Video Games Are Most Requested Gift This Holiday Season
By Movieguide® Contributor
A recent poll found that American children are more likely to ask for video games or video game-related items this year than anything else.
“More than 212 million Americans play video games regularly, so it comes as no surprise that games are at the top of this year’s wish lists,” said Stan Pierre-Lous, President and CEO, ESA. “Whether a family is getting a new console, updating their controllers and headsets, or adding to their library with new games and expansion packs, we know video games are a great tool for families to play together and connect during the holiday season and beyond.”
The study found that 72% of children plan to ask their parents for video game-related presents, followed by money/gift cards (70%), clothes/accessories (66%) and electronics/tech items (62%). Lower gift priorities include physical toys and games (38%), tickets and experiences (325), arts and crafts (28%) and books (26%).
Video games are popular among both genders, with the majority of both boys (86%) and girls (59%) indicating they plan to ask for these types of gifts.
Unsurprisingly, video games are popular among gift-givers as well. Fifty-seven percent of parents indicated that they plan on buying a video game-related gift, and 32% of adults in general plan to buy a video game-related item for themselves or others this holiday season. The study shockingly revealed that adults who plan on buying these gifts will spend an average of $485 on these items.
As with all media, Movieguide® encourages parents to be wise with the video games they allow their kids access to. For example, studies have shown that prolonged exposure to violent video games can lead children to be more aggressive in their everyday lives.
Earlier this year, “The video game ‘Dead Island 2,’ released in April, marked a new step in video game graphics with its Fully Locational Evisceration System for Humanoids (FLESH) system. The FLESH system causes a player’s model to accrue trauma in a realistic way rather than apply the damage effect to a model in the same way, regardless of the attack performed.”
Movieguide® reported that gaming graphics like this increase children’s levels of violence because their brains are not fully developed, and they struggle to differentiate between what’s real versus what’s fake.
Thus, Movieguide® encourages parents to shepherd their kids toward video games that teach them positive lessons such as collaboration and teamwork.
Movieguide® previously reported:
From TV shows and movies to Nintendo’s Super Mario World theme park opening at Universal Studios, gaming seems more popular than ever – and it is.
During the pandemic, gaming saw a stark rise in popularity. As people were forced to stay home, many gravitated towards gaming as a way to fight boredom and stay connected with friends. In the three years since, gaming has maintained its high popularity, a trend that is likely to continue for a long time.
Despite its popularity, gaming is often still viewed as a fringe interest rather than a robust, global industry. However, a look into the industry reveals just how popular video games are in the world of entertainment.
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