Australia (Commonwealth Union) – The popularity of video games was quite often seen as a past time of younger generations, however with the wide usage of smart phones the popularity of video games now cuts across generations.
A study conducted at the University of South Australia to gain deeper knowledge into the reasons parents engage in video games are requesting Australian parents to share their gaming habits. Over 3 billion people play video games globally on their smartphone, console or computer, with Australia’s video game sector currently valued at over $220 million (roughly 138 million US dollars), doubling in value since 2016.
While the figures are good for the gaming business, they also demonstrate the level gaming has gone mainstream, becoming a cross-generational pastime. The average age of video game users is presently 35, with around 50% identifying as female. The findings indicate that gaming is as much a pursuit for parents as it is for the kids, and researchers at the University of South Australia are presently attempting to better know how parents engage with video games and how their experiences can be improved.
The universities communication and media expert Dr Fae Heaselgrave is heading research evaluating how parents strike a balance between caring duties with their gaming interests, what the mental health and wellbeing benefits of gaming are for parents, and how this niche group of gamers experiences can be improved by the games industry.
As part of the study, Dr Heaselgrave’s team has called on parents to take part in an online survey to share details of their gaming engagements. “Anecdotally, we know video games can be an important leisure activity for many parents, but parental responsibilities and time constraints may mean parents engage with gaming in different ways from other groups of gamers,” Dr Heaselgrave said.
