The Penguin Economist Special reports delve into the most pressing economic issues of the day: from national and global economies, to the impact of trade, industry and jobs. Written to be read on a long commute or in your lunch hour - be better informed in under an hour.
In the US, the average age of a gamer is 37 and 42% are female. Last year the industry earned $56billion worldwide.
Tim Cross analyses the proliferation of the video games in this Economist special report, and how its successes are set to grow.
Sections in the report include:
All the world's a game
As you like it
The business of gaming: Thinking out of the box
Paying for pixels
E-sports: Gentlemen, start your computers
Violence and addiction: No killer app
Alternative uses: The play's the thing
The importance of fun: Homo ludens

Tim Cross joined The Economist as an intern in June 2004. He covered business, and then transport, energy and the environment for the Britain section, where he won the Wincott Award for Young Financial Journalist of the Year in 2005. Mr Cross now works on the Science section, covering, among other things, astronomy, the space business, medicine and technology stories of all kinds. He is a regular contributor to the website's Babbage blog.