Aussie gamers turn to buying online - Study

A new study into the gaming habits of Australians has revealed that over 40 percent of Aussie gamers say they buy games from online stores and auctions.

The Digital Australia 2012 (DA12) study surveyed more than 3,500 Australians in 1,252 households in July this year, with the aim of tracking the changing attitudes towards digital media and gaming culture in Australia. Participants were asked more than 80 questions surrounding gaming behaviour, including average time spent playing games, parental involvement in game-buying decisions, dependence on gaming, and the role of classification markings.

The study, conducted by Queensland's Bond University, in conjunction with the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (iGEA), found that while Aussie gamers mainly buy their games from local retailers (43 percent), an increasing number of gamers are starting to buy both new and used games from online stores and auctions (over 40 percent).

The report also found that the average age of Aussie gamers has increased to 32; a two-year jump from 2008 and a four-year jump from 2007.

The study also found that 75 percent of gamers in Australia are over the age of 18 and that in the seven years from 2005 to 2011, the proportion of female gamers has increased from 38 percent to 47 percent. According to DA12, 95 percent of Australian households with children under the age of 18 have a gaming device; just over 60 percent of these households predominantly use consoles for gaming, under 60 percent use PCs, and around 40 percent use mobile.

Most Aussie gamers prefer playing puzzle, strategy, and first-person shooters, playing between half an hour and an hour at a time every other day.

On the business side, the DA12 report also highlighted that the Australian games industry is forecast to reach A$2.5 billion by 2015, while globally, the game market is expected to reach A$90.1 billion in the same period (figures sourced from PricewaterhouseCoopers Australian Entertainment and Media Outlook 2011-2015 report).

For a more in-depth look at the DA12 report findings, including comments from the DA12 author Dr Jeffrey Brand, and iGEA CEO Ron Curry, check out GameSpot AU's Digital Australia 12 feature.