Gamers 'R' Us -- ALL of Us... So Says New AOL-AP Poll
"Those crazy gamer kids..."
How many times have we heard some variation on that theme? But survey data recently released by AOL demonstrates that game-playing cuts across both generational and gender lines.
"Gaming is a social experience that hits all spectrums of consumers - males, females, young and old," said Ralph Rivera, Vice-president and General Manager of AOL Games, referring to a poll of gamers his company made in cooperation with the Associated Press.
In order to compile the date, AOL surveyed more than 3,000 adults across the USA via telephone. A significant number - 1,046, to be exact - said they had played video games during the month of April. One of the survey's major findings was that those who reported playing online are twice as likely to spend at least $500 per year on games than their counterparts who play offline. That's not especially surprising when expenses such as XBox Live subscriptions, broadband access, and even virtual WoW gold are considered.
AOL also found urban dwellers (52%) more likely to game online than their suburban neighbors (41%).
More interesting, though, is the comparison of male to female gamers. While the gaming community as a whole is still more lads than lasses, it's the menfolk who are proving more sociable, with 32% of them jumping into the multiplayer scene, while only 23% of the gamer ladies partake in online play. In fact, one in four men report having forged ongoing friendships with strangers in online games, compared to only 17% of women. Exactly what constitutes a "friendship," however, remains undefined.
One last surprise comes from the increasing prevalence of the so-called Gray Gamer. AOL found that 14% of adults age 65 or older play at least 10 hours per week. Suddenly the in-game taunt, "You play like my Grandma!" doesn't seem so bad...
-Reporting from the U.K., GamePolitics Euro-spondent Mark Kelly
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