Decades ago, video gaming was an activity that was reserved for young boys who enjoyed playing on their own. For years, this perception of gaming has persisted, despite the market changing significantly. Now, new research on the subject by Bond University, offers up a new and updated outlook on Australia’s video gaming market.
According to News.com.au, researchers at Bond University carried out a study for the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association. They surveyed 3398 Australians in over 1200 households across the country about their gaming habits.
According to the report, 93% of all Australian households have at least one gaming device in the house. 61% of households have at least three, which include smartphones, tablet computers, video game consoles and handheld gaming devices. "To have just one screen in the household is a tiny proportion – just one or two per cent. Multiple game devices are now common,” says Dr Jeffrey Brand, the author report.
The average age of gamers is 32, which dispels the stereotype that gaming is only for young people. The belief that the vast majority of gamers are men has also been disproved as 47% are women. In a family setting, 81% of mothers and 83% of fathers play videos – but they have different tastes. Today’s gaming market is so diverse that players of all ages can get involved.
Families with young children and grandparents can now bond over video games like Wii Sports and Mario Kart, while teenagers can play games like Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty. Another interesting finding is that most young people play games to create social connections with their peers.
This dispels the myth that video games encourage anti-social behaviour. It is encouraging to see that young people are using video games to make friends and keep in contact with their acquaintances, certainly marking a new era in gaming.
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