Forget the notion that video game players are nerdy teenage boys. An industry report reveals women and older adults are the new driving force behind the success of the US video games industry as console manufacturers and software developers race to expand their offerings beyond the action genre.

Women make of 38 per cent of US gamers, up from 33 per cent five years ago, and the average player is 35 years old, according to the study prepared by IbisWorld, a market research company.