AOL Survey Shows Computer Gaming Now Enjoys Broad Appeal
Whole family now participates in traditional teen, young adult arena,
AOL says.
Peter Cohen, Macworld.com
Monday, May 16, 2005
A new survey commissioned by America Online points to the broad
popularity of computer and video games as a source of entertainment
enjoyed by the whole family, as opposed to the "traditional" market of
teens and young adults.
AOL Games reports that almost four out of five "gamers" ages 12 to 55
have played video games with their families. And almost half--46
percent--of all U.S. consumers have played online games, video games,
or games on their cell phones and PDAs.
The study suggests that 39 percent of adults ages 18 to 55 have played
games on a computer, cell phone, PDA, or video game console. About 10
percent of those surveyed said that they were "addicted" to playing
video games and 27 percent admit to even pulling all-nighters playing
their favorites.
The study also uncovered some interesting trends in how people think
about computer and video games: Almost half of those surveyed--47
percent--felt that there's too much violence in online gaming, and
about 40 percent said there's too much sexual content. Fifty-seven
percent of those polled think that violent video games contributed to
increased violence in real life, and almost two-thirds--66
percent--support governmental restrictions on the sales of violent
video games to minors.
Casual Games the Majority
Casual games make up the majority of online gamers' activities,
according to the survey--66 percent of those polled preferred online
card games. Eighteen percent of those polled participate in Massively
Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games like World of Warcraft or
Everquest, although a total of only 31 percent have heard of those
games.
Parents be warned: Your junior video game addicts may be skipping
meals and homework while they're playing, according to AOL games.
Adults aren't off the hook, either: One in five adults polled admit to
having played games on their cell phone or PDA at work.
Teens spend an average of seven hours a week in total playing video
games--the same amount they're studying for school. Thirty-three
percent admit to having missed their favorite TV shows to play.
Nineteen percent say they've skipped a meal to play.
The AOL Games poll was conducted by telephone between April 21 and May
1 2005, and used a random sample of 1005 Americans. Some 801 adults
aged 18 to 55 participated in the survey, along with 204 teenagers
aged 12 to 17. The margin of error is +/- 3 percent. Schulman, Ronca &
Bucuvalas Public Affairs designed and conducted the survey.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,120858,tk,dn051705X,00.asp
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