Gamers don't use consoles as DVD players [Update]

by Scott Jon Siegel { Jun 29th 2007 at 2:15PM }

A new research report by The Diffusion Group has found that only a small percentage of console owners actually use the inherent DVD playback capabilities of their PS2s and Xbox 360s.

According to the report, 80% of console owners have DVD playback options on at least one of their systems, but a staggering 70% didn't even realize that the feature was available. The report concludes that despite the best efforts of companies like Microsoft and Sony, consumers are still using video game consoles to play games, and rarely use them for non-gaming purposes.

For the Xbox 360 and PS2, this may be due in large part to the prolificacy of standalone DVD players, but that's not the case with the Playstation 3. Earlier this week, we reported that PS3 sales make up the bulk of Blu-ray disc players in homes, with less than 100,000 standalone players sold thus far in North America. If PS3 owners aren't using their systems to watch movies, or even aware that the option exists, that spells bad news for Sony's shiny blue format.

Update: We received a tip that clued us in to some inaccuracies in our original source for this post, specifically relating to Blu-ray discs. Though the report does bring up Sony's Playstation 3, the research only covers consoles with DVD playback, meaning that the numbers do not reflect Blu-ray sales or the PS3, contrary to our original assumptions.

Tags: bluray, dvd, gamasutra, video

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

samfish @ Jun 29th 2007 2:21PM

Oh man...this is gonna get crazy.

YAY! Friday Flamefest!

doshey @ Jun 29th 2007 2:22PM

how may people with ps3 did they ask?

baby sea tuna @ Jun 29th 2007 2:22PM

I use my 360 to watch DVDs all the time.

All the time.

samfish @ Jun 29th 2007 2:23PM

I use my Wii to watch DVDs all the time.

All the time.

Tesaco-Lakaka @ Jun 29th 2007 2:23PM

Oh noo all the XBox 360 fanboys are comming to bach and hit SONY !Run and save your ass if you can......

Kizzle @ Jun 29th 2007 2:23PM

This is (part of the reason) why the format war is not anywhere near "over," despite Sony's press releases. It's funny how gamers are so quick to take a dump on Sony's PR spin when it comes to games, yet many of those same people swallow what Sony says at face value when it comes to Blu-Ray. Leopard doesn't change its spots, guys.

I've said it before and I'll reiterate it here: the "format war" will not have a winner; at least not in the minds of the consumers. Both formats will survive until dual-format players become affordable, at which point the format war is for all intents and purposes irrelevant to the consumer.

JodyAnthony @ Jun 29th 2007 2:27PM

I use my toaster to watch toast cook all the time.

All the time.

GodisaMyth @ Jun 29th 2007 2:28PM

Poppycock, rubbish this is. Maybe on Xbox and PS2 sure, but if you have a PS3 right now you are either an early adopter or you bought it as a Blu-ray player.

I think it is ridiculous that they would group all consoles together like that. If so few of us are watching Blu-ray movies on our PS3's then how do you explain the 5-1 ratio of Blu-ray to HD-DVD sales?

These focus groups that conduct these surveys have the intelligence level of a Three-toed Sloth.

Here is an idea, why not sepparated DVD from Blu-ray and HD-DVD console players? I would bet that the percentage is much, much higher.

Pathetic this is.

Bring on E3!!!

horngreen @ Jun 29th 2007 2:30PM

Now we wait for the 6 guys who have stupidly purchased the Fast and the Furious and Transporter 2 to come in here and tell us how often they watch those turds on their PS3. All the while thinking since they care about the format war EVERYBODY must care.

Justin @ Jun 29th 2007 2:31PM

The Diffusion Group?
Are these guys affiliated with Microsoft in any way? I just find it hard to believe that 30 percent of people didnt know it played Blu Ray. Only 13 percent use it? This is a lie. Especially all those PS3's that came with a Blu Ray movie. Oh, whats this, a plastic disc in a case, hmm I guess Ill just throw it away. BS.

samfish @ Jun 29th 2007 2:31PM

I use my toilet to flush turds all the time.

All the time.

Well, the ones I don't eat for breakfast, at any rate.

rfom @ Jun 29th 2007 2:32PM

Nice logic
"80% of console owners who have video playback options on their systems, only 13% actually use the features"
How does this lead to the conclusion that
" If PS3 owners aren't using their systems to watch movies, or even aware that the option exists,"

1. 98% of the population is PS2, with a crappy DVD player and no remote, and XBOX1, with no DVD out-of-the-box and where DVD players are dirt cheap and everybody has a player anyway
2. Whereas the PS3 has a high quality BR, where BR players are very expensive otherwise
3. 13% is the average for BOTH combine
4. So, as even a monkey can tell you, the useage is bound to be FAR HIGHER for thr PS3 BR player compared to the average of 13%. Could be 50% or whatever.

God, if you want to carry on with your irrational Sony hate try not to use logic that would get you 200 on a GMAT test!

horngreen @ Jun 29th 2007 2:33PM

Oh and the 5 to 1 ratio is pointless when you consider only a few hundred thousand high def DVD players have been sold. Maybe you need to look at the population of the world for this to sink in. 6 billion I think and 300 million in the US?

vidGuy @ Jun 29th 2007 2:34PM

The only time I see fit to use a console to play back movies is when the standalones are still too expensive to purchase. I used my PS2 as a DVD player for about 6 months before I bought a standalone, then around $150. I imagine PS3s will be used as BluRay players until either (A) the format dies or (B) standalone players drop to around $200. Then most people who are into the tech will see fit to buy the feature-rich standalones versus a limited console.

That's why I'm completely fine with Wii not playing DVDs.

ymmv @ Jun 29th 2007 2:36PM

The only thing this survey proves is that PS2/Xbox 360 owners aren't interested in playing DVDs on their console. I've got both and in both cases I only tried the DVD player to see if it worked. Since I got a better standalone DVD player, there's no reason at all to use the one in the PS2 or 360.

My (modded) Xbox on the other hand has seen serious use as a media center thanks to the wonder that is XBMC. My PS3 has also hit its stride as a media center thanks to Blu-Ray, the very much improved DVD player that rivals my standalone and its media center capabilities.

Albert @ Jun 29th 2007 2:36PM

Yeah, that is weird. Blu-ray discs are outselling HD DVD, but console owners aren't the ones causing it? So that measley 10% of Blu-ray standalone players out there is itself outselling Blu-ray discs 5 to 1?

I'd say that pretty much shows who's winning.

McWeen @ Jun 29th 2007 2:37PM

I watch DVDs on my surround sound system all the time.

All the time.

Dustin @ Jun 29th 2007 2:37PM

are you kidding me? i read an article yesterday that the majority of hd dvd and blu ray movie sales are due to consoles. and bad news for the blu ray format? bull. thats bull. then why is blu ray out selling hd dvd 5 to 1 and more movie companies jumping on the blu ray bandwagon. also blockbuster said that they will be having blu ray movies avalible to rent. yea, that sounds like bad news.

Digi Smalls @ Jun 29th 2007 2:40PM

i bought a PS3 for the same reason i bought PS1 and PS2. games i couldn't play on other consoles.

movie playback was always a bonus to consoles, not the main reason to pay the early adopter tax on a new one.

Sony obviously fucked up that ratio this time.

.

GodisaMyth @ Jun 29th 2007 2:41PM

Horngreen...WTF are you trying to say?

There are almost 4 million Blu-ray players out there right now. Yes you count the PS3, it is the best Blu-ray player on the market right now.
Fastest load times, almost the best if not the best picture, the best sound, (HDMI 1.3) oh yeah, it browses the internets (thanks Dubya) it plays MP3's and coming this fall it will be home to many, many good games.

What does the population of this planet have to do with any of this? Most people on this planet still spend thier days looking for food and water, they do not have the means to buy any kind of electronics. Your point is as intelligent as this focus groups survey.

Eric @ Jun 29th 2007 2:42PM

Actually, the study says only 30% knew it was a feature, not the other way around. That means, according to this survey, that 70% of people don't know their console plays movies. BS.

sheppy @ Jun 29th 2007 2:43PM

I put DVDs on my Wii....

Matt B @ Jun 29th 2007 2:43PM

So who is buying all the BR movies?

For the people who didn't know it could play movies....who did they ask? 8 year olds?

Joe @ Jun 29th 2007 2:45PM

I use my consoles to play games all the time.

All the time.

Then once in a blue moon I'll slap in a DVD. AKA: DOOVD (Fone Jacker)

Crono @ Jun 29th 2007 2:46PM

I screw around on Joystiq at work all the time.

All the time.

JodyAnthony @ Jun 29th 2007 2:46PM

I laugh at people like rfom that get worked up over silly stuff like this all the time.

All the time.

deaftly @ Jun 29th 2007 2:47PM

lol @ the sonyfanboys crying

Digi Smalls @ Jun 29th 2007 2:48PM

i hear ya shep.

the Wii doesn't even play DVDs. that thing is total failure.

.

Freeze @ Jun 29th 2007 2:48PM

I watch as my wife gets constipated all the time.

All the time.

Tesaco-Lakaka @ Jun 29th 2007 2:50PM

Heck i prefer blue ray as a bonus gift than DVD 360 crap; death of ring King........

Jake @ Jun 29th 2007 2:51PM

Crono,

Ditto.

Geist @ Jun 29th 2007 2:51PM

I use my Wii to fight injustice and save planets all the time.

All the time.

Tesaco-Lakaka @ Jun 29th 2007 2:51PM

I mean: Ring of Death King

Anonim @ Jun 29th 2007 2:52PM

Warner's '300' to sport bonus features on HD DVD, not Blu-ray

http://www.engadgethd.comwww.engadgethd.com/2007/06/29/warners-300-to-sport-bonus-features-on-hd-dvd-not-blu-ray/

WHEN will Blu-ray have FINAL specs - so the buyers of BD player won't be buying OBSOLETE stuff?

Jake @ Jun 29th 2007 2:54PM

All in favor of Tesaco receiving the banhammer for his lame spam posts. Say Aye. All opposed, say nay.

Aye!

JodyAnthony @ Jun 29th 2007 2:54PM

I only play Playstation 9 with mind spores all the time.

All the time.

otarumx @ Jun 29th 2007 2:54PM

In the legendary words of the Human Torch, Flame on!!
This is obviously flamebait, as the PS3 starts to gain steam and min E3 comes the "Bad news sony buhu you lose" news get few and far between so, "stories"like this come up. It's obvious where the report ends and the "reporter" puts in his 2 M$ cents.

Because if no one uses blu ray on the Ps3 and there are only 100,000 blu ray players out there then how does the 5 to 1 ratio over hd dvd work? And why does blockbuster chose blu ray over Hd dvd if they are only selling them to a very small 100,000 people? O well, guess not all of us can be "reporters", let alone unbiased.

BNinjaC @ Jun 29th 2007 2:55PM

Yet another negative/biased post on Joystiq... frankly the spin that's been put on this article says a lot about the 'journalism' of this site. As Albert says "Blu-ray discs are outselling HD DVD" and "that pretty much shows who's winning".

If you believe otherwise you're either a 360 fanboy i.e. anti-Sony at all costs or a Toshiba shareholder.

JodyAnthony @ Jun 29th 2007 2:56PM

Joystiq is tobias all the time.

All the time.

Chase @ Jun 29th 2007 2:59PM

I have a Wii, 360, and PS2. I use my 360 for all of my DVD needs. I think I use my 360 more as a good DVD player than an actual gaming console. If I were to buy the PS3, I would prolly use it to upgrade to Blu-Ray. I would use it to play games. Because I think there are some really nice games coming out on PS3.

But for me right now, its a little out of my price range. A PS3 is something I will eventually get, but its a little off into the future.

polly @ Jun 29th 2007 3:00PM

"there's no reason at all to use the one in the PS2 or 360."

Uhm, the 360 will upscale pretty nicely with a VGA connection, so yeah, I use my 360 since it's way better a player than my old ass DVD standalone.

These fucking flamefests are retarded all the time.

All the time.

Deviation @ Jun 29th 2007 3:02PM

Of course Joystiq takes this independent study as an opportunity to bash on Sony some more.

Shouldn't Joystiq just be renamed "OMFG WE HATE SONY, GAWD WTF BBQ!!!!111one1!" at this point?

superagent007 @ Jun 29th 2007 3:02PM

I watch movies in my mind all the time.

All the time.

StrangeBum @ Jun 29th 2007 3:03PM

I hate it when people flame, all the time.

All the Time.

In other news..I use my 360 to watch movies more than I use it for games ironically. Whatever.

Loki @ Jun 29th 2007 3:03PM

Sorry Sony: console buyers don't care about watching movies.

Duh....

Beaudry @ Jun 29th 2007 3:03PM

I'm no Sony apologist, but this headline is bullshit.

The PS2 being a DVD player was a HUGE advantage at the time. Many people bought the system with the DVD player in mind. Many people are buying the PS3 with the BlueRay player in mind. I mean, who would spend $600+ to play Motorstorm and RFOM?

What this article is saying is that nobody is using their PS2/Xbox/360 as a DVD player because they already have dedicated DVD players that are better/easier to use.

Freeze @ Jun 29th 2007 3:05PM

I watched my Xbox 360 jump out from the entertainment center heading to the window to take a dump on pedistrians all the time.

All the time.

Keeko_ca @ Jun 29th 2007 3:05PM

As soon as I hooked up my 360, I basically got rid of my DVD player. That's just me though.

However, I'd certainly like to get an upscaling DVD player now. PS3 does that right? Wonder why the 360 doesn't...

As for Bluray and HD DVD...meh. I stream everything to my 360 as well nowadays. Using physical media to play movies is so 2005.