---
title: "Gamers Today Are More Social Than You’d Think"
date: 2011-08-23
author: "Richard MacManus"
categories:
  - name: "ReadWriteWeb"
    url: "/category/readwriteweb.md"
tags:
  - name: "2011"
    url: "/tag/2011.md"
---

# Gamers Today Are More Social Than You’d Think

![](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210202437im_/http://rww.readwriteweb.netdna-cdn.com/images/gamers_aug11_150.jpg)It’s common knowledge that gaming is [one of the most popular activities](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210202437/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/older_people_not_using_smartphones_or_digital_media.php) on the Web, but we often don’t have a good sense of what type of person a modern gamer is. A new [research report from Latitude](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210202437/http://www.latd.com/2011/08/23/the-future-of-gaming-a-portrait-of-the-new-gamers/) set out to answer the question: who is today’s gamer?

As one participant in Latitude’s study noted, traditionally gamers have been thought of as the “stereotypical, petulant and portly adult playing a viscerally violent game in his parents’ basement.” According to the report findings, that stereotype of the anti-social, immature gamer is outdated. Today’s gamer is “social, tech-savvy, goal-oriented” and is much more social than they’re usually given credit for. For example, 84% of the study participants use social media “at least several times per week.”

The findings come from a Web survey amongst 290 smartphone owners between the ages of 15-54 who self-identified as at least “casual gamers,” with nearly half labeling themselves “game enthusiasts.” This infographic from Latitude summarizes the findings:

![](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210202437im_/http://rww.readwriteweb.netdna-cdn.com/images/gamers_aug11.jpg)*[Click here](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210202437/http://www.flickr.com/photos/37527143@N03/6069757741/sizes/l/in/photostream/) to view large image.*

The following [visualization](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210202437/http://www.flickr.com/photos/37527143@N03/6071474780/in/photostream) answers this question: How Would You Like to Interact with Games in the Future? Gesteral systems, such as [Microsoft’s motion-controlled gaming system Kinect](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210202437/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/microsoft_kinect_sdk_future_of_windows.php), is the most popular request.

This [visualization](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210202437/http://www.flickr.com/photos/37527143@N03/6070915415/in/photostream) asks: Where Would You Like to See More Games Applied? Education and healthcare were the two most popular answers.

Finally, check out this [video analysis](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210202437/http://vimeo.com/28065109) of the findings:

For other research on gaming demographics and usage, see these ReadWriteWeb posts from earlier this year:

- [Mobile Gaming Audience is Younger, Has Strong Female Presence](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210202437/http://www.readwriteweb.com/mobile/2011/02/mobile-gaming-audience-younger-has-strong-female-presence.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+readwriteweb+(ReadWriteWeb))
- [Gaming and Entertainment Dominating Mobile Usage \[Infographic\]](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210202437/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/gaming_and_entertainment_dominating_mobile_usage_i.php)
- [Do Video Game Developers Ignore Women Gamers?](https://web.archive.org/web/20120210202437/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/do_video_game_developers_ignore_women_gamers.php)

*Originally published on ReadWriteWeb ([archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20020204040018/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/gamers_today_are_more_social.php))*