Report: Nine Out Of Ten Australian Households Have Game Devices, Average Age Of Gamer Is Now 32


Digital Australia is an annual report that delves into Australia’s gaming habits. This is the fourth in the series and Dr Jeff Brand, Associate Professor at Bond University and author of the report, unveiled some intriguing new findings.

Probably the most interesting finding is the sheer ubiquity of gaming as a pastime, and how old the average gamer is becoming. But according to Dr Jeff Brand, they’re noticing a rapid growth in what he is calling ‘snacking’ – short burst gaming that usually takes place on a mobile device.

“The average Australian gamer is 32 years old and we’ve moved well away from the traditional teenage boy stereotype of a gamer,” said Brand. “Australian gamers are parents and grandparents ‘snacking’ on games when they’re commuting to work on the bus or train, or while they’re filling in that little bit of time between meetings.

“Research shows people who play video games on a mobile or tablet computer are trying to pass time and the majority play games between 30 minutes to an hour at a time every other day, instead of playing long periods of time every day,” says Dr Brand.”

Other key findings of the reports were equally as startling…

• 47 per cent of gamers are females and this number has steadily increased since 2005.
• The average adult gamer has been playing for 12 years.
• 75 per cent of gamers are 18 years or older.
• The Australian computer games industry hardware and boxed software sales totaled $1.7 billion in 2010.
• 44 per cent of households that play computer and video games also own a portable music device compared to only 3 per cent of households that don’t play video or computer games.
• 21 per cent of game households also own a BluRay device compared to 7 per cent of households that don’t play games

And interestingly, but probably not surprisingly, online shopping is on the increase for those playing games.

43% of gamers still buy games from a local retailer, and 22% buy mostly from download stores such as Xbox LIVE. 14%, however, are now purchasing games from online stores.

You can download a full copy of the report here.


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