Phoenix Marketing International's recently released market research study entitled Consumer Buying Intentions, four out five households play video games. Although the majority are playing via a home PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox or Game Boy, the original PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Super Nintendo are cited as the systems played most often by one-third of gamers. In addition, seventeen per cent of survey participants planning to purchase an electronic gaming system this holiday season will be buying older systems.
Whether playing on a computer, console (e.g., PlayStation 2, Xbox, or GameCube), or handheld system (e.g., Game Boy, Nokia N-Gage, Tapwave Zodiac), the majority of US households are gaming according to David Pluchino, Senior Research Manager at PMI. Interestingly, more than a third of gamers are holding onto older systems and actively using them, added Pluchino.
A large proportion of gamers are also playing video games via a handheld device, specifically, variations of Nintendo's Game Boy system. When asked about future purchases, one out of ten households indicated they would be picking up a new handheld system this holiday season. This is not surprising stated Pluchino, with the increase in leisure travel, parents are looking for ways to entertain their kids during long drives or airplane trips.
The Phoenix Marketing International Consumer Buying Intentions Survey was fielded during the month of October 2004. The findings from this market research study are based on information from 30,169 completed interviews with 24,980 having an electronic gaming system in their household including more than half owning a PlayStation 2, Xbox, or GameCube System.
