Wizard101 Trinity University Study

Here at KingsIsle, we were extremely excited when researchers at Trinity University approached us on wanting to do a study on gaming demographics using an anonymous survey of more than 35,000 Wizard101 player volunteers.  Today Trinity researchers Dr. Aaron Delwiche and Dr. Jennifer Henderson share some of their findings with us! 

As you know, millions of people of all ages get to play Wizard101. But what do we know about these people who play in the Spiral? In a study recently published in the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, Dr. Aaron Delwiche and Dr. Jennifer Henderson learned some interesting things about Wizard101 players. More than 35,000 players responded to their survey about how, when, and why they play Wizard101.

For example did you know that, on average, adults over the age of 50 play Wizard101 almost 10 hours a week more than younger players? These researchers from Trinity University also found that older players were more likely to underestimate their playtime. Younger players did the exact opposite, often thinking that they played longer than they really did.

These researchers also learned that approximately two thirds of the players under the age of 50 were male, while two thirds of the players over the age of 50 were female. Did you have any idea that Mom and Grandma were playing so often? Well, you probably did, because older female players were more likely to have characters at higher game levels than younger players.

But players of all ages shared common ground when reporting how much they value the connections and friendships made within the Spiral. For example, one woman said “this game has given my family a way to play together and communicate more often even though we are thousands of miles apart.  It has brought us closer together and that means the world to us.”

Dr. Delwiche and Dr. Henderson’s next study from this survey will take a closer look at intergenerational gaming. What sorts of rules do families have about playing Wizard101? When players are in the Spiral, who decides which quests to undertake? What do family members say they learn about themselves and each other by playing the game?

Dr. Aaron Delwiche and Dr. Jennifer Henderson
Trinity University