According to the latest research from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the number of households playing console and computer games in the United States has increased 3% to 68% during 2008, “illustrating the expanding use of entertainment software across all demographics”.

The report also includes the interesting find that “63% of parents who have children under 18 with a gaming console in the home believe games are a positive part of their children's lives. Those parents are present when games are purchased or rented 92% of the time and report always or sometimes monitoring the games their children play 91% of the time”.


Other findings of the survey include:

- 42% of American homes have a video game console.

- Adult gamers have been playing for 12 years on average, a decrease from 2008, an indication that more Americans are picking up video game controllers for the first time.

- The average video game player is 35 years old.

- 77% of parents believe that the parental controls available in all recent video game consoles are useful.

- Almost half of all games sold (45%) are rated ‘E’ for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

- 43% of online game players are female. (Not including the hot elf chicks in your Guild!)

The ESA released these findings as part of its Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry 2009 report during the E3 Expo, the computer and video game industry's annual trade show.