Nielsen report ranks gaming usage for Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 consoles

Nielsen’s just released their anxiously awaited “State of the Video Gamer” report, and while it’s a real page-turner, there aren’t exactly any surprises in store for readers. Conducted in December of 2008, Nielsen investigated use of the three major consoles — the Nintendo Wii, the Xbox 360, and the PS3. The study found that of those three, owners of the Xbox 360 got the most use out of their console — an average of 11.4 percent of the time for the duration of the poll, while the PS3 came in a close second at 10.6 percent. The original Xbox followed directly behind that with 10.2 percent, while Wii owners gamed a sad 6.8 percent of the time… far less than that of even PS2 owners. The Wii also came in last place in terms of total days used during the poll, with an average of 5 days (PS3 and Xbox 360 users averaged 6.8 and 7.1, respectively). Hit the read link for the full, breathtaking study and see how you measure up! [Warning: read link is a PDF]

Update: As tangocat (and maveric101) point out in comments, we misread the chart the first time out, mistaking the Xbox stats for the Xbox 360 numbers. We’ve cleared that up — good looking out!

[Via Joystiq]

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Nielsen report ranks gaming usage for Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 consoles originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riiflex Wiimote weights up for pre-order

Look out, vulnerable televisions — your worst nightmare is already up for pre-order. The two- and four-pound Riiflex Wiimote weights have escaped the “yeah right” stage and are now just months away from piercing all manners of living room fixtures. The pair (one for your Wiimote, one for your nunchuck) of two pounders will set you back $34.95, while the heftier ones run $5 more pet set. Wait, are you seriously considering these? Be honest.

[Thanks, Jon]

Update: Riiflex pinged us to say that pre-orders will get 30 percent off.

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Riiflex Wiimote weights up for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo’s Iwata wants DS video on-demand through the Wii

Nintendo's Iwata wants DS video on-demand through the WiiNintendo’s Wii, while thoroughly trouncing the competition in overall hardware sales, is way behind both the PS3 and Xbox 360 when it comes to media playback. Nintendo is about to take a step forward there with its Wii no Ma Channel, which will offer a variety of on-demand video including cartoons and other family programming — in other words lots and lots of Pokemon. Now Nintendo President Satoru Iwata is indicating that he wants that video to come to the DS, too, saying “If the Wii and the DS are connected, it should be possible to download video through the Wii and take it with you on the DS.” He also said Nintendo is “going to do it differently in a Nintendo-like way.” Given the “different” way that Nintendo handles online play compared to the competition, expect to be punching in 16-digit codes in every time you get an urge to watch someone else catch ’em all. [Warning: Read link requires registration]

[Via Joystiq]

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Nintendo’s Iwata wants DS video on-demand through the Wii originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analyst suspects Wii manufacturing costs are down 45%

This obviously isn’t the sort of thing that Nintendo is going to come out and confirm itself, but analyst Koya Tabata of Credit Suisse has apparently determined, or at least guessed, that Nintendo has managed to drastically reduce the manufacturing costs of the Wii since its launch. Specifically, Tabata says that manufacturing costs are down a full 45%, which would of course also mean that Nintendo’s margins on the console have increased proportionally, and that the chances for a price cut are now better than ever, especially in light of the newly cheapened PS2. According to Tabata, however, any price cut would likely first arise in emerging markets, with a drop ’round these parts anything but a sure thing.

[Via Joystiq]

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Analyst suspects Wii manufacturing costs are down 45% originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation 3 overtakes Wii in Japan, now about twice in a blue moon

With all the doom and gloom stories we’ve seen about PlayStation 3 getting beat by Nintendo Wii, it’s refreshing to have some good news for a change. For the first time in 16 months, Sony’s console managed to best its motion-controlled competitor, 146,948 to 99,335 this past March in Japan, according to gaming research group / Famitsu publisher Enterbrain. The sales are undoubtedly helped by PS3 heavy-hitters Yakuza 3 and Resident Evil 5 debuting last month, and at this point we don’t expect the trend to continue, but for now Sony, enjoy your victory and bask in the knowledge that you’re still totally kicking Xbox 360’s rear in your home country.

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PlayStation 3 overtakes Wii in Japan, now about twice in a blue moon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii MotionPlus can be oversensitive to your needs, say EA devs

The jury’s still out on whether or not Nintendo follows our logic and is gonna release the Wii MotionPlus attachment before June 18th, the day Electronic Arts debuts the first compatible game Grand Slam Tennis. Regardless, the developers of that game want you to know that they had to actually to tone down the touted 1:1 responsiveness to make the game playable. We can’t say that we blame them — after all, the air resistance of a Wii remote is slightly different than that of a full tennis racket — but we’d love to have the option to crank up that sensitivity and see just how unstable it really is. So when do we a chance to find out for ourselves, eh Nintendo?

[Via Joystiq]

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Wii MotionPlus can be oversensitive to your needs, say EA devs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Homebrew Wii USB Loader gets demoed on video


Nintendo just rolled out its own pretty significant update for the Wii, so it only seems fitting that the homebrew community has now done the same, with the always prolific Waninkoko coming through with a new USB Loader that’ll let you play your “legal game backup collection” from any old USB mass storage device. While it’s apparently not ready for public consumption just yet, the video after the break does do a decent job of demonstrating that it does, in fact, work as promised. Of course, there’s always the slight chance that this is an early April Fool’s joke, but Waninkoko does have a proven track record, and it seems that most of the folks on the homebrew forums have little reason to be skeptical.

[Via TehSkeen.com]

Continue reading Homebrew Wii USB Loader gets demoed on video

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Homebrew Wii USB Loader gets demoed on video originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 02:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony PlayStation 3 Heading South–To Latin America

sony_playstation_3.jpg

This week Sony Computer Entertainment America announced that it would be officially expanding its business to Latin America. The key word is “officially,” because the PlayStation 3–as well as other PlayStation versions–has been available, via import from the United States. However, increasing demand made Sony take another look at the market last year.

With more than 500 million consumers south of the border as a potential market, Mark Stanley, SCEA director and general manager for Latin America, said, “This expansion is the direct result of us listening closely to our community,” So, later this year the PS2, PS3 and PSP will be made available to 13 different countries in Latin America.

Time will tell whether the PS3 will be a hit in South America, though. And while pricing and availability haven’t been announced, it is worth noting the PS3 could be the most expensive console to actually land on Latin America shores. This could be Sony’s last gamble to build the international presence of the PS3, which still trails the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii in sales.

Post by Peter Suciu

My Final Gadget Will and Testament

I, Mark Wilson, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do declare this to be my last gadget Will.

While at the time of this writing, I am a spry (OK, a bit soft) 26-year-old man, I realize that I could, at any moment in time, die. In such an unfortunate circumstance, should the world ever recover from its loss, I’d like my most important possessions (my gadgets and digital media) to be well-tended pending their obsolescence (two or three months from now).

I will, give, and bequeath unto the persons named below, if he or she survives me, the Property described below:

My iPhone

Pending that my iPhone 3G was not crushed by whatever huge boulder must have smashed me, I would like to leave it to someone very special in my life. My wife Elizabeth, a long time iPhone hater, recently admitted that she was wrong in denouncing the phone and purchasing a Blackberry Pearl instead. I know she would really, really enjoy having my iPhone.

Too late, sweetie! Your penance were not adequate. My iPhone should go to an underprivileged child who is resourceful enough to pay a $100/month subscription even though they haven’t shoes on their feet. Actually, publicize the donation and guilt AT&T and/or Apple into picking up the tab. It’ll help if the child can’t read.

My Flickr Account

You can’t give thousands of pretentious sepia photos to just anyone. No, these all go to the Art Institute of Chicago. May they reconsider my genius when macro photography of mundane objects constitutes an artistic revolution, or when there’s finally a wing dedicated to LOLCatz.

My Plasma TV and Home Theater Accessories

The 46-inch Samsung plasma should be placed in my building’s workout room where, as of now, some devil has placed two crappy 13-inch LCDs under the guise that anyone can actually see those things. My TV now belongs to the condo association, pending that neither ESPN nor ESPN2 can ever be watched on it.

My Tangled Box of Cords

Everyone has an obnoxious, tangled box of various cords, and I was no exception. I hated this box, but found it a necessity in the mortal world. Now that I have transcended to a higher plane of existence (hopefully involving wireless HDMI and unlimited refills at a peach margarita machine), I leave this box to the last person who wronged me in life. Whoever that may be, I fucking hate you and my grudge will be eternal, just like that knot of cords.

My Xbox 360 and Games

OK, now this was a tough one. Who gets all the games, the controllers and the overpriced Wi-Fi dongle? Humanity, that’s who. And my gamer points go to Adam Frucci, the only guy who I know with less Live street cred than me. Well, him or my mom. Figure it out, lawyers. This point might go to trial.

My Wii

Sell it on eBay. I wouldn’t subject anyone I love to dealing with the horrors of the current Wiimote. If eBay has gone bankrupt, the lawyer has been instructed to bury the system in a time capsule until Wii MotionPlus comes out. If there’s a decent amount of game support (I’m talking games with headshots and blood, people), it should go to my two adorable nieces to aid in their development.

My PS3

Hahahahahaha. I mean, whoever will take this can have it! Hahahahahaha. Really though, in ten years, everyone will have them…pfft…hahahahhahahaha. Oh man, I’m funny even when dead.

My Low Digit ICQ Number

Mom, I know this has been hard for you, especially as you have no one to turn to regarding all things tech. No problem. You can have my five-digit ICQ number. (I realize you have no clue what that means.) It’s OK. Walk into any chatroom with that and, trust me, 87264829 isn’t giving you any shit, ever. You rule the internet now. Go forth and crush the opposition.

My MacBook Pro

Ahh, the MacBook Pro, the center of my digital life. That’s why you’re all here, isn’t it? Well, of course my darling wife Elizabeth receives it. With some provisions:

Always wash your hands before using. Before you turn it on, say three Hail Maries with “Steve” replaced for “Mary.” No Boot Camping Vista, but Win 7 is fine. No watching YouTube clips where kids light their own farts on the screen. No chatting with other men on it. Don’t worry about webcam restrictions, I’ve taken the liberty of breaking the iSight for you.

It should be noted that there is a lot of important media saved on the hard drive that represents not only my musical preferences but snippets of our life together. You are now the owner of all MP3s, photos, animated GIFs (this is a big score, honey), and videos.

On the condition that you never delete my Springsteen collection, as low as you may be on space, it’s all yours. The computer is out in the hall. Please go claim it now. Mom? Sis? You can go with and help.

[They should leave the room.]

OK, Jason Chen. Quick. The MacBook is under your seat. I need you to delete some files. Go to my hard drive. Open “Applications.” Open “System Files” folder. Open “DO NOT OPEN OR COMPUTER WILL MELT” folder. Open “I’M NOT JOKING.” Open “SEARS CATALOG BABES WINTER 2002-2008.” Select all files. If you have time, you can copy these to the external drive you were instructed to bring with in a past email. If not, select all and delete. Then empty trash. Thanks buddy. You’re a true friend.

Oh, and to everyone. Don’t mourn my passing. Remember, I’m not dead. My crippled body is merely frozen. When I awake from my long winter slumber, I’ll be totally cured of ailments and donning a 7-foot titanium robot body complete with laser Gatlings and a turbo orgasm button. So don’t feel sorry for Mark. That guy’s doing just fine.

Well, that, or the cryogensis freezer failed, I was wrong about Christianity being fake and I’m burning through eternity in some poorly ventilated internet cafe that only has dial-up.

Riiflex Wiimote weights add extra mass, extra momentum

Riiflex Wiimote weights add extra mass, extra momentum

If you thought your flying Wiimotes weren’t harmful enough stock, perhaps you’d like to add a little more inertia into the mix? Additional danger is probably not the idea behind Riiflex, snap-on weights for your controller that will come in 2- and 5-pound increments, but we think that will probably be the net result in many cases. After all, if a flimsy plastic Wiimote can pierce a television or mortally wound a small dog, what kind of damage could a 5-pound version inflict? We look forward to seeing pictures of the aftermath if and when these ever ship.

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Riiflex Wiimote weights add extra mass, extra momentum originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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