Study: Gaming Second Only To Web Surfing On U.S. Tablets

A new study from market research firm Interpret found that over half of U.S. tablet owners use devices like iPad for playing games, making gaming the second most-popular activity on tablets following surfing the internet. According to the firm's quarterly Media Measure study, 52 percent of tablet owners use the devices to play games, and 58 percent use them for web surfing. The stats underscore the growing popularity of games on mobile devices. Certainly the 7.5 million Apple iPads sold through September this year had something to do with the popularity of tablet gaming. Major game makers as well as small independent developers distribute their games through the iOS App Store. Interpret also found that active gamers are likely to buy a tablet device within the next three months. Analyst Colin Sebastian with Lazard Capital Markets told Gamasutra this week that the iPad launch was one of the biggest events to happen to the gaming industry this year -- surprising as the iPad isn't a dedicated gaming device. "... The iPad strikes me as a boon to the broader industry," he said. "[It brings] in new consumers to play games, with a new platform that should cater to both casual and core gamers. … The iPad could [also] herald a new trend bringing game apps to televisions."