Gamers Have $700/Year Habit

30 Mar, 2005 at 7:01pm ET Article published in Tech

The results of a game enthusiast study conducted by IGN Entertainment have been made available.

The survey was done with some 5,000 users of the IGN and GameSpy websites, and it revealed that, on average, the people whom the sites consider hardcore gamers (or “game enthusiasts”) spend US$700 a year on games. The split is $341 on console games, $233 on PC games, and $140 on accessories. Play time per week averaged 20 hours, with 10% of respondents claiming they played 40 hours per week (MMO game players, probably). More interestingly, 90% still buy games at a retail store, with only 33% buying online. Magazine reviews and word of mouth also topped the charts for the most influential sources when buying a game, with ads and associated publisher and developer names coming in at the bottom. Rentals also feature heavily in the game enthusiast’s life, with 50% claiming to rent 11 games a month and 60% of those saying the rental usually led to a game purchase.

Source: GEEK.com

Comments

30 Mar 2005 ~ 7:03pm BuddyJ Thats nothing. I bet tabletop gamers spend double that.
30 Mar 2005 ~ 8:25pm Medlock I wish I had $700 a year to spend on games.

/me needs to get a job
30 Mar 2005 ~ 8:51pm Garg I might spend that much if you add hardware and software together.
30 Mar 2005 ~ 11:06pm Thrax

Buddy Jesus wrote:

Thats nothing. I bet tabletop gamers spend double that.

Yeah, I think I spend $00.69 for a spiral-bound notepad when I play SWRPG.
31 Mar 2005 ~ 1:15am PirateNinja

Thrax wrote:

Yeah, I think I spend $00.69 for a spiral-bound notepad when I play SWRPG.

haha, that was funny.

I probably spend about 250 a year on hardware / games. The rest I download, and once every 3 years I build a new computer for 2200$. Thats my habit.
31 Mar 2005 ~ 2:11am AldosFirestar ugh.... WarHammer40k....so expensive compared to computergames
31 Mar 2005 ~ 11:56am Garg That's why I borrow other people's stuff
31 Mar 2005 ~ 1:08pm BuddyJ I hate how ungodly expensive 40k is to play. Considering most people have multiple armies, it gets intense. I have Orks and Necrons. That eats up the cash.

Roleplaying isn't exactly cheap either. I used to play all the White Wolf games. Figure in the cost of books and dice and things can get up there.

I'm just glad I don't play Magic anymore. Talk about a cash drain. Gah! Stupid Mechwarrior now...

"Hi my name is Buddy Jesus and I'm a compulsive game nerd."
31 Mar 2005 ~ 7:39pm PirateNinja http://www.aardwolf.org

FREE
1 Apr 2005 ~ 1:24pm Private_Snoball I'll agree that Table top takes up a lot.

Think about this to anyone who understands.

5000 Lizardmen Army in 1 year. 2003-2004

4000 World Eaters army a year before. 2002-2003

2000 Dark Elves 2003-2004

Yeah...I cry myself to sleep at night.
2 Apr 2005 ~ 12:34pm TheSmJ I have a feeling my food habit is ever so much more than my gaming habit. Hardware purchases included.
2 Apr 2005 ~ 1:24pm Armo .. did no one notice that its gamespy doing the survey? i bet they do know exactly how much money you spend, if you have/use gamespy they know everythgin about you