2017’s Best Cities for Gamers

From WalletHub, Jun 14, 2017

Gaming is serious business. Globally, it represents nearly a billion players contributing to an over $100 billion industry. To put that in perspective, video games in 2016 dwarfed total movie-ticket sales around the world by a good $62.5 billion. But it’s just as lucrative of a cash generator in the U.S., where revenues are expected to exceed $25 billion this year.

Today, about half of U.S. adults play video games, and nearly two in three households are home to at least one gamer who plays an average of three to four hours per week. For some players, however, gaming is more than a hobby; the virtual world forms part of their identity. In fact, about 10 percent of adult players would label themselves “gamers,” according to the Pew Research Center. And while arguments can certainly be made against the negative effects of gaming, many players value the social aspect of the activity, evident in the gaming groups, forums and conventions sprouting online and across the country. Pro gaming, or “esports,” itself is growing into a popular career choice.

But some places are better than others for the gamer lifestyle, so WalletHub’s data team compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 20 key indicators of gamer-friendliness. Their data set ranges from average internet speed to video-game stores per capita to number of e-sports tournaments. Read on for the winners, gamer advice and industry insight from a panel of experts … LINK.

Honolulu, HI

• Rank: 71st
• Raw Score: 29.37
• Gaming Environment: 55th
• Internet Quality & Coverage: 81st
• Gamer & Development Opportunities: 61st
• Internet Speed: 99th
• Arcades per Capita: 3rd