Survey: Boredom, Fun Top Reasons Americans Play Mobile Games

An interesting survey released today examines why Americans like to play games on their mobile devices. Conducted by gaming site MocoSpace, more than 10,000 users answered what drew them to mobile games. Thirty-four percent said because the games are fun while 32 percent said they play because of boredom or to kill time. Here are the rest of the results:

10 percent: I like to compete.
9 percent: To meet new people.
6 percent: To try something new.
3 percent: I'm always on the go.
3 percent: To flirt.
2 percent: Connect with my friends.
Less than 1 percent: Connect with my family.

And, to no parent's shock, mobile games are being played in the classroom as well. More than 31 percent of respondents admitted to playing games while they should have been learning. The top reason why was boredom (42 percent). Forty-one percent of budding scholars said they play because they have down time (sure, kids). While the old person in me (at a spritely 34 years old) would love to criticize students for playing games on their mobile devices instead of actually paying attention, I do realize that I would have been doing the exact same thing if I had an iPhone or iPad in school. So it's probably good I didn't. And while the survey isn't exactly scientific, it does emphasize what most of us already know – games on mobile devices are a lot of fun.

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