"This first-ever study of 'gamer parents' dramatizes the increasing and positive role that video games play in American family entertainment," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA, the trade group representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. "The data provide further evidence dispelling the myth that game playing is dominated by teens and single twenty-somethings. It tells us that parents see games both as an enjoyable activity on their own, and one that allows them to engage with their children as well."

Particularly important in light of the many recent attempts to legislate video games is the data that 73% of gamer parents claim to be regular voters (unfortunately, this is probably an exaggerated figure given the continually declining U.S. voter turnout among gamers and non-gamers alike), and encouragingly they are not affected by partisan boundries: 36% report voting Democratic and 35% report voting Republican. Gamer parents have been gaming for an average of 13 years, with a third of the respondants at 20 years or more. They spend an average of 19 hours a month on games.

Growing trends like these can only be positive for the gaming industry, which has lately been fighting constant battles against those who believe it to be some kind of deviant or destructive hobby.

Oh, and speaking of gamer parents, GamerDad has put up its 2005 Game of the Year awards, complete with recommendations for all age groups. So if you're looking to expand that 80% of parents who play games with their kids, you may want to consult that guide.