Wii U tops kids' gaming wish list, but Apple supreme - Nielsen

Although US children are looking forward to iPads this Christmas, the Wii U is their go-to gaming wishlist topper, Nielsen has found.

Asked what electronic devices they would like to own over the next six months, Nielsen's survey of aged six to 12 showed a definite tendency towards Apple products, with 48% coveting the full-sized iPad.

The Wii U was a very strong second place at 39%, but beyond that, Apple took out another three places with the iPod Touch, iPad Mini and iPhone.

A generic "computer" went neck and neck with Kinect for the next slot at 31%, and the 3DS and 3DS XL earned equal billing with non-iPad tablets at 29%.

Interestingly, the humble DS was the next most wanted at 28%, with the PlayStation 3 at 26% and the Xbox 360 at 26%.

Even the Wii made it in at 20%, with the PSP at 18% and the PlayStation Move and Vita way, way down the bottom at 14%. (That's still a lot better than the Apple TV, which only 4% want.)

Nielsen conducted a second survey into the tastes of kids aged 13 and up, and on this one, gaming devices fared a little worse, with the Wii U n fourth place at 17%. The Kinect was next at 9%, with PlayStation 3 at 8%; Xbox 360 at 7%; Wii at 6%; 3DS and 3DS XL at 5%; Vita at 4%; and finally the DS family, PlayStation Move and PSP at 3%.

See both charts in full below.

Nielsen surveyed anticipation for games going into release season and found Halo 4 , Just Dance 4 and Black Ops 2 were favourites.

Thanks, Joystiq.