ConsumerScope

Gaming: The First CE Contact

By Todd Thibodeaux

Video games are a regular part of many teenagers' lives. According to new eBrain Research, approximately 84 percent of teens age 12 to 17 own a video game console. Furthermore, just over three-quarters (77 percent) of these teens use the system themselves, with 58 percent playing video games for an hour or more every week. Teens who don't personally use the system are more likely to be older (age 15 to 17) and female. Understanding teen video game habits, such as the number of years they have been playing, with whom they play and how they learn about new games, as well as video game system characteristics and interest in other entertainment via a video game console, is crucial in understanding this fast moving marketplace.

Few teen video gamers are newbies, only 1 percent having started playing within the past year. Instead, many are veteran gamers, with two-thirds playing for at least 5 years. One way teens can differ from each other is in the way they play video games. There are several different kinds of video game players. Some teens are consistent players, while others go through phases. Some might play for purely social purposes, while others see video games as a casual diversion. Many (45 percent) teen gamers consider themselves to be casual players, playing only when they don't have anything else to do. On the other hand, 19 percent indicate that they play video games on a regular basis. Males are more likely to regard themselves as regular players, whereas females are more likely to view video games as a social activity.