U.S. computer and video game software sales grew 22.9 percent in 2008 to $11.

7 billion
more than quadrupling industry software sales since 1996.
1.
Sixty-eight percent of American households play computer or video
games.
2.

The average game player is 35 years old and has been playing games

for 12 years.
3.
The average age of the most frequent game purchaser is 39 years
old.
4.

Forty percent of all game players are women. In fact, women over

the age of 18 represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing

population (34 percent) than boys age 17 or younger (18 percent).
5.
In 2009, 25 percent of Americans over the age of 50 play video
games, an increase from nine percent in 1999.
6.
Thirty-seven percent of heads of households play games on a
wireless device, such as a cell phone or PDA, up from 20 percent in 2002.
7.
Eighty-four percent of all games sold in 2008 were rated E for
Everyone, T for Teen, or E10+ for Everyone 10+. For more information on
game ratings, please seewww.esrb.org.
8.
Ninety-two percent of game players under the age of 18 report that
their parents are present when they purchase or rent games.
9.
Sixty-three percent of parents believe games are a positive part of
their childrens lives.

http://depts.washington.edu/critgame/wordpress/2010/04/fyi-video-game-statisticsby-the-entertainment-software-association/comment-page-1/

Sales & Genre Data

According to data compiled by the NPD Group, a global market research company, and
released by the ESA in January 2009, computer and video game companies posted
records sales in 2008. The industry sold 297.6 million units, leading to an astounding
$11.7 billion in revenue. Of these sales:

Game console software sales totaled $8.9 billion with 189.0 million

units sold;

Computer games sales were $701.4 million with 29.1 million units
sold; and,

There was a record $2.1 billion in portable software sales with 79.5
million units sold.
The most popular game genre once again was Family Entertainment, which accounted
for 19 percent of all games sold in 2008, up from 9.1 percent in 2006. In addition, of
the games sold in 2008, 57 percent were rated Everyone (E) or Everyone 10+
(E10+). The NPD Groups data also indicates that only 16 percent of games sold last
year were rated Mature (M).

Some facts about the computer and video game industry today may just
surprise you:

The average gamer is 35 years old.

More than one-third of gamers are women .
More than one in four gamers is over 50.
The average game purchaser is 40 years old.
Sixty-three percent of parents believe games are a positive part of

their childrens lives.

Sales of family entertainment video games more than doubled in

2007, making it the fastest growing segment of the video game market.

Ninety-four percent of the time, parents are present at the time

games are purchased or rented.

Eighty-eight percent of the time, parents report always or

sometimes monitoring the games their children play.

Seventy-five percent of parents believe that the parental controls

available in all new video game consoles are useful.