New NPD Report lays out Gamer purchasing, playing, and ownership patterns

Sep 15, 2009 by Dan Taylor    13 Comments    Posted under: Games, News, Technology

Leading market research firm, The NPD Group has recently released a report from their Gaming Device Profiles sub-unit, stating that 41 percent of all gamers rely on word of mouth as a source of their video game information. The survey includes data sampled from owners of a variety of gaming platforms, including portable gaming devices, and consequently this word of mouth data varies from owner to owner.

However, collectively, the majority reported relying on what friends and others had to say about their favorite games. In second place with 31 percent, was actual hands on time with the actual game(s) in question. Least influential in gamers’ purchasing decisions? Online and Magazine ads, incentives/coupons, and social networking sites ranked least influential in the survey, barely garnering a 5 percent response.

“When it comes to developing successful games and targeting marketing and promotions, each gaming platform has its own unique challenges and opportunities to consider,” said Anita Frazier, industry analyst, The NPD Group.

Cross Ownership

There once was a time when fanboy-dom ruled, and if you were a Sega player, that’s what you played, and did NOT own a Nintendo. With the introduction of the Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3, gamers are no longer satisfied with one console, and often own at least one, sometimes two, additional gaming consoles. 32 percent of all US gamers own a Nintendo Wii. 26 percent of these Wii owners also own Microsoft’s Xbox 360, 14 percent, a PlayStation 3.

In the number two slot, 20 percent of all US gamers own an Xbox 360. Of these gamers, 42 percent reported owning a Wii, with only 18 percent own a PlayStation 3.

Rounding out the Top 3, PS3 owners make up the minority, with only 10 percent of US gamers calling the PS3 their console of choice. Of this minority, 42 percent report owning a Wii, 34 percent, an Xbox 360.

Who’s Playing?

Placed side by side, the top 3 consoles are being played the most (by a slim majority) by males. The NPD report recorded that 56 percent of the top 3 console players were male, 44 percent female. The largest percentage of gamers fall into the 2-12 age group, with 24 percent, the 25-34 year old group making up 20 percent, and the 35-44 year old age segment taking 17 percent.

What are they playing?

Online

Mimicking the current trend in online game play, in regards to genre, 51 percent of Wii users reported that Card/Puzzle/Arcade/Word games were their favorites. The Xbox 360 and PS3 saw similar results, 39 percent and 42 percent, respectively. However, while these are some large numbers, Shooters took the #1 spot in most commonly played online game genre played by Xbox 360 and PS3 users, with 59 percent and 57 percent of the vote, respectively.

Offline

While certain data correlations can be derived from the above information in regards to overall preferences by console ownership, age, and genre type, when it comes to offline play, here, each console struts it’s own individual feathers. For Wii owners, family-oriented games topped the list, with Racing and Sports games coming in at a close second/third. Xbox 360 owners saw Family-oriented and Action/Adventure titles in a tie as their number one game(s) of choice of offline gameplay. Finally, PS3 owners reported Action/Adventure games, as well as Racing titles as their pixels of choice.

“This report helps to debunk the commonly held belief that casual-type genre games are primarily enjoyed by less serious gamers. This clearly shows that PS3 and 360 users also participate with these genres quite often, even if shooters remain the most commonly played online genre,” said Frazier.

Best Office Nerfwar – ever

Sep 8, 2009 by Dan Taylor    10 Comments    Posted under: Video

Perhaps the best office nerf gun war I’ve ever seen.  Enjoy!

For lazy bastards: iPhone app – Girlfriend Keeper

Sep 8, 2009 by Dan Taylor    22 Comments    Posted under: News, Technology

For iPhone owners, the amount and scope of available applications is simply staggering.  Just before a recent trans-Austria/German/Switzerland/Liechtenstein roadtrip, I bit the bullet, and bought the tomtom gps navigation system app for my iPhone, and couldn’t be happier.  Now, the tomtom app is something that I’d consider genuinely useful.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, I give you Girlfriend Keeper.

The premise is simple: this $0.99 app will randomly generate and send texts and/or sms’s to that special one in your life.  You know, the one that you’re too lazy to send self generate messages to.  The user enters predefined data such as eye color, date you started dating, her birthday, etc., and can be defined by “Relationship Seriousness” factors.  The user can also define how often messages are sent, everywhere from once a month, right down to every two hours.

The significant other can respond to these messages, and the app has a built in history feature, meaning, the sendee won’t (or shouldn’t) be caught off guard if these messages come up in conversation.

Some example texts:

“I just drove by a brown barn and it reminded me of your eyes.”

“Did you know we started dating 37 days and 8 hours ago?”

And fear not ladies, there’s also the Boyfriend Keeper.

For me, the jury’s still out on this one.  In concept, I think it’s a decent idea, but I’m not so sure the recipient would feel the same should he/she discover that these messages are AI generated.  On one hand, I’m thinking his/her heart is in the right place, but on the other hand, seriously dude (and dudettes), you couldn’t be bothered to come up with something original?

10 Interesting Facts about Labor Day

Sep 7, 2009 by Dan Taylor    12 Comments    Posted under: News

Happy Labor Day to all my American readers! Living in Europe, it’s just another day, but to those under the Stars and Stripes, it’s a day off. While you’re either happy or sad to see summer come to a close, it’s customary to enjoy a picnic or barbecue on this ‘free day off’. But how much do you know about the origins of Labor Day? Here are ten interesting facts that just might help you out on Jeopardy or the next family Trivial Pursuit game night.

1. Labour Day originates from our neighbours to the north – eh?

Most Americans consider Labor Day a uniquely American experience, but in all reality, Labor Day has it’s origins in Canada. Stemming from 1870’s labor disputes in Toronto, in 1872 a parade was held in support of a strike against the 58 hour workweek. As a result, 24 union leaders who were responsible for organizing the event were arrested under anti-union laws.

2. First US Labor Day observance was in the form of a parade

The first US observance of Labor Day came in the form of a parade. Sponsored by the Central Labor Union, On September 5th, 1882 ten thousand workers paraded through New York City. This is commonly considered the first observance of Labor Day in America.

3. The 12 hour work day norm

What’s outrageous enough to spur ten thousand people to parade through NYC? A 12 hour workweek! In the late 19th century, the average working day consisted of 12 hours. Held on a Tuesday, the first Labor Day rally was held in order to gain support for the 8 hour workday.

4. Oregon first to declare Labor Day an official holiday

In February of 1887, the great state of Oregon was the first in the Union to pass law making Labor Day and officially recognized holiday.

5. Grover Cleveland makes Labor Day a national holiday

Making Labor Day an official national holiday as part of his political campaign, in 1894, President Grover Cleveland made good on his promise, and signed a law making Labor Day an officially recognized US holiday.

6. Not just in the US

Although Labor Day hails from Canada and the US, a large number of industrialized nations around the world celebrate Labor Day as a time to respect and reflect upon workers around the world. While not all celebrate it at the beginning of summer, the concept is similar, and is sometimes celebrated in combination of May Day.

7. First Waffle House opens on Labor Day

In 1955, in Avondale Estates, Georgia, the very first Waffle House opened it’s doors to the public. 25 states and 50 years later, Waffle House now counts over 1500 establishments. Yay waffles!

8. The White border

Labor Day has been traditionally the unofficial “pack up the whites” border, and was often considered a fashion faux pas, if worn post-Labor Day. This tradition has been steadily decreasing over the past decade(s), and is often now just remembered as the “something that once was.”

9. 150 million working Americans

As of 2008, there were 154.4 million people over the age of 16 in the US with jobs. Around ¾ of these workers receive paid vacation time, but an extra day off is certainly nothing to sneeze at.

10. Unofficial NFL season kickoff

99.44 percent of the time, the NFL plays it’s first official season game the Thursday after Labor Day.

So there we have it. Perhaps a few things you already knew about Labor Day, but hopefully a few that you didn’t. Have fun, enjoy today, and remember to drink responsibly.

Bill Moyers on American Universal Healthcare

Sep 3, 2009 by Dan Taylor    2 Comments    Posted under: News, Video

Kick back and spend approximately 9 minutes with one of the most respected and literally “Been there, done that” journalists in America today.  If last week’s Bill Maher interview with Bill Moyers doesn’t bring up some serious “Hmm…now that’s something to think about,” issues…well, I guess there’s not really much hope for you.  As an example, Moyer’s leads the interview with, “I find it hard [Bill] to understand why this country has not embraced the notion of healthcare as a common, human need, to which everyone should have access regardless of their economic resources.  I just don’t understand that.”