Study Reveals 35% of Parents Play Video Games

[fitbabits]

Thanks to Yahoo! Finance (http://biz.yahoo.com) for the news (http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060126/20060126005185.html?.v=1).

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 26, 2006--Thirty-five percent of American parents say they play computer and video games, according to an unprecedented national survey released today by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates. Among these "gamer parents," 80% report that they play video games with their children, and two-thirds (66%) feel that playing games has brought their families closer together.

"This first-ever study of 'gamer parents' dramatizes the increasing and positive role that video games play in American family entertainment," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA, the trade group representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. "The data provide further evidence dispelling the myth that game playing is dominated by teens and single twenty-somethings. It tells us that parents see games both as an enjoyable activity on their own, and one that allows them to engage with their children as well."
Some fascinating information in the news story (for those of you who bother to check it out). I know that there are a few parents here - what do you think of the study?

[Nite_Moogle]

O RLY?

I guess the video game generation is starting to reach the age where they are having kids of their own, so this shouldn't really be that surprising. If this proves to be accurate, maybe some people will wake up and realize this isn't a little kid's market anymore.

[QueQueg]

I definately agree that gaming with your children is a positive way to spend time with them. My son and I have a lot more bonding time than my father and I did, and most of that is spent cooperating or competing in console games.

Also, as a gamer parent, I feel that my overall awareness of the rating system is much higher than non-gamer parents I know. On one hand, I have no problem allowing my 8-yr-old to enjoy the Ratchet and Clank games (even though they're T games), but I'd also never allow him to play GTA3, for example.

In our household, we've implemented a "cool-down" time that begins at least an hour before bed-time, where all electonics are shut off and we play checkers, connect four, or various other board games. In the long run, I think these times are probably more "valuable", but the time spent thrashing him in Burnout 3 is just as rewarding.

[Citizen Philip]

It's a trap!

Jack Thompson and Hillary Clinton are hiding behind the next hill with a lynch mob!

[Mrbunchypants]

Yes the time has come for the nintendo generation to grow up and have kids.

If fact I think that was a few years ago as I remeber some of my old coworkers use to all play C&C togeather. Ahhh good times.

And it really isn't a bad thing playing games with your child. I rember read a story about a dad that let his eight year old daughter play halo. And he remarked that no only how she was better than him but how to her it was a race to get to the next lvl and not about killing everything in sight.

Can't wait till my son I old enough to play game with. :D

[Javi]

I'm 28. My mom plays GameCube. She's 56. She loves Zelda and Fire Emblem.

[Nesta]

Damn straight I play video games. My daughter loves watching me play, too. When she gets old enough to use a controller, she's going to play, too.

[dotbomb]

I'm down with this as being positive. My 2.5 year old son really loves Geometry Wars. He calls it "sparkle sparkle boom boom". He likes the music and the lights and it is a great way for me to teach him about sharing since he tends to hog the controller. Sometimes he even scores some points!

He also likes Joust and does a pretty good job flying.

The other added benefit is when I'm doing this with him it gives mom a well needed break.

[agentgray]

And the other 65% are letting their kids play games that are not appropriate for them.

[XxSATANxX]

I have daughters. 13 and 14. Unless it has something to do with myspace.com right now they are tuned out as far as games with Dad. They still like looking over my shoulder while I'm playing but we don't play together much. They were cracking me up while I was playing F.E.A.R. saying it was a ripoff of The Ring. My younger daughter plays killzone and puzzle games, my older daughter is trying to add every annoying metal band on the planet to her myspace.

The best game we ever played together was OUTLAWS. They were little. I'm going to be getting GUN right after I kick Razors ass in NFSPDMW. The girls liked the whole idea of Gun I'm hoping it don't suck!

[Alex]

My daughter and I fight over the GameCube all the time. We have fun playing Katamari Damacy though.

And Gun sucks, dude. Plus there isn't any multiplayer component at all.

[TheKeck]

Well, I know my dad plays real games and my mom plays fake games, and as soon as I start popping out kids, their dad will play games. :)

[rein]

My daughter and I used to play games together. Now she is a junior in high school and has no time for silly games. She has out grown her dad. *cry*

[askheaves]

Remember that probably 50%+ of these respondants play FreeCell, Spider and Zuma and consider themselves gamers.

Edit: Apparently there was an FA for me to RT. I redact... or retract... or whatever.

[DjinniMan]

I am a 31 year old gamer, and have been playing games since the Atari 2600. Games have always been a part of my life, and thus it is only natural that it is a part of my own kids' lives too.

I have 4 and 11 year old boys, and they play games every day. The Gamecube and my MAME arcade cabinet are most popular, but the Gameboys and DSes get plenty of play in the car. Actually, at home too, since both boys have to play Game Boy to go to the bathroom. :)

The four year old rocks at arcade fighters like Ninja Turtles in Time. The 11 year old is a total cheater and beats me often in Soul Caliber 2 and Super Smash Brother Melee.

I'm glad the boys share my love for games. We are closer as a result!

[gzsfrk]

I'm 29 and just had my first child, a beautiful baby girl, this past September. I'm also a lifelong gamer (TI-80->Atari->C64->PC->Xbox/GCN/PS2), and although the amount of time I'm able to spend playing games is dramatically reduced, I still love to play. And my little girl even likes to watch me play sometimes, especially when I hold her in my lap and we play Guitar Hero together. :)

All in all, I can't wait till she gets old enough to really start playing video games with me, although I will very likely enforce a much tougher videogame--to--other-types-of-play ratio than my mother held me to. I'll probably be Vitamin D deficient for the rest of my life due to my sad lack of exposure to sunlight from ages 10-17. ;)

But yes, I do agree that parents who are/were also gamers will have a much better understanding about which games their children should and should not be allowed to play. I hope someone does a follow-up study on that in a few years.

Cheers...

[zombiekiller13]

it's been said already, but the gaming generations are getting older, so this number is just going to go up. first the Atari group, then Nintendo, and soon, the gaming children of the 90's.

and I feel like a more responsible parent with my gaming background. I'm not going to be one of these brainless dads who goes out and buys their kid a game just because they want it. I read video game magazines, know what the ESRB ratings mean, and know not to buy a game that might be titled "Death Rally Kill 'Em All Smash Time Blood Hour" for my 8 year old (well, when my 2 year old turns 8). and I won't keep him from playing games...I'll just make sure it's not the only thing he does, as my parents did for me.

gamers parents are just better than non-gamer parents :)

[Roc Ingersol]

Yeah, gamers are growing up. When we get around to voting in large numbers, we won't have to suffer through any more stupid 'ban violent videogames' bullshit.

[dr_wily]

havin a boy in Feb, so I guess that will make me part of this statistic.

im totally going to beat him at rc pro am.

[fitbabits]

havin a boy in Feb, so I guess that will make me part of this statistic.

im totally going to beat him at rc pro am.
Congrats and good luck.

[gzsfrk]

Yeah, gamers are growing up. When we get around to voting in large numbers, we won't have to suffer through any more stupid 'ban violent videogames' bull----.

Actually, as a "gamer dad", I have to say that I do not share the knee-jerk reaction that most people here seem to exhibit at ANY mention of game sales regulation. Not to get off-topic in this post, but it is related to the notion of more and more parents having grown up with games.

Just to clarify, there should not be in place any prohibition against the development of games with violent, sexual, or other content. HOWEVER, I do not disagree with the idea that games should not be sold to children who do not meet the recommended age requirement of the ESRB rating. Note that I -would not- support giving the government the ability to decide which game receives what rating, but I think that establishing that games can only be sold to children who meet the age requirements AS DEFINED by the ESRB (which I think does a good job of properly rating the games in each category, although I think the distinction between rated 'M' and 'AO' games needs to be better defined) would be an overall good thing.

Would it stop ALL children from having access to and playing games they're not able to purchase themselves? Of course not; I've seen the parents who stand in line and then buy San Andreas for their 9 year old despite the clerk pointing out the game's rating. But at least it would be a barrier to entry that would help prevent my daughter (and any future children I might have) from gaining access to materials I wouldn't approve for her without my knowledge. Much the same way I am glad that she will not be able to walk into a convenience store when she is 12 and purchase beer or a pack of cigarettes. Granted, -I- would still have the option to purchase them for her (not that I would ever consider it), but her access to them in the absence of my approval becomes more restricted, which is the whole idea.

Granted, it's not a black and white issue (and in reality, few are), but on this one, I think the pros of a PROPERLY instituted age-purchase requirement are far greater than the cons. What it really comes down to isn't that most people think this is a bad idea in and of itself, but they fear that the scope of the laws will be expanded in the future.

Oh, and one other thing--just because gamers are growing up, doesn't necessarily mean that's going to lead to a new majority of voters who think the way you do. According to the article, the political affiliation breakdown of the sample among gamer parents was 36% Democrat, 35% Republican, which is almost identical to the population at large. Also remember that people tend on average to become a good deal more moderate (liberals less hard-line liberal, conservatives less hard-line conservative) as they age. Also interesting to note, people who become PARENTS ultimately skew more conservative than those who have no children (http://usconservatives.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/epolls/US/P000.html). So either the conservatives are having more babies (possible) or the effect of parenthood on average tends to encourage protectionism (typically a conservative trait as it relates to violence, drugs, and sexuality).

At least, that's my opinion on the matter. Feel free to (courteously) disagree. :)

[TheLengua]

So here's my plan: I'm going to raise my child from birth to become a gaming godess. I'm going to adopt a baby Korean girl, that way I can capitalize on both the inherent Korean gaming genes and the shock value of a girl gamer. Her room will be wallpapered with strategy guides, and her lullabies will be vg soundtracks. Hopefully I'll find some way of modding a beastly computer into her crib. Instead of teddy bears she'll be getting vg tie-in plushes. Can you say home-schooling? That's right, 10 hours a day of arcade history, gaming culture, and of course, gaming homework. I can't decide on her name, but I'm leaning towards Tronna. What do you guys think?

[TheLengua]

HOWEVER, I do not disagree with the idea that games should not be sold to children who do not meet the recommended age requirement of the ESRB rating.

There doesn't really seem to be an epidemic of children stealing money from their parents, sneaking off to the video game store, and bringing back MA rated games and playing them in secret. The real problem here is apathy, not the children buying games without their parent's knowledge. Imagine if we were to restrict books based on a rating system. I know I wouldn't have been able to read a lot of mature books that were formative in my development. You may argue that video games aren't art, but if we don't give them the chance, they never will be.

There are a lot of rated R movies that I could never see just because of some arbitrary standard. At the age of 16 I was more than capable of interpreting and understanding these movies, and I could've benefited from seeing them. In the long run, the restrictions meant to "protect" children hurt them a lot more than freedom.

[Verocity]

I'm 31 and have a 5 year old daughter. She already enjoys playing Mario Kart and Mario Party with me which is great and she's not half bad to boot. My wife and I got her a gameboy a few month ago and she loves playing that as well. I also got her a nice library of learning games for the PC that she playes.

Of course we regulate her time playing games but at least she enjoys playing them with us - I can't imagine this lasting through her teens.

[gzsfrk]

There doesn't really seem to be an epidemic of children stealing money from their parents, sneaking off to the video game store, and bringing back MA rated games and playing them in secret.

I don't know whether it's an epidemic or not. Nonetheless, I don't see that something has to be an epidemic before it's addressed.

There are a lot of rated R movies that I could never see just because of some arbitrary standard. At the age of 16 I was more than capable of interpreting and understanding these movies, and I could've benefited from seeing them. In the long run, the restrictions meant to "protect" children hurt them a lot more than freedom.

So what you're saying is, you think that at age 16 you were able to decide what was best for yourself rather than your parents. So what you're really arguing is not that content shouldn't be regulated for children in their parents' care, but rather that the age at which children should become independent of their parents' supervision should be lowered? If so, fair enough; that's your opinion.

Personally, I think that for the vast majority of 16 year old's, there's never another point in their life where they need their parents involvement more. Thus, unless you think the age of independence needs to be set on a case-by-case basis for each child based on their assessed level of maturity (which is unrealistic for obvious reasons), then I think that decisions about what's best for the "formative" years of a child/teenager's life are best left to the parents who are legally responsible for them.

[Spigot]

And the other 65% are letting their kids play games that are not appropriate for them.
Like Animal Crossing for the DS :)

As a gamer turned gamer parent (yay! A new sub-subculture!) I am not terribly surprised by this study. As most of the people here have said, those of us who grew up from Pong to Nintendo are now at the age where we've started to reproduce. *gasp*

One of my favourite pictures is of my (then) 5-month old son sitting on my chest holding a dual-shock controller. He's now 19-months old and just discovered that moving the mouse turns the monitor on when it's asleep and that moving the mouse wheel scrolls pages up and down.

I'm hoping that my vast library of games, stretching back to the NES, will give him a sense of the history behind the games that he'll be playing on the current systems. Not only that, when he's a bit older and can actually play games by himself, I'm planning on starting him off on things like the old FF and Super Mario Bros on the NES so that he can practice his reading (and mushroom stomping workout).

Right now, he has an old MS Sidewinder that I've chopped the cord off of. He likes to pick it up, crawl up onto the couch and 'play' with daddy while I'm playing Dragon Quest 8. He LOVES the vibrant cartoony artwork in DQ8. He also has a little guitar that he likes to play when I'm rocking out on Guitar Heroes.

He's also fascinated by Animal Crossing on the DS. If I'm puttering around with it, he loves to come over and watch me do a bit of fishing or whatever I happen to be doing. I'm not sure if it's the music that attracts him or what. It's the only DS game that seems to hold his attention though.

As for PC games, he is fascinated by World of Warcraft. If I plunk him on my lap, he likes to hit the spacebar and make my gnome jump. Again, its one of the few games on my PC that he will actually stop and watch while I play. Anything else tends to cause him to wander off to see what Mommy's doing.

I'm looking forward to the times when we can actually play games together. Maybe the graphical adventure genre will make a comeback and I can tell him about how these were once the dominant genre in PC gaming. Of course, this will be a sign of the end times and must not be allowed to happen.

Nice little article though. Concidering all the hue and cry about how parents aren't connected to their children and can't relate, I think that gaming in whatever form is a very quick and easy way to break down the age barrier. It builds opportunities for communication and it also helps the parents as they will be better informed than the aforementioned 65% who don't have a clue as to what they're buying and instead yell and scream about how bad the games are that little Johnny is playing instead of NOT BUYING THE GAMES IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Wow, that's an angry note to end this post on. I am at work though (nothing like pulling a double shift OVERNIGHT) so I can be surly until I go home at 7am.

[TheLengua]

So what you're saying is, you think that at age 16 you were able to decide what was best for yourself rather than your parents. So what you're really arguing is not that content shouldn't be regulated for children in their parents' care, but rather that the age at which children should become independent of their parents' supervision should be lowered? If so, fair enough; that's your opinion.

Personally, I think that for the vast majority of 16 year old's, there's never another point in their life where they need their parents involvement more. Thus, unless you think the age of independence needs to be set on a case-by-case basis for each child based on their assessed level of maturity (which is unrealistic for obvious reasons), then I think that decisions about what's best for the "formative" years of a child/teenager's life are best left to the parents who are legally responsible for them.

The problem is, my parents did consider me mature enough and independent enough to see rated R movies at the age of 16. I think that the current age of independence is just fine, but part of being a parent is letting your child develop as a wholly seperate person. It's frustrating to have your life controlled by the moral values of others. Why should I have to suffer under their regulations, when they could just as easily control what their children are exposed to by taking an active part in their life?

I'm not going to argue that I was mature enough at the time. I'm not going to argue that it isn't a parent's right to control what their children do or don't see.

The point I'm trying to make is that we are sacrificing freedom for convenience, without any regard for the consequences. If your child really is sneaking off and buying violent video games, maybe it's not the industry who is failing, but you as a parent.

[Lord_Don]

I just wanted to add my nintendo-generation gamer-dad comments. My girls are 4 so they haven't moved up to Halo yet but we have a good time playing Shrek 2 and Lego Star Wars.

I agree with gzsfrk's comments. I agree with politicians when they say the ESRB rules should be enforced. I don't agree with them when they say we should ban ALL violent video games. Adults play games and there's nothing wrong with adult content in games, as long as adults are the only ones with access to them.

-LD

[didragondi]

You know, gzsfrk, to a point I agree that some regulation over sales would not be a terrible thing; its just that there are so many retailors who wont touch the adults only catergory that this rating is the kiss of death for a game at this point, and since thats related to the dollars and the vendors for games, they just wont get produced. A change in that attitude as well as enforcement of reasonable standards would be a good thing, in theory, as long as adults could still play the shooters and so forth meant more for adults.

[didragondi]

The point I'm trying to make is that we are sacrificing freedom for convenience, without any regard for the consequences. If your child really is sneaking off and buying violent video games, maybe it's not the industry who is failing, but you as a parent.

The parents that will not monitor the child's playing, or miss it when he or she sneaks out, are probably the same ones who would buy it for him or her in person if asked. As in, they dont know any better, and likely do not bother to inform themselves of the rating. I also think that games that reinforce 'evil' acts against an innocent in the game, like GTA can at times, deserve a different rating as in more adults and for that reason, not the stupid hot coffee video. We can be such a prudish society at times. So a younger teenager saw that. Big deal.

[Spigot]

The parents that will not monitor the child's playing, or miss it when he or she sneaks out, are probably the same ones who would buy it for him or her in person if asked. As in, they dont know any better, and likely do not bother to inform themselves of the rating.
This in itself wouldn't bother me so much except that it is this group of parents who then turn around and cry havoc when the DO realize what their kid is playing.

I'm not terribly worried in the long run though. The gamer parents will be the ones actually doing their job and playing with their kids and being aware of what is appropriate. They will also be the ones who know the difference between an M rating in GTA and an M rating in Halo and can make the decision on whether their kid is old enough for either based on their experiences with the game and the maturity of the child.

Eventually another boogeyman will come along and be used as a scapegoat by opportunistic people for all that is wrong with the world. Games will continue to evolve as an industry and bunnies will lay down with lions and paradise will rule upon the face of the earth.

All because the kids raised by gamers will be in control.