Where do you play with your DS or PSP?

Handheld gaming devices have been the godsend to gamers on the go. They’ve been the perfect companions for those long trips to Grandma’s house or those quiet moments alone while on your lunch break at work. The current generation of portable devices allows us to not only play games, but indulge in all of our favorite forms of multimedia at any time, anywhere. But where do most people play? The results of a recent poll may surprise you…

The NPD Group, responsible for conducting a wide variety of market research, polled over 3,200 portable gaming device owners and found that most of their use occurs within the home. Nearly 79 percent, in fact, indicated that they play on their handheld at home more than any other location. The research also showed that with game devices and PDAs (like the iPhone) offering more multimedia features, the rate of their use is rapidly increasing.

Not a recommended use.

In an article released earlier this week, the NPD Group broke down the most noteworthy tidbits of each handheld currently on the market. Nearly all Nintendo DS owners play mostly single-player games, with about one quarter of them playing multiplayer games with their friends using a single cartridge. They found that about one third of PSP owners use their PSP for watching videos or listening to music more than other portable media devices.

This information makes complete sense to me. One of the best features a game can offer is the freedom to play it anywhere without being tethered to a TV. While I do play with my DS on my lunch breaks, I keep it next to my bed to wind myself down for the night.

Ever since the debut of the Nintendo DS, I’ve heard most people boasting about it, using such selling points as, “Using Wi-Fi, you can now play against someone on the opposite side of the country in Mario Kart while sitting on the toilet!” And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t appreciate the guilty pleasure of getting in some Wario Ware while on the throne. (Oops…TMI?)