July 8 is National Video Game Day. The video game industry is big business, and for good reason—people of all ages invest plenty of time and money into all things gaming, from the titles themselves to accessories and hardware. We’re talking tens of billions of dollars each year. For years now, the revenue stream from gaming has surpassed that of the film industry and music industry combined. Who are these players who have made video gaming so popular? Just about everyone—players span generations, including children, parents, and even grandparents.
For many, when they hear “video games,” their mind immediately goes to Triple-A titles, including but not limited to first-person shooters like Rainbow Six Siege and Counter-Strike 2; RPGs like The Witcher 3 and Dark Souls III; horror games like Outlast 2 and Resident Evil 7; strategy games like Civilization V and Total War: Arena; and MMORPGs like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV. However, the video game industry is so much bigger and encompasses so many genres and categories, including physical and digital full games, subscriptions, as well as titles for console, cloud, mobile, portable, PC, and VR platforms. While console and PC games seem to get a large portion of the attention, mobile gaming has become the dominant platform for play, with more than three-quarters of all players using mobile devices.
No matter the genre or platform, there is a thread of commonality among games. They, and titles before them, have helped catapult the video game industry into a multibillion-dollar business.
We’ve all seen the massive lines snaking around the block as fans scramble to be the first of their friends to snag a highly anticipated game release. Even if the title is downloadable, they will participate in this ritual for a variety of reasons. Some seek a shared social experience, connecting with those who share their interests. Others are looking for personal gain, like launch party perks and exclusive offerings in the form of merch or even the game itself if the download version trails in availability. It is a chaotic scene but a cause for celebration by gamers.
Speaking of celebration, every July 8 is National Video Game Day, a holiday dedicated to, well, video games. Of course it has an officially recognized day—two of them, in fact (National Video Games Day is September 12). And why not? Gameplay is a favorite form of entertainment, with a significant percentage of people in the US playing video games regularly.
Video games surpassed the film industry in revenue years ago and has continued on an upward trajectory ever since. Music streaming? Not even close. Last year in the US, $59.3 billion was spent across all video game content categories—$51.3 billion on content, $4.9 billion on hardware, and $3.2 billion on accessories. In contrast, Statista reports that the domestic box-office earnings (which includes the US and Canada) during that time was $8.56 billion. The music industry fared better but still lagged behind with US recorded music revenues of $29 billion (combined wholesale and retail), reported by Digital Music News.
Simply, more people are investing their time and money on games, whether to pass time and relax, have fun, or keep their mind active and engaged. Also, the young gamers from the past have become an older generation who continue to play. Gaming has become a social phenomenon, with 72% of players say they have played with others in person or online, according to a report by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). What’s more, the report finds that 79% of Gen Alpha (born between 2011 and present-day) and Gen Z (1997–2012) reportedly play with their friends, while 55% of Gen Alpha play with their parents.
The ESA report revealed a number of other interesting findings. If you think video games are for 20-something-year-old guys, think again. The average age of the typical game player is now 36, an increase from 29 years of age 20 years ago, although in most age categories, males do outnumber their female counterparts. Nevertheless, women now represent 46% of gamers.
Who are today’s game players? Everyone, across all demographics. According to the ESA report, Gen Alpha leads the pack for those who play at least an hour or more each week, with Gen Z not that far behind. Those groups, along with Millennials and Gen Xers comprise more male players than female players. However, that trend is flipped for the Boomers and equal for the so-called Silent Generation, born between 1928 and 1945.
(Source: ESA)
Years ago, many parents discouraged their kids from playing video games, citing a litany of concerns ranging from the plausible to the ridiculous. One concern then, as it is now, focuses on the sedentary nature of gaming. However, the ESA study cites a link between virtual and actual sports, reporting that 56% of players 18 years and older who play sports in real life play a video game version of that same sport, while 87% believe the virtual game improves their real-life performance.
Also, as the population ages and the young players of yesteryear have become parents themselves, they are sharing in gameplay with their children.
• 64% of all Americans (roughly 205 million) play video games.
• 28% of those folks are age 50 or older.
• Of those who are parents, 82% play video games with their children.
• About half of those who are ages 61 to 79 play video games every week.
Indeed, video gaming is a popular pastime throughout the year, but for July 8, National Video Game Day, it is a particularly special day to grab that controller, phone, or keyboard and play. Looking for ways to mark this eventful day? Nationaltoday.com offers some suggestions:
• Stage a gaming marathon with friends and take a sick day from work.
• Whip out Mario Kart 64, and get ready to party like it’s 1999.
• Check out a video game-themed bar (for those at least 21 years of age).
• Dress up and channel your inner Luigi or Nathan Drake.
(Source: Nationaltoday)
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