DS and iOS neck and neck in terms of US gamer base

Sony's attempts to play down the appeal of iPhone in its recent PSP commercials in the US would appear futile, with market research firm Newzoo claiming more than twice as many gamers across the country play titles on iOS devices than on PSP.

Consumer data from the firm's International Gamers Survey 2010 suggests that of the 77 million Americans playing games on portable devices 40.1 million of them do so on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

That compares favourably with the 18 million that NewZoo states do the same on PSP, and puts Apple within touching distance of Nintendo's 41 million players on DS or DSi.

Tempting Touch

"Recent growth in the sales figures of the iPod touch could be an indication that people are increasingly seeing Apple's portable device as a game platform," says Newzoo MD Peter Warman.

"The youth seems to be moving from trying their parents device to buying an iPod touch for themselves.

"Being able to start off playing free games is a key advantage of iOS and Android devices and comparable to successful social gaming and MMO business models."

Newzoo's figures suggest the gap between Apple and its handheld rivals is far wider in Europe, however, with 8 million iOS gamers put in the shade by Nintendo's 13 million on DS.

Time to pay

Nonetheless, the size of the relative userbases isn't the only measure Newzoo monitors. Both play time and willingness to invest in games also fall under its radar.

Two thirds of PSP and iPad gamers play games on their portable debice at least three days a week, for instance, compared to 50 percent on DS, DSi, iPhone and iPod touch.

Paying players are also larger in number on DS and PSP 67 percent and 66 percent respectively with free Lite versions meaning only 45 percent of iPhone and iPod touch and 32 percent of iPad players pay for their games.

As such, 53 percent of DS and DSi owners and 59 percent of PSP players spend more than $10 a month on their respective platforms, while just 38 percent of iPhone and iPod touch owners do the same.

However, iPad which has a higher average app price than its iOS cousins boasts the highest total of all, with 72 percent of owners spending more than $10 a month.

Also of note is the considerable overlap between the various platforms.

14 million DS owners which equates to 34 percent also play games on iPod touch, for instance, while 90 percent of iPad users have also tackle titles on iPhone and iPod touch.

[source: Newzoo]