The Microsoft Xbox 360 is the most used gaming system available today, with owners spending the most time gaming, watching movies, and otherwise interacting with the console. There is a shift from gaming only with console makers now paying attention to video streaming and new features that will attract new customers.
The Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3 are locked in a continued gaming and streaming war, with Nintendo still selling its lower-cost, popular Wii console while avoiding the head-to-head battle.
Male gamers 13 years or older spent an average of 6.1 hours per week using the Xbox 360, which is better than the 5.2 hours and 1.7 hours collected by the PS3 and Wii. For female gamers, the Xbox 360 still led the way with 2.6 hours compared to the PS3's 2.1 hours and Wii's disappointing 1.1 hours per week.
Despite the lower usage hours, the Wii still saw a strong Black Friday and November, while its control of the console market shrunk.
In addition to the gameplay hours, it's also worth noting that the Wii also trails the Xbox 360 and PS3 game consoles in streaming content. Nintendo needs to work with content providers to find new methods to bring content into the living room in 2011.
Xbox 360 owners used their game consoles in the following manner: 62 percent of the time involves gaming, 16 percent watches streaming and downloaded content, with 11 percent watching DVD movies.
Nielsen plans to release additional collected research in January about game console use.
Research compiled by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) discovered the Wii is the most energy-efficient game console, with the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 trailing in second and third place. After one hour of game play, the Wii averaged 13.7 watts power used, while the PS3 used 84.8 watts and the Xbox 360 used 87.9 watts.
However, some game developers think it's time for Nintendo to consider cutting the Wii's price tag, even though the Japanese company doesn't plan to. Nintendo also said consumers shouldn't expect a Wii 2 anytime soon, with the orginal Wii console expected to carry over into 2011.
