IDSA Releases Guide

The Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA) announced today the release of its first annual Consumer's Guide to Holiday Hits, a list of top game titles to be available for the holidays. IDSA also reported today that video and computer game sales will experience a record-breaking year in 1997.

"All signals are now pointing to total entertainment software sales breaking the US$5 billion barrier," Douglas Lowenstein, president of the IDSA, said in a statement. "This holiday season will be exceptional not just for the booming sales, but the array of games appealing to all ages, genders, and interests."

According to recent IDSA consumer surveys, video game users are almost evenly spread between those under 18 (53.5 percent) and adults over 18 (46.5 percent), while 72.8 percent of PC gamers are 18 and over. Data also indicates that women now make up more than one-third of the most frequent users of interactive entertainment software, according to the IDSA.

"Video and computer games are no longer only for kids," said Lowenstein.