The Entertainment Software Association has published its annual report called "Essential facts about computer and video game industry". It confirms the growth of popularity of video games among American populace. According to the ESA 67% of American heads of households play computer and video games, while the average game player age is 33. The favorite genre among Americans is Strategy constituting 27,5% and 35,4% in Video and Computer games units sold respectively. Quite interesting is that 55% of the parents agree that games are a positive part of their children lives and that 86% of children are actually receiving their parent permission before buying or renting a game. Among the most frequent gamers 51% of them is playing online, up from 19% in 2000. Full report here.

Looks like PC gaming hasn't fallen a bit, either, that'll squash THOSE rumors! Nice news find - I'm going to bookmark the report for our YA librarian...

Note - I had to curtail the subject line - with the "Re:" added, it's too long for the message board! :-)

Still 0.97 compared to 6.4 billions is hardly a worthy case for celebration, and considering how many people playing PC actually just playing casual games... I don't think that Strategy is the most popular genre because of HoMMV and Civilization IV, just look at all those Sims titles in the list! So don't hold your breath, the battle won't be over anytime soon.

Please, somebody, fix the news title. It's "video game", not "video fame".

Hey, up from 0.96.

And, you should be able to fix the title - just edit...

Well, as I said that it is only because of the coffee-break games market growing strong with every year. So it is hardly an achievement. Oh well....

Does anybody know if there is a similar info on Europe?

A PC game is a PC game whether its WOW (top of list) or Sims or Oblivion or what have you. Maybe there is a terminology confusion here, but I would hardly call the Sims "coffee-break" or even "casual" games...much as I abhor the Sims, to my mind that terminology is reserved for online flash games, mobile phone games, puzzle-type games, and cards/poker, whatever: Pop-Cap/Playfirst stuff. Which I didn't see any comparison data for in this report.

A find it very interesting that only 7% of online gamers (who are something of a minority) play persistent multiplayer games. And that sales of T and M15 rated games combined are lower than E rated games. And that sales of FPS, RPG and sports games are dwarfed by strategy and family games.

It goes to show that to make money you have to win casual gamers over. Guys like us may still collectively have more buying power but that may not be the case for much longer.

That is sadly true.

Most of the casual games are distributed online so don't expect them to be in the list of the retail sold games. And yes I (just I) consider The Sims 2 a "casual game" because of the casual (occasional) nature of PC gamer who plays it. Nevertheless I wholeheartedly wish the PC gaming market to prosper just not for the sake of such titles as Sims 2 or Zuma deluxe or WoW, which is not a casual game by any means but still a shitty tendency.

Actually, since you brought it up, WoW is doing so well because it caters to the casual 40-something year old player. The game is very noob friendly and is pretty easy to level compared to other games, and all around the people are friendlier and the world is easier to interact with. It's that "noob friendly" atmosphere that casual players thrive on, and that's why WoW is kicking every other MMO's ass in the RPG race.

Its funny the comparison of childrens games vs adult games.

It is statistically true that family-oriented products whatever the industry will usually be more succesful than adult/individual products. A movie that children may related to will always be more successful than more "intellectual" or "artiste" type movies. Simply because children have to nag and parents have to obey.

But do children really know the difference? When I was a kid, I had 2 platforms. An atari and a PC. No matter how interesting atari games were, I was always more drawn to computer games. I find it odd that when I was 7-8 years old, I more interested in playing King's Quest I, Starfleet: The War Begins and other complex adventure/strategy games when I could play shooter games like every other kid.

I wonder if kids brought up by 3D graphic games were affected intellectually...?

Unfortunately children don't know the difference. So they must be guided into the world of video games as into anything else. I was lucky I had my brother beside me in my childhood. So when everybody else around tormented their NESes' gamepads we were trying to capture the alien commanders in first X-COM or sell goods for a good price in Elite.

I personally don't think that my children should be entertained by anything else except a high-quality product. So no game can justify the lack of talent behind it by claiming to be a kiddie title. That same goes for books, movies, music and so on. So if I think that Teletubbies are dumb I will make sure that my children watch Alladin or Bamby instead.

As for the 3D generation becoming intellectually challenged, there seem to be two factors in the working. The video game industry in growing stronger with every year so a relative number of good-quality games is dropping. And the second is what I already said. Parents don't take interest in what their children are playing. In best cases the control doesn't go beyond "No tits, fucks, guns and drugs? The game's okay!". And that's sad.

Your children appears to be in good hands.

I think you might have misunderstood me. :) I don't have children yet. I am only 21. However I gave the notion a thought or two already.

Anyway, I will certainly show your post to my girlfriend if things will get really serious between us. That will improve my... hm... "contribution score" considerably. :)