Videogames social network Pixwoo unveils results of nationwide poll to discover the “average gamer”.

The average gamer is married, aged 35 and earns £23k a year, the study revealed yesterday.

Researchers found that while the stereotypical gamer is a student with plenty of time on their hands, it is actually settled, working Brits who are most likely to unwind playing videogames and female gamers spend just as much time indulging in their videogame hobby as their male counterparts.

They will spend around two and a half hours a day – five days a week – in front of their console and stay up until 10.58pm playing computer games. It also emerged that gamers own two different consoles, 18 games and take around a month to complete one game.

A spokesman for gamers’ social media network Pixwoo.com, which commissioned the research, said “The image most people have of a gamer is usually a young boy, holed up for hours in end in their bedroom, only stopping the game for food, drink and toilet breaks. But these results show that the stereotype couldn’t be more wrong.

“Not only are women just as likely to be gamers as men, but we are talking about fully grown adults who work, have a family and are in a relationship.”

The study, of 2,000 Brits who consider themselves a ‘gamer’, found that they will spend a total of 12 hours and 32 minutes playing on some kind on console each week but researchers also found that the hobby isn’t always good news for relationships, with the average gamer rowing with their partner twice a week over their pastime. More than one in twenty of those in relationships say it is a constant source of their rows while 15 per cent have broken up with someone because of it.

More than three quarters even admitted they don’t think they will ever grow out of their love for computer games.

While the games are usually switched off by 11pm, gamers have stayed up as late as 1.12am engrossed in their contests. They will also spend around four hours queuing for a new game at a midnight store opening once a year.

The study also found that the average video game fan has five online friends in the gaming community, with 29 per cent saying they have met at least one of those face-to-face and while a third say they are most like to play games with ‘real-life’ friends in the same room, almost a quarter tend to play with friends remotely. Almost one in five usually play with ‘online friends’ they have got to know through the gaming community.

Just under half also discuss their games and search for hints and cheats on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

It also emerged that the Wii is the most popular console to own, followed by a PlayStation 3 and an Xbox 360 and 44 per cent will definitely be treating themselves to either a PlayStation 4, Xbox One or a new PC within the next 12 months.

A spokesman for Pixwoo.com added: “This snapshot into the lives of ordinary gamers disputes many myths about the pastime, showing how integrated gaming is into our daily routine. Pixwoo.com is launching am iPhone and Android app for gamers to share their passion among friends old and new, offering a place to talk about games without being bothered by aspects of other social networks, like pictures of what people are having for dinner.”