Methods and apparatus for monitoring video games

A video game monitor comprising:

• means for communicatively coupling with a communication interface of a first video game console to detect communication packets on the communication interface of the first video game console, the communication interface to communicatively couple the first video game console with at least one of a second video game console or a network;
• and
• means for decoding the communication packets detected on the communication interface of the first video game console to determine an identity of a game being played by the first video game console, the means for decoding to report the identity of the game to a data collection facility, the means for decoding to determine, based on the communication packets detected on the communication interface of the first video game console, whether game content has been downloaded from a source external from the first video game console.