Australians rack up 27 million Xbox LIVE hours in 2008

Mike Bantick
Tuesday, 20 January 2009 04:45

Your IT - Entertainment

Despite having one of the best climates on Earth, Australians spent a significant amount of time last year indoors, hooked up to Xbox LIVE.

In 2008 the Australian hunger for Xbox LIVE online membership grew by 88 percent, and though it is only a small sector of the global economy (half a million of the global 28 million Xbox 360’s sold), Australia houses a hunger for getting communal online.

According to statistics gathered by Microsoft, more than 50 percent of the 500,000 Xbox 360’s in the country are hooked up to Xbox LIVE.  And along with playing online multiplayer games, they are chatting, exchanging photos and downloading 4.2 million items from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

Kimberley Francis, Xbox Marketing Director said, “We expect people to continue to stay at home more in tough times. People seem to be pulling back on some luxuries but spending more on goods that make the home a more enjoyable place. Australians really get the online component that sets the Xbox console apart and enables a richer, more connected experience.”

Of course we could also go to the beach, ride in the mountains or take a stroll through a rainforest during tough economic times.  But instead, we downloaded game demos, themes and videos from Xbox LIVE.

“2008 is the year we’ve really been able to open up our market and reach beyond early adopters. There’s fun for everyone, added Ms. Francis. “Our current favourite is the new singing game Lips, which takes karaoke to a whole new level.”

Other facts to pop up in the Australian Microsoft research included:

• 500,000 Xbox 360 consoles and 4 million Xbox 360 games sold at retail in Australia to date
• Australian Xbox LIVE membership increased by 88 per cent on 2007
• There are over 17 million members on Xbox LIVE worldwide
• Australians made 4.2 million downloads from Xbox LIVE in 2008
• Aussies spent over 27 million hours on Xbox LIVE in 2008
• Xbox 360 owners have an average of nearly 8 games for their console
• 63 per cent of the 500 games available for Xbox 360 are rated G or PG