Post by: LassePalle on February 28, 2005, 01:26:32 AM
ALMOST 2 HOURS PER DAY SPENT GAMING ACCORDING TO MARKET RESEARCH FIRM
(Somerset, NJ, February 28, 2005) – Results from Phoenix Marketing International's continuous tracking of gamers indicate that almost two hours per day are devoted to electronic gaming in U.S. households. Whether playing via a PC, console or handheld device, a substantial portion of free time is spent gaming. Individuals participating in this market research survey personally spend approximately five hours per week gaming, while all other members in the household spend about eight hours per week.
Results of this market research study also indicate that households with Nintendo GameCubes spend significantly more time playing video games than households with other systems, such as the Sony PS2 or Microsoft Xbox. "With recent news from industry analysts predicting so-so sales this year, the findings from this research are excellent news," stated David Pluchino, Senior Research Manager. "This indicates that consumers are not done with gaming, they may just be bored with what is currently available," added Pluchino.
To help determine what the future holds, Phoenix Marketing International (PMI) is in the process of launching a multi-client syndicated research project. This new syndication, Electronic Gaming SCORESTM, will examine the wants and needs of today's demanding gamer to help game developers, publishers, manufacturers and retail establishments in this ever growing market. For information, please contact David Pluchino at (732) 563-8504.
PMI is one of the premier marketing services firms serving the technology, travel & leisure, financial services and consumer packaged goods sectors. Through a combination of custom market research products and services, syndicated research products such as the Electronic Gaming SCORESTM, Consumer Buying Intentions Survey and sales optimization modeling, PhoenixMI partners with clients to generate sound business and marketing opportunities and produce measurable sales results and a return-on-investment on marketing development expenses.
The results in this article are based on a market research study conducted by Phoenix Marketing International of more than 50,000 completed interviews in households with an electronic gaming system. This robust sample yields a 95% confidence interval with an error margin of +/- 0.4%.
Post by: Bill Aurion on February 28, 2005, 01:57:43 AM
Post by: vudu on February 28, 2005, 02:11:40 AM
First off, it doesn't say whether that time is spent playing GameCube or not. It just says owners of the system spend more time than non-owners. Is this because they're playing GameCube? Or is it because the more "hardcore" you are, the more likely it is that you own multiple consoles, thereby adding GC to your arsenal?
Second, assuming that the extra time is spent playing GameCube, does this mean that you play more games because you own a cube and there are better games available? Or do you own a Cube because you're hardcore, and therefore play more games regardless?
Third, (and this one ties into the first one) I wonder how the figures compare between single-console owners and multi=console owners? Again, if you own a GameCube, PS2, and an Xbox, chances are you'll play more video games than someone who owns just one of the consoles.
This doesn't really answer a whole lot. Then again, if it did, why spend money to read the full report? Anyone want to go in on the full thing with me? I think PCG as a whole needs to buy one. I have $20 to chip in.
Post by: Bill Aurion on February 28, 2005, 02:23:12 AM
Ex. PS2 + Xbox, Xbox + GC, GC + PS2, etc...
Post by: couchmonkey on February 28, 2005, 04:03:53 AM
Quote
"With recent news from industry analysts predicting so-so sales this year, the findings from this research are excellent news," stated David Pluchino, Senior Research Manager. "This indicates that consumers are not done with gaming, they may just be bored with what is currently available," added Pluchino.
Duh. Isn't "boredom" exactly the reason why analysts are predicting so-so sales this year? It's the end of the cycle, and people are looking forward to the next-gen consoles. Which is the precise reason an analyst would have for saying sales will be so-so. Besides which, saying this is good news because some analysts are predicting bad sales is pointless, since predictions and the actual outcome aren't the same thing.
Wow that's cynical! I think I'd better stay away from the forums for the rest of the day.
Post by: Knoxxville on February 28, 2005, 04:34:07 AM
Post by: NWR_Lindy on February 28, 2005, 05:17:38 AM
What was this thread about again?
silks
Post by: Ian Sane on February 28, 2005, 06:34:05 AM
I would like to think that Cube owners play longer because we have better games to play. When you get a game you really like you play it whenever you get the chance. You think about it when you're at work. You figure out the parts you're stuck at while you're at school. The game takes up a lot of your focus until you beat it. Because of Nintendo the Cube has a good amount of games that are like this. I usually buy at least two or three games a year that I have to play constantly until I beat it or get permanently stuck. If the games aren't as good you're going to play games less. You'll buy or rent the next hot game, play it a bit and put it away and then buy another. This can also explain why games sell better on the Xbox and PS2. If the games don't satisfy you enough you're going to buy more.
Of course part of this might be just because the Cube gets less games so you have to put more effort into what you have to work with.
Post by: vudu on February 28, 2005, 07:29:44 AM
QuoteDoubtful. Third parties look at sales history when determining which systems to make games for. The amount of play time matters very little. In theory, a publisher doesn't care whether you play the game for 50 hours or 50 minutes--just so long as you buy the game (and the sequel) it's all the same to them.
So what I want to know is can we use this data to convince third parties to support the Cube?
Unfortunately, this report (or at least the five paragraph summary) doesn't get into which games are being played. Are gamers playing the same game for two hours per day, or are they playing multiple games? Are they playing games for the first time, or replaying old favorites? Are they playing single player games, or are groups of friends getting together every night for multiplayer? All these questions might be answered if you're willing to shell out two grand for the full report.
Post by: Rize on February 28, 2005, 07:48:45 AM
Questions that I'd be more interested in are how many games do we purchase? How often do we purchase them at full price verses discounted prices or used prices and why? What kind of stores do we shop at most often? What consoles do we own and how does this relate to other statistics? Why do GameCube owners appear to spend more time per day playing than PS2 and XBox owners?
Post by: Bill Aurion on February 28, 2005, 08:08:56 AM
Hasn't there been data in the past showing that there is a higher "game-to-system" ratio for the Gamecube?
Post by: vudu on February 28, 2005, 08:31:13 AM
QuoteRize, I can't say for this exact study, but generally the interviews are done in person (or at least via mail), not via the Internet. This is because it's commonly known that Internet polls do not have a high amount of integrity. If the study was done right, the participants get paid a nominal amount for their troubles. This is because is someone's getting paid to do something, they're more likely to put more effort into it than if they're not. This also holds true if the study was done in person, even if no monetary incentive is given.
I question the validity of the data. When someone (or more likely an online poll) asks me how many hours per day I spend playing video games, I generally don't answer. If I'm compelled to answer, my answer will be a poor estimate at best.
Post by: BlkPaladin on February 28, 2005, 09:06:34 AM
Yeah I found their site. They do survey's according to the scientific method, which still doesn't mean much if done incorrectly. I'm a memeber of a few of these research groups. I see if I can find out how to join.
And the way they say it does give an impresion of only owning one system. But if you look closely at the mechanic of how they said it you realize that they mean when a person also owns a Gamecube.
Well now this is interesting, I dug a little deeper Phoenix Marketing International doesn't do the reasearch they are an advertising consulting company, they more than likely used their partner Cambridge Brand Analytics to do the reasearch, which they way they take get their numbers are from multiple sources. (Web, direct mail (Surveys mailed to a select pool of respondants.), they also look at current trends in advertising)
And I can't find a way to join the research....
My final analysis of the thing this market realease is just an ad for Pheonix's services, more than likely trying to cash in on the expanding gaming market. I also find that their clients are investment firms, so these are the same analysist that we made fun of at the begining of the Gamecube's lifecycle.
Post by: Rize on February 28, 2005, 09:33:17 AM
Post by: vudu on February 28, 2005, 09:44:23 AM
Monday through Thursday I typically start playing at 7 PM (after dinner) and stop at 9 PM (when my wife gets home). Saturdays I typically play for an additional 2 hours. I usually don't play on Fridays or Sundays. So I play for 2 hours per day, five days a week.
Post by: Ian Sane on February 28, 2005, 09:50:54 AM
On my first read I thought that said 7 AM to 9 PM. I was like "doesn't this guy have a job?"
Post by: Rize on February 28, 2005, 07:51:49 PM
Post by: vudu on March 01, 2005, 08:27:10 AM
where
x = number of weeks per year spent playing a new game you like
y = number of weeks per year spent playing an old game or a new game you don't like
