Nielsen report reveals average game console usage
by David Hinkle 
{ Apr 8th 2009 at 10:55AM } 
Wii also ranked the lowest in average days used over the course of the study, with users only partaking an average of 5 days (so much for that Wii Fit vow). The PS3 ranked second place, with users spending an average of 6.8 days days, which leaves us with Xbox 360 -- the top dog in this category -- with an average of 7.1 days.
Lastly, Nielsen tracked the daily average number of sessions, and, again, Wii was last with 1.78 sessions, whereas the Xbox 360 and PS3 had much higher averages of 2.15 and 2.74 sessions, respectively. So, how would you rank your console usage?
Source - Nielsen report (PDF) [via Edge]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
DaveMcRae @ Apr 8th 2009 10:58AM
Oh snap!
BlackDove @ Apr 8th 2009 11:20AM
If I spent $600 on a console, I would be playing it all the time too.
DOUBLESNAP.
Yeah yeah, we know, it's not $600 anymore.
kbeehaze @ Apr 8th 2009 11:44AM
wtf is up with everyone saying ps3 is expensive. its not, didnt 360 cost $400 not that long ago. Then after all the millions of red rings (price drop). I play my ps3 24/7 and my 360 is on my porch, I use it as my bird feeder. Bottom line ps3 is not expensive at all. I've bought 3 already, sold 2 of them like an asshole 7 the funny thing is im broke as fuck. +1 if u love ps3
8-bit.artist @ Apr 8th 2009 12:22PM
PS3 = $399
wifi included
PSN is free
controllers charge free from any usb input
Total = $399
vs.
360 elite = $399 360 Pro = $299
xbox wifi adapter = $100
Live = $50
Play and Charge Kit = $20
Total = $570 (elite) or $470 (pro)
OR
360 Arcade = $199
120gb Hard Drive = $160
xbox wifi adapter = $100
Live = $50
Play and Charge Kit = $20
Total $520
istuffedsunny @ Apr 8th 2009 12:25PM
I spent $500 on a console and barely play it. In fact I own every console and handheld out there but the one that still gets most of my attention is the PS2.
Jack Tretton @ Apr 8th 2009 12:27PM
8-bit.artist with 2-bit.list.
istuffedsunny @ Apr 8th 2009 12:27PM
Let me also say the study seems pretty similar to habits. PS3 gets way more play than 360, and 360 gets way more than Wii, which is pretty much none. (Only bought 1 game last year--No More Heroes.) Will buy another this year, but it would've been two if Tecmo didn't fuck up Fatal Frame by giving it to Nintendo.
Vcize @ Apr 8th 2009 12:41PM
The big difference is that all those things are OPTIONAL on the 360. Most online gamers don't use wi-fi, so most aren't ever paying for a wi-fi adapter on the 360. Many of those expenses you're adding up aren't expenses that they'll ever actually have.
But here's the thing that really annoys me about when PS3 fanboys make PS3 vs. 360 price comparisons. When tallying up the cost of the 360 they assume that the buyer is the most unsavvy moron in the world and pays $50/yr for XBL and $100 for a wi-fi adapter. Meanwhile, they assume the PS3 is the most super savvy buyer in the world and knows to buy their HDMI cables off monoprice for $4 and in some cases knows to buy a 2.5" hard drive off newegg and figure out how to install it into their console.
Newsflash people, XBL deals are regularly availabe for around $27/yr or so, and are pretty much ALWAYS available for $35-40/yr to anyone with a brain. Also, any $20 wireless bridge will get the 360 online.
Anyone dumb enough to walk into Best Buy and drop $150 on a 360 wireless adapter and XBL subscription is the same person that's going to walk into Best Buy and drop $100 on a triple platinum plated monster HDMI cable for their PS3. Yet somehow the PS3 crowd always manages to mention the full $150 pricetag they'll spend walking into Best Buy on the 360 stuff, but always neglects to mention that extra cost for the PS3.
Duke @ Apr 8th 2009 12:44PM
8-bit.artist, please don't take the troll bait and then post the same tired one sided lists that we have all said are bs for years now. You can twist things however you want and it still doesn't mean a damn thing. (Hell, someone next can say you don't get a headset with a PS3 and then price it at $100 to inflate that cost.)
wallywallas @ Apr 8th 2009 12:45PM
I call B.S. on kbeehaze!
I want to see a picture of that bird feeder. And no photoshop bs either... If you really use it as a bird feeder, you sir, are the man.
If not, you will lose your internet credibility... FOREVER!
8-bit.artist @ Apr 8th 2009 12:54PM
LOL, i dont even own a ps3 or a 360 (although i will own one once another price drop hits). i only own a wii cuz its insanely simple to mod.
360 fan boys came outta the wood work with that one.
Maverick Saturn @ Apr 8th 2009 12:57PM
To be honest, I've already spent more on my 360 then I have on my PS3 :O But then, I'm one of those people that just HAD to play online, theres no point boasting about XBL and wonderful features if you aren't going to at least pay for it, otherwise you just end up being billy no mates, and considering most games have scrapped split screen play in favour of online Co-op, you might as well go online to meet people because the days of getting the lads round to play a shoot em up don't really exist anymore unless it's fifa or pro evo related.
The HD-DVD add-on was a waste of money, and worst still, I can't take it back now that the thing is useless, so might as well keep it for the movies I did get.
Saying that, like anything, if you have the money and want to have all the options, why not spend money, I have no complaints.
Duke @ Apr 8th 2009 1:02PM
Oh yeah 8-bit.artist, you sure got me there. You're talking out of your ass if you call me a fanboy for pointing out that listing bs is weak.
j.howlett @ Apr 8th 2009 1:10PM
the thing is wifi shouldn't cost $100. 360 fanboys also act like you can't find deals or sales on things and talk about how the get cheap parts from ebay from people with dead 360s.
phinnvr6 @ Apr 8th 2009 1:19PM
It's no surprise PS3 and 360 get the most use. The Wii is probably the worst game console EVER made by far. It has the most sales by a wide margin but absolutely terrible games for the most part (sure there are some good ones but not many). I personally play PS3 the most, it has so many good games out for it lately, plus with movie streaming and Blu-rays it definitely is it use the most. Well worth the money.
Cody @ Apr 8th 2009 1:25PM
Having all three systems hooked to my 42" Bravia, my play time goes like this:
Wii gets majority of playtime, about 3 to 4 days outof the week. Roughly 1-2 hours a day.
PS3 is close behind, almost getting turned on right after or before every Wii session.
360 is shunned under the entertainment center and I havent turned it on this year.
If you're wondering why I have all 3 consoles and dont even use one of them, my brother heads a development company, and the 360 came home one day along with the PS3 and I felt bad and kept it around.
Cody @ Apr 8th 2009 1:28PM
My god it's a weird day in the world when you find a comment section with tmac comments at 3 hearts...
Just scroll throw the pages of replys on here people seriously!! Who is upvoting half of these??? ROFL gotta love Joystiq!
eNrique @ Apr 8th 2009 1:33PM
Hey
"Hell, someone next can say you don't get a headset with a PS3 and then price it at $100 to inflate that cost"
I got my Moto headset IB for $8 shipped, and the average price for a headset is $20. I won't argue whether or not the pprice comparison from 8bit artist is right, but the sentence I'm quoting was pretty stupid, what could I expect from such a genius?
Vcize or whateva.
"XBL deals are regularly availabe for around $27/yr or so, and are pretty much ALWAYS available for $35-40/yr to anyone with a brain. Also, any $20 wireless bridge will get the 360 online."
Are you sure?, I mean really, not everyone search the internet to buy a suscription to gain access and play online. Also do you realize that the offer you mention is only valid to US costumers? And let me tell that the us is not the whole world, or in this case where the whole 360 installbase resides.
"Anyone dumb enough to walk into Best Buy and drop $150 on a 360 wireless adapter and XBL subscription is the same person that's going to walk into Best Buy and drop $100 on a triple platinum plated monster HDMI cable for their PS3."
This example is pretty stupid too. I know a lot of people that go to Wal Mart, best buy, even gamestop to buy accesories for their consoles, and comparing an ultra premium ultra expensive accesorie not needed when there's always a chepaer option in same place for 1/10 its price, mmmmmmmmm, but when you walk searching for a suspriction to gain access and play online in the same store, do they offer a cheaper option (1/10) to do so?
Yeah, I tough the same, that's why I always rely on this chart.
http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/26/855758-xboxisfornerds.png
Duke @ Apr 8th 2009 1:37PM
eNrique, you are in fact the bigest tool at this site. My point was that someone could make it sound like the headset was much more expensive than anyone would pay. Get it you twit? You didn't even understand my damn point.
How the hell do you still not realize that you are a jackass. Stop following my posts and coming up with your backwards responses. Your comment was a huge failure yet again.
eNrique @ Apr 8th 2009 1:43PM
Sure, keep telling that to yourself. ;)
Vcize @ Apr 8th 2009 1:49PM
Enrique, there are NOT $10 HDMI cables available at Best Buy, etc. The whole "triple platinum" thing I quoted was just a satire of their advertising for their overpriced HDMI cables, which include ALL of them that you can find at your local big box retail store.
You made your own point against yourself. Not everyone knows how to scour the internet to find deals, and those people pay $80-$100 for HDMI cables at Best Buy, just like they would pay $100 for a wireless adapter for the 360 at the Best Buy.
Either they aren't smart enough to scour the internet for deals or they are. But when a PS3 fanboy brings up the argument, magically the PS3 shopper is mr. internet deal scourer and the 360 shopper is mr. Best Buy dolt.
Someone that walks into Best Buy to pay $150 for a 360 wireless adapter and year of XBL is the same kind of person that walks into Best Buy and pays $130-150 for an HDMI cable and headset for their PS3. And on the flipside, anyone that scours the net for deals on HDMI cables and bluetooth headsets for their PS3 scours the net for deals on the 360 accessories as well. But when you guys make those lists, you only want to include things that the PS3 has that the 360 doesn't and not the other way around.
Duke @ Apr 8th 2009 1:50PM
OK, you are in fact the bigest tool at this site.
Lord Negatron @ Apr 8th 2009 1:56PM
Oh god one of these posts.
Kbeehaze, i'm impressed nice way to waste money with that bird feeder.
8-bit artist, move along with your blogger pricings, since most of what you mentioned is optional. I am currently running an Arcade 360 with my old 20gig with XBL gold and i am fine.
Only difference between me and friends that have the 120gig is that they have most or all of their games downloaded to the HDD.
I have a few TV show episodes and some Arcade Games, and still have 11.2gig left. Not much for multimedia but oh wait, its a gaming console...
eNrique @ Apr 8th 2009 2:07PM
Vcize
Maybe I wasn't clear in my comment, but here it goes again.
The average consumer walks into a best buy, and they will always search for the cheaper option,
HDMI cable
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8427044&st=hdmi+cable&lp=3&type=product&cp=1&id=1181832627184
$30
Bluetooth hs
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9032539&st=bluetooth+headset&lp=6&type=product&cp=1&id=1218010537826
$25
But if you go in looking for 360 accesories / suscriptions, guess what?; you will find the same prices pretty much everywhere; $100 for the adapter and $50 for the suscription.
Get it?
DaveMcRae @ Apr 8th 2009 2:08PM
D you guys have any idea how you flooded my email inbox?
kbeehaze @ Apr 8th 2009 2:19PM
Sorry guy ^. What birdfeeder r u talking about? lol I'm a man I'll admit I was fucking around, lol but look what i started a mini flame war on joystiq and this guys ^ poor email got flooded. See what my post started a good conversation between men about the thing we love most (gaming). LOL you gotta admit I'm a real man for admiting I was lying. But don't worry I'll make a birdfeeder 360 elite
maveric101 @ Apr 8th 2009 2:38PM
not everyone uses wifi for their console. i've always had mine wired. since i have no use for wifi, ps3 would actually be forcing me to pay for it when i don't want it. also, LIVE may be $50/year, but it is well worth it. LIVE is far superior to either of the competition's online services. and if you break down the cost, it turns out to be less than $1 per week.
8-bit.artist @ Apr 8th 2009 2:39PM
all those "optional" things were included in the 360 price because the ps3 comes with them for free.
of course you can find deals on anything, but using the msrp is something that is definitive. even if you add hdmi cables, it still doesnt equal the cost.
just saying guys :)
duke can call me a tool now and down vote me. hahahaha
Duke @ Apr 8th 2009 2:42PM
Naw, I called the other guy a tool because of his post history. Go swim through his comments for a while and you will see it was deserved.
Bissy Boy (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Apr 8th 2009 4:13PM
@ Duke
It's not like he pulled those prices out of thin air or anything. You make it sound like he is spreading misinformation or something.
@Vcize
I game exclusively on my wireless connection and have never had a single issue with network reliability. Some of us don't have the option of running an ethernet chord through our entire house and wireless is the only way to get online. I'm a pretty tech savvy guy and when I bought my 360 I also bought the official wireless adapter at full price. Most efficient wireless bridges are similar in price if not more expensive than the official 360 wireless adapter. It makes more sense (if you need wireless) to buy the one that is made specifically for the 360. Now, if you go out and buy a $20-$30 bridge you will have performance issues. Those are adequate for surfing the web but not for gaming purposes. You really need a high speed wireless router
The 360 gives you three tiers to choose from which is great for consumers who don't want to play online or purchase games from the marketplace. When you start talking about the Pro & Elite versions there is not such a big difference in the actual costs at the end of the day.
I would finish this by saying that there is no reason on this Earth that MS should even be selling the Wi-Fi adapter for $100 & the 120 GB HDD for $150. They even charge $50 MSRP for a 512 MB memory card & $15-20 for a rechargable battery kit! I think the reason they can sell the hardware so inexpensive is because they know they will make it up on the periphreals.
Why not the best of both worlds? Why not inexpensive reliable hardware and fairly priced accessories?
Mal F4cti0n @ Apr 8th 2009 4:41PM
8-bit,
stop with the comparison pricing. It doesn't work, especially when you add everything onto it that people don't need.
I don't need a wifi adaptor. I don't need a 120 GB hard drive. Therefore the 360 would be MUCH CHEAPER FOR ME! Great that for YOU it would be more, but that means dick to anyone else.
Besides, doing that was sooooo 2007.
Duke @ Apr 8th 2009 5:10PM
Johnny, it doesn't matter where he pulls the pricing from, it doesn't apply to everyone. I know this is shocking, but some of us don't need wireless on our 360 not do some need a headset for their PS3, so those are not including in the costs. Adding them to show one console is more expensive is twisting the facts.
Dragod @ Apr 8th 2009 5:21PM
I'm going to do some quick calculations on what I've spent on my 360:
Xbox 360 Bundle (Play and Charge Kit + 2 extra controllers) - $450
3x Wired Controllers - $120
2x 1600 MS Point card - $40
3x Xbox Live 12+1 cards - $105
2x Wired Guitar Hero Controllers - $20
VGA Cables - $30
30' Ethernet cord - $20
Gears of War carrying case - $50
Wireless Microphone - $50
Call of Duty 2 - $60
Gears of War - $60
Halo 3 Collector's Edition - $70
Call of Duty 4 - $60
Fallout 3 - $60
Shadowrun - $20
Fable II - $60
Guitar Hero II - $100
Guitar Hero III - $100
Grand Theft Auto IV Collector's Edition - $90
Naruto: Rise of a Ninja - $60
Gears of War 2 - $60
Halo Wars: Collector's Edition - $80
Call of Duty 3 - $60
Perfect Dark Zero - $10
Total: $1,835 over about 3 years
Worth every penny. I've played an insane amount of all of these games; Halo 3, CoD2, and Guitar Hero II especially... After buying games, peripherals, and doing some deal hunting, the price differences are negligible. I've never regretted buying a 360 (except for when I played CoD3 Christmas morning...) and I don't regret not buying a PS3 instead. Buy what you enjoy because playing something you enjoy entirely for an extra $100 is well worth it, in the scope of things.
As a side note, I deeply regret buying the Wii... I play it once every 3 months; I'm still in the tutorial of Twilight Princess.
Marty @ Apr 8th 2009 5:24PM
Whoa, 2006 called, and they want their PS3 price breakdowns back!
Spare us guys, sheesh.
Anyway, do these number include watching DVD's / videos on the consoles? If so, I'd expect that that is why Wii comes in such a distant third in usage.
Windmill @ Apr 8th 2009 5:51PM
People who call 8-bits list troll bait are ridiculous.
Seriously. I know people like to be fanboys, and I know that people like to be fanboys of the 360. I know people somehow have a vendetta against Sony, despite the fact its a *company*, but whatever.
Quite frankly he is right. And whether or not users know to get the HDMI cables for $4 instead of $20 is a moot point. Because it still comes out cheaper anyway. And for gamers, they SHOULD be savvy buyers, and hardcoreish gamers are the only ones that have a vendetta against the PS3. If its because they think CONSUMERS won't buy it well thats ridiculous. Why get yourself worked up over a CONSOLE NOT BEING BOUGHT. I mean seriously, why hate the machine? With ACTUAL EMOTIONS?
At most you can be ticked off that its ridiculously expensive so you can't buy it. But low and behold, you can, for its actually pretty cheap compared to the 360.
PS3 has free online, free Wifi, free blu-ray. The online service is good, too. I don't buy into the idea that the online service sucks. It has caught up significantly to the 360's.
PS3 costs $400. HDMI cables cost like $5. Or if you're a 360 fanboy, you can pretend to be an average consumer and *despite knowing/knowing now you can get it cheaply online pretend you can't*.
Now you've got the 360.
Lets take the Pro, since you'll want a harddrive, of course.
Pro: $300
XBL Subscription: $50 a year. As the cycle of the 360 has AT LEAST 2 years left, thats going to be $100.
Total: $400
PS3;
80 gig version: $400.
HDMI adapter (since we're assuming this individual has HDMI) : $5/20
Total: $405/420
Oh WOW. Look THEY ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. Now lets look at a few extras included in each one.
Extras that Xbox 360 has included;
- A headset
Extras that PS3 has included;
- Wireless internet (an extra what $100 to buy the wireless internet cable for the 360?)
- Blu-ray player (you'd have to buy blu-ray player to do this)
- Unlimited internet connection (since there aren't FEE'S.)
- Hardware that you know will be reliable, since every 2nd PS3 does not break.
- Region Free Gaming (for those of us not in the states- I'm in New Zealand for instance- and this is VERY important)
There we go. PS3 has the superior extras, the last option which will attract fanboy claims of "NAH" withstanding. (I like the 360, but I keep going to buy one and remember my bf's experience- he went through THREE. Granted it was awhile ago now- but its loads of money to spend on a machine for it to break all of the time, and I planned to get it 2nd hand. I got my PS3 second hand and it ROCKS.)
So oh noes. For the next 2 years, the PS3 is $5-20 more expensive. ISN'T THAT SO HORRIBLE.
Its not troll bait. What I just stated there was plain common sense. People need to get over the idea of "gosh its so expensive". I can see average consumers making that idiotic claim when they purely look at the price tags, but seriously, gamers subscribing to video game blogs should have figured these facts out.
It comes down to;
1) Which games do you like best on each system
2) Which systems are your friends on
3) Are the extras important to you
And, for me personally-
3) Can I risk my 360 blowing up (no).
Most games are multi-platform, but different exclusives exist for each one, and it comes down to also if the extras are important. Thats it. The price is an issue not withstanding, unless you want the PS3's extras, in which buying a 360 will become MIGHTILY expensive.
Oh, unless you people don't want to play the xbox 360 online.
Mazrael @ Apr 8th 2009 7:06PM
I don't see how wi-fi is even an arguement in the so called cost between 360 & PS3.. I get a much faster conection through wired.. (100mbps on wired, 54mbps on wireless G) - if Ihad a reason to buy a PS3, I'd have it wired, since if it needed it, I could just buy a gigabit router (I already have cat-6e cables) - I could easily go order 2 right now, but there's not enough to interest me, nor do I have time for more than one console, which is where the Wii gathers dust
blu ray either, since you can buy higher performance blu-ray players cheaper than a ps3 now. then I rarely buy or watch films anymore
and come on, the Live service is only 11p a day, which is nothing really, & I rarely play online..
My pads charge too, okay I might pay a little extra, but for highly responsive pads, it's worth it - plus you don't have to throw the pad when the battery is done for..
eNrique @ Apr 8th 2009 7:14PM
Johnny,
You can't have a healthy discusion with geniuses like him, every time they run out out arguments they start insulting you ang bringing up classic things like you didn't get the point and bullshit like that.
What are you playing Johnny?
To see if we can have a match and add you.
Dave @ Apr 8th 2009 9:10PM
Nah, kbeehaze. A real man would have saved face and actually done it--or, better yet, not made up the story in the first place. It's not too late to go buy one and do it, btw. I'll wait.
mr mobius @ Apr 9th 2009 12:06AM
Firstly, your inbox must feel like it got raped.
Secondly, I'd consider it a sign I have better things to be at if I don't play my Wii all day. Remember that there are different demographics for all 3 consoles. I'm content with my Wii. Why can't you be content with what you have and all quit the fanboy bitching (this part not directed at Dave but everyone who reads this).
meth0dical @ Apr 9th 2009 12:30AM
+1 email to feel special
legit, non-fanboy question:
is the battery in the ps3 controller removable?
Duke @ Apr 9th 2009 10:34AM
"You can't have a healthy discusion with geniuses like him, every time they run out out arguments they start insulting you ang bringing up classic things like you didn't get the point and bullshit like that."
You didn't get the point. That isn't an insult - that's a fact. The insult part is that you're a tool, which you are. Don't you dare act like you are so sweet and innocent, your post history and continuously using genius to describe me show what a prick you strive to be in each post. Damn you're insecure.
NaeemTHM @ Apr 8th 2009 11:01AM
Wii: Haven't played since No More Heroes
360: Currently making my way through Fallout 3
PS3: Still at Gamestop waiting to be purchased. Maybe this year?
I play my DS more than anything however. Final Fantasy IV DS is badass.
Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Apr 8th 2009 11:13AM
Hear ya. Clocked at least 40 hours on my first playthrough of Chrono Trigger. Got to the point where Lavos was possibly the easiest boss-fight in the entire game
JXCgunrunna @ Apr 8th 2009 11:22AM
hell yea. thats what iv got in. i switch between that and peggle but mostly that and GTA.
wii: madworld - few times a week
360: Call of Duty 4 - every time im not working or doing school stuff
PS3: lol im a college student, no money for one
Eric E @ Apr 8th 2009 11:21AM
yeah im playing Chono trigger on my DS too, most consistent right now at about an hour before bed most nights.
However all this fluctuates w/ me. Depends on what games are out, when i got the system. I played my PSP exclusively non-stop for like 2 months when i first got it last year, now im out of back catalog and haven't touched it in a while.
vahdyx @ Apr 8th 2009 11:33AM
Very Similar, but I'm...
Wii: Still waiting at the store to be purchased when something interests me
360: Currently making my way through Star Ocean, only use 360 for 360 exclusives
PS3: Currently making my way through Fallout, Killzone 2, BioShock, F.E.A.R 2 etc.
adolson @ Apr 8th 2009 11:46AM
I put more time into Fallout 3 and Oblivion on my PS3 than I did into all of my Wii games combined (and I owned a lot, having been Wii-exclusive for all of 2006 and 2007). That's pretty sad.
nickaus805 @ Apr 8th 2009 11:51AM
My friends who claim they have no money for a ps3, clearly you must have failed economics 101 or finance 101 because clearly the 360 is a more expensive system. You not only have to buy a system, you have to renew your live subscription EVERY SINGLE YEAR. Furthermore you have to constantly buy batteries if you're playing it every time your not doing "school stuff", unless you dish out even more money for the rechargable batteries.
Basically that should end the argument of the "expense" of the ps3. Its a garbage argument and one of the last remaining pillars fanboys of MS have to hold onto, the last being cross-game chat (that will be on ps3 in the near future also)
Gun Barrier @ Apr 8th 2009 12:11PM
Clearly they bought the 360 first, and most people can afford a one time payment of 30-50$ for live every year. The ps3 is one Huge payment at once, while the 360 can be payed off in smaller chunks that adds up to about the same as the ps3. For someone that has little money to spend at once, the 360 is more convenient to buy.
golobulus @ Apr 8th 2009 12:34PM
so JXCgunrunna, you have enough money for a wii and 360 + games. yet not enough for a $399 system? stop bullshitting us.