Still playing Wii/PS3 or Xbox 360 games at 30? Don’t feel guilty!
By DiGiTAL
New research into the Australian video and computer game sector has found the average age of players is 30 years old and 68 per cent of all Australians play video and computer games. The research findings have prompted the CEO of Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia to call for a R18+ classification for Australia.
The annual Interactive Australia report by Bond University is based on a random sample of over 1600 households and provides data on player demographics, behaviours and explores key issues including violence, family gaming and the introduction of an R18+ Classification.
Author of the report Dr Jeffrey Brand from Bond University said, “The average age of Australian gamers has grown steadily over the past five years. Last year the average age was 28 and by 2014 the average age of gamers will equal the national average age (36)”.
88 per cent of Australian homes have one or more devices for playing video or computer games and 46 per cent of the gamer population is female - up 5 per cent from 2007’s report.
Families are also engaging with games - 70 per cent of parents in game households play computer and video games and 80 per cent of those parents play them with their children.
“95 per cent of children aged between 6 to 10 play computer games so for parents it’s a great way to spend time with their kids and use games for educational purposes.
Three-quarters of gamers surveyed said interactivity makes video games more educational than other media and interactivity creates excitement and relieves boredom,” Dr Brand said.
Almost two-thirds of adults surveyed were unaware that Australia doesn’t have an R18+ classification and 91 per cent of gamers and non-gamers believe the classification should be introduced.
Ron Curry CEO of Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia said “We’re one of the only developed countries yet to adopt an R18+ classification”.
“With the average age of gamers being 30, it makes no sense to censor games to a point where they are only appropriate for a 15 year old. Such censorship would not be acceptable on television, at the cinema or in print, so why apply it unfairly to another entertainment medium,” Curry said.
Dr Jeffrey Brand said, “78 per cent of parents stated that an adult is present when games are purchased and 92 per cent of parents are aware of what games are played in their house’.
“The proposed R18+ classification for computer and video games will not result in the availability of games containing excessive violence or explicit sex. Material within the R18+ classification would be strictly in line with permissible content as set out in the classification guidelines,” Dr Brand said.
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