Nielsen Ranks Modern Warfare #1 on Christmas Wish Lists and Battlefield 3 in Seventh

We do not put much stock in this because of how they compiled the data but we thought we would share. Modern Warfare 3 tops Nielsen xmas wish list report

First some definitions:

Active Gamers are gamers that own the platform (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, PSP, DS, 3DS), play at least an hour per week on that platform on average, and have purchased at least one game for that platform in the last 6 months.

Hardly an �active� gamer if you ask us, but then, we play for more than an hour a day. Also, Nielsen pointed out the following in our request as to why all the games on the list are major AAA titles and not a single indie game was listed:

To help narrow the focus of this analysis, Nielsen filtered the field to those titles releasing on at least one of the three major consoles (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii) during the timeframe of late August to late November

So, there are no indie games coming to those platforms that gamers want? Well, if you�re playing just one hour per week then all you would probably know of games is what you see on TV, right?

The list was developed by examining a variety of consumer measures from Nielsen’s Video Game Tracking survey, including the top five titles active gamers are considering for purchase.

Nielsen’s Top 20 Games to Watch is supplemented by information from NM Incite, a Nielsen McKinsey company, which analyzed the primary elements driving consumers’ online conversations around each title.

Recent consumer buzz shows that those anticipating Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Revelations are excited for the return of multi-player functionality to the franchise, while gamers looking forward to Warner Bros Interactive’s Batman: Arkham City are speculating on the villains they’ll face in the new title. Fans of EA’s FIFA franchise are hoping for more pro and career mode options in the upcoming iteration, and those addicted to Microsoft’s Dance Central are rejoicing in the news that they’ll be able to import tracks from the original title into the sequel.

Yes, rejoicing.

Nielsen states this is the holiday wish list, but included games that have been released since August, hardly the holiday season really. Most gamers would own many of these titles prior to the holiday season, though some are coming out right round that time.

Nielsen’s Top 20 Games to Watch for Holiday 2011
Title	Genre	Platforms	Publisher	% Choosing as Top 5	Key Elements of Online Conversations
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3	Shooter	360, PS3, Wii, PC	Activision	27%	upcoming launch parties, changes in the new game, ‘darker mood’, hardened version vs standard
Gears of War 3	Shooter	360	Microsoft Game Studios	19%	high anticipation for launch, best prices at retailers, sharing info on codes and downloads
Madden NFL 12	Sports (Simulated)	360, PS3, Wii, PSP	Electronic Arts	19%	challenge matches, calling in sick in order to play
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations	Action / Adv	360, PS3, PC	Ubisoft	17%	downloadable previews, multi-player functionality
Batman: Arkham City	Action / Adv	360, PS3, PC	Warner Bros Interactive	15%	new villains in the game
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword	Action / Adv	Wii	Nintendo	14%	nostalgia for series brings back ‘old school’ gamers, similar feel to Ocarina Of Time
Battlefield 3	Shooter	360, PS3, PC	Electronic Arts	12%	many feel this title is superior to competing titles in the genre, differences in game performance by platform
Just Dance 3	Music / Rhythm	360, PS3, Wii	Ubisoft	12%	excitement for new tracks announced
NBA 2K12	Sports (Simulated)	360, PS3, Wii, PC, PSP	2K Interactive	9%	online demos, discussions of how to adjust schedule to allow more time to play
Need for Speed: The Run	Racing / Driving	360, PS3, Wii, PC, 3DS	Electronic Arts	9%	exclusive Porsche models in the game, anticipation as a holiday gift
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception	Action / Adv	PS3	Sony Computer Entertainment	9%	high expectations of this title being even better than the previous iterations
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games	Sports (Arcade)	Wii, 3DS	SEGA	8%	gaming experts mention this title alongside other titles announced at the 3DS conference
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7	Action / Adv	360, PS3, Wii, PC, PSP, DS, 3DS	Warner Bros Interactive	8%	sharing previews and speculation on the upcoming game
FIFA Soccer 12	Sports (Simulated)	360, PS3, Wii, PC, PSP, DS, 3DS	Electronic Arts	8%	FIFA vs Madden, desires for more pro and career mode options in the new release
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim	RPG	360, PS3, PC	Bethesda Softworks	8%	M rating / graphic nature not a deterrent, daily countdown until release
Dead Island	Action / Adv	360, PS3, PC	Deep Silver	7%	looking for gaming partners for online co-op
Kinect Sports: Season 2	Sports (Arcade)	360	Microsoft Game Studios	6%	high expectations for the upcoming sequel, considerable attention from casual gamers
Resistance 3	Shooter	PS3	Sony Computer Entertainment	4%	franchise fans call it a ‘must have’ ‘game of the year’
Dance Central 2	Music / Rhythm	360	Microsoft Game Studios	4%	enthusiasm for the ability to import songs from the original title
Deus Ex: Human Revolution	Shooter	360, PS3, PC	Square Enix	3%	best prices at retailers, differences in game performance by platform
Source: Nielsen

We cannot deny that all of these will be big sellers and already have been. Microsoft reported that Gears of War 3 has already sold 3 million (confirmed by VGChartz), Madden NFL 12 has sold round two million. Also, Dead Island, FIFA 12, Resistance 3, Deus EX are all out already and approaching massive numbers.

The other thing about this is that they don�t include PC gaming at all and that�s where a large section of indie game generally hit, though that�s not to say that there aren�t also great indie games heading to PSN and XBLA. Then again, Nielsen doesn�t track any of that either.

So what�s on your Christmas shopping list this year?