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Study: US game-console ownership rising rapidly

  • By Caroline McCarthy, News.com
  • Posted Mar 5, 2007 2:33 pm PT

US gaming households increase almost 20 percent since 2004 to 45.7 million, says Nielsen Wireless and Interactive Services.

From News.com

Media research company Nielsen released a study Monday showing that the number of US households supplementing their televisions with video game consoles has risen more than 18 percent since 2004.

The study, detailed in a report called "The State of the Console," was conducted from the fourth quarter of 2004 through the fourth quarter of 2006 by the company's Nielsen Wireless and Interactive Services division. Nielsen found that the number of US households with televisions that also have video game consoles has risen from 38.6 million to 45.7 million homes over those two years. That's an 18.5 percent expansion, and Nielsen highlighted the fact that the total number of US households with televisions has risen only 1.6 percent over the same span of time.

This report was the first in a projected series of studies about trends in the video game industry, according to Nielsen. Additionally, the company announced last year the debut of its GamePlay Metrics ratings, which will offer console use statistics intended to identify which games are played most frequently and the demographic groups that play them. With this data, Nielsen is hoping to target the burgeoning in-game advertising industry.

Most of the study's findings are not particularly surprising. Nielsen found, for example, that two-thirds of all men in television-owning households between the ages of 18 and 34, and 80 percent of those between 12 and 17--prime gamer demographics--have video game consoles in their homes. Additionally, while 93.8 million Americans (a third of the country) report to having played at least one in-home console video game for at least a minute at some point during the study period, it's still the hardcore gamers who are dominant. Almost three-quarters (74.4 percent) of console use came from the top 20 percent of American gamers.

Perhaps the most interesting of Nielsen's findings concerned "connected console" habits. About 4.4 million US households reportedly subscribe to services that link their game consoles to the Internet, and Nielsen noted that this statistic was produced before the market penetration of the PlayStation 3 and Wii, both of which have features that require the Internet.

But the "State of the Console" report may not be truly indicative of recreational gaming habits in the US. Nielsen spokeswoman Karen Gyamesi confirmed to CNET News.com that the study accounts only for game consoles that hook up to televisions, like Sony's PlayStation line and Microsoft's Xbox 360. PC-based video games and online role-playing games such as World of Warcraft are not included, nor are handheld gaming devices such as the Nintendo DS.

83 Comments

  • kingyoto

    Posted Mar 11, 2007 4:59 pm GMT

    Why would they include DS

  • Eljoe0

    Posted Mar 9, 2007 2:37 am GMT

    why didn't they include DS??

  • chevydriver1123

    Posted Mar 8, 2007 7:55 am GMT

    The gaming empire continues to grow

  • theKSMM

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 11:18 pm GMT

    I suspect that the Wii and DS will help to accelerate the trend by reaching out to non-gamers in the mainstream. If Nielsen ever develops accurate metrics for gaming habits (not just TV-based consoles) I think the trend over the next few years could be surprising.

  • brosim1104

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 12:02 pm GMT

    Is this a thanks to companies and the good work they do or thanks to all the people that don't know anything about video games and just buy everything new?

  • sieg6529

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 10:00 am GMT

    Can you imagine it? We (or must of us) will live to see a day when gaming is considered the norm.

  • jonnyjd

    Posted Mar 7, 2007 7:07 am GMT

    This isn't surprising.

  • vanhalendlrband

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 2:49 pm GMT

    Man its sure come a long way since i was a kid playing R.B.I. Baseball and Pro Wrestling.

  • Dante565

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 12:59 pm GMT

    Thats some good news right there.

  • LSLarry64

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 11:25 am GMT

    Imagine if Nintendo DS was included...... 8-O

  • Get_Shorty

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 10:30 am GMT

    Thanks to Nintendo's Wii

  • ufopuller

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 9:19 am GMT

    Great!

  • soldier1993

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 8:13 am GMT

    AND.......

  • Oblivion_Awaits

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 7:03 am GMT

    Guess it's not considered a geek niche anymore. Woo-hoo!!!

  • rulo_rezn0r

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 6:23 am GMT

    A videogame players world
    sounds good to me

  • LosDaddie

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 6:05 am GMT

    great news!

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 5:33 am GMT

    they didn't interview me.... i haven't had a console since N64....

  • Ackad

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 5:16 am GMT

    I hope people can save money to increase PS3's population. Besides 360 has alot of problems.

  • Gooper_Blooper

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 4:00 am GMT

    Next time they do this study they should include the handhelds. I bet lots of homes that can't afford expensive consoles (or even a 250-dollar Wii) or the 50- to 60-dollar games will instead spring for the cheaper DS and its 30-buck games instead. Handheld gamers are gamers too, ya know.

  • mammyboy

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 3:51 am GMT

    Keep on rockin in the game world

  • zsc4

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 3:14 am GMT

    The nation around gaming is getting bigger, but look how many of those new comers are potential hardcore gamers.

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Mar 6, 2007 1:41 am GMT

    Good! Now a global study will be cooler...

  • Outlawlaw

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 10:55 pm GMT

    Gamespot needs to make a 'blurbs' section.

    This isn't really news is it? It's more a little tidbit of information that's of interest to the gamer, but has nothing to do with gaming.

  • Vodoo

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 9:57 pm GMT

    We should unite and take over the world. JUDGEMENT DAY IS COMING!!!

  • canadiania

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 9:43 pm GMT

    doesn't surprise me

  • Endrance

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 9:20 pm GMT

    The gaming nation is growing!

  • treelog187

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 8:51 pm GMT

    Now if we could just get over this hill of fanboyism gaming will have a bright future. jk

  • punkhead66

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 8:34 pm GMT

    this is excellent news

  • stephbm6

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 7:38 pm GMT

    Finally something that EVERYONE HERE agree's with we are a force to reckoned with!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • hulkmad67

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 7:29 pm GMT

    great for gamers.. more great games, consoles getting better and better... technology is pushing forward...

  • Lightchaos-20693173927190915074555969291770

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 7:19 pm GMT

    good news

  • mura89

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 6:24 pm GMT

    more to frag!! haha

  • EJH-SEGA

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 6:03 pm GMT

    GAMERS UNITE!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 5:40 pm GMT

    That's good

  • motang

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 5:31 pm GMT

    That is pretty cool...more people means more games...at least that is what I think.

  • jeebs213

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 5:25 pm GMT

    seriously TV is dooomed

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 5:20 pm GMT

    DS has no populace in that, WoW that's another story

  • blueflamedino

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 5:19 pm GMT

    hmm... maybe our generation would be known for gaming like the last generation was known for rock and roll and hippie stuff

  • johnrkinsey1

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 4:56 pm GMT

    And members of congress still think video games are bad for you (Why can't we just watch television and let it tell us what to do).

  • OfficialBed

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 4:55 pm GMT

    360 ftw!

  • Areola54

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 4:50 pm GMT

    wait till our generation grows up. All those that ignored us with TV entertainment will beg to get us back.

    keep making entertainment for other demographics. you will be out of business very soon.

  • cliff122316

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 4:48 pm GMT

    video games are the future. they are so much more interactive than tv. once they are more mainstream friendly (this is already beginning to happen) we will all use video games as much if not more than television.

  • matrixman2k

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 4:47 pm GMT

    interesting.

  • mwa

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 4:46 pm GMT

    XBL is GOD

  • themyth01

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 4:41 pm GMT

    The US is the most important market in the videogame business.

  • Sushisogood

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 4:37 pm GMT

    Awesome.

  • Mindphaser

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 4:34 pm GMT

    Games are my God.

  • firestorm91

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 4:31 pm GMT

    I think that at the end of March, this will change.

  • skater_robert

    Posted Mar 5, 2007 4:31 pm GMT

    cool, viva le games

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