YEAH!
I am 34 started on atari and had a coleco vision. The nes brought me much joy as a kid and every nintendo system after that. I now have 2 kids. what games do you think I get them to play? I just have such a connection with nintendo I dont ever see myself not playing games. When I think of playing zelda for the first time and any new zelda i get that feeling like im 10 years old.
I was expecting the average gamer to be 24.
Reblogged this on Gigable – Tech Blog.
I’m 30 XD
I’ve played all of the consoles from the NES on up at friends homes, but at home I’m a PC gamer. Anywhere from 4-11 hours a day, at least 4 days a week. Female. RTS & TBS RPGs, shooters, combat city builders, MMOs, sims, etc.