28% of all Gamers are Female!

I never really like posting about NPD numbers or any kind of numbers when it comes to the gaming industry. Most of the time the numbers are skewed and really don't mean a thing. However, I found a particular number very interesting when I came across it this morning. In NPD's Gamer Augmentation 2009 report released earlier this morning [6.30.09], the industry-tracking group revealed a particularly interesting factoid that shows 28 percent of all console video gamers are female, up from 23 percent last year!

Over the past few years (three to be exact) there has been a steady rise in female gaming. The NPD tracking group attributes that statistic in direct correlation with the Nintendo Wii. Perhaps you can attest that with the Wii's wide assortment of "casual" games, the market has become more accessible as well as acceptable amongst society as a whole. Gaming isn't really frowned upon anymore and it by no means is a "boy's only" club. With such groups like the Frag Dolls, TriXie and a few others we now have a pretty unique spread of players as well as spokes people for the industry...which is a good thing!

Video games have become a staple at the forefront of not only technology but the American economy. Totting a 14 billion (yes, that's a B and not an M) dollars a year revenue flow tends to make you a big dog in all facets of the American way and if we can increase this share hold by filling it in with the most diverse group of people, boy and girl, than we all benefit. 28%, huh? I say we get to 30% by years end!

-GAME HARD-