Nielsen: PS2 is still the top-played system
by Kyle Orland 
{ Dec 13th 2007 at 3:00PM }
While the game press and developers have largely moved on to the latest and greatest, the game players are apparently still stuck in the past to a large extent. Nielsen Media Research's recently released lists of 2007 consumer trends (PDF link) shows that 42.2 percent of console gaming minutes nationwide are spent on the PlayStation 2. In fact, more than twice as many minutes are spent playing the PS2 as are spent on all the current-generation systems combined. It's not just Sony's super-ubiquitous system that's still has legs, either -- the lowly Xbox and GameCube still combine for 21 percent of the country's gameplay minutes.Perhaps this isn't that surprising, given the relatively large installed bases and libraries the older systems enjoy over their current-gen brethren. What's more surprising, though, is the 17.1 percent of console time spent on "other" consoles that pre-date the PS2. What's causing this relative popularity of retro gaming ? Are frat house's still having nightly Goldeneye tournaments? Are speed-running Super Mario Bros. players more prevalent than we thought? Do today's kids enjoy marathon sessions of Parappa the Rapper? Without more detailed data, it's impossible to know, but it sure is fun to guess, isn't it?
[Via Gamasutra]
PDF - Nielsen's 2007 Top Ten Lists
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Nigeria @ Dec 13th 2007 3:06PM
I still play Last Bronx, so I'm probably part of that 'other' group.
Dombay @ Dec 13th 2007 3:34PM
Not in my house it's not... And the world outside my house just doesn't matter. Fact.
Fullmetal Salchemist @ Dec 13th 2007 3:13PM
Maybe if current-gen (next-gen?) moved away from having almost nothing but FPS games, sports titles, and minigames, people wouldn't spend more time playing last-gen games.
Audrey Fujiwara @ Dec 13th 2007 3:51PM
Oh, an don't forget about racing games.
This is why i will never buy a Xbox 360. (Other reason:RROD) There are no good games on that console. Most of the games are boring and i don't like online play.
The PS2/Wii/PSP/DS is the perfect combination. (for me anyway) That's all i need.
FOXHOUND @ Dec 13th 2007 3:54PM
...secondededededededed.
Don't get me wrong - I like those genres. But man, we're seriously over saturated with them.
Bring back(GOOD)beat'em up games! Simultaineous 4-player preferred! A new RIVER CITY RANSOM, STREETS OF RAGE, and even a BATTLETOADS game is long overdue.
borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Dec 13th 2007 5:38PM
I will admit, while I have plenty of face time with the PS3's media features...I'm still playing PS2 games. Only part of that is due to the previous dearth of PS3 games. There are at least 7 PS2 titles, recent ones, that I'd like to buy at some point.
Eric H @ Dec 13th 2007 3:13PM
Also this is Nielson, their ratings are about as accurate as Blu-Ray/HD-DVD statements.
GRANTED @ Dec 13th 2007 3:16PM
and that doesn't even count the ps2 games i play on my ps3...
GRANTED @ Dec 13th 2007 3:16PM
oops... i mean "on my 3..."
Jeff @ Dec 13th 2007 3:24PM
Nice save. *returns taser to pocket*
Jdaman @ Dec 13th 2007 3:20PM
Can we really trust these figures? The same report also says Halo and Halo 2 outsold the Sims 2. Does anyone really think Vista only Halo 2 outsold the Sims 2?
kinshadow @ Dec 13th 2007 4:21PM
That isn't sales, that is % time spent playing.
Lemmiwinks @ Dec 13th 2007 3:23PM
This just in! More people drive 2005 Honda Civics than 2007 Honda Civics!
Auto industry collapses under the weight of the obvious!
GoldenS1104 @ Dec 13th 2007 3:31PM
This doesn't surprise me at all. PS2 has a lot of the third party titles the other consoles do, but for $10 cheaper. Not to mention they have a shitload of casual games and are much easier to find than Wii's.
madato @ Dec 13th 2007 3:43PM
Yep, definitely the console I'll be playing over the christmas break with friends and family. Best console games ever..
Seriously...
Shadow of the Colossus
Katamari Damacy
Tekken 5
God of War
(ps : PC still #1 :)
Even more seriously...
Command and Conquer 3
Crysis
Stalker
Flatout 2
Fear
Trackmania Nations
Unreal 2004
Unreal 3 (only on the pc, always)
Pirates
LOTR - Battle for Middle Earth II
Gish
N
Commander Keen
Guild Wars
Sega Genesis/CD emulator
Ahh I should finish my essays.
Tom @ Dec 13th 2007 3:47PM
Most of that time is spent watching Final Fantasy cutscenes.
kinshadow @ Dec 13th 2007 3:46PM
I never knew Austin was so high on those entertainment lists. w00t
Korova @ Dec 13th 2007 4:22PM
Only 93% of households bought toilet tissue, but 96% bought fresh bread. Weird.
Oh, and the Other category includes all the handhelds (DS, PSP, Gameboyz) - its not just retro.
Alistair @ Dec 13th 2007 3:57PM
What is interesting is that this bears out the 'Wii owners don't use their consoles much' hypothesis (people complaining about the Wii's attach rate, for instance). There are similar numbers of Wiis and 360s out there, but twice as many 'play minutes' on the 360. (But the Wii has twice as many play minutes as the PS3. Either people are just using the PS3 as a Blu-Ray player, or it's an expensive doorstop.)
Ironhide @ Dec 13th 2007 3:57PM
Assumedly you've never actually played the 360 then have you? That 'no good games' blanket only works on the ps3 considering that only recently have there been games worth noting appearing on ps3 (Drakes, Rachet).
Meanwhile Xbox 360 owners have been enjoying games like Dead Rising, Lost Planet, Halo 3, PGR3,4, Viva Piniata, Chromehounds, Crackdown, Blue Dragon, Enchant Arms, Gears of War, amongst other fine games. So unfortunely your rather rash statement of the 360 not having any good games is soundly refuted by a) the considerably large library of excellent games and b) your lack of time on a 360, mostly the former but almsot guaranteed the latter.
BLinn @ Dec 13th 2007 4:56PM
Assumedly you've never actually played the PS3 then have you? I own both and would say at this point looking into the future i'll be playing more of my PS3. I quit disappointed my 360 has alomost thesame number of what i consider good game as with the PS3 even with a 1 year start, and 2 times RROD. I stopped subcribing for live 2 months after i got Halo3 which i feel was overhyped. Enough of you will be bored of it by now and future titles don't seem promising. Never the less the 360 is a good game where i've gotten loads of fun from, but i find mself wanting more variation in my experience and i think the PS3 would give me that. This situation applies to me and i'm in no way making it seem general.
Akamaru @ Dec 13th 2007 5:23PM
Sorry man but you fail for including Blue dragon and Lost planet and Viva Pinata. Also, what is a chromehounds? I'll give you Gears and Halo and a pas on PGR4 but seriously, Enchated arms? Really? Man that thing was $20 when PS3 only had resistance and STILL no one bought it.
Ironhide @ Dec 14th 2007 3:18AM
If what the ps3 offers is considered equal to or better than the same number of good games the 360 offers, then something is seriously off kilter. I fail at nothing. I enjoyed most of the games I've listed and my spouse is quite enaged with the remainder. Regardless, the 360 has many more AAA titles in six months than the ps3 has had in 1 year. And it's taken that long for said AAA titles to actually arrive.
Ironhide @ Dec 13th 2007 3:58PM
Damn reply button!
Korova @ Dec 13th 2007 4:03PM
My comments is:
I got my 360 a month ago and I just got the 24 hours of Zuma achievement.
I guess I am an early adopter, huh.
Trash Girl @ Dec 13th 2007 4:08PM
I think u should cross out, PGR3,4, Viva Piniata, Chromehounds, Blue Dragon, Enchant Arms.
All of those games are GARBAGE!!!
Slaziman (B-B-BRUSHED WITH FAAAAME) @ Dec 13th 2007 4:56PM
But Heavenly Sword is the bomb right?
FACT: All PS3 games over 90 at Metacritic are multiplatform.
FACT: PGR3 is scored higher than R:FOM
FACT: PGR4 is scored higher than Motorstorm, Warhawk, Super Stardust HD, Everyday Shooter.
FACT: Viva Pinata is scored equal or higher than Motorstorm, Warhawk, Super Stardust HD, Everyday Shooter.
CONCLUSION: You are saying everything on the PS3 except Ratchet, Uncharted and Ninja Gaiden Sigma (port) is garbage or multiplatform.
Courtney @ Dec 13th 2007 5:01PM
Actually, I rather enjoyed Viva Pinata. It was a nice change of pace for a couple of weeks from the action titles.
Silver R. Wolfe @ Dec 13th 2007 5:04PM
FACT: Condescending attitudes are not attractive!
Slaziman (B-B-BRUSHED WITH FAAAAME) @ Dec 13th 2007 5:23PM
Damn it you are right. I guess I'll have to go to another site to get my freak on now that all the Joystiq girls think I'm an asshole.
=[
Leobebes @ Dec 13th 2007 8:24PM
Viva Pinata is not garbage. Just because your myopic views on genre judging cloud your mind, doesn't give you the right to trash the art of Fudgehog mating!
Sony Fan Fan @ Dec 13th 2007 4:17PM
Hey! Trash girl, you forgot the most important one.
Halo 3.
Mr Khan @ Dec 13th 2007 4:22PM
I wonder if they are counting PS3 b/c play in that assessment, i mean i know it wouldn't make all that much of a difference, but still...
bigsofty @ Dec 13th 2007 4:33PM
I dont know anyone who still bloody has one, nm actually blowing the dust off it to put on some old pixelated game?
Martez @ Dec 13th 2007 4:39PM
Marathon Parappa sessions... that's funny.
Danny @ Dec 13th 2007 4:40PM
How is this surprising? There are 100 million (there or thereabouts) PS2s in the wild, compared to about 15 million 360s. Plus, games are nice and cheap these days.
Courtney @ Dec 13th 2007 5:02PM
Do you count an emulator as playing on an older gen-system, or just playing on your PC?
madato @ Dec 13th 2007 7:28PM
Emulators are creations of the PC playground. They have them for consoles but they're still developed first on the PC.
I consider it PC time. You have to credit the PC for it. You wouldn't be playing it otherwise. Sure the games were for the console it came out on, but many games get ported to the PC anyway.
SKI @ Dec 13th 2007 5:09PM
It's probably a survey of 100 people, half of which are tre gamers, and the other half just saying the name of a system they heard about. That's why Xbox is beating the 360, some people just call the 360 an Xbox because they never had an original Xbox.
Akamaru @ Dec 13th 2007 5:29PM
@Slaziman: That just proves that gaming media is tobias.
Also, Heavenly Sword is heavenly.
baby sea tuna @ Dec 14th 2007 9:00AM
...but it's still no Viva Pinata.
(and no, that was not sarcasm)
Loki_d20 @ Dec 13th 2007 6:06PM
Hour-wise, I probably play about 50% of the time a PS3 game and the other 50% of the time a PSOne or PS2 game. Been playing through Viewtiful Joe again and FF X-2 since I never finished it. Waiting for the price of Okami and GoW2 to get to the $19.99 prices that are coming before I get those. Though, Rock Band has been taking up the other 50% of my time in the last week.
ikiryou @ Dec 13th 2007 6:51PM
If you consider the high number of RPG's available for the PS2 and the high number of fans who still play them, this report would seem fairly accurate. I'm guilty of logging 23 hours on Rogue Galaxy over just the last two days.
Trash Girl @ Dec 13th 2007 7:04PM
@Slaziman (B-B-BRUSHED WITH FAAAAME)
You're not getting any of this P.U.S.S.Y.
sorry
As for Heavenly Sword, that game is also garbage. It's an overhyped piece of sh*t. I laughed at all the people (most of my friends) who wasted their money on that game.
I also enjoy laughing at all the people who actually try an defend that game. Why defend it, it's a bad PS3 game.
madato @ Dec 13th 2007 7:36PM
Pfff. Trash girl just like to talk trash. Heavenly sword was a good game. It wasn't God of War but still. It was a beautiful and fun game.
That and Tekken Dark Resurrection are about the only two reasons I'd want a PS3 though. If Guitar Hero and Katamari had remained exclusive to Sony those would be two more reasons.
umm....hello??? @ Dec 13th 2007 7:09PM
...this Nielsen report has been sponsored by Hyundai, bringing you another "DUH!" moment.
hn333 @ Dec 13th 2007 7:38PM
The only game console I own is a PS2.
Banks @ Dec 13th 2007 9:08PM
Well, I certainly play my SNES more than my Wii, sadly...
I actually think the SNES is possibly the best console ever made, with games like Chrono Trigger, Mega Man X, the best Final Fantasies, ect.
Ryan @ Dec 13th 2007 10:25PM
I call Shenanigans on this report.
How exactly are they tracking the time spent on consoles? I know what goes on around me certainly does not represent the rest of the world (although I would imagine it's not far off from whatever miniscule sample size nielson is using here) but I live in Gainesville, a college town which you would think would have more casual, poor gamers still stuck with their PS2's. Even in a town like this, the numbers of 360's/Wii's and even PS3's that get used seems to far outweigh the last gen consoles, and that's ignoring the idea that most people still stuck on PS2 are probably in a frat house that pick up the controller for 15 minutes at a time whereas people playing a game like Mass Effect on the 360 of CoD4 online are going to sit down for 5 hour sessions.
Unless 7 year olds who don't know any better and got a PS2 from their parents that just wanted to get the cheapest thing out there make up a huge, huge, gigantic difference then I can't see how the numbers I'm looking at here are even remotely believable.
mattydread @ Dec 13th 2007 11:18PM
As crazy as it seems, I've actually met another person who still has a Panasonic 3D0 with a copy of Descent 2. Also, I still use my PS2 a lot since I don't have a PS3... mostly Madden and Tekken.