• On TV.com: THE PRISONER Didn't Hold Us Captive
May 20, 2009 9:51 AM PDT

Survey: More people play video games than go to movies

by Lance Whitney
  • Font size
  • Print
  • 6 comments

People who prefer playing a home video game to going out to the movies are in good company, according to a recent survey.

Almost 64 percent of Americans have played a video game in the past six months versus only 53 percent who have gone out to see a movie, according to a report from market research firm NPD Group.

The March report, part of NPD's "Entertainment Trends in America" study, also noted that consumers now splurge one-third of their entertainment dollar on video games. The average gamer spent a bit more than $38 per month, with 31 percent of all those surveyed having bought a game over the past 12 months.

One factor for the surge in gaming is the number of new outlets, such as social networks and online gaming sites, said the report. Around 10 percent of people surveyed have played video games on a social network, while five percent have paid to download games online.

"Video games account for one third of the average monthly consumer spending in the U.S. for core entertainment content, including music, video, games," said Anita Frazier, video games industry analyst for NPD. "While a portion of that share stems from the premium price of console games, we're also seeing an overall increase in the number of people participating in gaming year-over-year."

The results of the NPD study were based on an online survey that received responses from more than 11,000 U.S. consumers. Despite gaming's popularity, another NPD study found that video game sales have slumped this year in comparison to 2008, a year in which game sales soared.

Lance Whitney wears a few different technology hats--journalist, Web developer, and software trainer. He's a contributing editor for Microsoft TechNet Magazine and writes for other computer publications and Web sites. You can follow Lance on Twitter at @lancewhit. Lance is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and he is not an employee of CNET.
Recent posts from Gaming and Culture
Human rights groups: No in-game war crimes
Nintendo Black Friday: DSi with $20 in DSiware
Nintendo launches paid video content for Wii
NASA signs 'The Rock' to make it seem cool
Parents take away Xbox; boy dials 911
EA closes Pandemic Studios unit
Modern Warfare 2 tops entertainment industry, not just games
Wii and Wii Fit make their way to Sports Authority
Add a Comment (Log in or register) (6 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
by Angmarr May 20, 2009 10:19 AM PDT
hey im kinda shocked ... Awesome!
Reply to this comment
by Maccess May 24, 2009 11:44 PM PDT
You mean its not piracy that's been shrinking movie ticket sales? Save the movie industry: Ban Videogames, also listening to the radio, TV, cooking, sleeping, travelling, malling, and everything else that people do other than watch movies!
by xcal78 May 20, 2009 10:38 AM PDT
It's been like this for quite a while. Lots of actors have realized video games will make them more $$$ then a movie so there's been lots of well known actors in video games over the last few years. $20 a month for 30 days of MMORPG fun or $30-40 for a new video game or $30 bucks for a single movie that lasts 2 hours or so. It's not a hard choice.
Reply to this comment
by cvaldes1831 May 20, 2009 10:46 AM PDT
It was sometime in the late Nineties (maybe 1998?) when videogame sales surpassed Hollywood box office receipts, at least during the holiday season. The writing has been on the wall for such a long time, it's practically etched into concrete.
by renGek May 20, 2009 11:14 AM PDT
Lots of games out there to choose from and it will provide you with entertainment for more than 2 hours. And you pretty much know fairly quickly that you will like the game.

Movies are almost like investments. Its a gamble that you will get any benefit from it. Of the last 5 movies I saw in the theater (about 2 years worth of movie viewing), only 2 were any good.
Reply to this comment
by karpenterskids May 20, 2009 2:38 PM PDT
Movie tickets have been overpriced for the longest time...$10 to see a movie once?


I'd much rather wait for the DVD, and rent it at $1/day, thank you very much.
Reply to this comment
(6 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
advertisement

Let the battle for holiday gadget shoppers begin

Retailers try different strategies for competing with behemoths like Amazon and Wal-Mart in the cutthroat competition to lure those giving electronics as gifts.

Firefox hopes to one-up IE with fast graphics

Windows 7 features called Direct2D and DirectWrite will speed up Internet Explorer 9 performance. But Firefox hopes it might retool for the same benefit first.

About Gaming and Culture

At the tech culture nexus of video games, fire art, Legos, 3D virtual worlds, social networking, aviation, hacked Roombas, and much more.

Add this feed to your online news reader

Gaming and Culture topics

advertisement
advertisement

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right