Report: Women Make Up 40% Of U.S. Video Game Users

Associated Press file photo (2004)

The trend of more video game blogs and Web sites involving women gamers has led to marketing campaigns directed to women, one company says.

By TBO.COM | Staff
Published: October 13, 2008

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TAMPA --

Women are becoming geeks when it comes to video games, the Entertainment Software Association's 2008 report found.

More than 40 percent of American video gamers today are women, and contrary to conventional wisdom, a greater proportion of women 18 or older are playing video games than boys 17 and younger.

The report found that 33 percent of today's gamers are women 18 and older, compared with 18 percent of boys 17 and younger.

The trend of more video game blogs and Web sites involving women gamers has led to marketing campaigns directed to women, according to the California-based Play N Trade video franchise, which has outlets in Tampa, Seffner and Oldsmar.

"Games such as 'American Idol,' 'Guitar Hero,' 'The Sims,' and even 'Tomb Raider' are appealing to females and so the market is changing," chief executive Tom McMahon said in a news release.