The document summarizes gaming demographics and trends. It finds that the average gamer is 31 years old, 59% of the UK population plays games, and gaming is popular across both genders and all age groups. It then explores what makes games fun, including overcoming challenges through skill development and learning. Finally, it discusses how games are maturing as a medium and may be used for social goals or alternate realities, and predicts further growth and convergence of gaming and reality.

1. Just Another Meme Vector v 1.0

2. Coming up Game demographics: Who plays? Game dynamics: What makes games fun? Some examples of a maturing medium The future: Where games are going

3. Demographics – Who? What age is the average gamer? The average age of a British gamer is 31.

4. What percentage of the UK’s population is composed of “gamers”? Gamer = has played video games in the last 6 months, on any platform There are currently over 27 m gamers in the UK. Demographics – How Many? 12% 40% 59% 89%

5. How much do they play? Of the UK’s entire population (gamers and non-gamers combined): . . . 48% play at least once per week . . . 7% play 1-3 times per month . . . 4% play less than once a month

6. . . . what’s behind the shape of the distribution? % of each age group in UK playing games, 2005: Demographics – Who?

7. Demographics – Who? . . . this shape is a growth bulge . grew up without video games grew up with ‘niche’ games Grew up with video games everywhere Every year the distribution shifts up the age brackets

8. What about the girls?

10. Gaming Attitudes 13 15 16 20 26 19 I spend more time playing video games than watching TV 19 18 25 25 45 33 I get more enjoyment out of video games than other forms of entertainment 16-24 6-10 11-15 25-35 51-65 36-50 STATEMENTS % AGREE Video games are the dominant medium in these age brackets.

11. Gaming Attitudes 51-65 36-50 25-35 16-24 11-15 6-10 STATEMENTS % AGREE 68 80 78 69 67 76 I think games could be used for education as well as for entertainment 13 21 34 53 44 54 I prefer playing video games with friends as a social activity rather than on my own

12. The gender split is pretty even Most people take games seriously The average game buyer is 38 We are in the middle of a demographic shift from a society of non-gamers to a society of gamers. Summing Up - Gaming Demographics Gaming isn’t just for kids Gaming isn’t just for boys The average game player is 31

13. Coming up Game demographics: Who plays? Game dynamics: What makes games fun? A maturing medium: Some examples The Future: Where games are going

14. Why does this game suck ?

15. Why are games fun (or boring)? Games are puzzles Once you’ve got the pattern, the game is boring In tic-tac-toe, there are only 26,830 possible games Games are about pattern recognition . . . so it gets boring pretty fast. (Chess = 10 50 possible games) Raph Koster, Game Designer

16. This game is about the geometry of tetrads Once you can rotate tetrads in your sleep, the game becomes boring

17. This game is about precise aim and timing Once you can shoot so straight you’re invincible, the game becomes boring

18. This game is about thorough exploration Once you’ve explored everywhere, the game becomes boring

19. Fun is Learning Games are challenges That’s why key moments in gameplay are achievements: “I got it! I beat level 10!” The process of gaining skills is what makes games fun. To overcome the challenges, you must develop skills Gameplay is the process of practising and applying these skills

22. This feeling is your brain’s reward for success.

25. Three Learning Modes Storytelling Playing Lecturing

26. Games are the most advanced form of investigation. -Albert Einstein

27. That’s why we’re interested.

28. But can a game really deliver journalism? . . . or any serious message, for that matter?

29. Games are stupid, right?

30. Not all of them.

35. In some games you have to perform subtle, complex tasks.

36. Sim City Is About And it sold 18 million copies Tax policy Infrastructure networks Zoning laws

37. Game challenges can be very sophisticated. To complete them successfully, you have to learn. You can learn about all sorts of things. How about some examples of games teaching socially relevant lessons? Games are Teachers

38. Coming up Game demographics: Who plays? Game dynamics: What makes games fun? A maturing medium: Some examples The Future: Where games are going

39. Genocide

40. Darfur is Dying Cost £25,000 Took 10 weeks 250,000 hits per month Over 2 m unique viewers in 2006

41. Conflict Resolution

42. The War on Terror A game making an editorial point . . .

43. Fast Food Economics (Another editorial point . . .)

44. Historical Debate (How is this different?)

45. Coming up Game demographics: Who plays? Game dynamics: What makes games fun? A maturing medium: Some examples The Future: Where games are going

46. Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future. - Neils Bohr

47. The medium will mature further

48. Movies, 1927

49. The Return of Social Gaming

50. A Good Year % growth in each medium in UK, 2007:

51. Virtual Worlds Normalized Integrated Taxed

52. Ubiquitous Gaming Convergence – waning of the console Browser-based, Flash taking over Reality is the interface This woman (and others like her) is hacking real life to become more game like

53. Alternate Reality Games Using massively multiplayer game dynamics to motivate, inspire, lead large numbers of people

54. Further Reading Raph Koster, A Theory of Fun for Game Design Steven Johnson, Everything Bad is Good For You Jane McGonigal, Why I Love Bees

55. For links, slides and more info, http://trippenbach.wordpress.com