Study: Growing interest in online gaming

A recent survey by the IDC, titled Videogame Consumer Survey, reveals that 60 percent of gaming households show interest in online gaming. Additionally, an overwhelming 76 percent of respondents are highly interested in the ability to download games from the Internet. The survey further showed a changing face of the video game player. Although the segment remains predominantly male, an increasing number of female consumers are becoming interested in video games. According to the survey, 9.4 percent of PlayStation 2 owners and 11.4 percent of Dreamcast owners are female.

"The availability and adoption of broadband in U.S. households is definitely influencing online gaming,'' said Schelley Olhava, IDC senior analyst of consumer devices and gaming research. "Broadband households have much higher interest levels in online gaming activities and are prime targets for an array of gaming options and services."

Although the survey acknowledges the influence of broadband gaming, it does state that currently only 6.5 percent of gaming households, and approximately 9 percent of US households in general, have broadband access.-- Shahed Ahmed, GameSpot VG