PCs played more often that Consoles

[Luk3us 63]

PCs are used for gaming more than any console and PlayStation 3 owners are more likely to have multiple consoles, according to the results of the Games Segmentation 2008 report from sales tracking and research firm The NPD Group.

 

In addition to stating that PlayStation 3 owners are most likely to have other "next-generation" consoles than Wii and Xbox 360 owners, NPD claimed that only 10% of PS2 owners have a PS3. In the realm of portables, 45% of PSP owners have a Nintendo DS, but only 21% of DS owners have a PSP.

 

Despite the broad declarations, NPD did not provide specific figures for console and PC playtime. Likewise, an exact breakdown showing the ownership patterns of those that have multiple "next-generation" consoles was absent from the release.

 

Using information gathered back in January and February, the report separated the North American game-playing populace into the following seven categories, totaling 174 million gamers:

 

* Young Heavy Gamers: 22%

* Seconday Gamers: 20%

* Console Games: 17%

* Offline PC Gamers: 15%

* Online PC Gamers: 14%

* Avid PC Gamers: 9%

* Extreme Gamers: 3%

 

The segments are categorized by usage, ownership and frequency numbers, though the specifics definitions were not provided.

 

Though PCs were "used more than any single console for gaming," NPD stressed that "Console Gamers, Young Heavy Gamers and Extreme Gamers are more likely to use consoles than a PC to play video games."

 

As for sales, NPD reports that 14% of games purchased between November 2007 and January 2008 were digital downloads. Extreme Gamers bought nearly 24 titles across the three month period, with NPD claiming that figure is "over seven times more than the second leading purchasing segment.""Although Extreme Gamers are heavily involved with the industry, they represent a small portion of the potential market for any new game that comes to market," commented analyst Anita Frazier. "In order to promote continued growth, we must better understand all of the gaming segments."

 

Details on the methodology of the report are as follows:

 

The data was collected from more than 20,000 members of NPD's online consumer panel, ages two to 65+. Responses for consumers ages six to 12 were captured by instructing a parent to take his or her child in this age range to the computer to answer the questions, either with or without the parent's assistance. Qualified respondents reported they personally play video games on a PC, on a console or portable system, or on another device such as a mobile phone. The following four key variables were used to create the gamer segments: ownership; usage; frequency; and purchased/received video games. Final survey data was weighted to represent the U.S. population of individuals ages 2 and older. Fieldwork was conducted from January 11-February 5, 2008.

 

Note: This study was conducted in January, meaning that questions that refer to consumer behavior in the past three months include the Christmas/Hanukkah holidays.

 

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/54128

 

This is because PC > Consoles.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

wtf is an "extreme" gamer?

[Luk3us 63]

You know that, boom heatshot guy? He is an extreme gamer. hahaha.

[J-Fire_Man 0]

bah, consoles graphics SUCKS!!!! With PC means you can mods and configure your own graphic settings. Besides, action games is MUCH better played in pc. Two thumbs down for ps3 and all of its predececors.

[mormreed 0]

mouse and keyboard will prevail for all time, controllers will only last so long

[Doctor Destiny 41]

Actually, I disagree. Consoles are better than PCs for gaming. I spent more of my years gaming on consoles way before the PC. Nothing beats the raw epic of playing "A Link to the Past" on the Super NES.

[Saracen 16]

I was a Genesis fan.. 2D side scrolling Sonic the Hedgehog FTW!

 

But then again, I did enjoy a lot of the SNES titles.... kinda says something when I've owned every Nintendo console ever to be released (Virtual Boy Not included)... and I still own my SNES. Mario always has and still rocks in comparison to that blue 3D looking abomination they call a hedgehog these days.

 

The fact is though, going back to the topic, if these PC statistics were true, then why the hell does a typical UK retailer (ie Gamestation) dedicate no more than about 2 meters shelf space on only 4 shelves to PC games? If you were to walk into a local retailer of mine (Gamestation) the following shelf space is dedicated to each format.

 

In this shop each shelf space is occupied by 4 shelves, apart from the 360 & Wii Sections that get 5 shelves against the main walls of the shop. List is approximate length of space. Bare in mind that half of the space is occupied by brand new titles, while the other half is dedicated to pre-owned titles

1. X-Box 360 - 20 meters
2. PS2 - 18 meters
3. PS3 - 16 meters
4. Wii - 14 meters
5. PSP - 6 meters
6. DS - 4 meters
7. PC - 2 meters

So therefore if the PC is the major gaming format, then why doesn't it get the 20 meter space occupied by the 360?

[TheBlackOut 7]

So therefore if the PC is the major gaming format, then why doesn't it get the 20 meter space occupied by the 360?

Because PC's have embraced digital distribution systems like steam.

 

And I don't know how it is for other PC gamers, but I order all the games I really want a head of time on say GameStop and get the first day it's released. Avoid the lines, avoid the hassle.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

I buy games I really want and "acquire" the others.

[mormreed 0]

I buy games I really want and "acquire" the others.

That my be the reason you are looking for saracen XD

[Luk3us 63]

Sure most gaming shops don't offer much in the way of PC games. But then most people would buy online I believe. Its much easier. This is because, PC gamers are smarter than noob console gamers. Who have to go instore and get ripped off.

[Chronojam 3]

It's probably true. If you own your own computer you likely have more money than somebody who just happened to get a console for Christmas or something, and are more wary about spending it just because of a flashy in-store display. I think the idea of console gamers as more prone to influence goes further, though. Just look at what most gaming magazines have degenerated into; most PC users completely ignore them unless they're looking for a particular review of an upcoming PC game or a specific strategy guide. When you have a computer, you go online to find reviews from other players and get combined ratings assemblies, like the whole "metascore" thing.

 

Then if you like what you see, you can download a demo or view tons of screenshots from the very system you'll be playing on (by the way, this is one thing I like about the Wii in particular; you can go find and sort games by ages, ratings, the kind of game, and then view videos all from the console. It's very handy.) Then, you can place a reservation for a new title or buy and ship a title from a retailer online or download it using something like STEAM or EA Link or D2D. And often you get a great damn deal.

 

I'm not neccessarily saying all console gamers are stupid here, but they likely are a very different kind of gamer than your typical PC enthusiast.

Edited August 16, 2008 by Chronojam

[Doctor Destiny 41]

Sure most gaming shops don't offer much in the way of PC games. But then most people would buy online I believe. Its much easier. This is because, PC gamers are smarter than noob console gamers. Who have to go instore and get ripped off.

I swear... you can be quite the moron when you want. >_>

[Luk3us 63]

PC > Consoles forever tbh.

[TheBlackOut 7]

It's probably true. If you own your own computer you likely have more money than somebody who just happened to get a console for Christmas or something, and are more wary about spending it just because of a flashy in-store display. I think the idea of console gamers as more prone to influence goes further, though. Just look at what most gaming magazines have degenerated into; most PC users completely ignore them unless they're looking for a particular review of an upcoming PC game or a specific strategy guide. When you have a computer, you go online to find reviews from other players and get combined ratings assemblies, like the whole "metascore" thing.

 

Then if you like what you see, you can download a demo or view tons of screenshots from the very system you'll be playing on (by the way, this is one thing I like about the Wii in particular; you can go find and sort games by ages, ratings, the kind of game, and then view videos all from the console. It's very handy.) Then, you can place a reservation for a new title or buy and ship a title from a retailer online or download it using something like STEAM or EA Link or D2D. And often you get a great damn deal.

 

I'm not neccessarily saying all console gamers are stupid here, but they likely are a very different kind of gamer than your typical PC enthusiast.

Hit it on the hit, too.

[Mina Synd 0]

consoles pretty much have limited quality... you're stuck with it whatever y'know. but on a pc you can switch it to low if you're lagging, or turn it to high quality if you have a compy that can handle it... it's all about the customization... not to mention you have a whole keyboard of keys to use, and also it's pretty hard to beat a mouse for looking around and aiming. am i the only one that noticed the "PSP owners that have a NDS, NDS owners that have a PSP" thing... surely that would be the same amount of people if they both own the same portable o.O unless they're talking about people who would contemplate getting the other... anyway...

i noticed console gamers are usually quite easy to please... though with the next gen consoles out now, they're becoming more choosey now we have more options... like the online buying with the wii and such. i think pc gamers like it so much because of the freedom and options... you have a whole keyboard to use, you can custom every key instead of having half a dozen buttons and having to learn combinations for everything, not to mention the easily usable realm of communication you have. mics, keyboards and so on. sure, you -can- get miniture keyboards for consoles but they are small, awkward and not able to use them ingame all the time... and not everyone likes using mics, when they have them o.o;

 

also extreme gamers are usually the professional ones, the types who obsessively play games like halo to the point they get hired by sponsors and put into competitions... i know a guy who's a pro gamer. shame he's a total douche. hopefully not all extreme gamers are like that o.O

[Chronojam 3]

Basically what it means is that you're more likely to only have a DS, but if you have a PSP you're more likely to also get a DS. If you graphed it out as two overlaying circles, the portion shared out of the larger DS or PSP circle is where they get that figure. More people who have a DS only have a DS, and more people who have a PSP also have a DS; there are fewer "PSP only" users. You can take that to hint that more people feel the need to have both, and more people feel the need to have just a DS.

[Mina Synd 0]

ah okies thankies for explaining that o-o i think... xD;

[mormreed 0]

I like consoles and all but I have to buy games for them, which means I don't have money to spend on other awesome stuff, I don't pirate games I just play free ones like APB and Reborn and F2P MMORPGs it keeps my wallet fuller and I like that, plus I have only finished one game ever, and that was the original Jak and Daxter (and I had to switch off with a friend to do it, 1 dies or mission ends other gets controller) I just don't have the attention span and to me that feels like wasted money.

[Mina Synd 0]

i used to collect games... but then games used to be real good and original... nowadays we're running on old concepts and sequels... a lot of the games just aren't worth playing nowadays :\ so i wait for half decent games to come out >.> i was overjoyed when dawn of war came out o.o i'd been waiting for a good warhammer game to come out for years... the older games were fun but a lil slow paced. DoW was everything i hoped it would be... i don't much care for the idea of hundreds of expansions, but it does allow you to collect all the armies. and DoW2 is gonna be even better cos it has the tyranids