The recession has affected us all, and that includes gamers according to a new study.  According to The Nielsen Company, a leading market research firm, the recession had deep effects on gaming habits.

From September 2008 to March 2009, one of the worst stretches of the current recession, gamers put in above average hours.  For example, in October 2007 gamers played an average of 16.5 hours per week, compared to 15.2 hours in 2007 and 15.5 in 2006.  In January 2009 the hours were particularly long, with gamers averaging approximately 18.7 hours, compared to approximately 16.5 hours in 2006 and 2007.

Meanwhile sales of used titles are being propelled to "record-breaking totals", the firm says.  The firm says that used game sales are at their highest since it began tracking them.  The company comments, "Overall, the uncertain economy has not hurt gameplay and may have accelerated it as gamers look to get more value out of the games they own."

During the recession, casual gaming led to the increase in gaming hours, Nielsen believes.  Michael Flamberg, director of client consulting, Nielsen Games writes, "Primarily, we believe mainstream gamers are playing more of the broadly appealing games (i.e Wii Fit, Guitar Hero and Rock Band) pushing their hours of gameplay up.  The social aspects of these games have engaged them. We don't believe hardcore gamers are driving up the usage averages we've observed. Second, gamers may be looking to stretch their entertainment dollar further through playing games they own more. The importance of value for them is evident in the findings on used game purchase."

Game rentals, through services such as GameFly are also growing in popularity, the study says, which marks yet another tool gamers are using to get their gaming fix more affordably.