Not so long ago, the gaming demographic was dominated by pimply teenage boys and sun-starved adults.  But that profile is rapidly changing, according to data shared by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) at E3 in Los Angeles. 

In terms of age, 26 percent of gamers are now over the age of 50, and the average gamer is 35.  Perhaps more surprising is that women comprise 40 percent of the overall gender mix, and actually eclipse the number of game-playing teenage males.

That is part of a mainstreaming industry, one that is juggling the pressures that come with a bigger spotlight.  That includes higher levels of scrutiny from parents and legislators, especially on violent titles like GTA4.

But music-focused games are mostly innocuous, and quite lucrative.  Within a top-twenty sales ranking published by NPD Group, Guitar Hero titles ranked five separate times.  In 2008, rival Rock Band will undoubtedly be elbowing into that list following a late-2007 release.

_{Report by publisher Paul Resnikoff at E3 in Los Angeles.}