Gambling, gaming, daddling – more than half (53 percent) of Germans aged 16 and over play video or computer games at least occasionally. Among younger people between 16 and 29 it is even 91 percent, among 30 to 49 year olds 74 percent and among 50 to 64 year olds 46 percent. In the 65+ age group, every fifth person (19 percent) plays.
39 percent of gamers say they can no longer imagine life without video and computer games. These are the results of a representative survey commissioned by the digital association Bitkom among 1,159 people in Germany aged 16 and over, including 618 gamers. Gamescom, the world’s largest trade fair for computer and video games, is correspondingly popular starts in Cologne. Because for many there is more to gaming: For 51 percent of gamers, video and computer games are a social cultural asset like books, films or music. Almost half (49 percent) of gamers are convinced that this teaches them important skills for real life, such as the ability to work in a team, responsiveness or strategic thinking. 47 percent of gamers say that computer and video games make it easy to enter the digital world.
“Gaming has long been more than just entertainment. Interactive gaming experiences familiarize users with modern technology in a playful way. As they immerse themselves in virtual worlds, they intuitively learn how to use digital interfaces, menu navigation and control options,” says Dr. Sebastian Klöß, Head of Consumer Technology at Bitkom. “Anyone who has ever been completely immersed in a game knows how quickly you forget time and place when gaming. However, the majority of gamers are well aware of this.” 6 out of 10 gamers (60 percent) say that video and computer games are crowding out other hobbies such as reading or sports.
57 percent of gamers say that video and computer games sometimes lead to neglecting social contacts in real life. On the other hand, video and computer games are a family event for 26 percent of gamers at home, and no less than 7 percent of gamers have made a new friendship through online gaming that also lasted outside of gaming. “Gaming is also about social interaction. Modern gaming platforms and online gaming scenarios not only offer the opportunity to get in touch with people of all ages, but also with other players from all over the world and to grow together with challenges,” says Klöß.
Almost all (97 percent) of the gamers play games without other people, i.e. without opponents or players. 64 percent play games with other people. The preferences are quite balanced: while half of those who play both alone and with others have no clear preference for games with or without opponents or fellow players (49 percent), around a quarter prefer to play with them (25 percent). or without other people (22 percent). Those who play with others mainly play with known people locally (72 percent), i.e. at home, in gaming cafés or halls.
53 percent play online with people they know, 37 percent online with people they don’t know. On the other hand, only 12 percent play with unknown people on site. But it is not only popular to play games yourself, it is also popular to look over the shoulder of others while they are playing computer and video games: Every fourth German (24 percent) watches others doing it offline from time to time, for example at home or at events. 10 percent are online viewers, for example in videos or live streams.
www.bitko.org
2023-08-16 08:33:11
#Video #computer #games #cultural #asset
