The average age of gamers

[baronjohn]

You probably heard this several times

the average age for a gamer is 37 years old, according to a report from the Entertainment Software Association,

but how true is this total untruth?

Well you can read the infographic "report" here: http://www.theesa.com/facts/pdfs/ESA_EF_2011.pdf

As you can see, it doesn't actually cite any sources.

So how did they get to that number? Well, they probably just pulled it out of their asses in a attempt to hold onto an aging market. You know, the sort of thing marketers, whose job is to lie, do.

What else could generate such fantastic numbers? Remember how you have to enter your birth date to get to watch trailers and how you always just scroll right to the bottom and select 1900 (or 1911, or 1942). That's another strong possibility.

In conclusion, the average age of gamers is probably around 14. Don't believe statements just because they come from authorative sounding yet completely unknown institutions.

 

[Peter]

I bet soccer moms playing Facebook games actually brings the number up a bit higher than what we assume it is (13-25, generally speaking), but yeah, 37 sounds ludicrous.

 

[Zed]

It's 14.

 

[Haba]

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cac ... p9OQ&pli=1

ALL DATA IN THIS DOCUMENT IS FROM THE ESA’S 2008 CONSUMER SURVEY UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) released its 2008 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry in July 2008. The data included in 2008 Essential Facts was gathered in an annual study conducted by Ipsos-MediaCT for the ESA. The study is the most in-depth and targeted survey of its kind, gathering data from over 1,200 nationally representative households that have been identified as owning either or both a video game console or a personal computer used to run entertainment software.

Reading is teh hard.

The 2011 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry was released by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) at E3 2011. The annual research was conducted by Ipsos MediaCT for the ESA. The study is the most in-depth and targeted survey of its kind, gathering data from almost 1,200 nationally representative households that have been identified as owning either or both a video game console or a personal computer used to run entertainment software.

 

[Konjad]

What is the average age of people listening to music? or watching films?

 

[GrudHeap]

So you're suggesting that there are just as many gamers aged 1-13 as gamers 15+? There are a lot of numbers higher than 14.

 

[ArcturusXIV]

Heh. This should be, "What is the average age of Codexer's?"

I'll go first. 27.

 

[commie]

I like these dubious statistics. They allow me to point out to my wife in triumph that I'm not even at the average age of those that play games, when she whines that I'm too old for them.

 

[MikeJahn]

Assuming this is true it sounds like companies are missing out and completely targeting the wrong demographic.

 

[racofer]

Mental age is what should be taken into consideration, and, on that regard, it's fucking low.

 

[Clockwork Knight]

The mental age of the public in general is fucking low, so it's all good.

 

[Sceptic]

I like these dubious statistics. They allow me to point out to my wife in triumph that I'm not even at the average age of those that play games, when she whines that I'm too old for them.

Just make her play MM1, and when she gives up in frustration point out to her that, if the game is too difficult for her, then this means she's in fact too young for gaming, and by extension so are you.

No wait scratch that. What if she decides to use this as an excuse to take the toys and lock them up? :/