Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Nielsen: Assassin's Creed 3, Halo 4 most anticipated console titles this year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/nielsen-assassins-creed-3-halo-4-most-anticipated-console-tit/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/nielsen-assassins-creed-3-halo-4-most-anticipated-console-tit/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/nielsen-assassins-creed-3-halo-4-most-anticipated-console-tit/#comments ImageYou guys are so predictable, except when you're being unpredictable. This year gamers are most excited to play Halo 4 (which still doesn't have a release date) on Xbox 360, Assassin's Creed 3 on PS3 and Madden NFL 13 on Wii, Nielsen reports from a recent study.

What baffles us is how low BioShock: Infinite rates (9th on 360 and 8th on PS3) and how eager PS3 owners are to play Prototype 2 -- it ranks 7th for PS3 gamers and doesn't even hit the top 10 on Xbox 360. We won't even discuss what business Battleship thinks it has being in 3rd place for Wii gamers.

Nielsen aggregated the scores based on eight "key customer metrics," such as "awareness" and "purchase interest." We are now certainly "aware" that we can't guess the general consumer's mindset, when all we hear about is how they have no "interest" to "purchase" another game ever again, but mainstream, full-price titles crowd the most-anticipated list. Check out the complete list here.

JoystiqNielsen: Assassin's Creed 3, Halo 4 most anticipated console titles this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creed-3battleshipHalo-4madden-nfl-13microsoftNielsennintendoplaystationps3Seriously-BattleshipsurveywiixboxTue, 10 Apr 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen taps most anticipated games, Modern Warfare 3 on top]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/nielsen-taps-most-anticipated-games-modern-warfare-3-on-top/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/nielsen-taps-most-anticipated-games-modern-warfare-3-on-top/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/nielsen-taps-most-anticipated-games-modern-warfare-3-on-top/#comments So modern The Nielsen firm has compiled a list of the top twenty most anticipated games this holiday season. The survey ranks games based on the percentage of players that ranked them in their top five choices for the holiday. Unsurprisingly, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was at the top of the list, with fully 27 percent of those surveyed placing it in their top five.

Rounding out the top five, Gears of War 3 and Madden NFL 12 both pulled 19 percent, Assassin's Creed Revelations made 17 percent and Batman: Arkham City reached 15 percent. The holiday's major Wii exclusive, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword made the sixth slot with 14 percent. Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3's major competition, reached number seven at 12 percent. Also worth noting: Dead Island, at 7 percent, marks the only game on the entire list that isn't part of an established franchise.

The survey also includes a fascinating peek into the psyche of various players, making note of the online conversations surrounding each title. For example, Modern Warfare 3 fans are looking forward to launch parties, and Skyward Sword devotees are hoping to rekindle that old Ocarina of Time feeling. Madden armchair quarterbacks, meanwhile, are planning to call in sick in order to squeeze in a few more touchdowns.

JoystiqNielsen taps most anticipated games, Modern Warfare 3 on top originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creed-revelationsbatman-arkham-citybattlefield-3call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3dead-islanddsmadden-nfl-12microsoftmodern-warfare-3nielsennintendopcplaystationps3pspsonyThe-Legend-of-Zelda-Skyward-SwordwiixboxFri, 30 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA['Half of all Netflix users connect via a game console,' Nintendo Wii used most]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/half-of-all-netflix-users-connect-via-a-game-console-nintendo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/half-of-all-netflix-users-connect-via-a-game-console-nintendo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/half-of-all-netflix-users-connect-via-a-game-console-nintendo/#comments Sorry Jackie boy, but it seems that Sony's PlayStation 3 has been dethroned as king of streaming Netflix. That's according to a recent Nielsen survey that pegs the Nintendo Wii as the most used device in households to stream Netflix (outside of the computer, of course), and puts all three gaming consoles in the lead in terms of Netflix streaming to devices.

The survey, based on 12,000 online interviews in March 2011, weighs a variety of devices against each other in terms of Netflix and Hulu streaming, from Apple TV on the low end at just one percent market share, to "Directly on Computer" as the most employed method at 42 percent for Netflix and 89 percent for Hulu. The Xbox 360 brought up the bottom of the list in terms of game consoles, with just 12 percent of Netflix users going that route and two percent of Hulu users.

The real bizarre factoid in this graph is that the Nintendo Wii is also (just barely) streaming more Hulu content than the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 -- especially odd considering there's no official support for Hulu on the Wii. We've reached out to Nielsen for clarification on that possibly erroneous statistic.

Update: Nielsen explained the Hulu on Nintendo Wii statistic as such: "The reason the survey shows 3% answering this way can be attributed to respondent error, which is common in survey research. In other words, because the survey measures self-reported usage, there can be a small margin of error in which some respondents will answer this way."

Joystiq'Half of all Netflix users connect via a game console,' Nintendo Wii used most originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hulumicrosoftnetflixnielsennintendopcplaystationps3streamingwiixboxThu, 28 Jul 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: US spending less on games, more on outdoor activities]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/19/nielsen-us-spending-less-on-games-more-on-outdoor-activities/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/19/nielsen-us-spending-less-on-games-more-on-outdoor-activities/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/19/nielsen-us-spending-less-on-games-more-on-outdoor-activities/#comments Bad news, friends: We're losing. That's the only way we can digest the latest Nielsen consumer spending report, in which it was revealed that the US national entertainment budget share for games dropped from 9.3 percent in 2009 to 8.5 percent in 2010. Meanwhile, spending on activities that actually require you to cross the threshold of your home into the horrible, dangerous world (like dining out, going to parks, etc.) increased from 20.4 percent to 25.1 percent year-over-year.

Okay, so the raw dollar-amount spent on games hardly changed between the last two years -- but the average American's budget increased in 2010, and none of that new money was handed over the video game industry. Instead, people spent it on outdoor activities. Outdoors! Can you imagine? That's where animals live, you guys.

[Image credit: Nielson]

JoystiqNielsen: US spending less on games, more on outdoor activities originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 Feb 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesschartconsumerdataentertainmentindustrynielsensalesspendingusaSat, 19 Feb 2011 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: In-game ads increase real-world sales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/nielsen-in-game-ads-increase-real-world-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/nielsen-in-game-ads-increase-real-world-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/nielsen-in-game-ads-increase-real-world-sales/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We hate to be the ones to break it to you -- but those in-game advertisements that some of you aren't terribly big fans? Well, they're actually pretty effective at boring into your subconscious and making you want to buy Axe Body Spray or Snickers, or whatever. A recent Nielsen study of six EA Sports titles, including NHL 10 and NBA Live 09, found that in-game ads for Gatorade increased household dollars spent on said beverage by 24 percent.

For more information on how the study was conducted, you can check out Nielsen's press release. We'd normally take the time to summarize that process in this very post, but we've suddenly been struck by the strangest, most powerful urge to go out and just start slamming some sports drinks.

JoystiqNielsen: In-game ads increase real-world sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 04:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisingea-sportsgatoradein-game-advertisingmicrosoftnba-live-09NHL-10NHL-2010nielsenplaystationps3xboxWed, 15 Sep 2010 04:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: Majority of gamers in the dark on Natal, Move]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/nielsen-majority-of-gamers-in-the-dark-on-natal-move/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/nielsen-majority-of-gamers-in-the-dark-on-natal-move/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/nielsen-majority-of-gamers-in-the-dark-on-natal-move/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Nielsen Company has released the results of a recent survey designed to gauge gamer awareness of Microsoft's Project Natal and Sony's PlayStation Move. Among the 2,400 gamers surveyed, 21 percent are currently aware of Natal, while 23 percent are aware of the Move. Things look a little better when restricting the results to those who actually own and play the 360 or PS3, with 39 percent of 360 gamers aware of Natal and 42 percent of PS3 gamers aware of the Move.

Of the gamers aware of the Move and Natal, those who actually own the respective console show more intent to purchase. 42 percent of 360 owners plan to purchase Natal, compared to only 35 percent of total gamers aware of the device. PS3 owners show a nearly identical 41 percent with intent to purchase, compared to 28 percent of all those aware. Strangely, even though both Natal and Move have publicly known launch windows, a surprisingly high number of respondents -- nearly 40 percent -- don't know when the products will be available.

Also noteworthy, respondents show a wide disparity as to what they believe the hardware prices will be. To the 6 percent who think Natal will be less than $25: you're going to be disappointed.

JoystiqNielsen: Majority of gamers in the dark on Natal, Move originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmoveNatalNielsenplaystationPlayStation-Moveproject-natalps3SonyxboxFri, 11 Jun 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen study: Most households spend five percent of entertainment budget on games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/23/nielsen-study-most-households-spend-five-percent-of-entertainme/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/23/nielsen-study-most-households-spend-five-percent-of-entertainme/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/23/nielsen-study-most-households-spend-five-percent-of-entertainme/#comments While we're sure Leslie Nielsen knows his fair share about gaming, we're talking about Nielsen Media Research -- it's a firm most known for documenting who watches what on television in the United States. Nielsen Games has conducted a study into the buying habits of Americans, postulating that video games account for about five percent of the total entertainment budget for the average household.

The information comes from a survey of over 3,000 U.S. consumers and uses the "share of wallet" idea for calculating monthly entertainment allowance. Basically, Nielsen took the percentage of money spent in a month on all possible entertainment options by a household and pulled this five percent figure from that -- however, households that were deemed to be "active buyers" of video games had a figure that was around double: nine percent. So, it's around five percent for those casual fans of gaming and about nine percent of monthly budget for active gaming households.

It's also important to understand exactly what Nielsen considers video game content: new and used games; downloadable content; rentals; and peripheral sales. And, unfortunately, there's really no way to quantify these figures into dollars and cents -- different households have different budgets, which could inflate or deflate the figures.

Nielsen promises a more comprehensive report on the subject this March with the inaugural Nielsen 360° Gaming Report: United States Market.

Via Game Politics]

JoystiqNielsen study: Most households spend five percent of entertainment budget on games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessnielsensalesstudyunited-statesTue, 23 Feb 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen survey says most PSP users are female, Xbox 360 most played]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/06/nielsen-survey-says-most-psp-users-are-female-xbox-360-most-pla/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/06/nielsen-survey-says-most-psp-users-are-female-xbox-360-most-pla/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/06/nielsen-survey-says-most-psp-users-are-female-xbox-360-most-pla/#comments In its 2010 Media Industry Fact Sheet, the Nielsen Company tallied some interesting numbers [PDF] related to the increase of social media and how video game console usage trended in 2009. According to its survey statistics, Sony's PSP market in the United States contains a slight majority of female gamers -- 52% of the platform's owners in the region, while 49% of Nintendo Wii owners are female. Nielsen's survey statistics show that, as of 2009, 45% of all active gamers are women.

Social media has, expectantly, made a dramatic leap in usage. Nielsen's survey claims Facebook membership skyrocketing from November 2008 to 2009 with 109 million members accessing the site at the end of the the decade versus about 47.5 million the year before. Twitter saw its user base increase by 15.9 million members in the same time frame. Both social media sites have seen life on consoles.

Related to each console's individual usage -- besides what the good looking gamers enjoy -- Nielsen's survey claims the Xbox 360 is the most played console (ranked by share of total usage minutes), taking 23.1% of the measured playtime. Sony's PlayStation 2 netted second with 20.4% and the Nintendo Wii closed up the top three with 19% of the vote. While we know the previous sentence sounds like we just called all console gamers hideous beings, we just mean that ladies are pretty and smell like daffodils compared to the faint odor of Cheetos and Mountain Dew that lingers around us fellas.

[Via Edge]

JoystiqNielsen survey says most PSP users are female, Xbox 360 most played originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Microsoftnielsennielsen-companyNintendoratingssurveyWiiXbox-360Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen and EEDAR join forces to provide 'unprecedented' game tracking data]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/nielsen-and-eedar-join-forces-to-provide-unprecedented-game-tr/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/nielsen-and-eedar-join-forces-to-provide-unprecedented-game-tr/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/nielsen-and-eedar-join-forces-to-provide-unprecedented-game-tr/#comments
Stat-tracking firms The Nielsen Company and Electronic Entertainment Design and Research (EEDAR) are teaming up to deliver "unprecedented insight into the video games industry." Nielsen's data, which has brought plenty of controversy on its own, will be integrated into EEDAR's GamePulse subscription service. Nielsen gathers its data from 1,200 "active gamers" through a weekly survey, while EEDAR data mines and organizes using various categories.

The data will be combined beginning in March of 2010 and be available to both Nielsen Video Game Tracking and EEDAR subscribers. This may not mean much to the average gamer, but to stat-obsessed executives and folks in marketing departments, this is like licking triple-chocolate ice cream covered in bacon and honey.

JoystiqNielsen and EEDAR join forces to provide 'unprecedented' game tracking data originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesseedarMicrosoftnielsenstatisticsstatsXbox-360Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: 360 has most 'active users' in 2009, Wii has fewest]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/nielsen-360-has-most-active-users-in-2009-wii-has-fewest/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/nielsen-360-has-most-active-users-in-2009-wii-has-fewest/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/nielsen-360-has-most-active-users-in-2009-wii-has-fewest/#comments
We imagine those six multicolored lines you see above are going to cause quite a stir among the various fanboy contingencies -- they represent the percentage of "active users" on different consoles in the first half of 2009, according to survey data compiled by Nielsen. As you can see, the Xbox 360 dominated the charts, while the ubiquitously successful Wii came in dead last by a huge margin, ranking below the PS2, original Xbox and GameCube.

Our initial reaction to this data was that Nielsen is high on pot, but we can kinda understand what caused the Wii's disappointing placement on the list -- the chart is tracking the percent of console owners who use their gaming hardware on a regular basis. Everyone and their dog owns a Wii by this point, but very few actually play them consistently, according to Nielsen's findings. Meanwhile, there's only a handful of GameCubes out there that haven't been converted into lunchboxes, and their owners apparently use them a bit more frequently.

If you're looking for a more straightforward breakdown of console usage, Nielsen also figured the overall usage totals for each console. That chart's posted after the jump. (You'll find it slightly above the deluge of inflammatory comments.)

[Via IndustryGamers]

Continue reading Nielsen: 360 has most 'active users' in 2009, Wii has fewest

JoystiqNielsen: 360 has most 'active users' in 2009, Wii has fewest originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chartsindustryMicrosoftnielsenNintendosurveyWiiXbox-360Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interest in Modern Warfare 2 spikes with Call of Duty branding]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/interest-in-modern-warfare-2-spikes-with-call-of-duty-branding/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/interest-in-modern-warfare-2-spikes-with-call-of-duty-branding/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/interest-in-modern-warfare-2-spikes-with-call-of-duty-branding/#comments
Don't freak out, guys. We know how worried you were when we told you that interest in Modern Warfare 2 was waning without the warm embrace of that familiar Call of Duty brand name. According to Nielsen's Video Game Tracking service, interest in the shooter has substantially improved following the association of Infinity Ward's work with Activision's recognizable franchise.

Three different consumer interest fields Nielsen tracked -- "Aided Awareness," "Definite Interest in Purchasing," and "Total Positive Interest in Purchasing" -- increased drastically from the week of July 6 (before the title was modified) to the week of July 13 (post-name change). It's just like Bill Shakespeare said: "A rose by any other name may smell as sweet, but a rose that's clearly endorsed by Activision will sell way better." We're pretty sure that's how that goes.

JoystiqInterest in Modern Warfare 2 spikes with Call of Duty branding originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisioncall-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-2fpsMicrosoftmodern-warfare-2nielsenpolltitleXbox-360Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: Gaming time, used game sales at all-time high]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/06/nielsen-gaming-time-used-game-sales-at-all-time-high/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/06/nielsen-gaming-time-used-game-sales-at-all-time-high/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/06/nielsen-gaming-time-used-game-sales-at-all-time-high/#comments
Take that, crumbling economy! In a recently released report (PDF), Nielsen Media Research claims that, despite poor economic conditions, gamers are actually spending more time playing games in 2009 than they have in previous years. In fact, the number of hours spent per week playing games is at an all-time high. Nielsen attributes this rise to "mainstream gamers" spending more time with "broadly appealing" titles like Rock Band, Guitar Hero and Wii Fit. Playing these games for all they're worth can help gamers "stretch their entertainment dollar," according to Nielsen's Michael Flamberg, director of client consulting,

Furthermore, used game sales are also higher than ever before. Since January, the average number of used games purchased in a six-month period has risen from 3.01 to 3.51, accounting for 36 percent of all games purchased. The firm also reports that subscription to game rental services like GameFly is on the rise, stating that some gamers may use such services as a substitution for purchasing new games.

What say you, Joystiq readers? Has the economy driven you to purchase more used games?

JoystiqNielsen: Gaming time, used game sales at all-time high originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesseconomynielsenused-gamesMon, 06 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: Halo 3: ODST, God of War 3, Wii Sports Resort most desired games post-E3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/nielsen-halo-3-odst-god-of-war-3-wii-sports-resort-most-desi/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/nielsen-halo-3-odst-god-of-war-3-wii-sports-resort-most-desi/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/nielsen-halo-3-odst-god-of-war-3-wii-sports-resort-most-desi/#comments
Now that the excitement of E3 has died down, research firm Nielsen has readied the results of a new survey, which gauged consumer purchase intent for titles from the show. Obtained between June 7 to June 14, the results (via Edge) concluded that Bungie's upcoming jaunt through New Mombasa, Halo 3: ODST, had the highest purchase intent, with 53% of respondents taking interest. It was followed by God of War 3, which received 49% in support of its comical, over-the-top violence, and Nintendo's log-splitting sim, Wii Sports Resort, which managed 45%.

While undoubtedly big titles, we'd be lying if we said we weren't surprised by the top three. Some other titles we thought would be huge scored lower in this survey, including Assassin's Creed 2 (32%) and The Beatles: Rock Band (30%). Clearly, the allure of wasting extra-terrestrial lifeforms is still very strong in gamers. What would Spock say?

JoystiqNielsen: Halo 3: ODST, God of War 3, Wii Sports Resort most desired games post-E3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2009god-of-war-3halo-3-odstMicrosoftnielsenNintendosurveyWiiwii-sports-resortXbox-360Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen corrects console usage chart: Wii beats 360 in January]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/09/nielsen-corrects-console-usage-chart-wii-beats-360-in-january/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/09/nielsen-corrects-console-usage-chart-wii-beats-360-in-january/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/09/nielsen-corrects-console-usage-chart-wii-beats-360-in-january/#commentsThe Nielsen report on American console usage percentages contains some mislabeled data, according to a correction sent to Fast Company by Nielsen's Gavin McMillan. In the original PDF's Figure 4, "January 2008 to January 2009 Video Console Usage Percents," the Wii and Xbox 360's positions are transposed for January 2009. The correct chart appears above, showing that Wii usage, at 20.7% of the total recorded usage minutes, exceeded 360 usage (18.2%) in January.

The average percentage of active use for each console for December 2008, the metric on which we reported yesterday, remains accurate. That refers to the percent of use each console got against the total possible time users could have been using them.

JoystiqNielsen corrects console usage chart: Wii beats 360 in January originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MicrosoftnielsenNintendostatisticsstatsusageWiiXbox-360Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen report reveals average game console usage ]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/08/nielsen-report-reveals-average-game-console-usage/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/08/nielsen-report-reveals-average-game-console-usage/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/08/nielsen-report-reveals-average-game-console-usage/#comments
The Nielsen group has released a new report on usage of the three major consoles. Coming as little surprise, Nielsen's study has placed Wii in dead last, with the average player using the console 6.8 percent of the time during Nielsen's study in December, 2008. During that same period, those involved in the study played Xbox 360 10.2 percent and PS3 10.6 percent -- nearly double the Wii average. Clearly, the average gamer doesn't have the endurance necessary for long-term waggling.

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]

JoystiqNielsen report reveals average game console usage originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MicrosoftnielsenNintendostatisticsstatsWiiXbox-360Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: Wii audience is youngest, PS3 audience is oldest]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/nielsen-wii-audience-is-youngest-ps3-audience-is-oldest/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/nielsen-wii-audience-is-youngest-ps3-audience-is-oldest/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/nielsen-wii-audience-is-youngest-ps3-audience-is-oldest/#comments
According to a recent console usage report compiled between October and December of last year by Nielsen Media Research, the Wii appeals to quite the broad spectrum of people, being especially popular among boys age 6 -11 and women age 25 - 34. Most interesting is the Wii's ability to captivate the older women audience, as the console's use by women over 35 is much higher than that of the Wii's competition. And they're apparently playing Wii Fit, Guitar Hero and Rock Band, games cited as favorites among that group.

Of course, as much as the younger audience and older women flock to Wii, it still has trouble captivating that coveted 18 - 24 demographic, where the Xbox 360 and PS3 fare a lot better. For Microsoft's Xbox 360, the group getting their game on the most is males aged 12-17, and females aged 25-34. The PS3, it would seem, has the oldest male audience locked down, as the report notes that gamers who may have owned a PSOne or PS2 in the past "may have 'graduated' to the PS3 in their assumed adulthood." For both males and females, the highest usage came from the 18 - 24 group.

As far as average playtime, the Wii trailed behind the others. On the Xbox 360 side, males used the console almost twice as much as females (10.2 vs. 5.4 in December), whereas usage between genders on the PS3 and Wii was much more balanced.

JoystiqNielsen: Wii audience is youngest, PS3 audience is oldest originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guitar-heroMicrosoftnielsenNintendops3reportrock-bandwiiwii-fitxbox-360Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: $823 million spent on game marketing in '08]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/nielsen-823-million-spent-on-game-marketing-in-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/nielsen-823-million-spent-on-game-marketing-in-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/nielsen-823-million-spent-on-game-marketing-in-08/#comments
Market research firm Nielsen estimates that $823 million was spent on video game promotion in the US during 2008. Not bad, considering the region brought in $21.3 billion in sales.

Edge reports the numbers come with news that Nielsen is teaming up with EEDAR to more efficiently track advertising dollars and give better ideas of where to spend cash in the troubling economic time.

[Image]

JoystiqNielsen: $823 million spent on game marketing in '08 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingeedarmarketingnielsenWed, 11 Feb 2009 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: People prefer playing original Xbox over PS3 in '08]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/nielsen-people-prefer-playing-original-xbox-over-ps3-in-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/nielsen-people-prefer-playing-original-xbox-over-ps3-in-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/nielsen-people-prefer-playing-original-xbox-over-ps3-in-08/#commentsFiled under:

It's not too hard to believe that people are spending more time playing on Xbox 360 or Wii than they are with the PS3. It's also not too difficult to hear that the PS2 is the most played console in 2008 -- everyone and their pet lizard owns one. However, there is one thing which stuns not only us but our comrades as well, and that is hearing that the original Xbox is roping in more gamers than the PS3 for a share of TV time. It's a bit tough to stomach, we know, but that feeling of queasiness should subside within the hour.

Media research group Nielsen reports the PS3 ranks 5th in 2008's "Video Game Console Usage" from data collected during the months of January through October. In that period, PS2 took the top spot with a 31.7 percent share followed by the 360 and Wii with 17.2 and 13.4 percent, respectively. The PS3 is right under the original Xbox's 9.7 percent share by a meager difference of 2.4 percent.

But hey, it's not all doom and gloom. Our choice console did beat out the GameCube by a whopping 3.3 percent. The full statistics can be found after the break.

[via Joystiq]

Continue reading Nielsen: People prefer playing original Xbox over PS3 in '08

JoystiqNielsen: People prefer playing original Xbox over PS3 in '08 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nielsenps3ratingsresearchstatisticsSat, 03 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: 2008's most played console was ... PS2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/nielsen-2008s-most-played-console-was-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/nielsen-2008s-most-played-console-was-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/nielsen-2008s-most-played-console-was-ps2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The Nielsen Company is best known for tracking television viewership, but its quantifying of what people spend their time doing doesn't end there. It also tracks console usage among its selected households, and, for 2008 (January through October, at least), the PlayStation 2 was played more than any other.

According to Nielsen's findings, PS2 accounted for 31.2% of all console usage minutes measured. Xbox 360 was a distant second with 17.2%, followed by Wii (13.4%), the original Xbox (9.7%), PS3 (7.3%), GameCube (4.6%), and "other" (16.2%). The fact that more hours were spent playing the original Xbox than PS3 is, well, surprising. PS2's dominance isn't; last we checked, there were 87.6 bazillion of them in the world (give or take a few trillion).

JoystiqNielsen: 2008's most played console was ... PS2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GameCubenielsenPS2PS3statisticsWiiXboxXbox-360Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: 360 the second most played console of '08]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/nielsen-360-the-second-most-played-console-of-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/nielsen-360-the-second-most-played-console-of-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/nielsen-360-the-second-most-played-console-of-08/#commentsFiled under:


The Nielson Company (the same folks who give us television ratings) just released their scientific digits for 2008's most played video game consoles. Based on console usage, calculated using a select few Nielson households and expressed in a percentage of total console usage minutes.

After the data was tabulated, Nielson has awarded the Playstation 2 the most played console of 2008. But seeing that this is an Xbox centric website, the bigger news is that the Xbox 360 took home the number two spot as the second most played console of '08. Congrats! Now about that Playstation 3 and its 5th place finish behind the original Xbox. Hmm ...
  • Playstation 2 - 31.2%
  • Xbox 360 - 17.2%
  • Wii - 13.4%
  • Xbox - 9.7%
  • Playstation 3 - 7.3%
  • Gamecube - 4.6%
  • "Other" - 16.2%
[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqNielsen: 360 the second most played console of '08 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>console-warsnielsenx3f-twitterxbox-360Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii clinches bronze in console usage stakes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/wii-clinches-bronze-in-console-usage-stakes/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/wii-clinches-bronze-in-console-usage-stakes/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/wii-clinches-bronze-in-console-usage-stakes/#commentsFiled under:

The white coats at Nielsen have been at it again, analysing our gaming lives and charting the consoles we use most. Unlike the Nielsen study we posted about previously, this one takes into account pre-Wii/PS3/Xbox 360 platforms. This means that the PS2 stormed to a predictable, convincing victory: 30.2% of "all measured console minutes" were dedicated to Sony's nine-year-old machine.

Despite its smaller user base, the Xbox 360 was second with 18.3%, while the Wii came third with 13.5% -- high enough, we feel, to put any no-doubt-hilarious Wii/dust jokes to rest. Excellently, the GameCube is following the PS3 more closely than you'd think.

A quick disclaimer before you scuttle past the break to see the data in full: these numbers cover January to October 2008, there's no word on whether non-U.S. gamers were surveyed, and handhelds aren't mentioned, though are presumably bracketed in the "Others" category. Multiple console owners who are richer than us: how closely do your own habits follow this pattern?

Continue reading Wii clinches bronze in console usage stakes

JoystiqWii clinches bronze in console usage stakes originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chartdatanielsennielsen-gamesps2ps3researchSCIENCEusagexbox-360Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Study: Parents corrupting unsullied children with killer game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/study-parents-corrupting-unsullied-children-with-killer-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/study-parents-corrupting-unsullied-children-with-killer-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/study-parents-corrupting-unsullied-children-with-killer-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,


A recent study conducted by Nielsen Games has uncovered an unsavory and alarming new link in the video game industry's ever-tightening chain around our nation's youth. It was found that 17% of respondents in the survey who had purchased a copy of the popular role-model pummeling game, "Grand Theft Auto IV," were between the ages of seven and sixteen. The crime glorification simulation, which imparts "gamer points" for beating innocent police officers to death with decapitated prostitute bodies, was rated "M" for "Mature."

The most distressing news lies not in the fact that 61% of impressionable youths had been tricked into purchasing the games themselves by slick marketing and peer pressure, but the shocking revelation that 39% had been aided by someone else -- in 80% of these cases, parents themselves had thrust their child's ripe brain beneath the industry's oppressive mallet.

Speaking exclusively to Joystiq, renowned child psychologist Dr. Alphred Larmist described this turn of events as "the ultimate betrayal." According to him, parents could be the most dangerous conduit of pixelated poison. "Parents getting involved is the last thing we need," Larmist said. "If they take an active role in what entertainment their children partake in, this is the sort of disaster that could happen. Next thing you know, they're determining what's appropriate for the kids and going out and buying Grand Theft Auto. They're supposed to be on our side."

Dr. Larmist vowed he would take up the campaign to keep parents and their influence away from children. "If nothing is done, these video gamers will reduce our society to naught but chainsaws having bloody sex with each other."

JoystiqStudy: Parents corrupting unsullied children with killer game originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ESRBGrand-Theft-AutoGrand-Theft-Auto-IVGTA-IVNielsenPCPS3RockstarSatireXbox-360Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Study: in-game advertiser says 82% of you don't mind in-game ads]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/study-in-game-advertiser-says-82-of-you-dont-mind-in-game-ads/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/study-in-game-advertiser-says-82-of-you-dont-mind-in-game-ads/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/study-in-game-advertiser-says-82-of-you-dont-mind-in-game-ads/#commentsFiled under:


The life of a Joystiq editor is frought with difficult - and often perilous - decisions. Take this example: do we choose to run a story about in-game advertising statistics (we imagine a large majority of you are already rolling your eyes, scrolling down to see if there's something a little stronger waiting for you below) or do we simply run a post about another tattoo of [insert popular video game character here]? In this case, we've chosen to share the statistics with you, and we want you to know why.

In-game advertiser IGA Worldwide contracted the survey-mavens at Nielsen to conduct the "Consumers' Experience with In-Game Content & Brand Impact of In-Game Advertising Study." The results of said study may shock you, but here goes: according to IGA's study, a whopping 82% of gamers "felt games were just as enjoyable with ads as without" and a no less impressive 61% "increase consumers' favorable opinions of products advertised in-game post-play." What's this all mean? Why, that in-game advertising works, despite some marketers fears to the contrary.

Regardless of the wall of statistics contained in the press release (really, go check it out), we all know the key to successful in-game advertising comes from using a gentle-touch. MLG ads littered throughout the $60 Rainbow Six Vegas 2? No thanks, really. Some pre-roll ads before your free game of Quake Live, brought to you by none other than IGA? That we can live with.

JoystiqStudy: in-game advertiser says 82% of you don't mind in-game ads originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingIGANielsenWed, 18 Jun 2008 02:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: Wii usage is second to Xbox 360]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/nielsen-wii-usage-is-second-to-other-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/nielsen-wii-usage-is-second-to-other-consoles/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/nielsen-wii-usage-is-second-to-other-consoles/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


A study by Nielsen Games found that the Wii's usage comes in second compared to other consoles the Xbox 360. Among 10-26 year olds, the Xbox 360 reigned supreme, while for those above 27, the PS3 Xbox 360 also held a steady lead. Interestingly, the Wii owned the middle ground in usage for both demographics, with the Xbox 360 and PS3 switching places.

The Nielsen study, conducted between April 2007 and February 2008, lumps all that data into one pool, so it's not hard to see where some issues might lie. It would certainly be interesting to see monthly breakdowns and observe if the Wii and PS3 received noticeable usage increases once high-profile games started showing up during Holiday '07. We also wonder what effect usage of console Blu-ray or DVD functionality had on the data. But what we're actually most curious about, is where the PS2 would be had it been incorporated into the data?

Update: Nielsen amended its 27+ data, apparently the Xbox 360 and PS3 info was accidentally reversed for the demographic; fixed image to match.

Source: How much use does Wii get?
Source: Correction

[Via GameDaily, Thanks Master X]

JoystiqNielsen: Wii usage is second to Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nielsennielsen-gamesPS3researchstudyWiiXbox-360Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: PS3 unpopular with kids, and adults [Update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/nielsen-ps3-unpopular-with-kids-but-1-with-adults/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/nielsen-ps3-unpopular-with-kids-but-1-with-adults/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/nielsen-ps3-unpopular-with-kids-but-1-with-adults/#commentsFiled under:

Update: Nielsen Games corrected their figures. The usage for PS3/360 was switched for the "above 26" crowd.

Nielsen Games recently conducted a study to see how two different age groups used their home consoles. Surveyed people were split into two groups: those 10-26 years old and those above 26. The younger group (10-26) resonated most with Microsoft's Xbox 360, with the console being played 63% of the time. PS3, in comparison, was only played 12%.

The older crowd, those above the age of 26, was Sony's strongest demographic. Instead of being the least used console, it becomes the most. PS3 is used 52% of the time, while Xbox 360 is used only 20%. Amongst the older crowd, PS3 is still the least used console, with only 20% of those surveyed using the system. The Xbox 360, in comparison, has 52%.

In light of these updated figures, it looks like Sony may have something to worry about. The older crowd may play PS3 more than the younger crowd, but it looks like Sony has a real fight on their hands for the rest of this generation.

[Via GameDaily]

JoystiqNielsen: PS3 unpopular with kids, and adults [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demographicsnielsensurveyThu, 05 Jun 2008 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Across the land, Wiis are being neglected]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/across-the-land-wiis-are-being-neglected/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/across-the-land-wiis-are-being-neglected/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/across-the-land-wiis-are-being-neglected/#commentsFiled under:



Consumer research bods Nielsen recently set out to answer mind-poppingly important questions such as: just how long did an average play session on the Wii last for somebody in North America between the ages of 10 and 26? The results suggest that we should all be paying a little more attention to our poor, neglected Wiis.

While Nintendo's platform enjoys a decent share of gamers' overall gaming time, the rest of Nielsen's statistics paint a damning picture. The Wii lags behind the Xbox 360 and PS3 in both the "average number of sessions a day" and "average usage days per month" (disgraceful commitment there from the over-26 demographic) sections.

The average Wii session also doesn't last as long as those on its two rivals, though no wonder with all of those required installations and ridiculously protracted cut-scenes, amirite? What's that? We're just being sore losers? Fine. Whatever.

JoystiqAcross the land, Wiis are being neglected originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chartdatanielsennielsen-gamesps3researchusagexbox-360Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: GameStop TV increases sales in stores]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/nielson-gamestop-tv-increases-sales-in-stores/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/nielson-gamestop-tv-increases-sales-in-stores/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/03/nielson-gamestop-tv-increases-sales-in-stores/#commentsFiled under:


GameStop TV, a two-hour video in stores which cycles in an endless loop and is changed every month, is helping boost sales. AdWeek details a study by Nielsen Media Research showing that titles advertised on GameStop TV saw a 19 - 36% boost in sales. Unadvertised products that were merely mentioned saw a 20% increase in sales. The data also showed that (unbelievably) the TV program kept people in the store approximately 50% longer, which translates into numerous opportunities to ask about pre-orders in GameStop time.

GameStop TV launched in September and beyond its game advertisement also has paid non-gaming advertisers like the US Navy and anti-drug ads. There are also ads by companies like DirectTV which disguise themselves as content. If there is no GameStop TV at your local shop, statistics like this pretty much guarantee it's incoming.

JoystiqNielsen: GameStop TV increases sales in stores originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamestopgamestop-tvnielsennielsonMon, 03 Mar 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen stats: PlayStation 2 most played system in June]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/nielsen-stats-playstation-2-most-played-system-in-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/nielsen-stats-playstation-2-most-played-system-in-june/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/nielsen-stats-playstation-2-most-played-system-in-june/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Warning: Nearly 90% of this post is comprised of statistical data.

According to a recently released Nielsen GamePlay Metrics report, the PlayStation 2 was the most played system in June, accounting for 42.3% of total video game console usage for the month. Once the shock of learning that dissipates, consider that in second place with 21.3% usage is the mysterious "other," which the report denotes as "any other console systems found in the home" excluding current and previous generation systems. The Xbox 360 took up 8% of the time, double that of the Wii and 7.5% higher than the PlayStation 3.

The PS3 did, however, record the longest individual usage sessions (internet says: "Cos they're watching Hitch on Blu-ray lolz!"), an average one lasting 83 minutes. The Xbox 360 experienced the highest number of sessions per day (internet says: "It's all those system reboots amirite?"), each with an average duration of 61 minutes. An average session logged with the Wii is reported to be 57 minutes long (internet says: "Minigames oh noes!").

This Nielsen GamePlay Metrics sample includes approximately 33,000 individuals comprising over 12,000 households. The data is said to be collected through a combination of the Nielsen People Meter TV sample and a "proprietary audio signature library" that matches unique audio signatures of each tracked game on the relevant console platforms. Interestingly, the report also observes that "Wii households are upscale. They are more likely to earn more than $100,000 income per year." What say you to that, oh insightful internet?

JoystiqNielsen stats: PlayStation 2 most played system in June originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>NielsenPS2PS3StatisticsWiiXbox-360Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 owners spend more time with the console than any other]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/ps3-owners-spend-more-time-with-the-console-than-any-other/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/ps3-owners-spend-more-time-with-the-console-than-any-other/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/26/ps3-owners-spend-more-time-with-the-console-than-any-other/#commentsNielsen just released their monthly GamePlay Metrics report, and it showed that PS3 owners use their consoles much longer than any other systems. The average session with a PS3 was 83 minutes in the month of June. In comparison, the average Xbox 360 session lasted 61 minutes, and the average Wii session lasted only 57 minutes. Could super-long Super Stardust HD play sessions be responsible for PS3's unusually long play time?

How did Nielsen get these numbers? According to their press release, "Nielsen GamePlay Metrics uses console data collected from the Nielsen's People Meter TV sample combined with Nielsen GamePlay Metrics' proprietary audio signature library that matches the unique audio signature of every game tracked on the six most widely available video game consoles, including PlayStation 2, PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Wii and GameCube. The GamePlay Metrics user sample includes more than 12,000 households with approximately 33,000 individuals."

Although PS3 owners reported played the longest average sessions, they still account for only 1.5% of the total gameplay minutes played last month. The PS2 is still the most played console, accounting for more than 42% of total gameplay time.

JoystiqPS3 owners spend more time with the console than any other originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gameplaymetricsnielsenThu, 26 Jul 2007 11:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen tracking in-game ads for Sony]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/nielson-tracking-in-game-ads-for-sony/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/nielson-tracking-in-game-ads-for-sony/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/nielson-tracking-in-game-ads-for-sony/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sony Computer Entertainment America and The Nielsen Company want to track your stats. Specifically, the two companies have teamed up to "develop a measurement system for game network advertising that will help make game software a more competitive advertising platform," according to the press release.

SCEA will "share with Nielsen game network traffic and other data" from PS3 titles, PlayStation Network and the upcoming social MMO Home, at first only in North America -- details beyond that are sketchy, but Nielson calls the effort "fully-transparent" in the press release. The results will be used "to deliver the right ad to the right person at the right time" and to help advertisers figure out a CPM, or cost per impression, for in-game ads.

The initial results of the partnership are expected later this year. Expect more in-game ads you're less inclined to ignore and possibly the strange feeling that Big Brother is critiquing your gamer skills.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

JoystiqNielsen tracking in-game ads for Sony originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>igain game adsin game advertisingInGameAdsInGameAdvertisingnielsennielsonplaystation networkPlaystationNetworkps networkPS3psnPsNetworksceasonySony-Computer-Entertainment-AmericaMon, 02 Jul 2007 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[SCEA partners with Nielsen to track in-game advertising]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/scea-partners-with-nielsen-to-track-in-game-advertising/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/scea-partners-with-nielsen-to-track-in-game-advertising/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/02/scea-partners-with-nielsen-to-track-in-game-advertising/#comments
Sony has revealed a new partnership with The Nielsen Company, who specialise in market research, in order to better track the success of in-game advertising. Initially being tested in North America exclusively, the partnership will allow Sony to monitor the reach, frequency and effectiveness of in-game advertising. Sony will share usage statistics from the PlayStation Network with The Nielsen Company, including which games people are playing most and what content they are accessing within Home, in order to better focus advertising efforts into the right people and areas.

Advertisers will be able to look at the collated data and decide for themselves where they would like to place their adverts. They will also be able to see exactly how those ads are performing. What this means to you is: not a lot. If anything, you'll end up seeing more ads that you care about, rather than ignore. We imagine this will become most prominent with the launch of Home, as it provides a much larger scope for advertising than the PSN does currently. Overall though, if in-game advertising is something we have to put up with, then we'd rather it be for a product we want to buy. This partnership should increase the chances of that happening.

JoystiqSCEA partners with Nielsen to track in-game advertising originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertsin game advertisingInGameAdvertisingnielsenthe nielsen companyTheNielsenCompanyMon, 02 Jul 2007 11:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo website has been crushing the competition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/nintendo-website-has-been-crushing-the-competition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/nintendo-website-has-been-crushing-the-competition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/nintendo-website-has-been-crushing-the-competition/#commentsFiled under:


According to the latest numbers, Nintendo.com saw a rise of 91% in its unique visitors over the last year, which when compared to the numbers of its competitor's sites, shows that the online consensus is that the Wii rocks. Sony's Playstation.com website saw a decline in these visitors by 8%, while Microsoft's Xbox.com saw an increase of 47%, which is impressive, however dwarfed by Nintendo's huge increase in traffic. The numbers come courtesy of Nielsen-NetRatings.

JoystiqNintendo website has been crushing the competition originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>internetnetratingsnielsennintendonintendowiionlineplaystationwiixboxWed, 14 Mar 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo.com grows 91% as Playstation.com shrinks 8%]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/nintendo-com-grows-91-as-playstation-com-shrinks-8/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/nintendo-com-grows-91-as-playstation-com-shrinks-8/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/13/nintendo-com-grows-91-as-playstation-com-shrinks-8/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Wii's recent popularity (likely amplified by the online folk) helped increase Nintendo.com's unique visitors by 91% over last year, this in stark contrast to Playstation.com's 8% decrease of total unique visitors according to a Nielsen/NetRatings report released today. Xbox.com saw a 47% traffic increase over last year.

Site Feb '06Feb '07 YOY Growth
Nintendo.com 856 1,631 91%
Xbox.com 827 1,218 47%
PlayStation.com 1,105 1,016 -8%

That's a good metric showing how both Nintendo's and Microsoft's online audiences have grown as PlayStation enthusiasm (at least to its proper website) has dwindled. Web junkies click onward for the full skinny on all that traffic jazz.
[Image: zerosign.net]

JoystiqNintendo.com grows 91% as Playstation.com shrinks 8% originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>NetRankingsNielsenNintendoPlayStationPS3rankingswebsitesWiiXboxXbox-360Tue, 13 Mar 2007 18:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Nielsen: One-third of TV owners play game consoles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/05/nielsen-game-consoles-in-41-percent-of-tv-homes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/05/nielsen-game-consoles-in-41-percent-of-tv-homes/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/05/nielsen-game-consoles-in-41-percent-of-tv-homes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Nielsen Media Research, best know for its TV ratings, has released an outline the American video game landscape in the form of "The State of the Console" report. Among the more interesting findings:

  • 45.7 million U.S. households have at least one game system, out of 111.4 million that have TVs (41.1%). This number has risen from 38.6 million (35.2%) in late 2004.
  • 148.4 million Americans have access to a console in their home, out of 283.5 million that have access to TVs (52.4%). Of those, 93.8 million Americans (33.3% of the TV population) actually used a console in the 4th quarter of 2006.
  • The top 20% of gamers are responsible for 75% of the console time, averaging 5 hours and 45 minutes of use per day.

Those last two factoids are pretty interesting, as they show console games are still appealing primarily to a very small niche of the potential market, and that a small slice of that niche is responsible for most of the actual playing time. If game makers can somehow attract these uninterested console owners, they'll have tapped into a much larger market than they might be used to.

Read - Summary
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JoystiqNielsen: One-third of TV owners play game consoles originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"The value of an entertainment medium is directly proportional to how well it is measured." This is the proposition Nielsen VP Jeff Herrmann put forth for the creation of GamePlay Metrics, a service that will measure just how many eyeballs are glued to the day's hottest games. Such data is of course highly coveted by in-game advertisers, who want to know exactly how many people are being subliminally attracted to delicious Subway sandwiches.

This isn't Nielsen's first foray into the game space. For the past three years, the firm's annual Active Gamer Benchmark has surveyed gamers online to find trends in their behavior. The latest such report found that females and social gamers are becoming a more important part of gaming, echoing the findings of other studies

In addition to measuring gameplay habits, the GamePlay Metrics data will be cross-referenced with Nielsen's data on TV and internet usage, showing what gamers do with the rest of their free time. In news from the future, Nielsen announced next month a program that will place a tiny surveillance chip in all babies shortly after birth, measuring everything they see and do for the remainder of their lives.

JoystiqNielsen adds games to ratings matrix originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Oct 2006 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisinggame ratingsGameRatingsin-game adsin-game advertisingIn-gameAdsIn-gameAdvertisingnielsenratingsWed, 18 Oct 2006 11:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Online gaming to become MySpace?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/09/online-gaming-to-become-myspace/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/09/online-gaming-to-become-myspace/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/09/online-gaming-to-become-myspace/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Nielsen Media Research released their newest Active Gamer Study a few days ago, and according to the new stats more than 56% of the 117 million gamers in the U.S. spend at least five hours a week gaming socially in places like Xbox Live, World of Warcraft, and on WiFi platforms such as the PlayStation Portable and the Nintendo DS.

Social gaming reaches more gamers every year with the addition of new hardware and games that allow people to compete or cooperate online. Last week's episode of The Office featured Jim and his coworkers playing Call of Duty, and South Park showed us the evils of WoW, which only attests to the growing popularity of both. If you've ever doubted the popularity of social gaming, you need to read about how our very own Christopher Grant got some ass within moments of hooking up his Xbox Vision Camera.

Social networking in the U.S. is currently dominated by MySpace, where more than half of its 90 million U.S. users are over the age of 35. As social gaming and networking continue to grow, their areas of influence are bound to overlap. Companies would love to sink their teeth into a demographic that uses their product for more then five hours a week, and users want an online experience that puts them in touch with with old and new friends, while pimping themselves out. Don't be surprised when your gamertag turns into your MySpace page, complete with sparkling stars, unicorns, and a Ben Kweller song that starts playing at full volume immediately upon loading.

You only have a few months until My SecondLifeSpace of Warcraft Live is released worldwide by Rupert Murdoch, don't tell us you weren't warned.

JoystiqOnline gaming to become MySpace? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Oct 2006 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Call of DutyDSMySpaceNielsenPSPsocial networkingThe OfficeWorld of WarcraftWorldOfWarcraftWoWXbox LiveXbox-360Mon, 09 Oct 2006 14:45:00 EST