Casual Videogamers Play More Than Previously Thought
Casuals, granny gamers and women get hardcore
It was only 15 or 20 years ago that being a 'casual' meant that you attended your football team’s every match - home and away - sporting FILA trainers, Sergio Tacchini tracksuits and a bad attitude.
Nowadays of course, the 'casual' moniker is more often used to describe gamers. It is usually deployed in the context of referring to someone who is not a ‘hardcore’ gamer (ie somebody who has a life outside of videogames). Imagine that!
However, a new worldwide survey of 789 casual gamers carried out by the Macrovision Corporation, which operates the Trymedia Network for the digital distribution of PC games, reveals some common misconceptions about the habits of people who play casual games.
According to the survey, 37% of those who use casual games play nine or more two-hour 'sessions' each week, mostly in the evenings. The results in full are as follows:
"Our survey has determined that mainstream audiences dedicate a substantial amount of time to gameplay -- not just in 15-minute increments as previously thought," said Loren Hillberg, executive vice president and general manager of Commerce at Macrovision.
Nowadays of course, the 'casual' moniker is more often used to describe gamers. It is usually deployed in the context of referring to someone who is not a ‘hardcore’ gamer (ie somebody who has a life outside of videogames). Imagine that!
However, a new worldwide survey of 789 casual gamers carried out by the Macrovision Corporation, which operates the Trymedia Network for the digital distribution of PC games, reveals some common misconceptions about the habits of people who play casual games.
According to the survey, 37% of those who use casual games play nine or more two-hour 'sessions' each week, mostly in the evenings. The results in full are as follows:
Casual game player demographics:
* 37% are age 35-49.
* 28% are age 50-60
* 71% female
* 29% male
* 58% have no children under age 18 living in their households
* Top personal interests/hobbies of casual gamers:
1. Pets
2. Travel
3. Arts & Crafts
4. Shopping
5. Gardening
Casual game play habits:
* 37% play 9 or more game ‘sessions’ per week
* 66% say each ‘session’ typically lasts for at least one hour
* 31% spend more than two hours in each gameplay ‘session’
* 73% play at night
* 55% play on weekends
* 48% play when they have the house to themselves
* Top casual game genres:
1. Puzzle (67%)
2. Card (44%)
3. Strategy (35%)
4. Action (34%)
* 30% have downloaded more than 21 games in the last year
* 67% read game reviews and 46% of those who do feel they are influenced to try or purchase a new game by the reviews they read
* 84% access the Internet through a home broadband connection
* 70% have purchased a game after first playing it free of charge on the Internet
* 37% are age 35-49.
* 28% are age 50-60
* 71% female
* 29% male
* 58% have no children under age 18 living in their households
* Top personal interests/hobbies of casual gamers:
1. Pets
2. Travel
3. Arts & Crafts
4. Shopping
5. Gardening
Casual game play habits:
* 37% play 9 or more game ‘sessions’ per week
* 66% say each ‘session’ typically lasts for at least one hour
* 31% spend more than two hours in each gameplay ‘session’
* 73% play at night
* 55% play on weekends
* 48% play when they have the house to themselves
* Top casual game genres:
1. Puzzle (67%)
2. Card (44%)
3. Strategy (35%)
4. Action (34%)
* 30% have downloaded more than 21 games in the last year
* 67% read game reviews and 46% of those who do feel they are influenced to try or purchase a new game by the reviews they read
* 84% access the Internet through a home broadband connection
* 70% have purchased a game after first playing it free of charge on the Internet
"Our survey has determined that mainstream audiences dedicate a substantial amount of time to gameplay -- not just in 15-minute increments as previously thought," said Loren Hillberg, executive vice president and general manager of Commerce at Macrovision.
Companies:
Macrovision