Fun = DS, not PSP, says EA exec
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Aug 11th 2006 at 12:15PM }
"Disgruntled" EA executive VP David Gardner recently went on record with MCV, worried about the current performance of the PlayStation Portable. "I don't think Sony can afford to sit back," Gardner told MCV. "I think they still have things they can do with the price and performance of the machine – things that they need to address."Sure, EA's made a lot of money off of the PSP, and their support remains strong. However, it looks like things will change, as the company refocuses its efforts on the DS:
"There's no doubt that EA has historically bet more on PSP. I think we were excited by the technology, but the consumers have proven that actually what they want is fun. We must never forget that what we need to focus on is fun and so EA is putting more effort behind DS games – and creative ones that really take advantage of the hardware."[Via Joystiq]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
needo @ Aug 11th 2006 12:58PM
Oh no! I won't have any crappy sports games that I don't play any way. What will I do?!
pixelator @ Aug 11th 2006 1:15PM
Simple translation: "We managed to gouge the hell out of people for some of our overpriced $49.99 sports title ports, and we even more money potential with the growing DS market."
Any publisher would be foolish not to capitalize on the surge of activity that the Mario franchises and the Lite have brought to the DS. Then again, some company execs have criticized the PSP since inception. Remember Atari's CEO Bruce Bonnell back in 04? He predicted a $500 device and proclaimed it all hype with no substance, that the games were vapor, etc.
I'm not saying EA isn't right to put more emphasis on their DS dev, but does their release schedule really reflect an actual shifting from one to the other, like are there far fewer PSP games from them coming down the pipe than before?
uchiha5 @ Aug 11th 2006 1:28PM
It's weird that there talking down to the PSP when there one of the most heavy supporters for the system. And they seriously don't need to start supporting the DS more now. No offense to the DS but sport games suck on it (except Mario 3-on-3 Hoops). Well evn if they do stop supporting the PSP no one will really care because the console sport games are WAY better.
pixelator @ Aug 11th 2006 1:56PM
After re-reading this guy's comments though, I find him somewhat disingenuous:
"the consumers have proven that actually what they want is fun. We must never forget that what we need to focus on is fun and so EA is putting more effort behind DS games"
That's a basic crock of shit. Like it's somehow Sony's fault they haven't made more 'fun' games, or that the PSP is somehow inherently less 'fun' than the DS? Come on. How about coming up with some 'fun' and 'creative' games for the PSP? Sure, Sony needs to work on the whole video download/keyboard thing on the PSP, but what does EA expect them to add to the system to make their games more creative or fun? That's patently ridiculous.
VJ @ Aug 11th 2006 3:23PM
Fun = PSP
Horseshit = EA games...
ninja @ Aug 11th 2006 5:56PM
Yes, Sims 2 was a fun game... to watch an hour glass...
The James Bond port had excellent controls! just not on PSP... Wow, EA is going to be 'more creative' with the DS and what? Porting games to PSP is not creative?
xorzisten @ Aug 12th 2006 8:22AM
This is totalt bullshit.
First off, EA hasnt exactly done anything to use the PSP in new way's, or creating AAA titles for it.
So if they say PSP is a less fun platform, dont point fingers at people who actually make an effort.
Secondly, since they are for some reason beyond me, actually making money on the psp. It doesnt make any buisness sense too stop making games for it.
What does make sense, is too continue too support the PSP, and too continue reeking in cash on that platform. AND too extend support for DS, too increase said reeking off cash. Thus expanding totalt handheld operations, instead off just shifting support from platform too platform.
bob @ Aug 12th 2006 6:18PM
When EA can produce a AAA Game then they should start throwing rocks.
Mark @ Aug 13th 2006 2:56AM
Who ever said EA is making money on PSP games? They pulled in REVENUE. Revenue is not profit. Marketing and development costs could very easily wipe out the $269M in REVENUE that PSP games brought them. Profits are those costs minus revenue.
Cloud @ Aug 16th 2006 4:07PM
You are all fanboys. The DS has something that the psp doesnt have. It is games. The psp has multi media. It is sad to see that its not being used however. The psp is slowley coming to a end. All target stores and some walmart stores will not take any UMD movies, Film makers say that the psp is a "Game only" system. The psp doesnt have the support nintendo does. The DS is selling a lot more then the psp is. Its because 1 the psp keeps getting updated for useless reasions, all I see for the psp are updates for seucirty, to protect viruses and stuff. There is no virus to the psp. They update it so people dont use homebrew apps yet the psp comunity does. Sony is wasteing time on useless updates that mean nothing to anyone. That is why EA says theres a lot more that Sony can do with their hardware. The games could run a lot faster then sony lets on. The psps true speed runs at 333MHZ, Sony clocked it down to 222MHZ. They did that to save power, Who cares about battery power. The psp has a charger so it makes no differance. The psp has potential but sonys not useing it. Its hurting all of its marketers. I love the psp as much as the next psp user. Im honest though if sony does not do anything that nintendo will win. The DS has a touch screen, they have something in japan to put in your GBA/DS to make it play mp3/mpg4. They have a lot of stuff that the psp doesnt. So being creative with the touch screen would be perfect. Imagine if you were to play online With Medil of Honor game, and you have the stylus. You move around with the D pad and the touch screen is a map. They can easily use the stylus to give effective messages on where to go like GW.