The Gaming Statistics of Britain

The IAB Games Steering Group released a study of gamers in the UK named Gaming Britain [http://www.iabuk.net/en/1/hugeopportunityingamesmedia230911.mxs].

It showed us that as many as 32.9 million people aged 8-65 years old played video games.

Although it didn't just focus on the gaming console gamers of which I am focusing, their statistics proved to be very surprising.

Due to the increase of casual, online games such as Bejeweled, Farmville and Club Penguin there is an increase of the demographic that the gaming industry is focused on; More females, children and people aged over 45 are getting involved with the more user-friendly and action-safe games.

The study says that the players are not the "outdated image of the male teenager – transfixed alone for hours – as the typical player. Instead, it identifies seven distinct ‘types’ of player encompassing all ages from sixth formers through to pensioners.

Class, gender and age were all looked at within the study and results showed that the majority of players were:

• Male
• Aged 25-45
• Belonged to class groups A, B and C1

Although the statistics show us that the majority of players are what we expected, the introductions of technology such as tablets, smartphones, social networking sites and consoles like the Nintendo Wii, more females and those of other ages are becoming introduced to the gaming community.

Which is looked at by many people including Charlie Brooker :

This technology boom could help us make the gaming console world more equal.

With the introduction of the Nintendo Wii's to women we should hopefully soon be seeing them move onto the other games consoles and kicking ass.