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A Third of Console Owners are Adults

A Reuters story points out something that's probably not much of a shock to readers here: almost a third of console owners are 'adults'. This, from a study done by Nielsen, indicates that 37% of adults who go online own a videogame console. 16% own a portable game console. These aren't basement-dwelling rejects, either. Most of these individuals are married, and a full 66 percent have a child. The article suggests the increasing sophistication of the systems, as well as their new role as media center components, has added to the cachet of the console. "Microsoft Corp. and Sony Corp. are positioning their Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles as entertainment hubs for gaming, music and photo viewing amid a fierce battle for dominance in the $30 billion global video- game market."

4 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. Umm, no. by geoffspear · · Score: 4, Funny

    A survey recently found that 100% of adults who go online breathe oxygen. Therefore, 100% of oxygen breathers are adults.

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  2. imho by badenglishihave · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This article might have more relevance if it was discussing the "primary users", not "owners" of consoles.

  3. Re:Buh? by moonsammy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The notion that the increased sophistication and "media center" uses of new consoles are driving factors in larger numbers of adults owning them is silly. The reason more adults own consoles is the inevitability of aging - I loved playing console games as a kid, and now I'm an adult. I didn't suddenly start buying them because they got to the point of being fancy enough, I kept buying them as I got older.

    It's like saying in the mid-fifties that most rock and roll listeners are kids / teens, and then acting surprised when 10 years later the audience for rock and roll is "suddenly" composed of more adults, many of whom even have kids! Shocking!

  4. One detail left out by Hoi+Polloi · · Score: 4, Funny

    But they also found that a third of these adults act like children online.

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