Fun With Data

I’ve always been a data junkie – online, it’s easy to mistake “loud” for “correct,” and the only antidote is information in the form of hard numbers. Working here gives me a window into all kinds of numbers, and although we’re using the numbers to build cool tools and features, sometimes it’s fun to just look at the numbers for their own sake. Trapper and Jon and I thought it would be fun to share these tidbits with all of you on a regular basis, on the assumption that lurking somewhere in our community is a nerd streak as wide as my own.

Today’s interesting factoid: When you think “console,” you probably think “shooter.” Or maybe “single player RPG/adventure.” Possibly some kind of racing game, even.

But according to our stats, the most played XBox 360 game is an MMO. Final Fantasy XI, to be specific. It’s not even close, either – the average number of days played on FFIX is 41, and the second most popular Xbox 360 game only has 31. (That second place game is COD4, BTW, which I’m sure doesn’t shock anyone.) Most played in this context doesn’t mean “the most people play it,” but “the people who play it do so for the most time.”

Gosh, I wonder why half the MMO industry is trying to figure out how to pull off a console port of their MMOs in development. /sarcasm

I’m looking back at my MMO background and thinking, good lord, I see no way my favorite games were/are even playable on a console. But on the other hand, between live chat and improved interface design, it’s not as insane of an idea as it used to be. But it’s still insane! Have you seen the patch process on one of these babies? On the other hand… man, how awesome would it be to be able to design for ONE set of system specs, all uniform and neat. But it’s crazy! How do you get the depth with limitations on text, on actions, on loot, on hotkeys? Wait, it can’t be that crazy, that many FFIX players are obviously enjoying it.

Argh, I’m going to give myself a split personality! Any FFIX on the 360 players want to weigh in and tell me what they like about it?