Almost two-thirds of all casual gaming users are now playing their games online, says a new study from The NPD Group Inc.
The study finds that among video game systems used for online gaming, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has the highest percentage of use at 54%, followed by Sony’s PlayStation at 45%.
A relatively large percentage of online gamers – 42% - are female, says NPD. Overall, online gamers are most likely to be age 25-44, console owners, casual gamers who like interactive card, puzzle, word and arcade games and live in households with annual income of $35,000 to $75,000.
“The audience for online games is still largely the casual player,” says NPD analyst Anita Frazier. “Understanding exactly who is playing what and where is crucial for the industry to realize the potential revenue that online games represent for future growth.”
When it comes to hours per week spent playing games online, Xbox 360 users top the list at 7.1 hours per week, followed by PlayStation 3 users at 6.1 hours and PC/Mac users at 5.8 hours, says NPD.
44% of consumers who play online prefer card, puzzle, arcade and word games and 25% family-oriented games. Online gambling also is gaining in popularity, with 17% of gamers preferring online gambling/casino games such as poker. PC online gamers are more inclined to prefer casual, family oriented and gambling games, while console and portable online gamers are more inclined to prefer non-casual game formats such as shooting and racing games, the study says.
NPD based its research on responses from a panel of 11,600 consumers.
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