• Entertainment Software Association, Tuesday, November 11, 2014 10:52 AM

The U.S. computer and video game industry grew more than 9% from 2009 to 2012 -- estimated at four times the growth of the American economy (0.72%) during the same time, per a study released Tuesday by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). The study, Video Games in the 21st Century: The 2014 Report, which analyzes the industry from 2009 to 2014, also found that approximately 146,000 individuals are directly and indirectly employed in 36 states by the entertainment software industry. Industry employees earn an average annual salary of $95,000; and total direct compensation for all employed in the video game software industry was more than $4 billion.

Apple announced earlier this year that consumers worldwide had spent more than $10 billion through the App Store in 2013, with Apple developers earning $15 billion. Experts say that video games now dominate the markets for free and paid apps. Canalys Research estimates that in 2012, games accounted for 145 of the top 300 paid apps in the Apple App Store and 116 of Google Play's top 300 paid apps.

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