Study Says Gamers More Social Than Non-Gamers, Non-Gamers Hide In Parents' Basement
For as long as there has been a gaming culture, the stereotype has been that gamers are social shut-ins who live in their parents' basement. Those of us who actually are gamers know that this is far from the truth, but it can be hard to convince some skeptics that gamers are actually well rounded individuals. That's why it's so great that IGN and Ipsos Media CT conducted a study that shows not only that gamers are far more socially active than stereotypes would suggest, but that in many ways they are even more social than those who are not gamers.
Some highlights from the study include:
- 55% of gamers are married
- 48% of gamers have children
- The average age of new gamers is 32
- 75% of gamers play socially, either online or in person
- 47% of gamers use videogames as a family activity
- Gamers are twice as likely to go on dates than non-gamers
- Gamers are 13% more likely to go out to a movie
- Gamers are 11% more likely to play sports
- Gamers are 9% more likely to go out with friends
- The average gamer household earns more ($79,000) than the average non-gamer household ($54,000)
What I especially love about this study is that it debunks the stereotype that gamers who are social can only be social through videogames, and in fact shows that gamers are more social outside of videogames than non-gamers. There's one thing nagging on my mind though. How much higher would that marriage statistic be with legalized gay marriage? Maybe if California votes no on prop 8 we'll find out (hint hint).
How do you all feel about these results? Do they reflect your own social habits? Can the basement-dweller stereotype even still be supported?
IGN and Ipsos MediaCT Debut Most Comprehensive Research Study to Date on the Changing Face of Videogamers [Business Wire]
NaviFairy
Posted to Video Games on 23 October 2008
· Comments (1)
Other stuff like this: gamers, research, social, study
half of those things aren't really social.
being married = social life killer
children = social life killer
resorting to family games = as good as your social life with kids is gonna get