SALES, DEMOGRAPHIC AND USAGE DATA

2008

ESSENTIAL FACTS
ABOUT THE COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY

 2008 Entertainment Software Association

WHATS INSIDE?
Who Plays What?
Who Plays Computer and Video Games? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Who Buys Computer and Video Games? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 How Long Have Gamers Been Playing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2007 Computer and Video Game Sales by Rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 What Were the Top-Selling Game Genres in 2007? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 What Were the Top-Selling Games of 2007? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Parents and Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Parents Play Games. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Who Plays What? Online and Wireless Games

How Many Gamers Play Games Online?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Who Plays Games Online? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 What is the One Type of Online Game Played Most Often?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 How Many Americans Play Games on Wireless Devices? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Whats the Bottom Line? Sales Data

Recent Sales Information (2006 and 2007). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Historical Sales Information (19962007) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 How Many Americans Plan to Buy Games in 2008?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Who Are We?

About the ESA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 ESA Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Other Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

ALL DATA IN THIS DOCUMENT IS FROM THE ESAS 2008 CONSUMER SURVEY UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) released its 2008 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry in July 2008. The data included in 2008 Essential Facts was gathered in an annual study conducted by Ipsos-MediaCT for the ESA. The study is the most in-depth and targeted survey of its kind, gathering data from over 1,200 nationally representative households that have been identified as owning either or both a video game console or a personal computer used to run entertainment software.

WHO PLAYS WHAT?

Who PLAYS Computer and Video Games?

of American households play computer or video games.

65% 35
25%

The average game player age is:

AGE
OF GAME PLAYERS 26%

49%

25% under 18 years 49% 1849 years 26% 50+ years

In 2008,

26%
of gamers were over the age of 50. 2

WHO PLAYS?
40% female 60% male

GENDER
OF GAME PLAYERS

WOMEN age 18 or older represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (33%) than boys age 17 or younger (18%).

Who BUYS Computer and Video Games?

The average age of the most frequent game purchaser is:

40
How Long Have Gamers Been Playing?

is the average number of years adult gamers have been playing computer or video games.

13

Among most frequent gamers, adult males average 15 years for game playing, females for 12 years.
3

WHO PLAYS?

of gamers play games with other gamers in person. This is a rise from 56% in 2007 and from 51% in 2006.

59% 38%

of homes in America have a video game console.

2007 Computer and Video Game Sales by Rating

BY UNITS SOLD

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

45%

28%
12%

15%

EVERYONE (E) EVERYONE 10+ (E10+)

TEEN (T)

MATURE (M)

Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service

WHO PLAYS WHAT?

BEST-SELLING VIDEO
4.7% Strategy 4.3% Adventure 4.5% Fighting

GAME SUPER GENRES BY UNITS SOLD, 2007

2.3% 1.0% 0.5% 0.7% Other Games/Compilations Childrens Entertainment Arcade Flight

17.6% Family Entertainment

22.3% Action

7.6% Role Playing 12.1% Shooter

14.1% Sport Games 8.3% Racing

Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service

BEST-SELLING COMPUTER
3.0% 2.6% 2.5% 3.5% Other Games/Compilations Action Sport Games Childrens Entertainment

GAME SUPER GENRES BY UNITS SOLD, 2007

2.2% Flight 1.5% Racing 0.9% Arcade

5.0% Adventure

33.9% Strategy

11.6% Shooter

14.3% Family Entertainment

18.8% Role Playing

Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service

WHO PLAYS WHAT?

TOP 20 SELLING VIDEO
RANK TITLE

GAMES OF 2007 BY UNITS SOLD

PLATFORM RATING

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

HALO 3* Xbox 360 WII PLAY WITH REMOTE Wii CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE* Xbox 360 GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK* PlayStation 2 SUPER MARIO GALAXY Wii POKEMON DIAMOND VERSION Nintendo DS MADDEN NFL 08 PlayStation 2 GUITAR HERO 2* PlayStation 2 ASSASSIN'S CREED* Xbox 360 MARIO PARTY 8 Wii POKEMON PEARL VERSION Nintendo DS MADDEN NFL 08 Xbox 360 GUITAR HERO 2* Xbox 360 GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK* Xbox 360 NEW SUPER MARIO BROS Nintendo DS BRAIN AGE 2: MORE TRAINING IN MINUTES A DAY Nintendo DS GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK WITH WIRELESS GUITAR Wii GOD OF WAR II PlayStation 2 LEGEND OF ZELDA: PHANTOM HOURGLASS Nintendo DS MARIO KART Nintendo DS
Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service

MATURE EVERYONE MATURE TEEN EVERYONE EVERYONE EVERYONE TEEN MATURE EVERYONE EVERYONE EVERYONE TEEN TEEN EVERYONE EVERYONE TEEN MATURE EVERYONE EVERYONE

*Includes Collector's, Limited, Legendary, Bundles (Guitar) Editions

TOP 20 SELLING COMPUTER GAMES OF 2007 BY UNITS SOLD

RANK TITLE RATING

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

WORLD OF WARCRAFT: BURNING CRUSADE EXPANSION PACK WORLD OF WARCRAFT THE SIMS 2 SEASONS EXPANSION PACK CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE SIM CITY 4 DELUXE THE SIMS 2 COMMAND & CONQUER 3: TIBERIUM WARS THE SIMS 2 BON VOYAGE EXPANSION PACK MS AGE OF EMPIRES III THE SIMS 2 PETS EXPANSION PACK THE ORANGE BOX WARCRAFT III BATTLE CHEST STARCRAFT: BATTLE CHEST BATTLEFIELD 2142 THE SIMS 2 DELUXE HALO: COMBAT EVOLVED THE SIMS 2 UNIVERSITY EXPANSION PACK THE SIMS 2 H&M FASHION STUFF EXPANSION PACK BIOSHOCK LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE: SHADOWS OF ANGMAR
Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service

TEEN TEEN TEEN MATURE EVERYONE TEEN TEEN TEEN TEEN TEEN MATURE TEEN MATURE TEEN TEEN MATURE TEEN TEEN MATURE TEEN

WHO PLAYS WHAT?

PARENTS* AND GAMES
of the time parents are present at the time games are purchased or rented.

94% 63% 83%

of parents believe games are a positive part of their childrens lives.

of the time children receive their parents permission before purchasing or renting a game. Parents report always or sometimes monitoring the games their children play 88% of the time.
*Parents with kids under 18 who also own a game console and/or computer used to play games.

The Top Four Reasons Parents Play Video Games With Their Children:
Its Fun For The Entire Family Because Theyre Asked To

72% 66% 50%

71%

Its A Good Opportunity To Socialize With The Child Its A Good Opportunity To Monitor Game Content 7

WHO PLAYS?
Do Parents Control What Their Kids Play?

of parents believe that the parental controls available in all new video game consoles are useful. Further, parents impose time usage limits on video games more than any other form of entertainment:

75% 80% 72% 71% 65%

of parents place time limits on video game playing.

of parents place time limits on Internet usage.

of parents place time limits on television viewing.

of parents place time limits on movie viewing.

Source: Peter D. Hart Research Associates

WHO PLAYS WHAT?

ONLINE AND WIRELESS GAMES
Who Plays Games Online?

of online game players are male.

56%

of online game players are female.

44%

22% of most frequent game players say they pay to play

online games. This is an increase from 19% in 2007 and a marked increase from 8% in 2004.

What is the One Type of Online Game Played Most Often?

12% 11% Other Persistent Multi-Player Universe Downloadable Games Such as Bejeweled and Diner Dash

14%

47%

Puzzle/Board/Game Show/Trivia/Card

16%

Action/Sports/ Strategy/Role-Play

How Many Americans Play Games on Wireless Devices?

of heads of households report they play games on wireless devices such as a cell phone or PDA, up from 20% in 2002. 9

36%

WHATS THE BOTTOM LINE?

RECENT SALES INFORMATION
U.S. COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAME DOLLAR SALES: 2006 AND 2007
DOLLARS IN BILLIONS 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

9.5 .91 8.64 6.46 7.4 .98 6.46

8.64

2006

2007

.98 2006

.91 2007

2006

2007

VIDEO GAME SALES

COMPUTER GAME SALES

COMBINED COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAME DOLLAR SALES

Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service

U.S. COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAME UNIT SALES: 2006 AND 2007
UNITS IN MILLIONS 275 250 225 200 175 150 125 100 75 50 25

267.9 241.6 231.5 201.8 39.7 201.8 36.4 231.5

39.7 2006 2007 2006

VIDEO GAME UNITS

36.4 2007 2006 2007

COMBINED COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAME UNIT SALES

COMPUTER GAME UNITS

Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service

10

WHATS THE BOTTOM LINE?

HISTORICAL SALES INFORMATION
U.S. COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAME DOLLAR SALES GROWTH
DOLLARS IN BILLIONS

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

9.5 6.9 4.8 3.7 2.6 5.5 5.6 6.1 7.0 7.3 7.0 7.4

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004 2005

2006 2007

Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service

U.S. COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAME UNIT SALES GROWTH

UNITS IN MILLIONS 275 250 225 200 175 150 125 100 75 50 25

184.5 152.4 108.0 73.8

196.3

210.3

225.8

240.9

249.5 229.5

267.9 241.6

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004 2005

2006 2007

Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service

How Many Americans Expect to Buy Games?

of Americans have purchased or plan to purchase one or more games in 2008. 11

41%

WHO ARE WE?

About The Entertainment Software Association
The ESA is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. The ESA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers including a global antipiracy program, owning the E3 Media & Business Summit, business and consumer research, federal and state government relations, First Amendment and intellectual property protection efforts. For more information about the ESA and its programs, please visit www.theESA.com.

ESA Members
as of July, 2008

Atari, Inc. Capcom USA, Inc. Codemasters Disney Interactive Studios, Inc. Eidos Interactive Electronic Arts Epic Games, Inc. Her Interactive, Inc. Konami Digital Entertainment Microsoft Corporation Midway Games, Inc. MTV Games Namco Bandai Games America, Inc. NC Interactive Inc. Nintendo of America Inc. SEGA of America, Inc. Sony Computer Entertainment America Sony Online Entertainment, Inc. Square Enix, Inc. Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. THQ, Inc. Ubisoft Entertainment Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc.

www.atari.com www.capcom.com www.codemasters.com www.disney.go.com/disneyinteractivestudios/ www.eidos.com www.ea.com www.epicgames.com www.herinteractive.com www.konami.com www.microsoft.com www.midway.com www.mtv.com/games/video_games www.namcobandaigames.com www.plaync.com www.nintendo.com www.sega.com www.us.playstation.com www.station.sony.com/en/ www.square-enix.com www.take2games.com www.thq.com www.ubi.com www.wbie.com

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OTHER RESOURCES
For more information on the ESA and its programs, please visit: www.theESA.com
Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) www.esrb.org The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory body established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). ESRB independently applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles adopted by the industry. Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences www.interactive.org Located in Los Angeles, CA, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) is an official professional academy of the $9.5 billion interactive entertainment software industry. AIAS is supported by the industrys leading companies. International Game Developers Association (IGDA) www.igda.org The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) is a non-profit membership organization that advocates globally on issues related to digital game creation. The IGDAs mission is to strengthen the international game development community and effect change to benefit that community. The NPD Group, Inc. www.npd.com Since 1967, The NPD Group has provided reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,600 manufacturers and retailers rely on NPD to help them better understand their customers, product categories, distribution channels, and competition in order to help guide their businesses. Video Game Voters Network www.videogamevoters.org The Video Game Voters Network, a project of the Entertainment Software Association, is a means by which American adults who play computer and video games can organize and take action on important policy issues affecting the computer and video game industry.

13

www.theESA.com
2008 Entertainment Software Association