ESSENTIAL
FACTS
ABOUT THE COMPUTER
AND VIDEO GAME
INDUSTRY
2006
SALES, DEMOGRAPHIC AND USAGE DATA
© 2006 Entertainment Software Association
“The video game industry is entering a new
era, an era where technology and creativity
will fuse to produce some of the most
stunning entertainment of the 21st Century.
Decades from now, cultural historians will
look back at this time and say it is when the
definition of entertainment changed forever.”
– Douglas Lowenstein, President, Entertainment Software Association
“Games are widely used as educational tools,
not just for pilots, soldiers and surgeons, but
also in schools and businesses…. Games
require players to construct hypotheses, solve
problems, develop strategies, learn the rules
of the in-game world through trial and error.
Gamers must also be able to juggle several
different tasks, evaluate risks and make quick
decisions…. Playing games is, thus, an ideal
form of preparation for the workplace of the
21st century, as some forward-thinking firms
are already starting to realise.”
– The Economist, August 4, 2005
Who Plays What?
Who Plays Computer and Video Games? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Who Buys Computer and Video Games? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
How Long Have Gamers Been Playing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2005 Computer and Video Game Sales by Rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
What Were the Top-Selling Game Genres in 2005? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
What Were the Top-Selling Games of 2005? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Parents and Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Parents Play Games. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
What Else Are Gamers Doing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Who Plays What? Online and Wireless Games
How Many Gamers Play Games Online?. . .