Posted Aug 08, 2007 at 04:35PM by Nicolo S. Listed in: Opinions & Analysis Tags: GameCube, Sony, NPD
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Who knew the PSP can connect? - Image 1We've heard it so many times from the big three: today's consoles and handhelds are more than just gaming devices. Many of us realize this, but more are simply unaware of what their machines can do outside playing games. Research group NPD found "significant gaps between owners aware of functional features extending beyond video game play and those who are unaware of these features."

Online play is almost where the premiere experience of some games are at, but other features of consoles are left untouched. There are plenty of PS3 users that avail of downloadable content, but most owners and those planning to be have no idea that the machine offers DLC.

A good number of PS3 owners and likely purchasers - 71% of them - are hungry for backwards compatibility. The funny thing is, only 37% from the same group know that previous PlayStation console games are playable on Sony's latest.

It's almost impossible not to know about Wii's motion sensing capabilities (people buy it for that, after all), but some features of Ninty's magic wand are still alien to most users. A lot want their Wii online, but have no idea it's possible. Same can be said for playing GameCube games.

We all love the PSP, but some people don't know its magic aside from games. Among those that currently own Sony's handheld and those planning to get one, only 52% know that it can be used for playing movies and videos. Some 49% are aware that they can play music, and 43% know they can view photos.

The Stylus screams "touch screen," but only 57% of owners and likely buyers know about the DS's nifty function. Only 53% know of the dual-screens, while 49% will be surprised if you told them about poking Ninty's handheld with the Stylus.

Other features of modern day systems are yet to be uncovered by some, such as connectivity of handhelds to consoles or playing online. More DS owners actually use WiFi than PSP owners, and more 360s are online than PS3s. Quoting NPD analyst Anita Frazier, "manufacturers still need to be primarily concerned with the quality and entertainment value of the games themselves."


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54 Comments


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   by SECOND (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » YEA!!!! OMG YEA!!!

SECOND YAHOO!!!! SECOND!!!!


   Re: neonix (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09
 » this study is crap

"The Stylus screams "touch screen," but only 57% of owners and likely buyers know about the DS's nifty function. Only 53% know of the dual-screens, while 49% will be surprised if you told them about poking Ninty's handheld with the Stylus."

How the hell could anyone own a DS and not know it has two screens? Why would anyone plan to buy the system without knowing it's most important feature to begin with?

   Re: doodad (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09
 » not suprised

this just proves that the masses are stupid...

   Re: ... (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09
 » ...

52% of the people know the PSP is capable of more.
That's not so bad. My friends all seem to be mentally challenged when it comes to electronics.

   Re: Bj (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09
 » servey

servey is most likely to be done in america . look how dumb the results are

   Re: dude (Unregistered) - 2007-08-10
 » idiot

stop insulting Americans and spell survey right dip*****
   by SAM (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » HELL YEAH!!

many of this days they will say that they are cool if you buy this like funny fuc*king ds! about the DS yeah you will enjoy more than psp, but wtf the games, the games is about 4000k yen plus on my country and the game is only 17mb -_-

about knowing the function of you portable consoles i agree that someone they didnt know how to use the other features like DS, how pathetic.


   Re: nateo200 (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » ''

I know plp are always like "well i have a ds lite and its 150 bucks" and i go "can ur ds run any game/iso" and they go "what i dont know what that means thats stupid anyways" then i start playing mario or pkmn on my psp and they all go wow! lol but i wish plp new what there systems were capble of
   by Advertising -
   by Dee Ess (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » Umm

Molesting a DS with a stick is wrong.


   Re: eaglebaize (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » ROFL!!!

"Touching is good" LOL I laughed so hard when I saw that DS ad! I'm sorry if it offends anyone, but it just sounded so funny!

   Re: LuNy6 - 2007-08-09
 » LMFAO

HAHAHAHA DAS SOOO TRUE LOL
   by Real Gambler (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » This survey is very very screwed

First of all, it's made from owner and likely buyers. Looking at the stats, it's quite likely mostly "likely buyers" and not owner. This would explain that someone would not know about the fact that there's two screen on the Nintendo Dual Screen!!!!

On top of that, it does include kids as young as 6 years old!!! So if you call any 6 years old, and ask them if they would likely buy a PS3, the will "likely" tell you yes. After that if you ask them about HD on Bluray, the kid will likely ask you if $0.23 would be enough to buy the PS3...

So this survey is really a big shame on NPD. But the scariest fact is that huge chains like Walmart are using those surveys to decide what they will put on the shelves... Very, very scary!!!


   Re: Shadownet (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » ...

DS stands for Developer's System, nintendo said it themselves....

   Re: Real Gambler (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09
 » Maybe, but do this for me....

Do a search on Google for "nintendo developers's system" and you'll get 146 web pages. If you do the same seach for "nintendo developer system" you get almost two thousands pages. Were it does get interesting is if you do a seach for "nintendo dual screen" you get 480 thousands web pages...

So yes, maybe developer system is the official name, but the truly known name for the NDS is still Dual Screen, at least if you beleive 480000 web pages over 146 pages...

   Re: verbatim (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09
 » Both are correct

Nintendo said that DS stands for more than just one thing, those two u mentioned and some more I think, but I can't remember.

   Re: The dude man (Unregistered) - 2007-08-14
 » Re: Maybe, but do this for me....

Actually, Nintendo said it means Developer's System. Back before it came out the interviewers in quite a few game mags stated that it could stand for anything, but I've yet to see Nintendo say it. Sure you get more hits for searching Dual screen, but i highly HIGHLY doubt you read anything from most of those sites. If you search for Nintendo DS, You get A LOT of pages about the functionality, and a few that use that for the actual name.
As a final note, just because people call it that doesn't mean they are right. Look at all the people who still pronounce Ryu (rai-yoo) instead of (ree-yoo) (even though the announcer says (ree-yoo)
like its supposed to be.
   by Third (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » HELLS YETH

THIRD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BITC*IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   by Advertising -
   by GamerGuyDude - 2007-08-08
 » Wow

Very interesting. Perhaps that's a sign that companies need to stop wasting time with bells and whistles that most people won't use and really put the effort into making the game playing experience easier and better.


   Re: doodad (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09
 » OR

people can simple read the manual that comes with their system...
   by catarooo (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » uh oh

The people questioned were clearly retarded ^-^

   by AoxomamoxoA - 2007-08-08
 » Most gamers dont know what their machines can do

Heres an unknown fact about the ps3...

It can play games!!

I know, I was shocked too. Most people dont know this because the ps3 has no games to play, but its true.


   Re: eaglebaize (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » Hehe, right...

Teehee, lil fanboy. You didn't do your homework before saying that, didn't you? Oh well, there's something called "research", it's usually not fun to do, but it makes you sound smarter after you do it.

   Re: justin (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09
 » it's ok

He's just mad that he didn't know his Xbox360 was a Suicidal POS out of the box. So many features, so little time...

   Re: nastradamus (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09
 » Don't feed the troll

He'll be dead soon anyway (cue overheating 360 starting his house on fire)

   Re: The dude man (Unregistered) - 2007-08-14
 » Re: its ok

How can you not know, it says Microsoft on the box. That right away screams POS. Look at how many versions of Windows have started with nearly the same hype, and when they come out, they have similar problems to the old ones, plus new problems. I have both an xbox and an xbox 360 and they are both modded. I needed a new nes, snes, genesis, etc anyway.
   by joker (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » Wow

so hold on people r buying ps3 for $600 and dont know the features it has..wow im not surprise..im really glad i know about my 360..

   by Thabor (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » Who are these people??


If you own a DS how can you not knowthat it has two screens, and can use a stylus? I don't think I've ever even touched one and I know...

This is one solid reason why gaming companies still focus on the hardcore I guess. The average consumer is to stupid to buy anything but what a real gamer recommends to them.


   Re: Advertising -


   Re: qw (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » Yeah, this is a little iffy

The dam thing is called the Nintendo DUAL SCREEN, how can you not know it has two screens? The whole point of the DS is its two screens and the stylus, how can you not know about either? These people must be retarded.
   by Albanian_Killa (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » It's true.

Most casual gamers have no idea what most features on their consoles are. I know a guy who's got a PSP and I asked him one day what firmware he had, he said "PSP". I'm like "WTF?" I ask him again, but somehow more clearer :D He says "The latest unit" lol I took his PSP, checked, and he had like 2.00 when the latest was like 3.something. So yeah, I would have to agree, most casual gamers don't know the capabilities of their consoles.


   Re: Barakku (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » Not just

Casual gamers--"likely to buy" people tend not to know about stuff like 360 and PS3's online features. I never knew how exactly Live worked and had to ask (the ads and such never make it very clear), and a friend of mine, a couple of weeks before buying a PS3 was surprised to find that it was free to create an online account.
   by mohaas05 (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » wow

its pretty sad half of PSP owners don't know it can play videos music and photos considering they are all menu options right in front of their faces.


   Re: Anthony (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » yes

I was at school and these kids in front of me were talking about how it's impossible to put music on the psp. I wanted to smack them..

   Re: ermmm (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09
 » yeah i was one of them

rofl when i had my psp for like a year i found that out and now i had custom firmware
   by Ex-San Joseian (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » Murky News Sucks

More unintelligence from the Murky News. God, they suck like always. Prime example of why I left the bay area. What moron could read this stupid article and believe that nearly half the NDS owners only know about one screen and not the other. Codswollop!!

   by LL (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » JUL

ZOMG!!! MY DS HAS TWO SCREENS!!!

   by MrInfo (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » WiiMote Memory

1% of Wii owners know of the memory chip inside the WiiMote, 0% now how to access it yet it some how it keeps some of your saved games on it. Anyone have any details on this? I would like to know how my Zelda saves are accessible on my friends Wii!?


   Re: Nobody (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09
 » Re: WiiMote Memory

I think it depends on the game, but yes there is a memory chip inside the remote, its primary purpose is to store Miis.

Oh and by the way I know how to add and copy miis from the WiiMote and there fore know how to access the chip. So No the stats are as such: 15 of wii owners know about the chip and0.000000000000000000000000000000001%
know how to access it.
   by Doodle (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » HAHAHA

"Only 53% know of the dual-screens" Probly the most researched and most accurate statistics i know...... NOT. What a load of crap qj. Are half the DS owners blind?

   by Ace High (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » Beep.........Beep..........Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

did they check the people they were questioning for a pulse? I mean geez of course my psp has a video icon, but I didn't know it could play videos. I thought it was just shiny......

   by asdf (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » This is some funny stuff

DS has TWO SCREENS!?!?! When did this happen? I know alot about my consoles (except for the homebrew community for my PSP. I never use it, but I know what those people do for the most part)

   by Anthony (Unregistered) - 2007-08-08
 » This is a joke...

C'mon, this has to be a joke, there is no way people don't know that you can touch the second screen, let alone, there even is a second screen, I mean it's right there when you open it... Unless they bought the DS as a nifty cup holder and don't even know it opens.

   by god0fgod (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09
 » bad ads

Bad advertising could lead people into being unaware they are game consoles.

   by PS3 Fan (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09
 » Is it true?

I always knew my PS3 plays blu ray movies.
But is it true what I hear? Does it play games too?
I know it comes with a remote that looks like a game controller, and Playstation used to be a popular game console, but I've recently heard it plays games.
With all the talk of blu ray movies and sony saying how it's "trouncing" HD-DVD sales all the time I never realized that.
So I'm trying to find games to play on it. I keep seeing these same two games Motorstorm and Resistance. Are these the only games it plays? I know the older Playstations had a lot of games so I think there should be more than that, but it's hard to find any.

Can anybody help me or let me know if there's any good PS3 games out there?


   Re: Mister Common Sense - 2007-08-09
 » sort of...

Yeah it can play half assed upcoming games like Heavenly Sword from the mediocre 2007 lineup, but if you're real patient maybe it will have some good games coming in a year. Lair is supposed to be even worse. Resistance, Motorstorm, and Ninja Gaiden are pretty much it for now but since you got it for blu ray you're probably not too disapointed.

Did you know you can also fold protien?

   Re: Folding Junkie! - 2007-08-09
 » Smells Like....

.... the same poster pretending to be somebody else.
   by the by (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09
 » @ ps3 fan

thats the lowest form of wit!!!

to AoxomamoxoA

we all know what the 360 can do too!!!! usually the rrod!!! or how about scatch disks

microsoft should have a theme tune!!!
maybe another one bites the dust????

oh and before you open ur mouth to say thats childish you should have a long hard listen to yourself!!!!


   Re: Mister Common Sense - 2007-08-09
 » .

Ok so the 360s problems are well known on the internet, and the fantards always make a huge deal about them when faced with the PS3's pathetic game selection.

However, I was on ebay today, and I thought for the hell of it, I would look up, "as is PS3" in searches. There's quite a few broken PS3s on ebay! Less than a year old, aren't they still under warranty? I asked a seller a question. "Why haven't you contacted sony to get this fixed? Isn't it under warranty still?"
His response was "I lost the store receipt. Sony required me to have the receipt, even though It couldn't possibly be more than a year old."

What a load of crap. Yeah, that's coming from sony.

The problems I see on the broken PS3s on ebay are varied. No picture, not powering up, disc read error (of course I knew I would see those,) and weird problems like ejecting discs as soon as they're put in.

It seems to me the PS3 may have a better reliability record than the XBOX, but it's far from a perfect product, and sony is a company that will still try to get out of fixing it!

Don't believe me? Do a ebay search yourself! With no mods available and all consoles supposedly covered under warranty still, there should be almost NO broken PS3 consoles being sold on ebay!

Am I the only one that notices these things? Like Peter Dille would say, "by the way, they don't even work."

   Re: Peter Dille (Unregistered) - 2007-08-10
 » Like I would say..


The 360 I mean..
   by the by (Unregistered) - 2007-08-09