NPD: 63 percent of US are gamers

While hardcore and casual gamers enjoy playing vastly different titles, they enjoy them for some of the same reasons, according to a new report from the industry tracking NPD Group. The report, titled Expanding the Games Market, also found that 63 percent of Americans are gamers, whether they play on PCs, consoles, handhelds, or mobile devices.

According to the NPD Group, regardless of how much they play, all gamers enjoy playing games in a social setting (such as a family, a group, or at a party). The report also found that frequent and infrequent gamers alike valued the medium as a means of bringing their families closer together, and the majority of survey respondents view gaming as a stress-relieving activity.

The report was based on online surveys held in mid-October with more than 5,000 NPD consumer panel members. According to the Census Bureau, the US population is currently just under 303.6 million--meaning that, by NPD's definition, around 191.2 million people play games domestically.