PS2 crushes Wii, Xbox in gaming minutes
The PlayStation 2 received 30.2 percent of all console-gaming minutes in 2008 (January to October), according to the Nielsen Media Research.
(Credit: Sony)That statistic is a bit surprising, until you consider that Sony has sold more than 140 million PS2s since its launch. With the largest footprint, the PS2 should have the largest usage base.
- Top Console Usage (by percent of minutes played)
- PlayStation 2 (30.2 percent)
- Xbox 360 (18.3 percent)
- Wii (13.5 percent)
- Xbox (9.1 percent)
- PlayStation 3 (7.7 percent)
- GameCube (4.4 percent)
- Other (16.9 percent)
Admittedly, these PS2 numbers are surprising and very impressive. The PS3 is still struggling against the Wii and Xbox, and this data certainly doesn't let the PS3 off the hook, but it does show that there might be a long-tail effect in place for console games.
Even more impressive data from Nielsen is the fact that World of Warcraft, or WoW, players average 671 minutes (more than 11 hours) per week. In any given minute, "almost 1 percent (0.723 percent) of all PC gamers are playing WoW."
Dave Rosenberg dishes up "Software, Interrupted" with nearly 15 years of technology and marketing experience that spans from Bell Labs to multiple start-up IPOs to open-source enterprise software companies. He is co-founder of MuleSource and currently serves as the general manager of Hardy Way. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. You can contact Dave via e-mail at softwareinterrupted@gmail.com.
I'm not a gamer, but I doubt they can accurately generate this report with their current methods of collecting data.
for a console including a game or 2. There are almost 600 games with a rating of "good" to "outstanding" (check metacritic). There are thousands of games that have been published for the ps2, and because of the install base, developers are still releasing titles for it. It will be a long time before the actual "played minutes" of the other consoles comes close to the ps2, simple fact of the number of units out there.
-by the way, i have a ps2, will buy a ps3 as soon as i get through the backlog of great games I have for the ps2.
Just to say, I have nothing against the PS3, I wish them well. But...
In recent weeks, I have purchased an XBox 360 Elite (includes HD), and stand alone Blu-ray player. The combined cost was about the same as a PS3. Having two devices is not a problem, becuase the Xbox is not always in the same place as the blu-ray player.
What is missing is the Wi-Fi, but I didnt need that - I have a wired network which is faster and more reliable.
Games that are available on both consoles seemed pretty much the same, and if anything XBox has more exclusives, so your marginally better off there (depends on your preference for games, I guess). I really enjoy the online game expereince, and Xbox Live is great.
Finally, neither of the consoles has games that could be considered cheap, but XBox 360 games do seem to be a little cheaper.
I dont find your argument deeply compelling, and I wanted Blu-ray. Many parents will be wanting a console for a child, and Blu-ray will be something they can live without, and save some cash.
Regards,
Nick.
No, you're not being paranoid at all. Microsoft pay me a very decent salary to posting here, and I only need post about 3 messages a day. Normally it takes only 10-15 minutes, and then the rest of the day is mine. I was out skiiing today, but the weathers coming in, so I might head on down to San Tropez and the yacht.
There are thousands of us doing this. More fool you for being a PS3 fanboy for free. You actually paid for a PS3? Thats hilarious.
Great point, about the fact the 'random sampling' can't possibly give an accurate representation of what the nielsen families own. I have an XBOX, 360, and Wii. My in-law has a dusty PS2 & 360, neighbor, just the Wii. The statistics should be completely spelled out. How many nielsen families own a gaming console, which platforms, then minutes played, etc ... This is why 'Dewey Wins' is one of the all-time greatest gaffes ... Dewey was an elitist and ran a platform based on entitlement ... the phone polls showed he was leading in a landslide. Then the elections were held and he lost miserably ... poor people a.k.a. 'the common man' didn't own phones yet :)
We need to know the full details of the 'sample group' in order to better understand the collected data.
Playstation (2 and 3) vs. everyone else (xbox + 360, Wii + Game Cubes, etc)? Sony comes out way ahead in sales.
You said "Playstation (2 and 3) vs. everyone else (xbox + 360, Wii + Game Cubes, etc)? Sony comes out way ahead in sales".
I guess Sony are making a profit on PS2, but they are loosing money on PS3. Console sales alone aren't interesting, its how many games they are selling. Not hugely discount games more then 12 months old either, but the latest stuff that sells for a premium
Its interesting to note that Xbox 360 is a comfortable second place here, with more than double the played minutes than PS3. Any review of games sales shows that Xbox 360 clearly dominates there, even over the Wii.
The Wii is certainly a success, as is Xbox 360 (esp. now the price is down). As for PS3, its not a disaster as some would like to say, but its also not the raging success either.
The sales numbers covering the Xmas period will be very interesting.
WOULD YOU PEOPLE PLEASE STOP SAYING THE PS3 CANNOT PLAY THE PS2 GAMES?
Thank you
I'm not surprised the ps2 puts up those numbers at all. There's just so many of them out here, not just in the big video game countries, but all around the world. And it's still the best platform for one of the largest gaming niches - DDR and dance games. <p></p>
I'd like to see this data broken down by actual game type. Like how did first person shooters do vs. third person shooters? What percentage of all the Wii hours were Wii Sports? Is the average length of time someone plays WoW 16 or 18 hours?! Tell us, Nielsen!
The PS2 numbers aren't that impressive considering how long the PS2 has been out. The Wii is at 2 years and almost half of that of the PS2 percentage which has been out for 10 years.
I tried the Wii and it was fun with a bunch of people, but most people I talk to who have them say they're kinda boring if you're playing solo, the games aren't very sophisticated, and the graphics are too cartoony/low-res. I'm sticking with my high powered gaming PC + PS2 + 37" monitor for now...
I wont get an xbox even if it was 99 bucks. MS ticked me off when they turned their back on the PC users and only released HALO 2 in vista format years late. No way gonna go down that path!
I had to laugh when the Mechwarrior games they released were nowhere near as good as previous titles.
I still have all the originals, and I replay them once in a while...oops better not say that too loud or MS will cripple the next o/s update so the old Mechwarrior games will no longer work.
I actually bought a $150 joystick/throttle combo just for use in the Mechwarrior games. I haven't seen ANY games on either the XBox or PS3 (I have one) that would make me spend $150 on a new controller.
What exactly was measured? Self reported gaming minutes or internet gaming minutes - I'm sure I'm not alone in working on achievements offline or playing with a cross-over cable side-by-side. Regardless of how accurate these statistics are I am still shocked by how high the Wii and combined XBOX minutes are, considering the HUGE existing PS2 base the 1.5 X minutes variance isn't very impressive at all from the Sony perspective and I'm sure the gap will continue to grow as more and more high definition fans abandon 2D side scroller games for the newer titles.
We recently got a Wii for Christmas, XBox360 last Christmas, and brought into our marriage old mint gaming systems (yes TWO fully functional 8-bit NES's!) that still work very well.
As far as time spent on gaming systems in our house, much of our time is now spent on the Wii, but I attribute that to the novelty factor. After the newness of the 360 wore, we still played PS2 a disproportionate amount when it came to console gaming. The PC's, of course, take up most of our time because we still play FFXI and MMO's just take up time and are addictive. The XBox360 took my hubby's PC's place after we got a new HDTV and stereo system, so it's been starting to rival the PS2 for time. Our 360 recently Red Ringed us, though (hoping they won't diagnose it as vibration damage due to the new subwoofer on the new stereo system and make us pay for the repair *crosses fingers*), so when we get it back it's back to the 360 for my husband as far as the MMO goes. The graphics just do so much better in HD on our new TV.
When it comes to older gaming systems, it's my son who usually plays them. I just don't have the patience for Pong on the Atari anymore and Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario are just so played out anymore (otherwise we'd download them on the Wii). The PS2 still holds a special place in my heart with titles like Secret of Mana, FFVII thru X (NOT FFX-2! LOL) and some of the best DDR games ever.
I'd say these results are about right on the money.
This could simply mean some people merely play for an hour or two, then do something else, watch TV, do Internet, movies, HAVE A LIFE!
Not always plugged in/turned on.
I consider myself an avid gamer, spending most of my time in MMORPGs. I have owned a PS3 for about a year now, but only spend maybe 5% of my game time on the console, and then only when friends come over. The games on the PS3 are not really what I would consider good games for an "entertainment unit" (which requires more local multiplayer, turn based and split screen games that allow co-operative campaign gaming, not just death match multiplayer which we find mostly boring).
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by FireMan509
January 17, 2009 1:57 AM PST
- I believe If Sony Wants to get Back Up in This game, They need to release a patch or Update for the PS3 Backwards Compatability for PS2 and PS1, Some time in the future... And If they Drop the Prices Down just a bit, They would sell off the Hook... With All the features it gots and it's a head of time technology , Puts this Console on the path to the future.. I used to own XBox 360, and i can only Say it's worth the extra Bucks for that PS3... Not to mention the Free Online Gaming...
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