According to a very interesting report from research firm Nielsen, the economic recession has given a significant boost to the average gaming hours per week, which, as per the statistics, are way ahead in 2009 as against the comparable months in 2008.

Nielsen's records depict that, in January this year, gamers logged almost 19 hours a week, compared to the last year's same-month figures of less than 16.5 hours a week. In May - which is the most recent month in the Nielsen report - gamers played slightly over 16.5 hours a week, compared to last May, when they played less than 16 hours a week.

The figures clearly indicate that the ongoing recession pushed up gaming hours thus far this year. In addition, there has also been a year-on-year rise in sale-purchase of used games, thereby helping the used games and video game rent-by-mail businesses flourish amid difficult economic times.

Nielsen figures show that in May 2009, the ratio of used games, purchased by people surveyed by the research firm, was 0.36. The firm said that used game purchasing touched all-time highs in 2009, compared to the last nearly three years' numbers.

Nielsen's study also said: "Thirty-five percent of gamers claim they are spending more money or plan to spend more on gaming this year than last year and 39 percent claim they are spending the same amount."