I hate to ask this but...

[Bodhesatva]

MontanaHatchet said:
Then why would the PS3 and Xbox 360 be bought by poorer families when they cost more?

Ghetto Jimmy: "Hey Mommy, I want a game console for Christmas!"

Ghetto Mama: "Alright, how about this $500 PS3?"

Plus, I don't know where you got the idea that young gamers are the largest demographic. I've heard that the average age of a gamer is 30, but if you have a source saying otherwise, I'll be happy to agree with you.

I'm not speculating on a reason, Montana, I'm just stating what research suggests -- Wii owners are wealthier.

http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=16691

Since you've asked me to guess, I'll state the obvious -- the tastes of more affluent families tend toward the Wii, while the tastes of less affluent families tend toward the PS3/360.

And yes, "Core" gamers, especially of the console variety, are the youngest demographic in gaming. While the overall average may be 30, this includes grandmas playing solitaire online, which significantly ups the average age. Not surprisingly, then, casual PC gamers are the oldest demographic.

http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=16691

The relevant text: "Interestingly, the Heavy Gamer segment is a lot younger than one might think too. "What always seems to surprise people, especially those that talk about the 18-34 year-old 'core gamer,' is that a majority of the heavy gamer segment is kids ages 6-17! This is true also for the 'Avid Console' gamer segment. Alternatively, the Avid PC gamer segment is older, with just over 40% represented by 18-34 year-olds," Anita Frazier, NPD industry analyst explained."

Note that this is a study done by the NPD, a non-partisan third party, and is, as far as I can tell, the only study done thus far the breaks the market down in to segments for better analysis.