Survey: Casual gamers play more often than expected

Macrovision, which operates a casual game network called Trymedia, published the results of a survey which has revealed that “casual” gamers aren’t really so casual after all. In fact, gamers who spend most of their game time playing casual titles actually play quite a bit.

Casual games are a breed of computer and video games that don’t require the big cash layout or enormous time or effort commitment than many high-profile “A-list” games do. The genre is dotted with inexpensive, easy-to-play puzzle games, arcade-style action titles, simple strategy games and card games, many of which have an online component and some kind of social aspect, such as the ability to chat with other players while playing.

While casual games may not demand the same level of immersion or understanding of intricate game mechanics that A-list games do, their enthusiasts do play a lot of them, if Macrovision’s survey results are true.

The survey, compiled from answers given by 789 participants, reveals that 37 percent of them play nine or more game “sessions” per week. Two-thirds of those polled said that each session usually lasts for at least an hour; 31 percent said that they spent more than two hours in each session.

Seventy-one percent of those casual gamers polled are female, reinforcing a long-held belief that casual games skew more towards women than men. Thirty-seven percent are between 35 and 49 years old; 28 percent are older. A modest majority — 58 percent — don’t have any kids under 18 living at home.

Another interesting fact is when casual gamers are most likely to play. While it’s often been presumed that casual gamers like to play during commutes or in between meetings at the office, Macrovision’s survey reveals that 73 percent play at night instead. Fifty-five percent of those surveyed play on weekends, and almost half of those survey said they’ll play games when they have the house to themselves.

Top casual game genres included puzzle games (67 percent), card games (44 percent), strategy games (35 percent) and action games (34 percent).