Study: Average Australian Gamer Is 32 Years Old

A new study by professors at Bond University, Australia, has found that the average Australian gamer is 32 years old, while nine out of ten households in the country now own a gaming device. The 'Digital Australia' report sampled over 1,200 Australian households, and notes that the increase in gamers using mobile devices has led to a rise in "snack gaming" among Australian players. Over all those households surveyed who play games, 43 percent said they play games on a mobile phone, while 13 percent noted that they play games on a tablet. The study also found that nearly one in five Australian gamers play social network games. Elsewhere in the report, it notes that 47 percent of gamers surveyed were female, while 75 percent were 18 years in age or older. The average adult gamer has been playing for 12 years in total on average. In terms of retail versus digital purchases, 43 percent of gamers said they bought games from a local retailer, while 22 percent buy digitally from the likes of PlayStation Network or Xbox Live, and 14 percent buy boxed titles from online stores. Dr Jeff Brand, associate professor at Bond University and author of the report, explained, "The average Australian gamer is 32 years old and we've moved well away from the traditional teenage boy stereotype of a gamer." "Australian gamers are parents and grandparents 'snacking' on games when they're commuting to work on the bus or train, or while they’re filling in that little bit of time between meetings." Ron Curry, CEO of Interactive Games & Entertainment Australia, added, "Four in five parents are playing video games with their children and most believe it's a great way to educate and spend time with their children. Australian gamers are growing up and 43 per cent of people aged over 50 now play video games."