The NPD Group has released the results of a study that 63 percent of the U.S. population plays games defined as console and portable games, PC games, games on kid-oriented systems or games on devices like cell phones or iPods.

The details are as below:

The NPD Group has released the results of a study that shows that both "heavy" and "light" gamers enjoy playing games in groups, and that both types value gaming as a family activity.

The study, called Expanding the Games Market, also found that the majority of gamers, particularly teens and older gamers ages 15 to 65 and older view gaming as a way to alleviate stress and to help them unwind.

The report examined how consumer demographic groups are represented in the gaming world, and analyzed the attitudes and behaviors of user groups based on hours per week spent on gaming.

The study found that the heaviest gamers are males aged 18 to 34, and that the group devotes "significant amounts" of money and time to gaming, with a focus on "hardcore" titles as opposed to casual games.

The study defines lighter gamers by the amount of time spent as well as a preference for casual titles, and found that these light gamers fall on the upper and lower ends of the age spectrum, with a relatively high representation of females.

Read More: Study: 63 Percent Of U.S. Plays Games, Cite Beneficial Results

News Original From: http://www.gamasutra.com/

Shaiya Screenshot (Click here for full image)