How Many?

[Gabriel]

How many games do you think the average person (non-collector, doesn't identify as a "gamer") owns?

 

I recall during the 16-bit era, most people I knew owned one system (usually a Genesis) and perhaps 5 games at most. A good number of peole didn't own any games at all and just rented games.

 

During the PS1 era, most people I talked about games with fit into this same mold. One of my nephews actually did identify himself as a hardcore gamer and he only had 7 games. And nowadays, when I talk to non-gamers about games, they may admit to owning maybe two or three games.

[svenski]

I've always had more than 5 - 7 games for each system I've had over the years - think the only 2 I didn't were the Dreamcast and N64.

[Itchy Koala]

Most of my friends who don't consider themselves collectors own around 10-15 per system. And when I say per system, I mean xbox 360.

[SlowCoder]

Around 5 games per system, and only 1-2 systems. Sometimes games borrowed, traded or rented.

[ATARI7800fan]

on average 10-15 for each system. I own around 10 or so systems. one of every bit generation plus a few handhelds. four Nintendo systems, three sega systems, 2 systems and one computer. 2 Neo Geo's.

[moycon]

Ugh, It sounds like I'm in the minority. I have around 200 360 games.

I have considerably less PS3 and Wii games, but still have around 20 for each.

These days (especially with online play so prevalent now) I don't get around much to other gamers houses, so I guess I have no clue as to what most other folks have.

[Itchy Koala]

How many games do you think the average person (non-collector, doesn't identify as a "gamer") owns?

[Galeforcerm]

Most non gamers i know have a wii with 5 or so games and the fitness stuff like the balance board. I know a couple older people that only have wii sports.

[Petran79]

I have around 40 bought cdrom pc games which is ok for a period of 15 years.

Some old directx games do not run at all on xp (eg xwing vs tie fighter)

 

For atari 2600, Dreamcast and Nes 15 games were normal too. On gameboy i had 5 games because there was a rental store nearby

 

A non-collector buys 5 popular games a year or rents games. 1 game for 1 month (excluding summer) is the average. The game has to be good. 60 euro are a lot

[rockman_x_2002]

For the average casual gamer, probably around 10-15 at the most. Usually these are the ones who do not collect and will trade games in at Gamestop or elsewhere in order to buy new ones. They do not tend to keep games they aren't interested in and thus never have a very large library on any system. They also tend to have one or two systems of each generation, but only one generation at a time. (i.e., they bought a 360 and sold their PS2 to help finance the purchase).

[onmode-ky]

Looking to my family members for examples:

 

- My parents have not gone beyond the Wii Sports, Wii Play, and Wii Fit that my sister and I got them (simultaneously with the Wii) years ago, though my mother at one point was interested in Just Dance 2 (I convinced her it wasn't worth the money for what she was looking for, though; she didn't even know any of the songs).

 

- My parents' DS library only consists of what I've gotten them over the years, which amounts to just over 5 titles, I believe. They have not played some of them before, either, I think.

 

- My sister and her family have somewhere between 5 and 10 games for their Wii, of which at least a couple were crappy games given as gifts to the kids by others.

 

- My sister has, to my knowledge, about 5 games for her DS.

 

In terms of games purchased for themselves, my parents have 0, and my sister has somewhere between 5 and 10. In comparison, for the Wii and DS, I myself have 4-5 games for each--which is quite a tie ratio, considering I don't actually own either piece of hardware. I have well over 10 games per system for nearly everything I do own, though, topping out at a little over 40 PS2 titles. How many have I actually finished? Heh.

 

This is my 200th post at AtariAge, which, with my having taken over 5 years to reach this number, means I am not a hardcore poster. Still, it's worth noting that while it was nearly 4 years to reach my #100 post, it's been just under 1.5 years more to double that. I started reading more categories. . . .

 

onmode-ky

 

P.S. Sample gamer tie ratio: 5 games per system. Sample star destroyer TIE ratio: 200 Fighters, 150 Interceptors, 90 Bombers per ship.

[Ryanw]

I know a lot of people that are only casual gamers. My dad has an Atari 2600 and a PS1 and has about 10 games for the Atari and maybe 15 for the Playstation. My friend has a PS2 and owns maybe four or five games. Another friend of mine just has a 360 and only has Borderlands and Gears of War. For myself, I guess I would have to classify myself as a 'collector' because my collection of 110 NES games is more than what most casual gamers own (otherwise I don't own more than maybe 20 games for any other system.

[TwinChargers]

I'm going to have to guess its under 10. Seeing my parents are even a part of this generation and have three Wii titles, I can't imagine them buying too many more. Heck, even me and my family have less than 10 Wii titles since I am more of a collector of the systems after there generation is over. I just have a hard time justifying spending $40-$50 on a quality title when I know in a few short years (if even that) they will be cluttering pawn shops at under $10 a pop. Maybe if Nintendo brought out the Players Choice series and had games under the $30 price point that aren't junk bin titles I'd be more inclined to purchase new, but until then I'm content playing Wii Sports Resort and games from the last generation (over 120+ titles between all systems).

[Video]

Most of my friends typically had in the 5 ish range of games. I was atypical and always had tons of games. But hey, where lots of my friends had tons of records/tapes/cd's, I had very few of those, so it's really just a case of "what was/is important to that individual" I know a couple who could probably open their own auto store with all the car shit they have

[HatefulGravey]

I would say the average person that calls themselves a "gamer" has 7 - 10 games for 1 system. They have had more games then that, but the trade them in all the time to get other stuff. My brother does this and it kills me. I have told him I would give him cash what GameStop offers in credit.

 

I don't know many people in the average gamer bracket that own more then one of the current systems. It seems like the average gamer has one system with 7 - 10 games, slightly above average has 1 system with 7 - 10 and another with 3 - 5, the hobbiest has 3 with 7 - 10 for one, and 3 - 5 for the other two. Then there are collectors, and we know how that works don't we guys. 20+ systems and hundreds and hundreds games.