ONLINE GAMING AN ACTIVITY OF GENDER EQUALITY IN ASIA

Dallas, Texas July 6, 2005 – On a near-global scale, women are more likely than men to play online games, with Asia being the one exception, according to Global Digital Living, a multinational series of consumer surveys from Parks Associates.

Among Internet households in North America, 52% of women play online games each month compared with 39% of men, according to this international study. Similar gaps regarding online gaming exist among Internet households in Europe, 39% of women and 28% of men, and in Australia, 53% of women and 27% of men. Only in Asia were these gaming activities equal between women and men at 49% and 50%, respectively.

Yuanzhe (Michael) Cai, a senior analyst with Parks Associates, attributed Asia’s gender parity in online gaming to a variety of cultural and business factors, including different gamer preferences and popular genres as well as online gaming business models designed to encourage equal participation.
"Industry pundits buzz about the large percentage of females gaming online, but many of these gamers are playing free or ad-supported casual card and board games," Cai said. "The revenue-generating genres such as first-person shooters and fantasy games are still dominated by a small group of hard-core male gamers. The gender parity in Asia is unique and may offer insight on how to expand the gaming industry in the western world. Gamers in Asia tend to value the community aspect of the online gaming experience, and the dominant game genres appeal to males and females alike."

The Global Digital Living project is a study of worldwide consumer technology trends and surveyed Internet households in thirteen nations: France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, India, China, South Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

For additional information on Global Digital Living, visit http://www.parksassociates.com or contact 972-490-1113 or sales@parksassociates.com.

About Parks Associates: Parks Associates is a market research and consulting firm focused on all product and service segments that are "digital" or provide connectivity within the home. The company’s expertise includes home networks, digital entertainment, consumer electronics, broadband and Internet services, and home systems.

Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, multiclient studies, consumer research, workshops, and custom-tailored client solutions. Parks Associates also hosts Fall Focus and co-hosts CONNECTIONS™ (in partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association) each year. http://www.parksassociates.com.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jenny Barrett
Parks Associates
972-490-1113
Email: jenny@parksassociates.com


ONLINE GAMING AN ACTIVITY OF GENDER EQUALITY IN ASIA