What Japan thinks of the PSP and DS battle
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Dec 21st 2006 at 2:00PM }
Not even a Sony fanboy can avoid admitting that the Nintendo DS is selling at a much brisker pace than the PSP. Regardless of our second place position, I still find it interesting to see what Japan thinks of our favorite handheld machine. "What Japan Thinks" has a report from over 7000 Japanese individuals on their gaming habits. Here are some of the highlights:- Only 10.7% of people surveyed have a PSP, compared to Nintendo DS's 32.3%.
- 14.7% of PSP owners use it every day. (Do you?)
- Although both the PSP and DS are portable, the number one place the system is played is at home: 94.2%. Personally, the subway is where I get most of my PSP playing done.
- Brain training games are easily the most popular kinds of handheld games, coming in at 54.6%
- A shocking number of people have not used any of PSP's non-gaming features: 43.1%
- 25.2% of surveyed individuals want a PSP in the future, versus the DS's 59.4%.
- Only 20.3% of people want a PS3. Only 15% want a Wii. (But 17% want both.)
[Via Japundit]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Amo @ Dec 21st 2006 2:14PM
first post
StMadnes @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:18PM
wow! i'm kind of surprised at the lack of interest in the PSP non-gaming features out there. On another note, i still can't see what people find so enjoyable about the DS. How could 3 or 4 games sell one lil' console so well?? I dunno.. perhaps Sony should look into putting out some non conventional games too. Aside from the horde of kiddy RPGs and poorly rated games, some of the DS' games actually seem a lil' interesting. But-sorry- 3 or 4 games isn't enough to sell me a console.
bxbailey @ Dec 21st 2006 2:50PM
one of the main reasons I like my psp over my DS is the all in one capabilities.
I don't have to carry and ipod for photos music or videos
I don't need a portable dvd player
I don't need a PDA phone (Browsing the Web)
I get insane looking graphics for a hand held system
I can play online games.
I can directly download my podcasts both video and audio.
Also I'm 27 so I look for more mature games and the PSP provides all of this for me.
Currently I'm running around with a PSP with a 4GB memory stick
7000 photos
68 songs
about 34 short Videos
Doom the Movie Complete and High Quality
about 14 podcasts 2 video (attack of the Show and 1up show)
2 PS1 games Syphon Filter and Crash Bandicoot
Also if I hit a wifi Hotspot I can
If I travel and I bring my DS I would have to bring my wifes ipod and here portable dvd player and DVDs. That's a lot to carry.
Brad @ Dec 21st 2006 4:03PM
I am about 50% Gaming, 50% other. I already have mp3 player for music that is smaller and easier to carry, although I do keep a cd on the psp just in case. I use PSP for video and for email checking / bill paying at wifi hotspots @ lunch. If the browser supported more up to date java, larger files, etc, I would use it more.
It's to kill time when I would otherwise be bored... and increase my productivity in bill paying.
Chris @ Dec 21st 2006 3:08PM
I'm amazed that according to that survey only 32% of Japanese people wanted a Wii. I thought Japan and Nintendo were like McDonalds and Cholesterol. Maybe the other 68% already have their Wii.
Jeff Cossey @ Dec 21st 2006 3:10PM
I think if Sony would promote the PSP more (not these stupid dumbass hairball commercial's) but promote it as well as the DS and just lower the price some it would do 10x better. I know it cost's more to make but oh fricking well... if you wan't to compete your price has to compete as well. I know Sony says it's after a different market but let's face it by and large the PSP is used for gaming as is the DS, on that bases the PSP has a more adult targetted market.
Chris @ Dec 21st 2006 3:20PM
"and just lower the price some it would do 10x better. I know it cost's more to make but oh fricking well... if you wan't to compete your price has to compete as well."
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With a complete redesign possible in the near future complete with a hard drive the price will drop...just not on the version of the system anybody's going to want.
Hector Martinez @ Dec 21st 2006 3:36PM
Japan is too blind to see past the Nintendo DS. Nothing on that system appeals to me. Whereas the PSP offers PS2 quality titles on the go. Even huge games like Vice City and MGS which no one thought possible in a portable format just two years ago. You should make a "Why PSP is Better Article"
Hector Martinez @ Dec 21st 2006 3:42PM
"With a complete redesign possible in the near future complete with a hard drive the price will drop...just not on the version of the system anybody's going to want."
-------
That redesign is still a rumor, and the system is already perfect as it is. Prices are so cheap on memory cards that a hard drive isn't even worth it.
Don @ Dec 21st 2006 3:44PM
I met a lot of people at Comic-Con 2006 during Sony's "PSP University" who use their PSP soley for games, and are quite content with the 32 MB memory stick (with lots of room to spare)
I use my PSP every day, though I don't play games on it every day.
Chris @ Dec 21st 2006 4:04PM
"That redesign is still a rumor, and the system is already perfect as it is. Prices are so cheap on memory cards that a hard drive isn't even worth it."
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Which is why i said POSSIBLE redesign. And, at least in my opinion, the system is far from perfect, it's the most fragile handheld game/mp3 player I know of. I've already broken one and I'm a really carefull guy. Many of the imperfections (such as one of my favorite, no way to manage files without hooking your system up to a PC) can be fixed with firmware upgrades but if Sony doesn't do what Nintendo did with the DS and fix all the hardware flaws (especially after being on the market long enough to bring most of them to the surface) that would prove, at least to me, that they don't care about their customers at all and are happy making money off of a product that could easily be brought up to date a little more.
Jeff Cossey @ Dec 21st 2006 7:32PM
The PSP is very Awesome, I use it for 60% Gaming,
30% Video, 10%
I would surf much more if there was a optional keyboard, they need 2 things aside from a pricedrop
-External Keyboard or at the very least a better graphical onscreen keyboard
-Adapter to use PS2 Controller.
The lack of a 2nd analog controller is something that is a problem with games such as FPS.
If Sony follows we will see a redesign every other year, personally that is such crap. I am very happy with what I have, just tweak it a bit.
Chris @ Dec 21st 2006 7:58PM
"If Sony follows we will see a redesign every other year, personally that is such crap."
---------------------
That's not true. Redesigning a system once all the old flaws show up is a common practice. Sony did it with the PS2, Nintendo did it with the original Gameboy to Gameboy Pocket, Gameboy Advance to Gameboy Advance SP (I don't count that Mini GBA thing they made because it was more just to follow with what Apple and all the other electronics companies were doing), and the DS to DS Lite. It's not something new.
brad @ Dec 21st 2006 8:43PM
The Nintendo DS remains damn popular. Help Japanprobe Grow by sharing this post:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
extremo113 @ Dec 21st 2006 8:12PM
The psp would be more successful if only everything I do didn't remind me of a flaw. The system feels so restriced. It would be nice if more types of rss feeds worked, I could set my cache size to more than 2048KB(I use a 4 gig duo), Play videos at full resolution, send DRMed music(like the zune), and demos(They are free anyways). Sony could easily pwn the ds if these things were done.
extremo113 @ Dec 21st 2006 8:15PM
Sorry for the above spelling error.
Claudius @ Dec 22nd 2006 2:53AM
I use my PSP daily, and mostly in both the University and my house. I use it mainly for games, with the internet browser taking the second place and the video reproduction being the third. I don't regularly listen to music on it, but when there's no other option, the PSP is ok. I just prefer music devices for such task.
I'm not really shocked about those numbers. The DS appeals to a number of public that finds brain training games fun and practical. And Nintendo is aiming towards a generalized market that demands easy, fun and fast games. Much like the book industry.
SuicideNinja @ Dec 21st 2006 9:27PM
"Are you like the Japanese: do you not find value in PSP's non-gaming functionality?"
*violently waves around a huge flag that says, "YES!!!!"
bobeotm @ Dec 21st 2006 9:36PM
I make considerable use of the PSP's non game features, RSS podcasts, Downloading youtube vids, and converting them for the psp, and I use it as a mp3 player to and from classes. I would say my usage is 50% gaming, and 30% music and podcasts, and 20% everything else.
I do agree that opening up some of the features a bit would help. Supporting more types of video would be a good start. Its kind of an inconvience to have to convert files all the time. Letting PSone games be downloadable without the need of a PS3 would be another good idea. Allowing the cache for the webbrowser to be bigger (either by using the memory sticks excess space or some other method) would be nice but isnt a major concern of mine.
Jeff Cossey @ Dec 21st 2006 11:35PM
Comment #13
"That's not true. Redesigning a system once all the old flaws show up is a common practice. Sony did it with the PS2, Nintendo did it with the original Gameboy to Gameboy Pocket, Gameboy Advance to Gameboy Advance SP (I don't count that Mini GBA thing they made because it was more just to follow with what Apple and all the other electronics companies were doing), and the DS to DS Lite. It's not something new."
It makes sense to release a redesigned PSP based on user feedback but lets what does nintendoze does
Here is the Amazing GBA,,, oh wait you can see the damn screen so here is a GBASP with a dim screen and a built in battery,oh wait lets do yet another FRACKING GBASP with a brighter Screen (don't tell me they could not have had it brighter in the first place) oh wait fast foward let's make some actual changes (not much more horsepower being one) and redesign into a DS, short time later,,, oh wait we need it to also be brighter like we did on the GBA and lighter, so here is 5 new Hand Helds in not so many years at what 150 a pop?
Why don't they get it right the first time?? Answer, there are so many DS CLUELESS users out there that will keep plopping down the money down for a inferior childs toy....
Jack @ Dec 21st 2006 11:45PM
I admit, I have mostly used it for games. However, this past summer I decided to try a movie while camping in my travel trailer one evening. With the earphones in it was quiet for the rest of the family, who were already asleep, and the sound and picture were totally awesome. I enjoyed it so much, that I have now purchased several more movies for viewing. It is also nice that many of the available movies have gone down in price to a much more reasonable amount.
pixelator @ Dec 22nd 2006 11:37AM
Suicideninja: "Are you like the Japanese: do you not find value in PSP's non-gaming functionality?" ... *violently waves around a huge flag that says, "YES!!!!"
That's because you've not played most of the better PSP games out there. You had this anti-PSP opinion back when you were borrowing the thing from your roommates and slamming the hell out of Sony on your one-sided blog.
And for the hundredth-some-odd time, your opinion that the PSP and its games are of no interest to you is... Of no interest to anyone else.
Chris @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:50PM
If I had to breakdown the different things I use my PSP for it would probably look like this:
40% - Gaming
30% - Internet (I don't have any other internet at home but I got lucky and have access to a publicly available wifi network from my living room. Like Jeff said though, I will like it much better once that Keyboard comes out)
20% - Music (I use it with a casette adapter in my car sometimes)
10% - Porn (Yes I admit it, there's some porn on my memory stick)
texinick @ Dec 22nd 2006 8:39PM
hmm, I've had my PSP for over a year, and I also have a DS lite... Different things for different situations...
Music: I never use the PSP for music, I have ALL my music on my iPod, and I can't fit it all on my 4GB mem stick. The iPod is lighter, and built for music. The PSP will not keep the screen switched off if you hit a shoulder button to change track, meaning you have to open it up (if it's in a case) every time to switch the screen off again.
Video: I have about 10 UMD movies, and I have converted DVD's. In truth, I've never watched a movie all the way through on the PSP. My iPod plays movies too, but I haven't watched one on their either.. however, unlike the PSP, it can also hook up to a TV and play the movies on an that.
Photos: They look great, and zooming & rotating is nice... BUT, again, I stick with the iPod as I have the ability to connect to a TV and look at the pictures.
Games: The games look great... I can't deny that. The screen is gorgeous. But the majority of games are PS2 ports, and can I justify buying a PS2 & a PSP version? The load times are awful. I want a portable system for playing games when I have a few spare minutes, but usually those few minutes are spent waiting for games or levels to load. Personally, I'd rather play Killzone or Medal Of Honour on a big screen... I just find that a portable screen isn't big enough for all that is going on. I though Killzone Liberation was a big let down on the PSP and have just sold it.
Network: I use the browser quite often when lieing in bed to read various web sites. The fact that the PSP supports WPA security and the DS only supports WEP is a bug flaw on Nintnedo's part. However, while the browser works well it does lack enough cache memory. Also, the RSS support is very limited. I'd rather see it support all RSS feeds so that I can subscribe to various sites, such as joystiq etc.
While the DS doesn't offer Music, Photos or Video as standard, I could do this on my iPod. The iPod and DS together are less weight to lug around than the PSP in a Playgear case. What the DS does offer is a quick gaming hit. I can sit on the dunny and play a game, whereas with the PSP by the time I have the game ready to go, I'm all done! :^) And if I really wanted to browse the internet from the DS, the Opera DS browser is availble from mid-January.
I feel the PSP is an unfinished project... the music area needs some improvements (i.e. if I switch the screen off, leave the damn screen off). The system, as a whole, needs AV out ability. Games need to load faster. RSS needs to support all RSS feeds. The browser needs to handle a bigger cache. etc etc.
The PSP definitely has potential. But the reality, at least for me, is that I use my DS and iPod more than I do the PSP at the moment. Using the iPod also offers me additional features like Alarm Clock and Sleep functions, that the PSP doesn't.
Frank @ Dec 23rd 2006 11:51PM
I got both of them, PSP and NDS
Frankly PSP has better spec than NDS but NDS games is more fun than PSP.
Sony hardware is piece of crap, i just bricked my psp after upgrade original firmware via umd.
Nothing to do except buying new mainboard or PSP.
Same thing happen to my PS2, problem with optical and board.
NDS doesn't have these kind of problem.
Just my two cent.
pixelator @ Dec 23rd 2006 12:18PM
"The iPod and DS together are less weight to lug around than the PSP in a Playgear case. "
The old argument that a DS plus iPOD does gaming and video better is so laughable it hurts. Not only would the uberdelicate iPOD need a case and, but lugging TWO items around to compare to one? Come on. So you'll have a cell, pod and DS all together on your person?
"Personally, I'd rather play Killzone or Medal Of Honour on a big screen..."
Killzone PSP is nothing like the big screen editions. It works better on the small screen, which it was made for. You could make this argument for any DS or other handheld games.
"RSS needs to support all RSS feeds. The browser needs to handle a bigger cache. etc etc."
Still better than anything else remotely in its class, especially the DS browser.
"But the majority of games are PS2 ports, and can I justify buying a PS2 & a PSP version? The load times are awful."
Not all the load times are an issue. Getting into some games takes longer, but this is also true of the DS to an extent. The majority of the games are ports - and the majority of DS games are... Also ports. To a lesser degree, but still many 'non-port' DS titles are HIGHLY derivative or veritable remakes or rehashes of much older games.
I agree that 4GB is insufficient for a robust video and music library - and that the iPOD is a better music device - but comparing the PSP to two or three devices is just stupid. Besides, Opera browsing on the DS isn't going to hold a candle to the PSP equivalent despite the scaling and onscreen keyboard... And gaming on the iPOD is an exercise in frustration and futility.
As for ports, so what? Sure, some lose something in the translation -- But most games on most plats ARE ports these days, anyway. Some feel having a portable version of a game normally reserved for a console is a *good* thing.
pixelator @ Dec 23rd 2006 12:20PM
26: First off, I call BS on your entire story. Even if you're not lying and are stupid enough to brick your PSP, don't blame Sony.
It's not like the DS can't be similarly hosed when in the hands of an illiterate such as yourself.
God, DS trolls suck.
xxplosive @ Dec 23rd 2006 8:20PM
i use it for
games- gta:vcs,midnightclub3Dubedition,mgs:po
mp3-clipse,snoop,game,gwen,hova,fiasco
video-familyguySeason4,borat,grindhousetrailer,1nightNparis,music vidz like fergie & jim jones(ballin)
texinick @ Dec 24th 2006 10:13PM
"The old argument that a DS plus iPOD does gaming and video better is so laughable it hurts. Not only would the uberdelicate iPOD need a case and, but lugging TWO items around to compare to one? Come on. So you'll have a cell, pod and DS all together on your person?"
No, I don't carry a cell, been there, done that.. hate the frigging things! :^)
Usually, I'll just carry the devices I need at the time I'm going out. My PSP Gear Waterfield case is just the right size for iPod & DS, and yes, it weighs less than the PSP in Playgear as stated in previous post.
I didn't just say that DS & iPod do gaming and video better... I gave benefits to using one over the other. I own all three devices, I'm not talking out of my arse, but from experience. My post detailed my opinions, how I prefer to use the devices, and my thoughts on how they compare..
Obviously you are a plain psp fanboy and can't bare hearing a bad word said against the PSP.. possibly to justify having spent all that money on it. If you are happy using the PSP for everything, power to you! But personally, if I want to listen to music, I'll use my iPod, because the PSP is crap as a music player. If you listen to a single album, or a few songs, it'll do fine, but as a musician, I like to have a lot of music with me, and for reasons stated (I didn't even go into battery life!) the PSP is no good to me. The iPod, in it's case, is still about a quarter of the weight of the PSP yet with 15x storage capacity. Oh, and something else I omitted to mention... it also acts as a backup device between home & work, something else the PSP doesn't do.
But you missed my whole point... I'm not an Anti-PSP person, I'm not a Nintendo fanboy... I use the tools available to me at the relevant times. Sure the PSP is fun for browsing and games... for ME. It may be different to you. I did, however, feel that I gave them both a fair comparison having experience with both devices.
And no, you are darn right, the Opera browser on NDS won't compare to the PSP... and I'd prefer to use the PSP browser rather than spend $70 on Opera... having said that.. if they have more memory on the Opera cart for the DS... maybe it will be an OK experience.. I'm sick of the 'out of memory' messages, but who knows until it's released. :^)
So lighten up man, don't take the posts so personally... and have a damn fine gaming-filled christmas!