Quick
Facts About Video Game Consoles and Software
At the
end of last year, about 46% of all U.S. households owned at least one video
game console.* And
it is estimated that by 2005 game consoles will be in nearly 70 million American
homes.**
Females
influence about 25 percent of console purchases.
|
About
one-quarter of those with the most influence over console purchases
are female; while 41% of all influencers are age 18 - 35, 27% are over
36, and 32% are under 18.***
|
- Over
70 percent of most frequent players said the following factors are extremely
or very important when deciding which console to buy:***
Quality
of system
Number, variety, and price of games available
Price of the system
Graphic quality of the system
Easy use of the console |
Video
game consoles can be found almost anywhere in the house.***
|
38
percent are located in living rooms
33 percent are found in children’s bedrooms
21 percent are in living rooms
13 percent in the adult’s room
|
The vast
majority of people who play interactive games do so with friends and family,
not alone.***
|
60
percent of frequent players play with friends
33 percent play with siblings
25 percent play with their spouse and/or parent
|
Americans say games are
the most fun entertainment activity.
|
Over
one third (35.5%) of all Americans rank playing video and computer games
as the most fun entertainment activity – more fun than watching
television, surfing the Internet, or seeing movies.***
|
The top
reasons that game players say they enjoy playing games include that: they
are challenging (79%); they relieve stress (55%); they provide a lot of entertainment
value for the money (49%); and they are a social activity that can be enjoyed
with friends (38%).***
In 2000, computer and video game sales in the U.S. reached $6.0 billion.*****
Moreover, it is estimated that computer and video game sales will reach an
astonishing $16.9 billion by 2003, not including an estimated $1.1 billion
from on line game revenue.*
Sixty percent of Americans play games.
|
Sixty
percent of all Americans, or about 145 million people, play console
and computer games on a regular basis, and the majority of console game
players are 18 years and older.****
|
Sources:
* IDC
**
Forrester Research
*** IDSA 2001Consumer Survey
**** 2000 Survey by Peter Hart Research for the IDSA and the IDSA 2001 Consumer
Survey
*****
The NPD Group
