579m Virtual World Registered Accounts

Yesterday we released our updated Universe charts for Q2 2009 (you can see them here). Now we’re going to drill down a little into the numbers.

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On an overall basis, including estimates, total registered accounts in the virtual worlds sector totaled 579m in Q2 2009. This is an increase of 38.6% from Q1, with a total reg accs number of 417m. The graph left shows total Q2 2009 registered accounts by age.

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These data-points take the average age of users within each world and allocate all accounts to that age, as opposed to showing accounts by specific, recorded age (not all worlds capture actual ages).

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As shown above, the average age of 14 is the dominant group, assisted by a few worlds you may have heard of, namely Stardoll, Habbo and Weeworld (although of course there is some spread of ages within these worlds).

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Here’s a graph showing cumulative registered accounts by average age.

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Not a lot of action in terms of sizable worlds when you get over 20 (Second Life excluded). But, there’s some strong age groups in the 9 to 12 and 13 to 18 brackets.

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Looking at this analysis on a age group basis as opposed to specific ages, the graph below shows how the 579m total registered accounts breaksdown.

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Clearly the action and battle is being fought in the 10 to 15 age group, with a total of 334m accounts – 57% of the overall total. The five to 10 year old group is second highest with 114m – 109% of the total.

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Next stop, 600m. By the end of 2009?