The video game industry often relies on Nielsen, a media research firm, to provide accurate information concerning the gaming habits of Americans. Nielsen released the results of their most recent study yesterday, and they revealed some startling developments concerning console penetration and the demographics of gamers in general [via Kotaku].

Although the study didn't account for gaming-capable computers, Nielsen showed that more than half of all American households owned a console or a handheld. You may be thinking that the majority of these systems are old Ataris rotting in the attic, but almost 41 percent of surveyed households owned either a 360, Wii, or PS3.

Beyond the traditional statistics, Nielsen revealed some tantalizing demographic tidbits: Did you know, for example, that 52 percent of PSP owners and 49 percent of Wii owners are female?

If you're curious about the demographics and habits of U.S. gamers, follow the story on the Nielsen Web site.