Report: Some gamers skew older

On average mobile gamers are listing about 39 ½ years of age (US, UK), but according to the results tablet-only players are skewing up to nearly 45 years of age. As well as skewing older, mobile and tablet gamers were found to play longer than other gamers and three-quarters of gamers who are playing via tablet have never played on another mobile device. Some other interesting findings include:

• 40% of those playing via smartphone and tablet say much of their gaming has switched toward the tablet
• 57% of mobile gamers say playing is becoming a 'regular part of their day'
• In 2009 29% said they played at least 1 hour per day, in 2012 42% say the same
• Of those playing and spending real money to play, the average spend is expected to be just over $29 this year

"Half (51%) of mobile gamers have spent real money to purchase a mobile game, game currency and/or game content in the past year, with upgrading from a free game trial or game app to a paid version being the most common purchase," was written in the report.

Of those spending real cash to play most are upgrading from free to premium versions (27%), most (48%) are younger (age 35 and under) and male (56%). Tablet owners were found to make more in-game purchases for real money.

One gaming area that isn't expanding in the mobile realm is social gaming. Nearly one-third of respondents said they 'never' play social games via mobile device.

Tags: gaming demographics, in game advertising, mobile game trends, mobile gaming, PopCap