Study: Female Gamers On The Rise, Online Gaming Steady

Some sources will like to claim that about half of the gamers out there are female, but those who actually participate in this hobby on a frequent basis know the number to be false. That stat includes anyone who may jump on the PC to play Solitaire at work; it doesn't feature avid gamers.

However, that doesn't mean the number of girl gamers isn't on the rise. According to the NPD's Gamer Augmentation 2009 report released today, approximately 28% of all console gamers are female, which is up from 23% last year. Not surprisingly, the study attributes this increase to the Nintendo Wii, and due to our readership here, we have no need to explain why. As for other interesting numbers, the "extreme gamers" played about 39 hours per week last year, as opposed to 46 hours the year before (the EverCrack babies are going outside!), but at the same time, it seems those with the least amount of money play the most. The "extreme gamers" fell into the lowest demographic in terms of household income and yet, they purchased an average of 24 games in the 2008 holiday quarter. ...now we know why they're broke. The good news is that "extreme gamers" only comprised about 4% of all gamers in the study, so that definitely supports my moderation theory. As for time spent online, that number has remained about the same; the average gamer spends about 38% of his or her time online, which seems a little high to us.

For the record, this study used 20,000 participants aged 2-65 (uh...2?) and was conducted in January of this year. Perhaps the Wii will act as a gateway for many female gamers out there and by 2015, females really will be closing in on half the gamer population. Then again, we have to remember that most video games seem intrinsically tied to male interests...but things can change.

P.S. That pic is gaming-related. Look closer...

6/30/2009 Ben Dutka

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Comments (Beta)

PSX
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:03:40 AM
Reply

The more the merrier.

1 up, 0 down

A2K78
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:27:39 AM
Reply

Why do people honestly care about whether one demographic or the other is playing games? I mean its not like game developers actually care other than the fact people are buying their games.

0 up, 0 down

slayerkillemall
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:34:49 AM
Reply

i wanna play with THAT controller... :)

yea,just as long as the big boys keep getting M rated games variety is good...

2 up, 0 down

JofaMang
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:41:48 AM
Reply

Your EverCrack reference warmed the cuckolds of my heart (whatever the hell those are). Many of my friends who gave me hell for playing an MMO so long ago are registered WoW addicts now, which is funny in the most Ironic of ways. I quit EQ a few years back after 7+ years of endgame play, and I must say, nothing feels all that hardcore anymore. Say, did you know that grass and trees ACTUALLY grow outdoors, and are not just perpendicularly placed 2D images?

AMAZING

0 up, 0 down

Belazor
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 8:08:36 PM

A cuckold is a guy whose wife cheats on him.

1 up, 0 down

TheHighlander
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:44:37 AM
Reply

Is it me, or does that image need a caption?

"Hello boys!"

2 up, 0 down

englishgolfer
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:08:25 PM

how about

"Game on" instead?

1 up, 0 down

zee
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 9:23:57 AM

How about "Lets PLAY!"?

0 up, 0 down

mexgeo86
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:45:51 AM
Reply

I think that over time there's been an evident change in gamer demographics. Back on the 16-bit era there were few titles that drew in my opinion, the interest of females: Super Mario World, Sonic. But now a days there's more variety (music games, most wii games) so it seems right that they're increasing year to year.

ps, great pic Ben.

1 up, 0 down

TheHighlander
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:57:35 AM

My wife enjoys the racing genre, RPGs, Madden, Strategy games like Civ Revolution and puzzle games. I'm not sure that games built specifically to appeal to female gamers have much point. Mainstream games simply need to tone down the sexism and misogyny, then perhaps they would have more appeal to female gamers instead of repelling them.

Last edited by TheHighlander on 6/30/2009 11:58:42 AM

3 up, 0 down

sticklife
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:32:14 PM

HA! I knew it! That IS ho girls play games! Right after they're done with the pillow fighting.

0 up, 0 down

slayerkillemall
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:55:30 AM
Reply

hey Ben,you know abot this ?

uncharted 2

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/06/29/uncharted-2-live-chat-with-naughty-dog-tomorrow-at-2pm-pacific/comment-page-2/#comments

0 up, 0 down

Sol
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 11:57:29 AM
Reply

It's a miracle... Seriously though out of all the gamer friends I know personally, only one is female.

0 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 12:07:06 PM
Reply

Too bad most of the girlgamers probably don't look like the woman in the picture.

2 up, 0 down

docpain
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:23:37 PM

my girl gamer looks BETTER than the girl in the pic

Last edited by docpain on 6/30/2009 1:23:46 PM

1 up, 4 down

Alienange
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 3:05:54 PM

docpain - same here. sadly it's the guy gamers that don't get out enough to know it's possible.

0 up, 0 down

www
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 12:12:41 PM
Reply

Home and Live played a major role.
I could say most these girls spend time socializing than actually playing the games.

Go HOME and you know what am talking about, a whole lot of females over there.

0 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:32:44 PM

of course you have to take into account the nutjobs that pretend to be women.

5 up, 0 down

www
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 2:03:30 PM

Ya i know, but i think most are REALLY women.

0 up, 0 down

Alienange
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 3:07:10 PM

www - I think you're right. A lot of those girls in Home are walking around with their girl friends... guys just wouldn't do that... would they?

0 up, 0 down

fluffer nutter
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 3:35:21 PM

A nutjob pretending to be a nutjob. Interesting.

1 up, 0 down

chucknasty
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 4:08:33 AM

I run around Home as a hot twenty-something chick w/ blue hair but IRL I am a thirty-ish guy, so yeah, I am throwing off your count.

0 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 6:25:36 AM

There are babes in it, trust me I know a really awesome female-friend who likes Home a lot.

0 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:05:02 PM
Reply

Sadly there really aren't many girl-gamers who actually play the better games.

They're mostly casual gamers.

In the end, I just call those 'pretentious gamers.' Specially females, who will get their fun and as soon as they get tired they'll drop gaming altogether 'till they actually find it fun 1 or 2 years down the line.

Games is like sports, it's for those who love it with a passion.

Last edited by Scarecrow on 6/30/2009 1:06:46 PM

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:35:12 PM
Reply

Girl gamers are a strange bunch, they can pick up the controller, play for a bit, then put it down like RIGHT in the middle of a fight, level, track, storyline, etc and just freaking walk away! They will just leave their character standing there. I gotta get to a good point, do the save, shut the system down carefully and try to remember what I was up to in case I get into another game and have to come back to it. Like I said, strange bunch

5 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 1:52:02 PM

lmfao

Again, proves my "pretentious" point.

0 up, 0 down

www
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 2:02:58 PM

Lol True.

0 up, 0 down

tlpn99
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 2:13:48 PM
Reply

Hahahaha World that made me smile so much but it is so true how can they do that. I am with you on that one World though re the finding a decent save spot and closing down safely lol :)

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 3:13:08 PM

no doubt man, ya gotta have your rituals and respect the experience, haha

1 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 3:09:45 PM
Reply

Girl gamers can suck a big one.

1 up, 7 down

Alienange
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 3:11:21 PM

Thanks for that insight weirdo.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 3:14:14 PM

maybe he was complementing them on their fellatio skills.

7 up, 0 down

fatelementality
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 3:25:06 PM

I detect a little stored rage. In all seriousness though, most girl gamers play the wii. Sorry, that's just how it is. Every girl I know won't even look at a 360 or PS3 unless a movie is playing on it. I know one girl that enjoys playing God of War and she's not much to look at.

0 up, 0 down

kevyd09
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 4:39:21 PM

well i have to say that my better(?) half had her own ps3 and used to play rainbow 2 vegas 2 with me and my mates and most of the time she would kick our asses on it, and we were good!! she was just better!! and sometimes id go into her room after being killed and she would have the fone to her ear held by her shoulder talking girly stuff and killing us at the same time!!

1 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 4:59:19 PM

@Alienange

So I'm a weirdo for using a very funny play on words? Well aren't you a meanie pants.

0 up, 1 down

chucknasty
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 4:11:05 AM

I am really beginning to despise you. You are the worst kind of attention whore troll. Can there be one thread you don't post a million times in w/ some nature of derisive comment?

1 up, 0 down

Alienange
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 10:47:27 AM

"a very funny play on words?" really? cause no one's laughing.

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 4:44:02 PM

I laughed so I guess you're wrong.

0 up, 0 down

Alienange
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 3:10:34 PM
Reply

I would just looove to see a source that thinks 50% of gamers are girls. That would be a laugh and a half. Talk about clueless. "Gamer" actually means something. My dad plays Tetris that doesn't make him a gamer! ... or a girl.

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 4:58:34 PM

You sure about that?

0 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 7:18:56 PM

Lol what does being a "gamer" mean? Enlighten us. Please.

0 up, 0 down

RadioHeader
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 4:24:13 PM
Reply

I'd really appreciate more females on PSN, cuz I'm fed up with coming last in Motorstorm PR.

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 4:58:45 PM

Burrrrrrrn

0 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 8:27:44 PM

HA.

0 up, 0 down

tes37
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 5:07:10 PM
Reply

I have a daughter that plays alot on the ps3, in fact, she hogs the thing. I usually have to pull rank on her and say please to play. I watched her drop people left and right with head shots in Uncharted. It's pretty entertaining watching her. She's just the coolest little girl gamer I know.

5 up, 0 down

Ricochet
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 @ 8:09:48 PM
Reply

First girls, then normal non-gamers, followed by parents. Paves the way to gaming entertainment to be as respected as movies, till that day comes.....

0 up, 0 down

Robochic
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 12:36:35 PM
Reply

I'm a female gamer :) I have tons of friends that are Female gamers and no we don't sit down and just play the Wii or play for an hour and turn the system off, we bet alot on how we play, we fight alot who is better, we also all use to work for some gaming company :)

I was the one that pleaded and beged my parents to help pay for my 20 gig PS3, I even made a power point presentation to why I must have one, my husband thought it was great and BAM i got one. Oh and i graduated with a Marketing degree so i'm not a dumb female either. I know tons about all consoles and if i don't know I ask the questions and listen I also research alot just my nature I guess, I even had my husband drooling when we met cause i was a bigger gamer than him. my Ps3 is mine and mine only I don't share he can have the wimpy PC :)

2 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 12:45:05 PM

"I even made a power point presentation to why I must have one..."

OMFG, WIN.

1 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 2:27:48 PM

@Robochic
You go girl!
"KUDO's to you"!!!!

0 up, 0 down

Alienange
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 3:37:33 PM

Could you make a power point presentation for Jawknee? He needs to know what a real gamer is.

1 up, 0 down

TheHighlander
Wednesday, July 01, 2009 @ 5:50:44 PM

@Alienage

Heaven help us. Next thing you know, someone will want a definition of 'player'....

0 up, 0 down

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