Nielsen: PS2 & WoW Most-Played in 2008

[Emabulator]

According to media research company Nielsen the PlayStation 2 was the most-played console in 2008. As one would expect World of WarCraft ran away with the PC crown. Gamasutra has the story (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21695).

In 2008, gamers collectively spent more time with their PlayStation 2 than any other console. That's according to media research company Nielsen, whose "Top Tens" of 2008 took a survey of video game console usage, as well as the top PC games.

Nielsen's survey data, which actually covers the period from January through October, found that PS2 users spent an average of 31.7 "usage minutes" with the PS2. The Xbox 360 was the year's second-most popular console with an average of 17.2 usage minutes, followed by Wii at 13.4.

Interestingly, Nielsen says that the first-gen Xbox currently sees more usage in terms of minutes than the PlayStation 3, with 9.7 usage minutes versus 7.3 usage minutes, respectively.

[Ranhert]

PS2? Who still plays that thing. Only people I can think of are anti-Microsoftians who don't want to shell out for a PS3.

[TeeCakes]

The PS2 is the PS3's biggest competition, by far.

[Ph00p]

Maybe this means that these Nielsen ratings are out of date with today's gamer? Maybe the people they take these rating from are more TV watchers than gamers?

[Borys]

I play my PS2 almost daily. First it was because of FFX-2 and during Christmas because of KRATOS!

[pwnophobia]

FFX-2

I tried, I really really tried, to play that game but after a few hours of it I just couldn't take it anymore!

I'd play my PS2 for GTA and some of the Ratchet and Clank games, but I'd rather look at my 360 because it's so damn pretty, I can't stand to watch Standard Def anymore....it's terrible :(

[Emabulator]

I play my PS2 almost daily. First it was because of FFX-2 and during Christmas because of KRATOS!I still the play the PS2 as well. There's plenty of good games around for it still and they're dirt cheap these days.

[Ranhert]

I still the play the PS2 as well. There's plenty of good games around for it still and they're dirt cheap these days.

But ... but ... but ... the pixles. The pixles man, think of your retinas. Your rods and cones are all in a jumble. ;)

[riposte101]

Speaking of the PS2 I still need to finish God of War 2.

[MasterEvilAce]

PS2? Who still plays that thing. Only people I can think of are anti-Microsoftians who don't want to shell out for a PS3.
Do you mean SONY, or do you mean XBOX360??

[the soUL TRAder]

The PS2 is the PS3's biggest competition, by far.

And apparently, the original Xbox is the PS3s nearest competition. ;)


The adherent flaw with their methodology is that usage varies far more in gaming devices than TV, but it seems to be a pretty good indicator of how much time gamers are playing those platforms.

[Ranhert]

Do you mean SONY, or do you mean XBOX360??

If you are referring to my use of the term anti-Microsoftians, I am tagging a group of people that are entirely against all things Microsoft be it Operating Systems, Consoles, Software Packages, etc.

When the PS2 was in its prime, most gamers I knew had both an XBOX and a PS2 to cover the console exclusives. Now most of the people I know have a 360 or a PS3 because they refuse to buy a 360. Not saying they are wrong, that's just how they feel about a corporation. But then again some people just want Blu Ray in their console and the occasional decent exclusive.

[Rafer]

PS2? Who still plays that thing. Only people I can think of are anti-Microsoftians who don't want to shell out for a PS3.

Persona 3 FES, Persona 4, Yakuza 2. I spent a lot of hours on the PS2 last year.

[Borys]

I tried, I really really tried, to play that game but after a few hours of it I just couldn't take it anymore!


I wasted 156, count'em ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX hours on FFX-2 last year (2008).

Well worth it IMO, best FF game next to FF8.

[Emabulator]

Persona 3 FES, Persona 4, Yakuza 2. I spent a lot of hours on the PS2 last year.I was contemplating ordering Persona 3 & 4 from Amazon earlier today.

[Greeble]

Now most of the people I know have a 360 or a PS3 because they refuse to buy a 360. Not saying they are wrong, that's just how they feel about a corporation. But then again some people just want Blu Ray in their console and the occasional decent exclusive.

I bought a ps3 instead of a 360 because MS took too long to drop the price, and when they finally did I didn't want one till the RROD was solved. So I ended up buying a ps3 when they were were $350 for the 60GB, ($150 off if you opened a CC)

(I don't like MS as a company but then again SONY and Nintendo are both assholes as well, didn't stop me from buying a xbox, ps2 and gamecube last generation.)

[Johan]

found that PS2 users accounted for 31.7 percent of the total time played from all nationwide gamers.

What a surprise! A console with somewhere in the range of 140 MILLION units sold worldwide (I've read ranges all the way up to close to 200 MILLION) is the most played in total playtime? Wow. I'm absolutely stunned!

As to this bullshit "usage minutes" statistic, I don't buy their data, though the PS2 has the most JRPGs, and probably Western RPGs, of all consoles, and they take a long time to finish, so average "usage minutes" would be higher.

The PS2 is the PS3's biggest competition, by far.

:D You're consistent. I'll give you that much.

[TeeCakes]

I half meant that quote to simply point out how these figures imply that consumers are perfectly satisfied with the PS2 library, and standard def gaming. For them, the PS3 is great, but not worth it when there's still great fun to be had on the PS2 at a fraction of the cost. Madden, and other sports games on PS2 outsells the HD consoles. Casual titles sell better on Wii/PS2. It's really a frugal gamer's paradise compared to last gen's PS2 prices!

But yeah, the other half was a total 360 burn. Booyahhh!

[Mantooth]

As to this bullshit "usage minutes" statistic, I don't buy their data, though the PS2 has the most JRPGs, and probably Western RPGs, of all consoles, and they take a long time to finish, so average "usage minutes" would be higher.


The data was reported as a percentage of total measured console usage minutes. So for all of the console usage minutes that Nielsen measured from January-October, the PS2 was used for 31.7% of the total minutes. The article on Gamasutra also says percentage. Maybe they changed the article after Emabulator copied the quote.

[Johan]

But yeah, the other half was a total 360 burn.

I'm disappointed, TeeCakes. You know very well the 360 needs no help in burning. :D

Silly young man! ;)

Maybe they changed the article after Emabulator copied the quote.

That's possible (a bad, bad habit in gaming journalism that I have noticed...post-publication edits without notations), or they might be talking about multiple statistics, or I might be confused.

At this point, let's just say all of them.

[Emabulator]

The data was reported as a percentage of total measured console usage minutes. So for all of the console usage minutes that Nielsen measured from January-October, the PS2 was used for 31.7% of the total minutes. The article on Gamasutra also says percentage. Maybe they changed the article after Emabulator copied the quote.They did change the article after I quoted it.

[Trazzlo the Magnificant]

I'm disappointed, TeeCakes. You know very well the 360 needs no help in burning. :D To be fair, they do use convection ovens in fine dining experiences so the 360 does still give the PS3 competition in that regard.