Ben-DutkaIf anybody out there is still uttering the same ol' nonsense; i.e., "games are for kids," than it's long past time they faced up to facts. The world of gaming encompasses all ages, and now more than ever, it caters to adults.
Reuters has reported on some Nielsen/Net Ratings results, and they're quite definitive. Approximately one in three U.S. adults who go online (about 37%) own a video game console, and 16% own a handheld. And of those who own a console, 71% are married and 66% have at least one child.
All three new consoles seem to be approaching a wider age range of gamers, and as expected, Sony's PS3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 are making a serious attempt at the 18-35 demographic. The article makes special mention of the PS3, as Sony's Blu-Ray format means they're "making a huge bet on the living room." But it's not just the PS3; families are rapidly starting to associate video game consoles with other typical mainstays of the entertainment center.
"As game consoles have become increasingly sophisticated, families have incorporated them into their centralized home media centers, which include the television, digital recording device, digital music player and the PC," said Carolyn Creekmore, senior director of media analytics at Nielsen//NetRatings.
With the new generation in full swing, analysts have predicted that new parents who grew up during the golden age of gaming (i.e.; the Nintendo era that began with the NES) would start to introduce their children to video games. Dubbed "Nintendads," these fathers want their kids to enjoy the hobby in much the same way they did, all those years ago. Conclusion? Gamers have grown up, and the industry has grown with them.
