ESA report shows the average gamer is 41 - and nearly half are women

[waclark]

I used to play World of Warcraft and there was this saying:

"In WoW men are men, women are men, and girls are FBI agents".

While playing Wow, I have had 3 (wasn't sure as to 2 or 3, might be more) adult females and 2 MTF transsexuals hit on me. Your "50% females" is baloney.

My $ 0.02

P.S.: I never understood why they chose me and I am sure if you asked them now, they wouldn't know either as they were high at the time.

You should read the article. Not all games are online MMOs like WOW. I did play with a couple gals on WOW. They were spouses or girlfriends, but they were there. I suspect most women game on their iPhone and probably don't play games where you can interact with other people online. I'm sure some women do play MMOs, FPSes etc online but the majority don't.

 

[Liranan]

Wow, just wow... that’s a lot of paranoia packed into one comment.
No one’s “attacking men” by pointing out that women also play games, they literally make up nearly half of the gaming community today. That’s just data, not some global conspiracy by BlackRock or the UK government.

The irony is, the people screaming about “real gamers” are the ones doing the most damage to gaming culture. Gaming isn’t a boys only club anymore, it’s for anyone who picks up a controller. Maybe try accepting that instead of spiraling into political fan fiction.

So much obfuscation in one post, ignoring decades of "Games cause men to become violent" and "Loser incels in their mummy's basement playing WOW" and now fake organisations such as SBI, Collective Shout and others funded by the exact organisations you pretend aren't shady and have agenda's.

Obviously there's an agenda behind your post and it's clear as we've had decades of anti-gamer propaganda.

 

[Megalomaniac]

Once females realized they could be on camera, show off their bodies and feet and get paid, it was pretty much all over. Being a gamer chick is step 1. OF is step 2.

 

[hercozygaming]

Been playing on Nintendo consoles since I was 8. Now 41 and still playing puzzle-platformers, life-sims and mindless games. Used to play Destiny and D2 until I got bored of the story.

This comment section is the same reason why women don't say they play video games. It's not a safe space, and that stems from how some men see women in general, not just as gamers.

Fyi video games were always designed for everyone to play, it was the toxic advertising industry that saw a gap to target young boys rather than girls. So if you're gonna blame anything, blame that. Not the daughters, sisters, girlfriends, wives, aunts, grandmothers who are trying to escape their mundane responsibilities. Just let us game

 

[Michiel]

No one’s “attacking men” by pointing out that women also play games

Yes they do, constantly. They constantly go on about "toxic gamers", "gamer bros", "the male gaze" and nagging about "harrassment" and women supposedly not feeling included (but at the same time making up 50% apparently of "the gaming community" - make it make sense!)

they literally make up nearly half of the gaming community today. That’s just data, not some global conspiracy by BlackRock or the UK government.

Define "the gaming community". I don't really feel part of any "gaming community" but insofar as I do, that community does not include women (or men) who just play Candy Crush being counted as "gamers". This "gaming community" is just an llusion so feminists can virtue signal about how they took another space from men and boys and made it "inclusive" (meaning: excluding everyone with a different opinion), when it was never exclusive to men in the first place. It's always the same though: first a space is male-dominated, but accepting of women, then more women come in and start demanding changes because they don't like the things that men like. Then they start accusing the men of being "toxic" for pushing back against the thing they liked being transformed into something that no longer appeals to them just to accomodate women (a subset of women I might add, because not all women are nagging feminists). That's why men and women do like having their own spaces.

Gaming isn’t a boys only club anymore, it’s for anyone who picks up a controller.

It never was, that's just a fantasy created by angry feminists who saw a space that was predominantly (never exclusively) catering to a male audience and they wanted to destroy that because they hate men and boys having anything that caters to them specifically.

 

[Michiel]

Been playing on Nintendo consoles since I was 8. Now 41 and still playing puzzle-platformers, life-sims and mindless games. Used to play Destiny and D2 until I got bored of the story.

This comment section is the same reason why women don't say they play video games. It's not a safe space, and that stems from how some men see women in general, not just as gamers.

Fyi video games were always designed for everyone to play, it was the toxic advertising industry that saw a gap to target young boys rather than girls. So if you're gonna blame anything, blame that. Not the daughters, sisters, girlfriends, wives, aunts, grandmothers who are trying to escape their mundane responsibilities. Just let us game

Your story about "game being always "designed for everyone to play" just isn't true. Of course, games didn't come with a "boys only!" label on it, but the reality was (and still is) that by far most people creating games are men, and thus created games that were of interest to them. And it was always (and will always be) the case that men and boys simply have a higher interest in computers and technology in the first place. It has zero to do with "the advertising industry" (who of course would be crazy to only target 50% of the market if they thought they could target 100%). Of course none of that means that girls/women couldn't or shouldn't also play games (it's not as if there's no overlap between male and female interests). Funnily enough the games that are most popular with women (like The Sims) were also created by men.
I love to hear from women that they play games. But as soon as they start whining about safe spaces they can go take a hike. That goes for men too btw.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Once females realized they could be on camera, show off their bodies and feet and get paid, it was pretty much all over. Being a gamer chick is step 1. OF is step 2.

-Women selling sex is literally the oldest profession in the world.

If a chick games and she's attractive, OF is in many ways the safest method for that woman to monetize her body without being physically in danger from her clients.

Unfortunately men have to sell their bodies doing hard labor instead, a minor trade-off to god's gift of being born a man.

 

[Pushzer]

I don't understand, what does the number refer to? it cannot be the age or the amount of gamers. I mean; really? AVERAGE age 41 years old? /sarcasm off. Anyhow reading this made me feel not quite as old for a second, that's great I guess..

 

[Loadedaxe]

Yes they do, constantly. They constantly go on about "toxic gamers", "gamer bros", "the male gaze" and nagging about "harrassment" and women supposedly not feeling included (but at the same time making up 50% apparently of "the gaming community" - make it make sense!)



Define "the gaming community". I don't really feel part of any "gaming community" but insofar as I do, that community does not include women (or men) who just play Candy Crush being counted as "gamers". This "gaming community" is just an llusion so feminists can virtue signal about how they took another space from men and boys and made it "inclusive" (meaning: excluding everyone with a different opinion), when it was never exclusive to men in the first place. It's always the same though: first a space is male-dominated, but accepting of women, then more women come in and start demanding changes because they don't like the things that men like. Then they start accusing the men of being "toxic" for pushing back against the thing they liked being transformed into something that no longer appeals to them just to accomodate women (a subset of women I might add, because not all women are nagging feminists). That's why men and women do like having their own spaces.



It never was, that's just a fantasy created by angry feminists who saw a space that was predominantly (never exclusively) catering to a male audience and they wanted to destroy that because they hate men and boys having anything that caters to them specifically.

That’s a pretty exaggerated take. The gaming community isn’t some secret boys only club, it’s just people who play games, whether that’s Candy Crush or Elden Ring. You don’t get to gatekeep what counts as a real gamer just because some genres attract different audiences.

And no, women talking about harassment or inclusion isn’t an attack on men, it’s acknowledging that online spaces can be hostile sometimes. Pretending that doesn’t happen doesn’t make you a defender of real gamers, it just shows you’re stuck in an outdated mindset.

The idea that feminists “took” gaming from men is just laughable. Games are better, bigger, and more creative than ever precisely because more people are involved....men and women both.....and don't call me a feminist, I just happen to have a wife and a few daughter's that play online games and have been for many years.

 

[Loadedaxe]

So much obfuscation in one post, ignoring decades of "Games cause men to become violent" and "Loser incels in their mummy's basement playing WOW" and now fake organisations such as SBI, Collective Shout and others funded by the exact organisations you pretend aren't shady and have agenda's.

Obviously there's an agenda behind your post and it's clear as we've had decades of anti-gamer propaganda.

Wow, the conspiracy theory. There’s no agenda behind pointing out that gaming culture has grown and evolved...it’s just reality. The old “games cause violence” panic was pushed by mainstream media and politicians, not by the same people now advocating for inclusion or better community standards.

And calling every group you disagree with fake or funded by shady orgs doesn’t make your point stronger...it just shows you’d rather imagine enemies than admit the gaming scene has changed. The truth is, gaming’s never been under attack, it’s just not exclusively yours anymore, and that seems to be the real issue here.

 

[Robertointriago]

Mobile should be treated like a completely different cathegory, even calling them "gamers" should be re-evaluated. My wife spent hundreds of hours playing Candy Crush, but she has abosolutely no interest in video games.

 

[Loadedaxe]

Mobile should be treated like a completely different cathegory, even calling them "gamers" should be re-evaluated. My wife spent hundreds of hours playing Candy Crush, but she has abosolutely no interest in video games.

Gamer:
: a person who plays games
especially : a person who regularly plays computer or video games.

 

[Phyrino]

Gamer:
: a person who plays games
especially : a person who regularly plays computer or video games.

Computer or video games...
So not mobile or tablet apps.
Is that were we can draw the line?

 

[Loadedaxe]

Computer or video games...
So not mobile or tablet apps.
Is that were we can draw the line?

That’s an arbitrary line to draw. Games are games...the device doesn’t magically determine whether something counts. If someone spends hours strategizing in a complex mobile title or competing online with others, that’s gaming. The medium has evolved, pretending mobile games don’t count is just gatekeeping to protect an outdated sense of what being a gamer means.

 

[Liranan]

Wow, the conspiracy theory. There’s no agenda behind pointing out that gaming culture has grown and evolved...it’s just reality. The old “games cause violence” panic was pushed by mainstream media and politicians, not by the same people now advocating for inclusion or better community standards.

And calling every group you disagree with fake or funded by shady orgs doesn’t make your point stronger...it just shows you’d rather imagine enemies than admit the gaming scene has changed. The truth is, gaming’s never been under attack, it’s just not exclusively yours anymore, and that seems to be the real issue here.

You're right, I admit that you are correct and I'm wrong. My mum, who plays solitaire on her defective phone when she's on the loo is equal to me, who has played certain games since 2005, not to mention the largest tournament participants, who win millions.

According to your logic a 6 month old baby is a D&D player just because it threw a dice.

And gaming isn't under attack? It's obvious how disingenuous you are.

 

[Liranan]

Gamer:
: a person who plays games
especially : a person who regularly plays computer or video games.

This is the nonsensical propaganda that has led to masterpieces like Concord, Failguard and all the closed studios.

You are the modern audience they cater to, I hope you've bought those millions of copies that the rest of us, whose pronouns are non-buynary, refuse to buy.

 

[Loadedaxe]

You're right, I admit that you are correct and I'm wrong. My mum, who plays solitaire on her defective phone when she's on the loo is equal to me, who has played certain games since 2005, not to mention the largest tournament participants, who win millions.

According to your logic a 6 month old baby is a D&D player just because it threw a dice.

And gaming isn't under attack? It's obvious how disingenuous you are.

You’re arguing against something I never said. Nobody claimed your mom playing Solitaire makes her an eSports champion, but pretending that casual gaming somehow invalidates all other forms of gaming is just as ridiculous. Gaming is a massive, diverse medium....it includes everything from competitive tournaments to people playing word puzzles on their phones.

And as for “gaming being under attack,” that’s just hyperbole. Criticism or regulation of certain aspects doesn’t equal persecution. Not everyone questioning your hobby is part of some grand conspiracy.

 

[Loadedaxe]

This is the nonsensical propaganda that has led to masterpieces like Concord, Failguard and all the closed studios.

You are the modern audience they cater to, I hope you've bought those millions of copies that the rest of us, whose pronouns are non-buynary, refuse to buy.

Ah yes, the dictionary definition is now “propaganda.” That’s a new one.

You’re blaming an entire audience for corporate decisions made by publishers chasing trends, not the people who simply play games. Studios don’t close because someone plays casually...they close because of mismanagement, overspending, or chasing fads.

I live in truth and reality, not in fiction or genderisms. The idea that defining “gamer” accurately somehow ruins the industry is just absurd. Maybe the problem isn’t the audience, just maybe it’s the nostalgia and bitterness that blinds you to how gaming has actually evolved.

 

[Liranan]

You’re arguing against something I never said. Nobody claimed your mom playing Solitaire makes her an eSports champion, but pretending that casual gaming somehow invalidates all other forms of gaming is just as ridiculous. Gaming is a massive, diverse medium....it includes everything from competitive tournaments to people playing word puzzles on their phones.

And as for “gaming being under attack,” that’s just hyperbole. Criticism or regulation of certain aspects doesn’t equal persecution. Not everyone questioning your hobby is part of some grand conspiracy.

But my mum is a gAiMuRrR!1! because she plays a 'game'.

 

[Liranan]

Ah yes, the dictionary definition is now “propaganda.” That’s a new one.

You’re blaming an entire audience for corporate decisions made by publishers chasing trends, not the people who simply play games. Studios don’t close because someone plays casually...they close because of mismanagement, overspending, or chasing fads.

I live in truth and reality, not in fiction or genderisms. The idea that defining “gamer” accurately somehow ruins the industry is just absurd. Maybe the problem isn’t the audience, just maybe it’s the nostalgia and bitterness that blinds you to how gaming has actually evolved.

Then save these companies, it's on you, be a hero and save the New York simulator (*** Creed Fail) and that beautiful Taash. As I said, these pieces of propaganda, which you are trying to claim are games, were made for the modern audience (you).

 

[waclark]

Yes they do, constantly. They constantly go on about "toxic gamers", "gamer bros", "the male gaze" and nagging about "harrassment" and women supposedly not feeling included (but at the same time making up 50% apparently of "the gaming community" - make it make sense!)



Define "the gaming community". I don't really feel part of any "gaming community" but insofar as I do, that community does not include women (or men) who just play Candy Crush being counted as "gamers". This "gaming community" is just an llusion so feminists can virtue signal about how they took another space from men and boys and made it "inclusive" (meaning: excluding everyone with a different opinion), when it was never exclusive to men in the first place. It's always the same though: first a space is male-dominated, but accepting of women, then more women come in and start demanding changes because they don't like the things that men like. Then they start accusing the men of being "toxic" for pushing back against the thing they liked being transformed into something that no longer appeals to them just to accomodate women (a subset of women I might add, because not all women are nagging feminists). That's why men and women do like having their own spaces.



It never was, that's just a fantasy created by angry feminists who saw a space that was predominantly (never exclusively) catering to a male audience and they wanted to destroy that because they hate men and boys having anything that caters to them specifically.

There are toxic gamers, you can see that in any session of COD or similar games.

As for the definition of the "gaming" community I would say it's anyone that plays games on PC, consoles, phones/tablets et al on a regular basis. I'd say that community is large and includes most anyone with a smartphone.

If you want to be pedantic you could narrow that community to only people that play games on consoles or PCs. But you are right in that it's never been "exclusive" to males it's just that more males got into gaming in the early days and have been the majority of gaming participants for many years. Yes, it's changing and has been for decades.

I don't think anyone is trying to score "points" in stating that females are now more common and even 50% of the gaming community (whichever definition you use). I think most women who go into gaming said, "hey, that looks like fun, I think I'll give it a try". No conspiracy here.

 

[Loadedaxe]

Then save these companies, it's on you, be a hero and save the New York simulator (*** Creed Fail) and that beautiful Taash. As I said, these pieces of propaganda, which you are trying to claim are games, were made for the modern audience (you).

What a take. So let me get this straight....it’s my solemn duty to save the world from propaganda games like New York Simulator a.k.a. Creed Fail..... and the ancient scrolls of Taash?

Incredible. I didn’t realize we were in such a cultural emergency. Thank you for bravely connecting these dots no one asked you to connect. The galaxy brain levels at work here are truly something to behold.