‘Console Crazy’ NI adults ahead of the game compared to their GB counterparts

The explosion of new games consoles entering the marketplace in the last couple of years hasn’t gone unnoticed in Northern Ireland and NI adults lead the way in terms of ownership of these new devices. Approaching a third of NI adults own an Xbox360, compared to a quarter of GB adults. They are also 27% more likely than GB adults to own a PS3.

However it doesn’t just end with the console, NI adults are considerably more likely than adults in GB to buy accessories to accompany their devices. A quarter of NI gamers have bought additional controllers for their system, compared to 16% in GB. They are also 27% more likely than their GB counterparts to have bought a headset for online gaming.

The increased likelihood for accessory buying highlights a general increased propensity for NI adults to play more frequently on their systems – both on and offline. A quarter of NI gamers spend at least five hours a week on their consoles, compared to 18% in GB. In addition, they are almost twice as likely as their GB counterparts to spend at least five hours a week participating in online gaming.