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Study Finds That "Extreme Gamers" Play 48 Hours a Week

Posted by Soulskill on from the i-blame-blizzard dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Think you're a big gamer? According to a new study from market research firm NPD Group, to be considered among the real hardcore you'll need to play an average of 48.5 hours a week — nearly seven hours a day. This group of gamers is, on average, '29 years old, and — perhaps surprisingly — one-third of them are female. They're more likely to play on consoles than on the PC, and on average they've purchased 24 titles in the past three months — a bill that could easily run over a thousand dollars. But dedicated though they may be, the Extreme Gamers are just a small minority: a mere 4% of the US's 174-million-strong gaming public. '"

6 of 272 comments (clear)

  1. 24 games in the past 3 months? by CMontgomery · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There haven't been 24 games released in the past 3 months worth playing for 7 hours. Let alone 7 hours a day.

    1. Re:24 games in the past 3 months? by skine · · Score: 5, Funny

      Apparently several tons of people disagree with you.

      FTFY

  2. 48 hours? by santax · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pff sissies, I play that every day.

  3. Re:Only 48 Hours? by ShakaUVM · · Score: 5, Insightful

    >>Only 48 hours? Why thats only 7ish hours a day. Thats barely enough to run heroic instances.

    Nice.

    What's really sad is that the average American consumes 30 hours of TV and radio per week, but is considered perfectly normal. (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051227/news_lz1n27list.html)

    Oh, and the same people rotting their brains out watching American Idol are the people who claim gamers are wasting their time playing the games. I can't recall how many times I've been told by couch potatoes that "there's no way they'd be able to spend that much time in front of a computer every day". WTF do they think their flat screen is?? Sigh.

  4. Re:Pfft yourself! by Lord_of_the_nerf · · Score: 5, Funny

    FYI, I chose to stop that raid schedule when I was struggling to wake up each morning....

    I chose to stop when I realised the smell I complained about to my landlord was me.

  5. Re:I know it's silly to ask, but... by mjwx · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...can they keep a job?

    Yes, this is how I can afford to be a PC gamer. I work 9 hours a day, another 1.5 hours traveling, I play between 4 and 1 hours a night depending on what else I have on (guitar practice, gym, pub). On the Weekends I can play up to 14 hours a day between other things (meals, going out, shopping, etc...). I normally get 6-8 hours a day of sleep unless a new CIV has been released in the previous 2 months.

    And maybe even have a life outside the computer?

    Currently posting from Thailand, 6000 KMs from my gaming boxen and most of my games. I will spend this time drinking, eating, carousing and other stuff one does on holiday. I'll be here for another 3 weeks. My laptop is really just for banking and browing the web, it has an Intel IGM so it wont play any recent games (cant even handle CIV).

    So what do they give up for gaming? Life, job or sleep?

    Many people find a balance. Someone who spends 4 hours gaming per night is no different to those who spend 4 hours watching TV, playing cards or working on their car.

    I dont watch TV so this may be where I'm getting all this time from.

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.