http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/209166/xbox-360-leads-online-followed-by-wii-then-ps3/

This article shows that the 360 is the most played console online (no surprise there) but the wii comes in 2nd??

That surprised me. Sony are really struggling this gen arent they. What also is surprising is, 50% of online next gen gamers are using the pay to play service. While the 2 free ones are not getting near the numbers of the 360 online.

Not really that surprising when you look at games like Halo 3 and Mario Kart Wii and how much they've sold.

Wii owners aren't all casual n00bs confirmed?

the wii is the most used console online

It's not exactly clear to me what those numbers actually mean. Are the percentages:

1) Fraction of users owning console X that play with it online
or
2) Fraction of all users who play online who use console X for online gaming

Because I can easily see the PS3 being ahead of Wii in case 1), but behind it in case 2)

20,000 members of NPD's online consumer panel ages 2 and older (respondents age 2-12 were captured via surrogate reporting). Respondents had to personally play video games on a PC, video game system or device used for gaming.

There's what 100 million current gen consoles sold and they are basing the estimates of a sample size of 20,000 people . That sample size could easily put any of the consoles in a good light , hell it could even show the Wii with 90% of online use.

I seriously dought there are more people online Playing Mario Kart , SSBB and the few other Wii games with decent online than there are playing the plethora of online games availble for the PS3 . The XBOX 360 is likely in the lead however.

@WereKitten,

good point indeed ...

lol i dont believe this.

its not possible to use the ps3 without it's online features, you are actually forced to have a account to sign to use many of the games and features.
and generally u have to logged on to play certain games or you get the features cut like LBP.

i doubt it.

oh

"20,000 members of NPD's online consumer panel ages 2 and older (respondents age 2-12 were captured via surrogate reporting). Respondents had to personally play video games on a PC, video game system or device used for gaming.
"

thats explains it, the ps3 its more popular with 18+ users.

Yea, they based that on 20,000 Americans.
Thats the Xbox and Wiis strongest territory by quite a bit, and the PS3s weakest by a good amount.

Not very fair :0

Clue:

Wii has sold 21.83 million in NA
PS3 has sold 7.98 million in NA.

So the Wii has almost triple the PS3's NA userbase, of course it's higher!