ESA Studies "Gamer Parents"
Posted on Thursday, January 26 @ 09:33:45 Eastern
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today announced the results of a study conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates on "gamer parents." The ESA defines "gamer parents" as "those parents who play computer or video games, but who do not solely play desktop card games or children's games."
The survey, which last November polled over 500 parents in the U.S. who have children between the ages of 2 and 17 in their households, revealed that 35 percent of American parents play video games and that of the parents that do play games, the majority (80 percent) plays games with their children. Furthermore, 66 percent said that they view gaming as a healthy way to bond with their children and as an activity to bring families closer together.
"This first-ever study of 'gamer parents' dramatizes the increasing and positive role that video games play in American family entertainment," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA. "The data provide further evidence dispelling the myth that game playing is dominated by teens and single twenty-somethings. It tells us that parents see games both as an enjoyable activity on their own, and one that allows them to engage with their children as well."
Not surprisingly, most "gamer parents" would appear to be under the age of 40. The ESA says that the typical "gamer parent" is 37-years-old and has been playing games for at least 13 years. A third said that they have been playing video games for 20 years or more. The average "gamer parent" spends about 19 hours playing games each month, and those with children who are gamers spend more than 9 hours a month playing games with their kids. 47 percent of the group are women.
Looking more specifically at the gaming habits of these parents, 44 percent answered that they play both PC games and console titles, 20 percent are console gamers only and 34 percent rely solely on the PC for gaming entertainment. In terms of favorite genres, "parent gamers" play card games the most (34 percent), followed by puzzle, board and "game show" games (26 percent), sports games (25 percent), action games (20 percent), strategy games (20 percent), and downloadable games (18 percent).
Many (36 percent) of these game-playing parents have also introduced their children to the world of video games, while 23 percent of them actually started playing video games because their children were into it and 27 percent said that they and their kids began playing games at about the same time.
Interestingly, most (73 percent) "gamer parents" were found to be regular voters and had strong political views. "85 percent of all voter parents (both gamer and non-gamer) say that they -- not government, retailers, or game publishers --should take the most responsibility in monitoring childrens' exposure to games that may have content that is inappropriate for minors. Further, by a nearly two to one margin (60% vs. 36%) parents agree that it is not the role of government to regulate game sales in an attempt to protect kids from exposure to violent and/or sexual video game content," the ESA said.
"This research suggests that proposals to regulate video games may backfire with American voters who, unlike some elected officials, appear to fully understand that they should control the entertainment that comes into their homes," added Lowenstein.
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