One thing i find fascinating is statistics. A few good examples are:
28% of gamers are under 18. Which always make me think we should have an R rating over here in australia.

38% of gamers are female. So whats with the fuss of "OHH IT'S A GIRL" on things like xbox live.

51% of gamers play some kind of game online. up from 19% in 2000. Probaly a big factor was World of Warcraft.

If you have any more interesting statistics (about video games or otherwise) please post them.

38 Percent... Woah.

I've been telling similar statistics for months but no one believed me.

Well I think the percentage of female gamers is closer to 45%

I think the popularity of Online Games has as much to do with MMO title's as it has to do with the increase in internet speeds and the the fact that you can connect to the PSN, The Wii thing and the free Xbox live silver.

apparently 37% of most statistics are unrealible

Yassen:
38% of gamers are female. So whats with the fuss of "OHH IT'S A GIRL" on things like xbox live.

Because it's seen as a male thing most of the time, despite that both genders do it. It's the same as men having careers as things like nursing, it breaks the trend. Old stereotypes die hard I suppose.

I doubt that that 38% is as heavily into games as us. I'd say amongst the people who play things like Metal Gear Solid, Bioshock, Heavenly Sword etc. the percentage would be much lower.

50% of the human population have an I.Q. below 100. Its not coincidental. The test is designed that way.

Like to see your sources on these numbers.

wilsonscrazybed:
Like to see your sources on these numbers.

They were at the E3 convention but that raises a good point. If anyone is to claim a new statistic a source would be nice.

I could use my training in statistics to test their validity.

Haha, nilpferkodenig.

I too would like to know the source of these statistics, Yassen.

67% of all people will believe anything you say in a statistical sense.

87% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
You are 64% more likely to win an argument when citing random statistics.

Sparkly Weasel:
87% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
You are 64% more likely to win an argument when citing random statistics.

I believe you'll find that the percentages are actually 82 and 73 respectively.

Centipede was the first video game to garner significant appeal to women.

Today, the second most played game by women is GTA.

Coincidentally, Gamasutra just posted an article on the top 20 female game designers in the industry. 'Bioshock' was designed by a woman.

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3589/women_in_games_the_gamasutra_20.php?page=1

Yassen:

38% of gamers are female. So whats with the fuss of "OHH IT'S A GIRL" on things like xbox live.

If you have any more interesting statistics (about video games or otherwise) please post them.

I think the majority of this is due to "casual gaming". The Nintendo Wii and the nDS has succeeded in introducing casual gaming to what was previously not a really important market.
That and I'm pretty sure the statistics also takes into account things like, Solitare and Mobile Games (lulz).

And also because the fact that we live in such a gadget dependent society, I read somewhere that Housewives have much more time to spend on social networking and gaming. I mean. Two Words - Animal Crossing. Seriously.

Saskwach:

Sparkly Weasel:
87% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
You are 64% more likely to win an argument when citing random statistics.

I believe you'll find that the percentages are actually 82 and 73 respectively.

No, I'm fairly sure it's 75%, and 62%, respectively. You're forgetting about the people who go "Ya, whatever, you're still gay!!!"

smoking is the leading cause of statistics.

wilsonscrazybed:
Like to see your sources on these numbers.

I believe the 'gamers under 18' one is from the IEAA (Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia). I'm not so sure about the rest.

You can get most of the OP's statistics at this site .

'90 % of all statistics are mad up.'

'How many studies have shown this?'

'At least 79% of them.'

"Studies have shown that numbers yuou research are no more effective than ones you make up"
"How many studies showed that?"
"87"
Cookie for whoever knows where it came from.

98% of Water on Earth is Salt Water. Over 60% of The world's fresh water is contained in glaciers or icecaps.
This small amount of a percentage (Less than .7% of Earth's water) is still enough to provide the world with over 3 billion liters every day.

Statistics like these can often be misleading. Most of the statistics consider anyone a gamer as long as they play like one or two casual video games or maybe some free video games on the web. If you were to look at the more hardcore video gaming demographic (the people who shell out serious money for video games and consoles), you will still find it overwhelmingly younger males.

Anyone remember that poll here on the forums that asked what gender you were? The results ended up being like 10% female and 90% male. And while there are more women than ever playing video games, they tend to be more focused on casual or free flash games, the kind of person that most hardcore gamers don't consider to be gamers.

Indigo_Dingo:
"Studies have shown that numbers yuou research are no more effective than ones you make up"
"How many studies showed that?"
"87"
Cookie for whoever knows where it came from.

Dilbert

I can't see it solely being world of warcraft being the pioneer of the online games, or it even being the heavy weight. Xbox live? Playstation Network? I think it's the consoles going live which triggered everyone to jump on board.

Women like to shoot things, too.

I cannot think of one adult woman I know who hasn't played games online in some fashion and makes it part of their routine. My wife is just as good at kicking ass on a call of duty 4 server as any of the men on said server.

And no, I don't believe it was that centipede game (in my vagina?) that introduced women to gaming. It would have to be either Pong or Ms. Pacman that hooked the female gamer. I just watched a documentary about a month ago on the origins of gaming back in the Pong days (even before Atari or Commodore or what have you). Because women tend to have finer motor control in their limbs some would often make bets against "any man in a bar" that they could win and most often would. Some women made hundreds of dollars a night off Pong (of all things) fleecing unsuspecting dudes from bar to bar. Once Pong lost its edge, Ms. Pacman moved into the spot light and sold as many Atari 2600's in those days as Super Mario Bros. did for NES.

But yea, people pretty much just want to murder each other online in one way or another no matter which gender they are.

"There are three types of lies. Lies, damned lies, and statistics."

Statistics are wonderful things. You can make them say anything you want them to.
On topic though, I would have thought that the percentage of online gaming would be even higher than 51%. I only know one gamer who doesn't play games online with any regularity, and that's only because he has dial-up internet.

100% of people will not believe this statement

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thank you for proving me right, have a cookie.

phmsin:
Women like to shoot things, too.

I cannot think of one adult woman I know who hasn't played games online in some fashion and makes it part of their routine. My wife is just as good at kicking ass on a call of duty 4 server as any of the men on said server.

And no, I don't believe it was that centipede game (in my vagina?) that introduced women to gaming. It would have to be either Pong or Ms. Pacman that hooked the female gamer. I just watched a documentary about a month ago on the origins of gaming back in the Pong days (even before Atari or Commodore or what have you). Because women tend to have finer motor control in their limbs some would often make bets against "any man in a bar" that they could win and most often would. Some women made hundreds of dollars a night off Pong (of all things) fleecing unsuspecting dudes from bar to bar. Once Pong lost its edge, Ms. Pacman moved into the spot light and sold as many Atari 2600's in those days as Super Mario Bros. did for NES.

But yea, people pretty much just want to murder each other online in one way or another no matter which gender they are.

Meant no offense, I'm just looking at business statistics. I have no doubt women play every sort of video game, but 'Centipede' was the first one to get significant profits from women more than men. My source is Steven L. Kent's 'The Ultimate History of Video Games'.

Can't remember where I read the GTA stat, I think it was from that British Study on game violence in youth. The most played game, statistically, by women is that Nintendog game or something. That's again based on women buy it more than men, not whether women play it or are good at it.

Sparkly Weasel:
87% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

In any thread that is even mentions statistics there is 100% chance that someone will post that joke.

Yassen:
38% of gamers are female.

i have friends who actually have singstar parties, unfortunately i always seem to be busy cringing at the thought, rocking in the corner of my room shaking & hugging my knees...

my best friend's favourite way to vent when she's angry or frustrated is soul calibur. i grew up with three brothers & it's difficult not to get involved when you see most of your family crowded around the tv giggling over who shot who. plus my younger brother keeps ringing me with a day by day countdown until the latest zelda/smash bros game is out, hard to ignore!

the best thing about computer games is that there's such a varied market, they can appeal to everyone. my mum plays lemmings while laughing in a crazy maniacal way because she always blows them up! it's not just hardcore gamers that get enjoyment out of them.

captainwillies:
apparently 37% of most statistics are unrealible

There's always one person who says something jackass like that. Quit being a statistic.

-This post was brought to you by: The Necroswanson, Jackass statistic #34721

Ultrajoe:
100% of people will not believe this statement

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thank you for proving me right, have a cookie.

I beleive it, therefore You're wrong. Maybe I'll reword it so that it's right.
"100% of people who read this don't beleive it. And they get a cookie."

Anarchemitis:

Ultrajoe:
100% of people will not believe this statement

...

...

...

thank you for proving me right, have a cookie.

I beleive it, therefore You're wrong. Maybe I'll reword it so that it's right.
"100% of people who read this don't beleive it. And they get a cookie."

Actually you believed it, so proved him wrong, so lost your belief in the statement, so proved his statement correct and in so doing reaffirmed your belief in his statement so proved- oh no I've gone cross-eyed.
(yes I know that's a reference)