...and the most popular video game console today is: PlayStation 2!

Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:30PM EDT

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Ratings guru Nielsen, which has a fledgling gaming popularity/ratings service now, has published its final statistics for April 2009. The shocking conclusion: The most popular game console -- based on minutes spent playing during the course of the month -- is none of the current consoles but rather Sony's venerable PlayStation 2. That's a real testament to the phenomenal staying power of the little black system, with 21.6 percent of all gaming minutes during the month spent playing it.

The three current-generation consoles fall behind the PS2: Xbox 360 (21.1% of all minutes), Wii (17.6%), and PS3 (10.5%) following lock-step. The original Xbox still musters a 6.7 percent share of audience minutes and Nintendo's GameCube 2.6 nabs percent.  In the wake of the news that Xbox 360 games are selling better than those for other consoles, it's not surprising that more minutes are being spent with the 360 than the Wii, but as Nielsen notes, things could change as Nintendo ushers out more original titles for the console later this year.

But seriously: The PS2, still? In 2009? Really? The console is now a whopping nine years old, an age which would make it long since dead and buried in the rapid-fire tech world... and yet it remains the most popular console on the market. Nielsen doesn't say, but I wonder what games people are playing on their PS2s... Grand Theft Auto III?

In related news, Nielsen also notes that in the world of PC gaming, World of Warcraft continues its reign as -- by far -- the most popular PC game on earth. Nearly 44 percent of all PC gaming minutes are spent playing this single title alone, with the average player pouring over 10 hours a week into the online world. A few other titles have even more dedicated players -- Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar gets almost 15 hours a week out of its players -- but they have far, far fewer users.

Now if only they made World of Warcraft for the PlayStation 2...

Comments on ...and the most popular video game console today is: PlayStation 2!

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  • 26 Posted by robcowling on Thu Jun 18, 2009 3:45AM EDT Report Abuse

    Not that the PS2 is bad by any means....but this rating is reflective of the economy today. Almost everyone has a PS2 and in this economy, it is good enough. I got a Wii and shortly thereafter my PS2 blew up. Guess it was jealous. The PS2 is a fine console. Many games available...I see no problem with it being number one in terms of usage.

  • 27 Posted by khotsauce on Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:17AM EDT Report Abuse

    everyone playing tony hawk underground online still lol

  • 28 Posted by moebian on Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:20AM EDT Report Abuse

    I play with my XBOX, N64 still & SNES, NES games on my Wii. Doesnt matter how OLD a system is...if its fun...its fun! :)

  • 29 Posted by thebuster_g on Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:25AM EDT Report Abuse

    RPG's are why I continue to play the PS2. The other systems are severely lacking when it comes to that genre.

  • 30 Posted by castzpg on Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:05AM EDT Report Abuse

    I have not bought a PS3 yet because of the price. It's still too expensive. The only thing I now regret is buying my new 32" flat screen tv. PS2 lags on the big screen and it makes it no fun anymore.

  • 31 Posted by death_by_a_plane on Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:10AM EDT Report Abuse

    we have a ps2 with like 100 + games but we never play it its sitting in the basement collecting dust i have a 360 as does my father in law (2 if you count the one that rrod'd). ps2 is just not fun after you pick up a 360

  • 32 Posted by clinec99 on Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:19AM EDT Report Abuse

    I've owned the play station 2 since it came out and its the best game system for the money . i could play it for hours on end and i've put it through heck and back and its still kickin butt . the manufacture needs to put the PS3 price down to what PS2 was when it first came out. you will see people buy more PS3 consoles than ever before..

  • 33 Posted by will18lee on Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:26AM EDT Report Abuse

    hey i still play my ps2 because their are so many games to buy for it and prices are at a bargain now.the games they had for it was franchise games like final fantasy,resident evil,metal gear solid,dont forget those ps1 games and those rpgs.

  • 34 Posted by amachado311 on Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:00AM EDT Report Abuse

    ok so the 3 new systems sell more copies and collect the most dust...I have had my PS2 for almost 6 years, and I dont see my self wasting money on a new one anytime soon!

  • 35 Posted by badass97bowtie on Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:02AM EDT Report Abuse

    PS2 is an amazing system that I think will be around for quite a while. With people struggling in this economy the PS2 is a great deal and walk into a gamestop and see the bins upon bins of used PS2 games for dirt cheap. It's overall a great value. Being an owner of a PS3 that plays PS2 game, I still can't part with my PS2.

  • 37 Posted by tanana_1969 on Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:43AM EDT Report Abuse

    ditto to what scottie said - i loved my ps2, but when i bought a first-gen PS3, i decided to donate it to charity. don't know why anyone would opt for a ps3 that doesn't have backward compatibility -- sure you could save a few bucks, but then you're missing out on the great ps2 catalog. i'm currently replaying bg2:dark alliance - haven't played it in about four years and am loving it!

  • 39 Posted by xwriterauthor on Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    It could be that since the PS2 still cost about 500$ or so, that people just don't want to buy it...yet. That they are waiting for the price to drop before getting the ps3 and to get one that plays the ps2 games. then they could get rid of it

  • 40 Posted by ramdeepak360 on Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Playstation 2 is by far one of the best consoles i've seen and kept with me. What more can you expect? Fine graphics,thouands of outstanding games, great performance, and loads of fun and addiction! PS2 even exeeds the Nintendo Wii console in my opinion. I hope to see more ps2 games in the future.

  • 42 Posted by liz_cotrofeld on Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    You know, it's funny... I just bought a PS2 yesterday. My parents had one before I moved out of state, so I had tons of games for it--and lets face it, when someone owns addictive games like Disgaea and Disgaea 2, they're going to start jonesing after awhile. I've fully maintained for years that, out of the last-generation systems, the PS2 was best. The margin was slim, but definitely quantifiable. I really think Sony killed a lot of their potential staying power by getting rid of the backwards compatibility option with their latest round of PS3s, though. I guarantee you that's one of the reasons the PS2 was and is so popular--it plays original Playstation games, too.

  • 43 Posted by madmancode on Thu Jun 18, 2009 3:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    I bought my ps2 at midnight the day it came out and it still runs smoothly. I still have atleast 40 games for it and i play them from time ti time. I have a ps3 as well but suprisingly i have less problems with my ps2. I love the system and cant sell it.

  • 44 Posted by thisjukeboxplays33rpm on Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    Actually, Mr. Null, THAT IS CORRECT. I have a 22 year old neighbor with no computer who stops in for cheat codes regularly and it appears his favorite game is still one of the Tony Hawk games. GTA is also a fave for him. You may be able to say that this is like used Pioneers from the 70s outselling A/V but HEY! we're working on that too!

  • 45 Posted by xblack_valentine on Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    it's like $99, and has the best selction of games, plus most PS1 games are playable, so people can play games like FFVII and so on. Plus pretty much loads of people ave one because they've been round for years so they spend alot of time on them.

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