Console usage: PS2 still king but Xbox 360 beating Wii and PS3
By Dave Parrack
With most of us here on Gamer.Blorge, both writers and readers (and especially the commenters) being massive gamers, it’s easy to forget that not everyone keeps up with the new video games technology. So while we’re all playing with our current gen Wii (highly likely), Xbox 360 (every American), and PS3 (a few of us), there are millions of people stuck in the last gen. The poor saps.
Actually, I don’t mean that last part because between me and my girlfriend, we still own nigh on 100 PS2 games, and many more games from other now defunct consoles from yesteryear. You know how it is, there are some classics you just can’t stand to get rid of. Although in my case I still haven’t even played a few of them.
But let’s be clear on this. The Xbox 360 has been out three years and the PS3 and Wii two years, but the number of owners is still far short of how many people own(ed) last gen consoles. The Playstation 2 alone has sold in excess of 140 million consoles around the world, making the PS3’s 18 million or so seem like a drop in the ocean. Even the Wii cannot compete even though its approaching the 40 million mark.
And the thing is, those PS2 owners, or even owners of the original Xbox haven’t just stopped playing games merely because the industry has moved on a generation. No, they’re still sitting there in front of their TVs happily playing the hundreds of classic games on their system of choice.
New research from Nielsen, reported on Gizmodo, shows that the PS2 is still the console of choice in the U.S., with more playing time dedicated to it by loyal gamers than any of the newer breed of super console (and the Wii).
Video Game Console Usage 2008
1. PS2 - 31.7% of minutes
2. Xbox 360 - 17.2%
3. Wii - 13.4%
4. Xbox - 9.7%
5. PS3 - 7.3%
6. Gamecube - 4.6%
7. Other - 16.2%
So the last gen wins out in terms of actual minutes played on them by users. Hell, even the original Xbox is beating the PS3! Of the current gen consoles, there’s no surprise to see the Xbox 360 leading the pack, especially as these results are based on American gamers. The Wii managed 13.4 percent of the total, so maybe I’m wrong in thinking every Wii ends up gathering dust after the first month.
There are signs that this generation of consoles is finally becoming dominant. I know so many people who received one of the new consoles this Christmas, having made do with their last gen machine until now, when the prices have come down and the quality and quantity of games has gone up. But it seems the last gen isn’t dead yet, and won’t be for a few more years at least.
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Stumble It!
Tips N4G
January 2nd, 2009
If the research wasn’t measured in minutes we could say that there are the loyal customers Sony where talking about.
If fact, fuck it, let’s say it. There’s Sony’s loyal customers right there!
There won’t be a console like the PS2 for some decades methinks.
But how do they measure this though? How is the research collated?
“31.7%”
“17.2%”
“13.4%”
Them’s some precise fucking numbers. How the fuck did they get to them?
January 2nd, 2009
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/37-Mailbag-Showdown
hahahaha the end is really funny… watch it
January 2nd, 2009
It’s going to be sample groups of X amount of people, just like all research of this kind and TV ratings etc.
January 3rd, 2009
“Hell, even the original Xbox is beating the PS3! ”
Damn, that’s got to be embarrasing….
January 3rd, 2009
Somewhere in a past thread: “price does not affect me”
PS2: $130
360: $199 (+$30 for a 20gb HDD and comp Live)
Wii: $250
PS3: $399 (-$150 with a Sony Style card)
Is this just me, or does there seem to be a direct correlation between price and usage here?
Could it be that the more a console sells, the longer it’s lifetime and relative usage?
January 3rd, 2009
carlB
360- $199 (+$30 for a 20gb HDD and comp Live)
ps3- $399 (+latest and best version of blu ray that can only download extra features using ps3 + 80gb harddrive + wireless read + ethernet cable)
if you add wireless ready and blu ray for the 360, it will be more expensive than the ps3. MS is just a bunch of cheap, greedy bastards.
January 3rd, 2009
now lets stay on the topic for ONCE! PLEASE I BEG YOU, quit revealing all your fanboysms
and srry for the double post.
anyways…i dont think anything will beat the ps2 for a while. when will they move on? they’re all kinda missing out.
January 3rd, 2009
to_me, who are you? Who do you normally post as?
I found it ironic that you bag Microsoft in regards to the 360 (we’re not discussing Windows), and then ask people to stop showing their fanboyisms. Actually, I think I found it more moronic than ironic.
January 4th, 2009
t_m,
You are right, the Sony Card is no longer available.
Is there really so vast a difference between an upconverted DVD and Blu-Ray movie? Also, my 1080p HD downloads look great.
For the whole wireless thing, I understand some people may not live where an ethernet cable connection is available. Usually, if you get an ISP, they will install it for you for free… but if this in not an option, I can see where this would come into play.
On the 80GB HDD, I seem to have been gaming fine on 20GB for the last three years, no problem, but you can still get a 360 for $100 less with a 60GB option.
On “MS is just a bunch of cheap, greedy bastards,” I believe we could say the same about Sony on taking out backwards compatibility and selling PS1 titles over PSN, don’t you think?
The topic is console usage, and I was drawing a correlation between up front price and usage. The PS2 still happens to be in the lead on this. Are you saying I am a fan of the PS2? Well, I do still own and plan on still enjoying mine, so I guess this is accurate. I apologize if revealing that fact was too much for you to take.
January 5th, 2009
Haha yeh DWH, I remember watching that one.
January 5th, 2009
Carl B – You’ll be happy to know I picked up a DS over the weekend. I’ve been playing Final Fantasy IV. It’s really good. I only played a little bit of the original one (FF III?). I also got New Super Mario Brothers. Both games are great. My only complaint is that I think I have carpal tunnel. The DS is not ergonomically built at all…. I’m thinking of suing.
January 6th, 2009
Try the Nyko charger handle, it is much better.
January 6th, 2009
looks like the EU is helping the 360 also.
http://www.alleyinsider.com/2009/1/microsoft-were-kicking-sonys-rear-in-europe-and-the-middle-east-too-msft
i can see how more people spend more time on the 360 given it has more sales than the ps3. the wii? not so much,tho…
January 6th, 2009
I was kidding about the suing… but thanks for the tip. I’ll look it up.
January 6th, 2009
I picked up Final Fantasy 12 a while back. I made it pretty far…. about 50 hours or so. I got discouraged when I spoke to a friend that beat it and said it took him 70+ hours. At any rate, I will have to brush the dust off of the ol’ PS2 and finally finish it up. Now seems like a pretty good time.
January 7th, 2009
Barnabe,
Do you own a PS3?
January 7th, 2009
Yes sir. My PSN ID is kdiggyd123. Feel free to add me.
January 14th, 2009
So you didn’t get a bc one?