This certainly explains X-box live and why the mute button is very important.

CatPope

Very interesting...not Terribly surprising but..Good to know we have Nielson to back us up on our assumptions. How hardcore are they about reporting video game trends? They own other media like TV and radio when it comes to these stats...If they threw their power behind video game stats the wealth of knowledge we would get. Here's hoping they do.

#2) I'd love to see PC games usage. Man oh man. People Who game on PC are the true addicts. Guesses on the numbers for them?

MasterSauce

I'm glad that, at 23, I'm still considered a "kid" to researchers. :D

Daiden

@Hopanoe: Let's go with midly interested.

Aflack: Likes slushies

That seems about right. I bought the most games for my 360, second is Wii and the PS3 is in last. I must say though, the Wii titles I bought surprisingly came out of no where, due to price drops and a few must-haves.

Trowble (XBL/PSN)

@Luke Plunkett: Dunno, seems a bit too broad. I tend to think there's a bit of a difference between 10 years and 26 years.

^ Read as: Wow, that's insulting to be compared to a ten year old! :( Dammit, eMarketer! :p

ShaggE

I don't think you're reading this right, Luke. I think "% of total console minutes" means the total amount of minutes spent on video games by all respondents. Divide that time up for the three consoles and those are the results. It would make a heck of a lot more sense then polling only those with all three consoles (how many of them are there, anyways?)

Lancehead

Yeah I'm going to have to agree with this charts whole heartedly.

suya123

Not surprising that people can't stand the Wii for near as long as the other consoles.

Kenny

@Maximus9:

I think the Wii's more like that. Usually when a ignorant kid nags, he doesn't know what he actually wants and ends up getting the one that looks the most shiny.

Alex

No suprise Xbox is the leader in hours for the younger group. Though I was suprised at the large amount of time the older group had with the PS3. Does this chart count Blu-Ray time as game time?

AtomiskX

@tralu: "kids". Think the other one's "grown ups" ;)

Luke Plunkett

Intresting read.

Raziel Dune

Ages 10-26? What kind of demographic is that?

tralu

Wow, imagine all that energy wasted! (Kidding, fanboys.)

NighTrekr

Man, must be some sort of bar-graph day at Kotaku or something.

DigiMish

I don't know why this is surprising. Those over 26 are more likely to have jobs and have higher disposable incomes. They are probably also more likely to be interested in multi-media use which the PS3 excels at. The 360 comes cheaper and more like the hardcore toy parents would buy for their nagging kids and teenagers.

Maximus9

Sooooooo should we all put on our surprised faces or our mildly-interested faces?

Hopanoe

Ladies & gentlemen, proff positive we all just love gaming.
Now let's unite the (gaming) party.

SXGlory

So who in the fuck is buying all these Wiis? Geriatrics?

akashhhhh

That's why Hannah Montana was smashing wii Guitar Hero controllers, its not because the game sucks or to get the atttention of pedophiles, but to attract all those whiny 15 year olds on Xbox Live

ban_hammer

Are these stats affected by the install base size? That would explain why ps3 is so low in the young group.

valleyshrew

interesting how it is usage, and not game play time... I'm sure a lot of people use their 360 and PS3 for video playback more than games.

darknessgp

@Kenny: I'm surprised you didn't manage to ignite the war of a thousand flames.

sisedi

@ShaggE: Yea, I fall into the upper limit of that demographic. They should just group it as 10-45 and 45-100, if they want broad age groups that are not related at all.

Darkest Daze

@Voteforme2020: It's true, though. (I say this as a 360 owner) Every hour I spend on XBL, I become a bigger and bigger advocate of birth control.

ShaggE

I'm 32 and I mostly play PS3. I don't know what this means. I just like the games better. One thing I've noticed with the singstar online is that most of the people posting videos are in their late 20's or older, there's even some seniors on there.

Boxelder

I use the PS3 most personally. More games so far this year.

jacksons98

I bought a PS3 at 26. I started young. :)

archibaldleech

neat, i fall right into the tail end of the xbox zone and yet i'd guess my playtime is more like 50% wii, 40% ps2, 10% 360. Its good to be an outlier

sohpi

I think it's kinda weird they would put people 20+ in the same grouping as teenagers ... we do at least a little bit of growing in those 1.5 decades ...

GamerBunny

Top played game, Folding@Home! I kid, I kid! I use the web browser too.

Psudonym

i spend about 45 a week killing hookers in gta 4

slyzxx786

:P Whodda thunk that the PS3 attracts a more mature audience.

Just a joke.

Voteforme2020

So only the big boys play the PS3 :)

DeathBeforeDishonor

@Hopanoe: I'd vote mildly interested. Being surprised gamers game seems kind of stupid.

Still something to be said about of dedication to our 'craft'

Tietsu

What exactly was everyone playing on the Wii during the time of this survey? Brawl didn't come out until March so I'm calling shenanigans on this. I also have to agree with Akashhhh when he asked "who the fuck is buying all these Wiis?" Seriously...who?

JimmysBrother

The only thing I can really say surprised me was that the 27+ seem to love PS3.

kojirodensetsu

how do they figure this stuff out?

Kankel

I've found that on XBL, if you want to avoid the majority of the 10 to 15 year olds, set your zone to "Family" ...

None of those "cool" little kids would ever set their zone to Family, they're in "Underground" or "Hardcore" ... y'know, because they're so badass...

Nside

@JimmysBrother: Well, I got one for when people come over. I rarely play it alone. That means we probably put in about 3 hours a week while we wait for the ladies to get ready to go. It's fun and I rate it as worth it.

CatPope

The Japanese Xbox Live has monthly listings of the most played games in terms of number of sessions and time played. Guess what game has consistently been number one for time played every month for over a year? Final Fantasy XI.

AlKusanagi

I'm 30 and use the ps3 most, I'm so average. (only next-gen console I own)

greeble

These numbers don't make sense to me...

How can 360 have high numbers in all sections but be beat by Wii in the second category in the second section and PS3 be beat by Wii in the second? Doesn't make sense to me?

Unless I'm mistaken by what they mean by total % of console minutes, there's some funky ass math happening.

Tulkamir

These numbers somewhat make sense to me. All my 20 year old friends have 360's for the games while the few adult gamers enjoy having a Blu-Ray player that also has some games for it.
While the gaming is done on the 360, the rich casual gamers watch movies.

Ra is on Three's Company!

I think I understand the numbers. My guess is the average session, average usage, & average length doesn't figure in Pollees who don't actually have the console, whereas % of total console minutes does.

i.e. those 27+ who own PS3's may only play approximately as long as those who own 360's, but there are twice as many of them that own ps3's.

(And, incidentally, IMO that's probably the far more interesting column thats missing. % of pollees who own which console, though assuming my interpretation of what the first column means is correct, you can probably figure out the %)

GnatB

Po' people haxxored 360's. Peeps with bling roxxored PS3's. Quite simple.

jsf49

Avg Min/Month | % of total average.
4361.104 | 44.80%
3214.5984 | 33.03%
2156.8986 | 22.16%
-----------------------
2893.306 | 46.32%
2340.14 | 37.46%
1013.508 | 16.22%
-----------------------
* The percents are really just for easy comparison.

What can we see from these numbers in relation to the overall percentages?
* Xbox owners use their consoles more then PS3 or Wii owners.
* A comparatively large percentage of people 10-26 own Xboxes (duh).
* A comparatively large percentage of people 27+ own ps3s.
* The Wii has a large enough install base to give it disproportionately large total usage compared to average useage.

godfoder

I'm sorry, but these numbers don't add up. In the young segment the X360 gets 4,545.38 minutes a month of playtime, the PS3 gets 3,214.60 and Wii 1,827.77. That's session length times sessions per day times days per month, by the way. According to this X360 gets 47.41% of console time and not 62.73%, PS3 gets 33.53% not 12.33% and Wii clocks in at 19.06% instead of 24.94%. Either someone at eMarketer.com or at Nielsen got their Excel messed up. ;o) So please take the numbers with a grain of salt. X360 is still ahead in both segments though Wii is more popular with younger folks than older. Who knew.

ZaltanaEnemarexia

If they divided up the numbers differently, like 10-17;18-26;etc. then the ranges would have looked different and wouldn't have made the point that the marketing research team was trying to make.

If they don't combine 10-17 with 18-26 what do you think it would look like. I have an idea something to do with the private equity firms who own Nielsen and what else they own...

Look up Darrell Huff to learn, How to Lie With Statistics"

stevenjazz787

Im 29 and spend all my time on the Wii. Granted, im mostly playing VC or GameCube games... but that will change when Smash Bros Brawl arrives in Euroland. Can't see myself playing PS3 in any foreseable future tough...

I wonder how this numbers would look like in Eruope...

Shiryu

So how do Kotaku readers compare to these numbers (avg. days per month, sessions per day, time per session)?

At least for the Wii, it should be possible to work this out by going back through the last week say and looking at the time reports... I'll see if I can remember to do that when I get home, it'll be interesting to see how I compare.

quen

Thanks, Achievement Whore!

Mojomagic

Personally, I'm less than I used to be. Actually I've been playing an hour a week. :/

Of course nicer weather means less time indoors.

battra92

10-26!? Really.. WTF?

Anyway, I actually play more on my DS than on my consoles :P

CockroachMan

I play 7 days/week... 3 hours in weekdays, 10+ in weekends.
PS3 and Wii. I can't tell how I split, depends on the games I'm playing but I imagine that it's close to 50-50. Well... almost 40 hours a week for someone working... Hmmm maybe I should play less.. hehe

luckyz

So.... to sum up....

360: for youngsters
PS3: for old....uuhh...sters...
Wii: split right down the middle.

Most interesting.

CheckersMcGavern

360 for the win... most played game system in both brackets

UMM anyone else notice an error in these stats?

in the older segment...

the 360 is used more often for almost as long as the ps3 each session... and the 360 is used more days a month than the ps3... so how the hell does the 360 have a 19% usage rate?

phantam

My usage would skew the hell out of this result, as I use my 360 as a living room media center far more than for gaming.

StartingAces

@phantam: I was just thinking that. It's played more often per day for the same amount of time and almost 2 days more per month and there's a huge discrepancy in share of minutes? That's un-possible.

lionkitten

I wouldn't worry because I don't feel like these statistics *mean* anything, anyway.

People seem to be cheering on their console using them, but why do I need or want to play it every day, and for more time? More time wasted = winner? :)

I bet if Wii Fit takes off the Wii numbers for this will go through the roof. GTA4 doesn't nag you if you don't play it every day!

tincow

Interesting, I currently own a PS3, Wii, PSP, and DS with my PS3 getting the most use and I am 27. So I guess I am extremely typical.

All 3 systems are great and I really think we need to fight fanboyism because it seems stupid for a person to fight for a company that only looks at them as a tiny revenue stream.

I think liking what you own and preferring a particular platform is fine. but there is no reason to be a psycho devotee of a company that you don't work for even. The console wars are over and there seems to be no clear decisive winner (although if we were to declare a winner I think it would be Nintendo with their buckets 'o cash)

I used to consider myself a casual gamer but I have found out that I am fringe hardcore based on my hours of usage and history with games as well as the way I play - in long stints of time. When I do have time off I am on my PS3 CONSTANTLY so I would probably through off these results as well.

Do they also consider that movie time and using it as an MP3 radio in the house as usage? I spend almost as much time listening to music and watching videos/movies on my PS3 as gaming on it.

Seiven

Does this include loading times? Zing!

amazinglarry

@godfoder:
@ZaltanaEnemarexia:
I agree. The numbers don't make any sense. The 360 clearly leads for both groups.

Apparently Nielsen needs to get better at math, or learn that the key to lying with statistics is that you don't let anyone see the actual numbers.

DaFron

Interesting stats, although I dont really understand it myself. Im over 27, have disposible income thus I have all 3 platforms, but its been 6 months since I touched my PS3 and im selling off my wii now since it was bought for an Ex.

Who really care though in the end. Polls like this just make the fanboys come out in mass usually. As long as your having fun, does it really matter who plays more or less on what platform and of which age group? (unless your a marketing employee for a company producing games that is)

RuneX21

The chart was clearly made by a 27 year old. I am 30 now and everyone younger than me (excluding my wife of course) is a kid. Given current trends, in 35 years everyone under 65 will be a kid.

kingofallcosmos

I say those #s for the above 26 age range is false....

dirtypanda

I guess it's almost accurate. I rarely hear any bratty rugrats at my PS3 sessions. In fact I rarely hear anyone sometimes.

goldwings

I'm 26 and play PS3 almost exclusively just because it's where my cravings for games are.
Including handhelds I play a whole lot of PSP after that.
Some DS from time to time.
I have a few PC games and don't consider my current hardware to be holding me back.
At least once a month or so I fire up the Wii for a half hour or two.
And don't own a 360, but it's solidly due to hardware, not software. I want the software this time around, no doubt.

fuchikoma

I own a PS3 and 360 and would like to point out AV no. of Sessions and Per month Usage.

360 has better and more games to play.
If you aren't fussed about games, you have a PS3 Only!

Kum0

Wow, that explains why XBL is like the WWE of the gaming world right now and the PSN's dialogue is very... mature to the point of satisfying to talk to people.

fraggenstein

I've been playing my Super Nintendo more than anything else lately...

metadae

I'm 27...I spend 99% of my time on my ps3 and 1% on the 360. Nearly all the people on my psn friends list are older than me and spend more time on their ps3's as well.

My 360 friends list is most teenagers from gamespot.

VixDiesel

Americans? That means Canada, USA, Mexico, Central America and the rest of South America? 'Cause last time i see, America is a continent. Ohhh i c, YOU MEAN"How Much Time Do People Of USA Spend On Their 360's, PS3's, and Wii's?". I think that the correct sentence

PowerButton

If you remember, nielsen also said that Halo 1 and 2 are the most played games on the PC.

Take everything from them regarding games with a siberian salt mine.

CCCombobreaker

vaild points? aaaa did he just tell me everthing WE all know in baby terms? that was a waste of 2 mins.

grandmufti

@megaStryke:Duck and cover my friends, Kane and the "lolNintendo" trolls are coming.

Foxstar Sixtail

This chart is incorrect. Nielsen has contacted IGN and admitted that there was a screwup. According to the actual numbers, the PS3 is getting the least use across the board:

[ps3.ign.com]

megaStryke

@megaStryke:

Kind of a clusterfuck, if you ask me.

akashhhhh

@megaStryke: Right. Apparently the Ps3 and 360 numbers in the higher age segment were transposed. 360 maintains a higher proportion across the board.

Smadubaku

Me and my friends are in the ages 27+ group and none of us have a PS3. We all have 360s and Wiis. 360 is our main console and the Wii is only used when many of us are grouped together on occasional weekends to do some binge drinking.

darthsidious_7

After studying the report for a bit, it seems rather convoluted. You know what? I'm going to pretend that I never saw this thing. The correction doesn't even make much of an overall difference.

And who's idea was it to lump adolescents with adults in their twenties?

megaStryke

uh...the graph in the article is incorrect. You might want to double check it, or make an edit...

Reference the link below for the correct graph.

[www.next-gen.biz]

Lbsutke

Man, I play my Wii more than my PS360.

(no jokes intended)

Knoxximus (360/PSN)

@tralu: "Ages 10-26? What kind of demographic is that?"

No kidding! That's the first thing that sprang to mind when I read that chart.

sandwiches

Given the data and some number crunching, it's possible to find out the relative install base of the 3 consoles in Nielson households.

Ages 10-26
360: 3.60 (47%)
PS3: 1.00 (13%)
Wii: 3.01 (40%)

Ages 27+
360: 3.20 (39%)
PS3: 1.00 (12%)
Wii: 4.07 (49%)

What's particularly interesting is that Wii has the #1 spot in the 27+ group. Either the Wii is less appealing to kids, or the effect of soccer moms and nursing homes are greater than expected.

kftgr

Well, seems like the 360 is able to attract the young crowd too. Good for MS. Now, attract the casual crowd!

mcool93

@PowerButton: Actually America is two continents, North and South. But I agree with your point. I'm from the USA, but it bugs me when people call it America.

DaFron

wow, i'm really 27+.

LeBaron