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40% of Adults Play Games
Gamasutra reports on an AP Poll stating that some 40% of American adults play games. From the article: "The poll also yielded plenty of other results worth ruminating on - 45 percent of gamers play over the Internet, and those who do are notably more 'hardcore' than those who do not. Forty-two percent of online gamers spent four hours or more per week playing games, but only 26% of offline gamers did similarly. The AP/AOL survey also revealed that, of those who play online games, almost one in five said they had formed real-life friendships or relationships with those they play with online, showing the use of gaming as a social activity, even when playing remotely against others."
Regardless of how many adults I know that play games, I am ultimately surprised in these results. The article doesn't mention what age groups they polled, and I would expect that they might have "forgotten" to poll some of the older members of society (who, as it turns out, also count as adults). Because while I would believe about 60-70% of people in their 20s playing games, I find it hard to believe any more than 10% of 45+ year olds playing and a decreasing percentage from there on up.
almost one in five said they had formed real-life friendships or relationships with those they play with online
I find that I don't need any more relationships to maintain than the ones I already have. In fact, I weekly "gamer night" to keep in touch with people I know IRL, but that live in other states/countries.