Gamers Looking to Expand on Hardware

A third of US punters to buy new console.

While families have traditionally limited themselves to one console purchase per generation, new research indicates that this year will see many households taking on another piece of videogame hardware over the Christmas season.

A new market research survey of holiday buying plans by US-based research firm Phoenix Marketing International shows that more than one third of US households are prepared to buy another console this Christmas.

Leading the charge of credit card-toting moms and dads are GameCube-owning households. Nintendo's console, while home to a smattering of the best games of this generation, has failed to perform to its potential. The GameCube currently lags behind Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation 2.

"Current GameCube owners lead the way with almost half planning on purchasing a new system this holiday season" said David Pluchino, Senior Research Manager at Phoenix Marketing International.

"Slightly more than one-third of PlayStation 2 owners and Xbox owners are also planning a new purchase this season. Interestingly, about one-in-ten PlayStation 2 owners are planning on purchasing the newly re-designed PlayStation 2 system"

According to the survey, the PlayStation 2 is still the console of choice, and it is expected to do excellent business this Christmas, thanks in large part to the recent global price drop and the release of a smaller version of the console last month.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games