NPD: US game downloads up 17% in 2-14 age group

NPD has released its annual Kids and Entertainment Content report which states game downloads have increased over the last two years with children between the ages of 2-14.

In terms of monetary breakdown, $0.79 went to the physical sector and $0.21 towards digital content.

The firm called this "a noticeable shift towards digital acquisition," compared to 2009 when $0.85 was spent on physical content and $0.15 on digital.

“Kids are not skittish to use technology that is available to them, and the convenience and instant gratification afforded by downloading content is alluring to them,” said NPD's Anita Frazier.

"The ease and short downloading times associated with music downloads means that this is often the gateway activity to downloading for kids, but the large increase in digital games acquisition over the last two years points to how this is becoming a more mainstream way of acquisition across all types of entertainment content."

Music downloads made up 14 percent of digital downloads, and while lower in percentage compared with games, music took the top spot with 72 percent followed by movies, which made up 13 percent of digital downloads in the age group. Overall, games came third on the list.

NPD also concluded that around 50 percent of children studied paid for their first digital content by 7-years-old, and one-third of those downloads were music, followed by PC and mobile games, respectively.

Thanks, IndustryGamers.