NPD: Handheld gaming growing in popularity among children

New data from the NPD shows that portable game systems are increasing in popularity among kids aged 4 to 14. 44% of kids in the U.S. between these ages use a handheld, up eight percent from a similar study in 2005. What happened since 2005? Oh, right, the PSP and DS Lite. And the iPhone, for that matter. Just eight percent?

According to the report, more kids own portable game systems than other types of devices. In addition, NPD noted that many of these handhelds were acquired used, with more kids receiving used game systems in 2009 than in 2008.

"Kids ages 14 and under were the primary recipient of 37 percent of hardware unit sales for the 12 months ending March 2010," NPD analyst Anita Frazier told IndustryGamers, also noting that the amount of kid-targeted digital content being downloaded is on the rise, suggesting that kids are open to the transition to digital distribution.

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/np...mong-children/