Will "core gamers" or casual gamers keep the gaming industry afloat?

The video game industry may be one of the few bright spots in the U.S. economy, but there is some question over what types of gamers are powering growth in the sales of games and gaming systems. An Associated Press report cites "core gamers" -- people who regularly buy and play titles such as Fallout 3 or Call of Duty: World at War -- as the group most likely to support that growth. But data from a recent Pew survey reveals a more complex demographic picture of who is playing games -- and what types of consumers are fueling demand.

The Pew study found that more teens play games than adults, and more men play than women -- no surprises there. Digging down into the data, more nuanced trends emerge: Older players gravitate toward computer-based games, while younger players, who are more likely to have grown up gaming, tend to play console games. And gamers are more likely to have at least some college education.

But when it comes to describing regular gamers and the games that they play, the Pew survey results clash with the AP story's "core gamer" angle. The AP story cited several examples of core gamers, all younger and middle-aged men. However, according to the Pew data, while young people are far more likely to game than senior citizens (81 percent aged 18-29 versus 23 percent of those 65 and over), those seniors are more likely to play frequently owing to the fact that they have more free time.

Moreover, recent sales data indicates consumers are spending more on casual gaming titles, such as Wii Fit and Cooking Mama. A quick look at Amazon's best selling games shows Wii Fit, Mario Kart, Club Penguin for DS, and Wii Music in the top 10. The only "core" title to make it into the top 10 was Call of Duty: World at War. VG Chartz shows a similar trend -- four of the top five games are casual games for the Nintendo Wii, arguably the one console not designed for the typical hardcore gamer. Incidentally, the Wii is still dominating console sales for the third holiday season in a row.

Massively multiplayer online games and virtual worlds still comprise a relatively small portion of the gaming industry (Pew data shows a mere 9 percent of gamers playing any MMOG), but those who play MMOGs or in virtual worlds are more likely to play every day or several times a week. Such titles are still heavily oriented toward PC-based play, but most focus on online interactivity, something older gamers report themselves less likely to engage in. The Pew data shows that only 13 percent of those aged 50-64 and a mere 5 percent of those 65 and older engage in online gaming.

What types of games and demographic groups offer the most potential profit for gaming companies? The core gamers referenced in the AP article are considered more likely to buy new titles. However, new titles require significant development time and expenses. MMOGs and virtual worlds comprise a relatively small market segment, yet seem to have a fanatically loyal user base . Not only do players want to play in these worlds every day, but they are also willing to pay for subscriptions, multiple accounts, and in-game micropayments. These can help companies recoup development expenses. In addition, micropayments offer a revenue stream not available with standalone titles.

The reality is that continued growth in the gaming industry during a recession probably isn't as simple as the AP's analysts described. For every sophisticated first-person shooter that succeeds based on buzz among core gamers, there's another title in the casual gaming world -- think Wii Fit -- that will appeal to customers who don't know an FPS from an RPG. The success of Nintendo's Wii has shown that there