The results of the 2010 IGDA demographic survey of the alternate reality games player and developer communities. Also salary survey results for ARG professionals.

1. IGDA ARG SIG
2010 Demographic & Salary Survey

2. Respondents
ARG player
Grassroots ARG developer/designer/contributor
Independent ARG developer/designer/contributor
Professional developer/designer/contributor
None of the above (Please explain)
3%
16%
Other responses: 48%
Student 18%
Teacher
Researcher
Academic 15%
102 total respondents

3. Games Played
All Time %
In the Last Year %
50
37.5
25
12.5
0
None 1-2 3-5 5+

4. Gender
Male Female
34%
39%
61%
66%
ARG Players ARG Developers

5. Age
% Players % Developers
30
22.5
15
7.5
0
15-17 18-21 22-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-49 50+

6. Ethnicity
White
Black/African
Asian/Pacific Islander
Hispanic
Rather not say
3% 3%
3% 3%5%
3%
2%
92% 87%
ARG Players ARG Developers

7. Player Countries
Australia
United Kingdom
United States
Other
11% 5% 5%
One response each from:
Canada
Chile
France 78%
Germany

8. Developer Countries
Australia
Brazil
Canada
Germany
United Kingdom
8% 3%3%
United States 8%
Other
3%
7%
One response each from:
Argentina
Italy
France 67%
Norway
South Africa

9. Developer Primary Roles
Game Design
Narrative design
Puzzle design
Art/web design
Writing
7%
Programming/technical support 4%
Production/project management 11% 33%
Consulting
Other
9%
16% 11%
Other responses include: 5% 5%
Audio/video production
Acting
Concepting
PR

10. Additional Dev. Roles
Game Design
Narrative design
Puzzle design
Art/web design 70
Audio/video production
Writing 52.5
Acting
Programming/technical support
Production/project management 35
Event management/ground support
Consulting
17.5
Other
0
Other responses include: Response Percent
PR/Marketing

11. Prior Background
Games
Film/video
Social/new media
Marketing
Theater/performance art
6%
Print media 6% 23%
Other
13%
Other responses include:
12% 14%
Education
Journalism
Music 26%
Student
None of the above

12. Memberships
Yes No
20%
42%
58%
80%
IGDA Member ARG SIG Member

13. Professional Status
Yes No
Have you ever received
43%
money to create or
contribute to the
57%
production of an ARG?

14. Paid vs. Unpaid Work
100
75
50
25
0
% Work Paid
45%
55%
Paid
Unpaid

15. 2009 Payment Methods
Hourly/day rate
Flat fee per project
Salary (may include non-ARG responsibilities)
Other
60
45
Other responses include:
Award honorarium 30
Merchandise sales
15
0
Response Percent

16. 2009 Average Hourly Rate
$0-10
$10-25
$25-50 30
$50-75
$75-100
$100+ 22.5
15
7.5
0
Response Percent

17. 2009 Hours Billed
50 hours or less
50 to 250 hours
250 to 500 hours 40
500 to 1000 hours
1000 to 1500 hours
1500 hours or more 30
20
10
0
Response Percent

18. ARG-Related Work
100
75
50
25
0
5%
% Work ARG Related Untitled 2
ARG Work
95%
Non-ARG Work

19. Employee vs. Freelancer
100
75
50
25
0
% Work Freelance Untitled 2
48%
52%
Freelance
Employee

20. Ownership
Yes No
35%
Do you own your own
studio, agency, or other
legal entity?
65%