Nielsen Ratings Show WoW, PS2 Still On Top - US Gamers Play More Original Xbox than PS3

From the article: "Don't get me wrong, sales data is great, and I always love pouring over the monthly NPD reports to see just how much more money Nintendo has managed to print; and when I hear that World of Warcraft has passed the 11.5 million subscriber mark, it certainly makes a mental impact. But the questions always remain: "When people bring that Nintendo Wii home, do they actually play it?" "Just how dedicated are these WoW players?"

Thanks to the Nielsen ratings, which measure usage for the Top 10 PC titles and all major consoles, partial answers to both those questions and more await you after the break."

[GameCyteSean]

...the new Nielsen report also shows that soft drink consumption is still on the rise.

[Genesis5]

Just look at all the PS2 owners waiting for a PS3 price drop.

[mint royale]

that more people play wii than ps3. I thought no one played wii after 2 months? People didn't actually believe that did they?

[The Dude]

@Genesis5

Why wait for a price stop just read that Game Crazy has an awesome deal for PS2 owners. Trade your PS2 with any 4 games for a $100.00 off an Xbox 360 60GB Premium.

[Sarcasm]

How do they get these numbers anyway? They surely didn't put a camera into 300 million consoles/pc's did they?

[robert0267]

7.3 minutes per week!!! they obviously don't have lbp.I do and I spend a whole lot more than 7.3 minutes on my ps3.

[acedoh]

of the fact we really haven't hit next gen. Most of the mainstream casual crowd that was behind the success of the PS2 hasn't jumped over. I don't see most of these consumers jumping over until late 2009 or 2010.... So I think the PS3 is far from losing this gen...

[ChampIDC]

That's 7.3% of minutes played, not 7.3 minutes. Read a little closer next time :)

7.3 minutes would be pretty fail. That's probably the CD-i time played around the world.

[The Killer]

how did they make their poll or statistics?? i can go to some street that nintendo wii is so famous or xbox make my survey there and conclude that wii is the best then xbox!!! that not really the truth the truth will be closer if they made the survey in many states and in different locations and with different demographics!!

any way if this shows something then it shows how strong ps2 is!!! and why sony should drop the ball from it just yet!

[Wile]

Nielsen Ratings have been in existance since the dawn of radio and television. At first this rating system was only used to gauge networks and radio stations shares of the listener/viewership accross the US at any given time and and date. How they achieve it then was they would select a large portion of the population and pay them to keep log of their use of the TV and Radio. Today they attached boxes, called Set Meters to the TV and Radio that will log the channel, time of day, and length of time on each channel. They also do extensive surveys, polls, etc.

These stats are fundamental to the television and radio commercial industry since the more a network can claim is watching a certain show directly relates to how much they can charge for commercial slots in that show.

www.nielsenmedia.com

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nielsen _Ratings

[Ju]

OK, but how does this apply to games ?

[Wile]

they do more than tv and radio now. follow the links in my previous post and read all about it.

[Nathan Drake]

US gamers play more Ps2 than Xbox 360 and Wii combined.

See kids,putting a spin on data is easy

[Simon_Brezhnev]

but the playstation brand is dying

[happyface]

you seem to be one of those ps3 gamers that just posts online all day and doesn't play games

you have the to post in every single thread, try playing games for a change, ps3 does have 1 or 2 games worth playing IMO

[ICUP]

"US gamers play more Ps2 than Xbox 360 and Wii combined."

Pff....

If the 360 didn't have 33% RROD it would easy beat the PS2.

>8D

[ThaGeNeCySt]

I don't see what the problem is, PS2 is still a great console to own

[Maxned]

Ok... but the console you defend every day is getting boned by a console that came out like 7 years ago.

[BWS1982]

Very well made point once again. And to happyface, your 'crime' is worse, at least he's a PS3 gamer who is happy to speak about HIS console positively, and he makes good points on spinning numbers. You, on the other hand, seem to be a 360 gamer who's posting in a news story about a console you have "no interest" in, so....who's more "at fault" there, slick? Yeah, thought so.

[BWS1982]

"I don't like what he says even though I can't counter it, so I'll disagree" people strike again.....

[Lord Shuhei Yoshida]

"US gamers play more Ps2 than Xbox 360 and Wii combined.

See kids,putting a spin on data is easy"

-Nathan Drake

Well put Nathan

[PS-3PO the Droid]

PS3 can't even beat the Xbox of LAST gen let alone the 360. Don't worry PS3.. at least you're beating the gamecube.

[mxdan]

Awww, the 360 can't even beat the ps2 from last generation. It's ok though your almost at half the time!

;)

[PS-3PO the Droid]

At least the 360 isn't losing anywhere NEAR as bad as the PS3. Hell even the Wii is beating the PS3 LOL. Epic fail.

[mxdan]

kind of like your xbox last generation?

Oh, I forgot, no one plays the original xbox anymore....

The company you subscribe too is simply after your money. Your 360 will most likely be obsolete and unsupported in 2 years. Thats why everyone outside of America dislikes Microsoft.

[Hal Emmerich]

This is going to spark another fanboy war...

[happyface]

wow, very embarassing for the PS3

do ps3 fans just post on msg boards all day and not buy and play games?

wow

[Hal Emmerich]

I hope that was sarcasm, otherwise that was pretty ironic.

TBH I don't care how many people play PS3, does it take away the enjoyment of playing on it? ...no of course it doesn't I'll continue to play it even if many don't.

[EastCoastSB]

You seem to forget that the PS2 has almost double the usage of the 360.

[BWS1982]

it seems to me the fact is, it has a web browser. Jesus Happyface, how did you become an authority on time allotment and game usage, considering you're trolling right now? You're in an article about something you hate, posting multiple times about how people are spending time here? Ummmkay.....

[ICUP]

PS2 !

LONG LIVE THE KING !

[ultimolu]

Lol.

[ThatCanadianGuy]

Who doesn't still play PS2? It's an awesome system with thousands of games.

Persona 4 FTW!

[cpuchess]

Funny, I was thinking the opposite. I was thinking it's all the little kids waiting for their parents to buy them a new system.

[ThatCanadianGuy]

True there is probably more kids using PS2 then anything.
But that doesn't mean hardcore gamers from 16-40+ won't go back and play some old classics like SOTC,ICO,GOW 1&2,MGS 1-3 etc,etc.

[wanderofys]

I haven't picked up my controller for my PS3 or 360 since I grabbed Persona 4.

[kavkazip]

ya i highly doubt this list.

[Unicron]

Damn the PS2. I have over 80 titles for it, and 30 left to finish. Truly is one of the greatest systems of all time, up there with the SNES!

[Gun_Senshi]

-

[mrdxpr2]

i play ps2 games on my ps3 im repeating the AND1 game

[OGharryjoysticks]

I run Folding at Home (Life with Playstation) more than 7 hours a week. They must have pulled this one out sideways. They are never going to crap right again :)

[Megaton]

I'm curious about how they figure this out.

[Godmars290]

Makes you wonder why Sony isn't supporting the PS2 as much as they should.

[Anon1974]

Games are still coming out in a constant stream for the PS2. PS2 games routinely show up on top 10 lists. Sony just released a new version of the PS2 and they're marketing it hard in new markets like Asia and South America.

How on earth do you figure Sony isn't supporting the PS2? It's the goose that laid the golden egg and they know it. It makes me laugh when people say "Oh, Sony's flubbed up and lost all this market share." They haven't lost squat.

[KingItachi]

I agree and I'm loving every minute of Persona 4.

[anubis12]

thats because neilson gives a little $ for there data......hint lower class....still owned ps2 or buy 50$ used ps2s.....

[TVC15]

not everyone spends all their money on video games

[pansenbaer]

"Nielsen estimates that while the Xbox 360 claims about one-sixth of console minutes (17.2%), the Wii comes closer to one-seventh (13.4%)"

Hooray for estimates!! Its the only news worth reporting!

[sirbigam]

Wait till there's a ps3 price drop, all those kids playing on the ps2 are going to find a way to purchase it. I see alot of kids in stores like bestbuy asking for ps2 versions of ps3 games, just a matter of time really.

[Rampant]

The numbers are percentages of total time spent on different consoles, so if you take into account attach rates and such the ps3 and 360 really are where they should be. The Wii is a bit low though.

[liquidsnake]

I was thinking the same thing, isnt the fanbase of 360 in USA like twice the fanbase of PS3. Or maybe that doesn't matter? Sorry Im no math guru.

[mint royale]

because this period that is measured was jan 08 to october 08 - the 360 had a higher userbase than the wii for half the period and a bigger games library via being an older console.

[nirun]

and counter-strike STILL is on the most played list. geez

[pshizle]

ps3

that just shows how sad the system really is.

anyways i think these numbers are bogus

all you sony fanboys saying that the kids that have a ps2 are waiting for a ps3 price drop...are you serious no their not...they just want a cheap afortable system that plays games and thats what the ps2 is.

[Hal Emmerich]

It shows how sad the system really is?

It doesn't matter how much other people play on a console, it matters how much you play and enjoy the console, I personally love my PS3 and play the hell out of it, I couldn't care less if no-one else does.

Pathetic.

[freakyzeeky]

xbox 360

that just shows how sad the system really is.

[pshizle]

DEAD

[AngryTypingGuy]

I think this shows that many people buy PS3's for the Blu-Ray.

I think 2009 will be a telling year. After this year, I think we'll have a good idea of whether the PS3 will ever catch the 360 or not. It's pretty safe to say that the winner of this gen will be Nintendo, but as far as HD gaming goes, who knows.

No company has ever had the winning console for three consecutive generations, and it looks like it won't happen this time around too.

[BLUR111]

yeah game sells prove that, hell I bought mine for blu-ray cause I already got a Xbox 360.

Good point made in your whole comment.

[Arsenal4Ever]

this is all incorrect. I think 360 is above PS2 and PS3 is above Original Xbox.

[ahnonamis]

Oh, okay. If that's what you think I'll get Nielsen on the phone and tell them to change their data they got from their own research.

[2tired2day2hate]

makes you think that sony better get their sh*t in gear so they dont lose the ps2 users to 360. the ps2 is the best console of all time, and the ps3 is the bi-polar retard with a boner in sweat pants at a wedding.

[altimako02]

is because the people who own one are here on n4g trying to convince other people how great it is and how you cant live without it.

[REDZEV]

Wow!!! Im speechless, just to think that consumers play the original XBOX more than the POS3 is insane. We all know that the POS3 is the cluster f*ck of all consoles but just showing us those numbers are the lowest of the low.

[mcgrawgamer]

mine is still connected to this day. Persona 4. Still haven't beat Okami yet (yes I know) shame on me.

but the reality is this:

the ps2 library is probably the most robust I've ever experienced and I've had a ps2 since launch and I probably haven't tapped 20% of the library. Unlike most gamers who jump from game to game every month I try to get the most out of my games and consoles. Only a fool would overlook the ps2.

And that my friends is why Sony hasn't abandoned the ps2 yet. it's still a huge cash cow for them.

[Wax on Wax off]

low usage is because all the ps3 owners are on this site talking about how much better there console is, instead of playing it. LOL nah only joking it's the lowest because it has a lower install base. Plus xbox live sucks up a lot of hours on multiplayer. Until recently the ps3 has lacked these addictive online games. Resistance 2 and lbp Is a step in The right direction though. Then there's the cod games.

[evrfighter]

Let the M$ owns the nielsen ratings comments commence.

Truthfully though did anyone expect the ps2 to NOT be the most played console atm? It's a great console I own one myself.

[Voiceofreason]

Seems the PS3 is the one actually collecting dust..That probably is because Sony fans either spend too much time defending the console on sites like N4G or they are all a bunch of kids under 15 that cant get jobs so they cant afford 60.00 games. I personally think it is a mix of both. Their last poll even showed that PS3 got the most usage from kids 10-18.

When you think about it though it isnt odd that PS3 is getting as much time as the GC. Just look at the extremely poor software sales. They are nowhere close to what they were for 360 and Wii when they were at the same amount sold as PS3 is now.

Every major PS3 game this year underperformed.LBP flopped,Resistance flopped, WKS flopped in Japan, Haze flopped and killed the developer, MGS sold decent but not near as well as it should have to a group starved for AAA quality at the time.SMG was called a complete flop by many for not selling 6 million in a month. Took MGS4 a lot longer and its only at around 4 million and cost a ton more to make than SMG did.MGS should be at 8-9 million now.

[Anon1974]

Once again, the "voiceofreason" is anything but.

Even a cursory search of PS3 demographics on Google shows numerous articles and studies showing the PS3 is the least used console by kids. You're 100% wrong on that.

Software sales on the PS3 are, guess what...almost identical to software sales on the 360 at the 2 year point, and PS3 software sales are actually spread across multiple genres as opposed to the 360 which tends to move all it's software in a narrow few genres. Again...you're 100% wrong.

You claim every major PS3 game flopped? Again - pull your head out of your ass. LPB - a kiddie platformer moved 1.5 million in 2 months. That's amazing. By comparison, Banjo Kazooie didn't crack 1/2 million in the same time period. Resistance 2 is already over the one million mark, MGS4 sold fantastically well, White Knight hasn't even been out a week yet so no one knows what sales are on that one yet. And Haze, a 360 game originally, was mediocre but still managed to move 600,000 units, better than Too Human. Haze's developer going up for sale had more to do with Lucas Arts pulling their money out and not being able to establish credit in the current economic environment than Haze's performance. One mediocre game that sells not half bad doesn't sink a developer. Again, your assessment is 100% incorrect.

And your sales estimates for MGS4? Are you joking? You can't be serious. No one on earth thinks MGS4 was a flop and no one thought it should have moved 8 million units. There hasn't been a single MGS game that's even come close to that, and that's selling to a console base of over 120 million installed consoles! Konami made a profit of over $250 million dollars in the quarter MGS4 was released. With some games struggling to make a profit at all, that's an incredible success.

I really can't figure it. You couldn't be more wrong about anything if your tried. Do you seriously believe anything you say or do you simply get your jollies spreading lies on the internet? I suppose it get's you attention, but personally I think it's just sad and I hope the community here rises up to silence you once and for all. You're simply irritating.

[Ju]

@Voiceofreason, hey, go change your name please.

[DeadGirls]

The data gathered by the Nielsen system is COMPLETELY meaningless.
The only reason people take it seriously is because people love to latch on to statistics, but nobody can be bothered to ask HOW they come up with these numbers. It's all baloney.

76% of statistics are completely made up.

[Anon1974]

It's been revamped and retooled over the years but is still the single most important element in determining advertising rates, schedules, and program content. I think they know a thing or two about tracking this type of data.

So you just think that 85 years of research and expertise isn't worth anything? Get a grip on yourself. I suppose you don't put any faith into doctors either, because really...what do they know that's so great? How do they get all their information? You could probably do just as well yourself using the internet.

[DeadGirls]

Well they certainly bank (and make a fortune) on people believing that (and have been for 85 years). But the FACT of the matter is that the data they collect is done using methods so laughably un-scientific, that they would have had to get their start 85 years ago or people today wouldn't take them seriously.
I can't believe you would actually equate one cooperation's expertise with that of 'doctors'. We put faith in 'doctors' because their expertise is based on empirical evidence, experiments using real testable hypotheses, and case-studies carried out in controlled environments by unbiased parties -- all of which is subject to scientific scrutiny at any time by anyone in the community.
The Nielsen data is subject to no such scrutiny and is backed only by a cooperation with the sole interest of MAKING MONEY.
Don't be so naive.

[Anon1974]

"But the FACT of the matter is that the data they collect is done using methods so laughably un-scientific."

Prove it.

Nielson's systems may not be perfect, but no one is questioning the data they collect, just how to interpret that data. There are plenty of criticisms of the system but it is the current standard for media research. To just dismiss out of hand is extremely ignorant. Are they faking numbers? Are they falsifying numbers? Of course not. If you had a thermometer that wasn't quite accurate, but it was the best one you had - would you just dismiss every single reading it gave or would you accept based on 85 years of observation that it may not be perfect, but it's right most of the time.

I'd be naive if I said to believe 100% of their results because they're never wrong. Far from it, but I'm saying they're the worldwide experts in their field and there is a general consensus that they're accurate from people far more knowledgeable about these subjects than myself. You'd have to be an idiot to just dismiss that. Don't be so cynical.

[Ju]

There is this saying which goes like "There is no statistics which can't be faked".

[Wile]

Unlike stats from VGChartz and others, this organizations data is used to determine the value of programing in the advertising and entertainment world, GLOBALLY. They have been around since 1923.

Here is some suggested reading:

www.nielsenmedia.com

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nielsen _Ratings

[importfighter]

these stats are BS

[jack who]

which is more sad

ppl still playing the xbox

or

more ppl playing more on xbox than ps3

[ambientFLIER]

I think that Halo 2 probably accounts for 90% of the games being played on the original Xbox right now. I went on last night, and there were still a ton of people playing it.

It DID look awful though, compared to H3. Not how I remembered it from 3 years ago on a 25-inch CRT :(

Anybody who has doubts about H3's graphics, try playing H2 on your big screen tv...

Anyway, this poll pretty much answers the question whether or not PS3's are selling as movie players and whether or not the Wii is a gimmick...

[jack who]

its not a poll?!

[ambientFLIER]

Ok, sorry, you are right, it's research. Better?

[anubis12]

well i think if the ps3 is below the ps2....but below the 3600...ehhh

[Ju]

Oh, I could understand its below the 360. Sure, bigger install base. But below the original xbox ? Are you kidding me ? Where are the xbox users here. Come on in, join the discussion. Oh, yeah, forgot. They are busy playing their box. With all these new games coming out these days. Must keep them busy. What a load of crap...

[xOohSoSiKWiTiTx]

Honestly, most people who own a ps2 really want a Nintendo Wii. Being the ps2 is really cheap and is very friendly to casual and kid gamers. Parents are more apt to picking up the ps2. Therefore,parents and casual gamers will be more apt to picking up a Wii.

Most people who own a ps2 and were hardcore gamers for that console already own a ps3. These people are more "in the know" about technology and the latest in electronics.

The Wii is winning because i contains the essences of what gaming is suppose to be about, FUUUUNNNNNNNNN!!!!! It's not about all about gadgets and expensive equipment.

[MiztaToungueTwista]

yeah and look at all the people who play ps2 more then xbox 360 even after 360s price drop
looks like all the ps2 users are waiting for ps3 to drop its price, which it eventually will

[jp33]

I don't know any PC gamers that play Halo, myself included.

[xOohSoSiKWiTiTx]

You gotta think though that most people who play on there pc are more apt to playing a rpg like world of warcraft or a real time strategy game like AOE. These days its not even acceptable to play fps on a pc or almost any other genres accept the ones above. Really.....

[jp33]

"These days its not even acceptable to play fps on a pc or almost any other genres accept the ones above." - xOohSoSiKWiTiTx

Wow, thems fightin' words.

I'm not going to get into faster frame rates or more accurate controls (no auotaim) or multiplayer.

I'm just going to say that first person shooters started on computers and leave it at that.

Anyway, the point I was trying to make was that there were much better fps games than Halo on PC, even though many people thought Halo was a great fps on consoles it was only an average PC game, and I didn't agree with it being on that list.

[TheMART]

Isn't so strange right if you look at the sales:

PS2 - 2000 till now: 120 mln. units

360 - 2005 till now 25 mln. units

PS3 - 2006 till now 17 mln. units

What do you expect to be played most? Come on...

[bviperz]

What do these numbers mean? Nothing more than what is stated. They certainly don't tell you WHY x console is higher than y console but less than z console. They're just numbers. Everyone in the world could give their interpretations, and you know what? They all could be correct. Amazing huh?