Port Washington,
N.Y. – The average number of
hours spent playing online games each week has increased 10% since 2009, from
7.3 to 8 hours per week, according to a report from market research firm NPD
Group.
The number of gamers saying they play games online actually fell from
56% in 2008 to 54% in 2010, indicating that those who are playing games online
are spending more time playing than they did last year.
"While the
percentage of the population that reports playing games has declined slightly,
this study details other metrics which point to both stability and growth in both
online and offline gaming," said NPD analyst Anita Frazier.
The report
also found that the percentage of online games purchased via digital download
increased from 18% in 2008 to 20% in 2010.
NPD found no significant
changes in the percent of online gamers who acquired a new title over the
holiday season between 2008 and 2010, which the firm suggests means that "online
gamers’ purchasing behavior may not have been impacted significantly by the
recession and may bode well for future pockets of economic weakness."
The
PC remains the most popular platform for online gaming, used by 85% of online gamers,
compared to the 48% who said they play online using the Xbox 360, and nearly
30% who cited the PlayStation 3 or Wii, respectively.
Related Links:
http://www.npd.com
