ESA report: 58% of US'ers are gamers, 31% are ladies, parents taking more interest

The ESA has released a report which states that 31% of video game players are adult women, and 17 year old boys make up only 19%. This makes women 45% of the entire game playing population and 46% of the time they are the most frequent game purchasers.

"This new data underscores the remarkable upward trajectory for video games. It is an entertainment form enjoyed by hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide," said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of ESA. "A diverse and energized consumer base, remarkable new hardware, and outstanding software all combine to foster growth for our industry."

According to the 2013 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry report, parents are also taking an active interest in what their kids are playing: 89% of the time they are present when a child is playing and provide permission before purchasing or renting a game 80% of the time.

Over a third play games with their kids once a week, and almost 90% feel the ESRB rating system is either "very or somewhat helpful" in choosing games for their kids. Another 86% said parental controls available consoles are useful - a figure which is up from 73% in 2012.

Here's some more data thanks to GamePolitics:

58% of Americans play video games
51% of U.S. households own a dedicated game console, with on average two games owned
36% of gamers are 36 years old or older with the average age at 30
43% feel computer and video games give them the most value for their money compared to other entertainment
62% play games with others in-person or online
$21 billion was spent on game content, hardware, and accessories in 2012