LOS ANGELES, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- PriceGrabber.com(R), a part of Experian, explores video-gaming trends in its latest Consumer Behavior Report. Results are based on a survey of 3,309 online shoppers conducted in early December 2007.

Gaming for the Masses

PriceGrabber.com survey results reveal that the number of consumers interested in video game consoles, games and accessories continues to rise, with 64 percent of respondents planning to purchase this equipment in the next year. Holiday season gift-giving is no exception, with 71 percent of online shoppers planning to spend more than $50 on video game paraphernalia this year.

The increase in popularity is likely the result of manufacturers expanding their target market to include casual gamers through both lower price points and a wider selection of games. Fifty-five percent of online shoppers said they favor consoles in the $100 to $300 range and that game selection is the most important attribute when choosing a gaming system.

Nintendo(R) is one manufacturer that has capitalized on appealing to the casual user with the launch of the Wii(TM). At regular price, the Wii console is the least-expensive video game console among its competitors, starting at $250. However, it is not likely that consumers are paying $250 for the Wii console as limited supply has been driving prices up. The Wii console currently is selling at the premium average price of $650, which is 161 percent more than the regular price. PriceGrabber.com's survey indicates that 31 percent of online shoppers favor the Nintendo Wii, saying that the system offers the best games.

Non-Violent Gaming Catches On

Until recently, the most popular video games were the violent ones. Survey results suggest that non-violent games, such as music and sports games, have gained in appeal, with 29 percent of respondents rating animated/child-friendly video games as their preferred genre. Additionally, games with a musical twist have skyrocketed in popularity. Activision's Guitar Hero(R) III dominates the competition as the most popular video game sold on PriceGrabber.com.

Making Gaming Greener

PriceGrabber.com is not only The Smart Place to Start Your Shopping(R), it also encourages shoppers to consider the environment when making purchases. The Video Gaming Consumer Behavior Report provides the following simple tips to help green gaming systems:

1. Choose energy-efficient home electronics, including televisions and computer monitors 2. Turn off your computer or video game console after use 3. Use rechargeable batteries in hand-held devices

This past year, PriceGrabber.com launched ShopGreen, a comprehensive guide to more than 20,000 ecofriendly products. PriceGrabber.com will continue to track gaming trends and market share in the coming months. To view the full Consumer Behavior Report, which also includes historical pricing trends for video games and rankings of the top products, please visit http://mr.pricegrabber.com/.

About PriceGrabber.com

PriceGrabber.com, part of Experian Interactive(SM), has established itself as the smart place to start your shopping. It is one of the most trusted and effective online comparison shopping services, allowing approximately 24 million consumers each month to search and compare information that enables them to find the right product from the right retailer at the best price. Through continued innovation and a consistent focus on providing the best comparison shopping experience on the Internet, PriceGrabber.com provides savvy shoppers access to millions of unique products and services from thousands of retailers and sellers in 23 product channels. The company also powers comparison shopping functionality for a network of leading Internet sites, including MSN Shopping, AOL Shopping, About.com, iVillage Comcast and CNET. The company offers comparison shopping in English (at http://www.pricegrabber.com/), Spanish (at http://www.preciomania.com/) and Portuguese (at http://www.precomania.com/) as well as international sites in Canada and the United Kingdom.

PriceGrabber.com is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. PriceGrabber is a registered trademark, and PriceGrabber.com and BottomLinePrice are trademarks of PriceGrabber.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Experian

Experian(R) is a global leader in providing information, analytical and marketing services to organizations and consumers to help manage the risk and reward of commercial and financial decisions. Combining its unique information tools and deep understanding of individuals, markets and economies, Experian partners with organizations around the world to establish and strengthen customer relationships and provide their businesses with competitive advantage. For consumers, Experian delivers critical information that enables them to make financial and purchasing decisions with greater control and confidence. Clients include organizations from financial services, retail and catalog, telecommunications, utilities, media, insurance, automotive, leisure, e-commerce, manufacturing, property and government sectors.

Experian Group Limited is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. It has corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and operational headquarters in Costa Mesa, Calif., and Nottingham, UK. Experian employs approximately 15,500 people in 36 countries worldwide, supporting clients in more than 65 countries. Annual sales are in excess of $3.8 billion.

For more information, visit the Group's Web site on http://www.experiangroup.com/.

Experian and the marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Michelle Kane of PriceGrabber.com, +1-310-954-1040, ext. 289,
mkane@pricegrabber.com; or Carolyn Chiang of Bite Communications,
+1-415-365-0397, carolyn.chiang@bitepr.com, for PriceGrabber.com

Web site: http://www.pricegrabber.com/
http://www.experiangroup.com/
http://www.preciomania.com/
http://www.precomania.com/
http://mr.pricegrabber.com/