John-ShepardOnline multiplayer and online stores have become staples of this generation, and there's an ongoing battle between the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live.
At the latest count, Sony claimed there were around 39 million active PSN accounts, which of course translates to multiple accounts per console as there are only around 34 million PS3s worldwide. However, perhaps what's most important is the connection ratio; i.e., what percentage of owned consoles are hooked up to the Internet? Well, according to a new study by The Diffusion Group and as cited by Gamasutra , the PS3 wins that ratio war. The results show that 78% of PS3 users in the US have their system connected to the Internet, while the Xbox 360 is a close second at 73% and the Wii trails behind at 54%. Said Diffusion Group director of research Michael Greeson:
"Today's game consoles are increasingly connected to the internet, not just to enhance their gaming experience but to access the growing variety of online media-video."
As of now, the group says that video game consoles are "best positioned to become the first mainstream over-the-top (OTT) video delivery platform." It certainly helps that the PSN and Live lets users buy or rent movies and TV shows (all three consoles support Netflix now) and of course, there are a growing number of digital games and downloadable pieces of content, too. But considering Microsoft's continual claim that they're the king of online, it's interesting that a higher percentage of PS3 owners have their consoles connected…
I always have it connected automatically, hooray for built in wifi and free intaweb connection!
PS3 FTW!!!
This is great news. Although, it doesn't necessarily mean multiple accounts per console. PSP owners who don't have a PS3 likely still have a PSN account as well. So PS3 owners aren't the only ones contributing to these numbers.
Either way, go PSN!… and stay FREEEEEEEEE!
You beat me to it. I was going to post the same thing.
Then, again, it is "John" who wrote this article; so I've come to expect at least one error or erroneous assumption in every one of "John's" articles.
If I were "John's" editor, I'd have a talk with him.
The assumption is sound. Sony has made it clear in their press releases that they can't be sure if they're counting multiple accounts…which of course means that they are.
Hardly surprising considering it's free.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 4/13/2010 10:38:56 AM
@ Ben,
The problem with the assumption is assuming the 39 million accounts are for the 34 million PS3s when that figure includes PSN accounts for the PSP. Anyway, I digress.
Just to clarify, I'm sure that number also includes multiple PSN accounts.
Agreed Ben. There are undoubtedly PS3's out there with multiple PSN accounts. I just wanted to clarify that there aren't necessarily 5 million of them. There's lots of PSP owners out there contributing to PSN connectivity too.
BTW, I think John's doing a fine job. Keep it up guys.
I don't think it has anything to do with the PSN being free. While that is a fantastic thing you don't have to pay money to plug an Ethernet cord into the back of a 360. I haven't paid for Live in over a year now because I have no use for it but I still do buy a game here or there or buy an add-on to games I own on 360.
I think a higher contributor to the percentage gap is the fact that there are probably a lot lower percentage of functioning 360 consoles out there. I mean it only makes good sense to deduce that if a console has about a 25% higher fail rate than the other the percentage of usable consoles is going to be lower.
It's a PS3, of course it's going to have more people connected. All you have to have is a wireless internet connection in your house and you've limitless connection to anything on the PSN, except for additional charges for things you have to buy, common sense. But there's so many free things on the PSN that having all those free items is good enough reason to get connected online. I never play online games, I hate online games. People are jerks online and it just doesn't appeal, but being able to get online and get free demos and buy games without an extra charge is awesome, let alone having the Wifi card built inside as well as having an internet browser. I can go online and download videos, music, pictures, AND themes for my PS3 strait from the internet.