Interesting BBC survey on gaming

[Sandman]

Gaming matters to the people of Britain

Some notable stats:

The average age of UK gamers is 28.

The gender gap is smaller than one might imagine.

80% of gamers consider themselves to be 'heavy' players. I've always thought that 'casual gamers' were a myth, myself.

[Shogun Gunner]

I would like to see a study like this in the US. As time goes on - more age groups are comfortable with computer technologies. I think that is one of the main thing that limits the upper age groups being involved with computer games.

[Adagio]

Originally posted by Shogun Gunner
I would like to see a study like this in the US. As time goes on - more age groups are comfortable with computer technologies.

Of course... would you give up your computer when you turn 80 years old? If you do that, you'll never get to play Civ XXIV

[GeoModder]

Originally posted by Adagio
Of course... would you give up your computer when you turn 80 years old? If you do that, you'll never get to play Civ XXIV

By then it should be named SolCiv X! (future extension anyone )

[Shogun Gunner]

Originally posted by Adagio



Of course... would you give up your computer when you turn 80 years old? If you do that, you'll never get to play Civ XXIV

Silicon computers will be so 20 century by that time. We will have integrated communication circuit implants, biologically based information storage and retrieval devices, and self-writing/modifying/repairing programming code. Civ will rock then.

[DrSpike]

Re: Interesting BBC survey on gaming

Originally posted by Sandman
Gaming matters to the people of Britain

Some notable stats:

The average age of UK gamers is 28.

The gender gap is smaller than one might imagine.

80% of gamers consider themselves to be 'heavy' players. I've always thought that 'casual gamers' were a myth, myself.

Yeah but it's by their own benchmark. I know people who call themselves heavy gamers, but they would consider playing as much as I do odd.

And that's with no time.............if I had more time..............

[lord of the mark]

and i wonder how many of the "heavy players" are heavy of the players of "The Sims"

edit: note that the most popular category was "puzzles/quizes" I think we've got alot of flash games, mobile phone games, etc. Thats probably why youve got the age and gender demos. Its not alot of 45 yo women playing Halo.

[Skanky Burns]

I can see the following happening:

I just spend 12 hours in a row playing the Sims! I play games heavily!

But you were only on you computer for 5 minutes?

Oh, that was 12 hours in the game.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
and i wonder how many of the "heavy players" are heavy of the players of "The Sims"

Which actually counts as negative gaming, of course.

[ravagon]

It doesn't really seem too surprising quite frankly.
It seems to me as though it's more a case of natural progression of the population than computer influence 'spreading' across age groups however.
PC's really 'came of age' in the 90's and those who grew up with them never really gave them up.

I tend not to bother turning the thing on after work as I'm sick of the sight of them after using them at work all day but I frequently putter around with something or other on weekends.

[Traianvs]

I would get freaked out with computers if I had to sit behind one all day for work!!

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
edit: note that the most popular category was "puzzles/quizes" I think we've got alot of flash games, mobile phone games, etc. Thats probably why youve got the age and gender demos. Its not alot of 45 yo women playing Halo.

I quite agree with this too. These days the casual gamer has many different avenues to follow.

[duke o' york]

Well I'll want to be playing games when I retire!
Unfortunately, the way things are going, I won't even be able to afford net access on the state pension. Better get saving....

[DrSpike]

That's the idea!

[Zero]

Re: Interesting BBC survey on gaming

Originally posted by Sandman

80% of gamers consider themselves to be 'heavy' players. I've always thought that 'casual gamers' were a myth, myself.

cause casual gamers dont consider themselves a gamer.

besides how is a heavy gamer defined? If you own a console or two and own a shelf of games, are you considered a heavy gamer? If you goto gamefaqs trying to unlock every little secrets for games you like maybe?

for me, if u wanna consider urselves harcore heavy gammer at what you play, you gotta spend hours thinking about the strategy, goto poly like sites where you discuss tactics of that game for hours on end.... thats heavy to me.

edit: and this is probably best example of what im talking about...

http://www.soulcalibur.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27466