Let the Gaming Begin!
Are You Playing Online Like Everybody Else?
February 27, 2009
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While gaming has been traditionally considered a “guy thing,” it is becoming increasingly clear that women are getting in on the action, too. Recent statistics challenge the old stereotype with staggering numbers.
The Consumer Electronics Association (www.ce.org) has found that there are many more women gamers in the 25 to 34 demographic (65 percent) than male gamers. And women between the ages of 35 and 49 are more likely to visit online gaming websites than even teenage boys, who barely have a higher percentage than women between the ages of 55 and 65, according to a Nelson//Net Surveys report. The Entertainment Software Association (www.theesa.com) says women are one of the industry’s fastest-growing demographics.
A key factor involved in these findings is the casual video game, which has become more popular than ever. Research shows women prefer less violent, competitive games and gravitate much more heavily toward those that either tease or train the brain, like solitaire or Tetris. This could explain why women are slightly less likely than men in the 25 to 34 bracket to play traditional console games on systems like PlayStation 2 or Xbox, but at the same time make up 62 percent of players on puzzle, card and trivia-based portals.
Research from America Online (AOL) has found that females over the age of 40 spend the most time per week playing online games at 9.1 hours, which accounts for 41 percent of their connection time.
A survey conducted by Digital Marketing Services (DMS) revealed that a significant portion of 40-something women in the United States use gaming almost daily as a way to relieve stress, increase skill levels and inspire social interaction. While only 22 percent of teens say they play games every day, 41 percent of 40-something women were daily gamers.
Among the sites hoping to capitalize on these trends is PrizeRoom.com, which officially launched in February. The site gives online users a quick and fun way to play dynamic and entertaining casual games online and also qualify to win great prizes and earn valuable incentives from some of the top brands in the world. Users earn points for playing and returning to the games more frequently, and can even opt for additional special values (such as coupons, freebies and much more).
“PrizeRoom comes onto the scene as a free entertainment option at a time when the economy is lagging and consumers are looking for ways to save money,” says Jim Seltzer, president and CEO of PrizeRoom. “The more you play, the more likely you are to win - and, because everything is paid for by our contest and prize sponsors, it’s all free.”
Other competitors in the market include WorldWinner.com, King.com and GameDuell.com. EA’s Pogo.com and Iwon.com are also popular portals among avid casual gamers.
Each month, more than 200 million people play casual games online, with the worldwide market totaling $2.25 billion in 2007 and expected to grow 20 percent year-over-year in established markets, according to the Casual Games Association (www.casualgamesassociation.org).
