The Demography of Modern Gaming – Who’s Playing?

In the public mind, the term “gaming” conjures up a very specific image of a certain type of person. Those of an older generation might assume that a gamer is a young person, more often than not a man, who sits at home all day playing computer games in a darkened room. But that’s far from accurate, and there’s actually a whole range of people who enjoy a good game using modern technology from time to time. This blog post will explore who is playing what in the modern age.

Age

While sites like bonusseeker are designed specifically for adults, there are now plenty of sites which are accessible to young people. Play and games consoles have been a part of teenage life for years. The mental image of teenage boys playing games online in their bedrooms is a common one, and it’s something that many parents will recognize. But the difference now is that children who are much younger than teenagers are also getting involved. In large part, this is down to the rise in classroom-based learning which uses games and teaches children how to use the equipment needed for them, such as tablets. And it’s also to do with increasingly busy lifestyles, under which parents and other caregivers find themselves so stressed on a regular basis that they are unable to spend as much time with their kids – and so leave them with a game instead.

Gender

Generally, people make the assumption that its men who are more likely to play games than women, and this trope has appeared in many popular films, television shows and more. But that doesn’t hold up to scrutiny in the modern age. The variety of games on offer, for example, means that there’s something to please everyone. As a result, some studies have found that there may even be a 50-50 gender split in modern gaming! One survey from Pew found that more women own games consoles than men – although that might be more to do with women being primary caregivers, and hence “owning” consoles on behalf of other family members.

Nationality

In theory, gaming shouldn’t be a pursuit restricted on the basis of physical or geographical location. But on many occasions, it sadly is – and there are some games which are geo-restricted, meaning that they can only be accessed in certain physical locations. But even this demographic barrier is starting to be broken down. A virtual private network, or VPN, allows a gamer to create the illusion that they are located somewhere they’re not – meaning that they can get around these barriers and enjoy the games they love no matter where they are located.

Gaming is no longer a niche pursuit enjoyed by certain stereotypical groups, such as young people or men. On the contrary, it’s now a popular pastime which is enjoyed by young and old people, and both men and women – and now’s the time to find a game you love and start playing.

Harry Thompson

Visual journalist/Graduating student, University of Missouri-Columbia. Lover of everything in the gaming industry and an avid fan of all films!