Gamasutra asks: "Is there anything wrong with the PSP?"

by Andrew Yoon { Apr 6th 2007 at 1:00PM }

We'd like to think that there's nothing wrong with our beloved handheld. However, the truth is that many people, misinformed or not, do not believe in Sony's platform. Gamasutra asked a number of industry professionals about what they think is wrong about PSP, if there is anything at all.

David Cole from DFC Intelligence points out that the price drop is a good step, but that's not enough. "I think a new form factor is needed more than a price cut."
Ed Barton from Screen Digest is frustrated at the constant comparisons to Nintendo DS: "We forecast that the global installed base of PSP users will be around 29 million at the end of 2007, generating $1.9 billion in software sales. Lifetime software sales at the end of 2007 will be around $4.5 billion. If this is 'failing,' then failure just got a huge brand makeover."
Mike Wolf from ABI Research thinks that anti-Sony fanboyism runs wild due to high expectations placed on Sony ... due to their ambitious claims. "I believe the device's perceived 'failure' by some is due to the device struggling to live up to Sony's own marketing of the product, much like what the PS3 is going through today."

I completely agree with many of the things these professionals have to say about PSP. It's true that PSP is certainly not a failure, but it could've been far more successful as well. Sony has made a ton of mistakes this life cycle, but as they've been recently showing, things can easily change with a refocused effort.

Tags: abi research, AbiResearch, david cole, DavidCole, dfc intelligence, DfcIntelligence, ed barton, EdBarton, gamasutra, mike wolf, MikeWolf, psp, screen digest, ScreenDigest

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

txa1265 @ Apr 6th 2007 1:16PM

The definite quote of the article for me is "If this is "failing," then failure just got a huge brand makeover."

But I think that the quote from the last guy really struck a chord with me "I believe the device's perceived "failure" by some is due to the device struggling to live up to Sony's own marketing of the product, much like what the PS3 is going through today. Sony tends to feature a certain swagger and bravado to its marketing campaigns that says "we are the one to beat and the others are not to be taken seriously.""

That is how non-fanboy fans like me can at the same time be very down on Sony while hoping for the continued development of cool games for the PSP!

txa1265 @ Apr 6th 2007 1:43PM

On the subject of comparisons, Sony has no one to blame but themselves ... by coming out in their full Sony-Arrogance regalia spouting how the PSP will crush the DS, they set up a competition rather than a scene for complimentary devices.

Alien @ Apr 6th 2007 2:08PM

Thats not true txa1265 , Sony never entered in the market as a direct competitior . Evrn at e3 04 , they stated that they want to create a different userbase .

On the other hand , I agree with all of the statements up there , and its true , that Sony promissed a lot and failed to get that :(

jamma @ Apr 6th 2007 2:13PM

There's one thing definately ruining the PSP over here in the UK-delays. not only was the PSP itself delayed by six months 2 years ago, meaning more people (me included) bought a DS instead ( i have a psp now though), we STILL don't have MGS:PO, and many other awaited games are being delayed, such as Madden 07, burnout dominator, Socom FTB 2, and Rachet & clank. Even worse, some of these games have already been released on all the other platforms ages ago, such as Madden 07 last year!
This results in only the half baked games being released on time, and the others released so late that many people don't bother with them.

4ham @ Apr 6th 2007 2:31PM

UK and the rest of Europe always get shafted in terms of release dates for some politcal reason I bet.

The only things I would change about the psp would be to a add internal storage. Yeah 8gb would be great, but I'm thinking more along the line of 32mb at the least and 512 at the most. So people can hold savegames, game demos and other stuff without having to buy a memory stick. And with that if the psp came chock full of demos it wouldn't be so bad.

russdogg @ Apr 6th 2007 3:10PM

Its the multi-player "Killer Game" that they are missing, in my opinion. Every time I come across someone else with a psp that has wanted to play multi-player ( 6 or 7 times) we never have the same games. But almost every DS person I've talked to owns the Mariokart game. Just my thoughts.

Colin @ Apr 6th 2007 3:49PM

Proper and full integration to an online store of PS1 games on a subscription basis without a PS3.

PSP with a $5/month all you can play subscription to PS1 games (locked to your machine/memory stick so that you can avoid piracy) with ability to purchase the PS1 games to keep.

Ben @ Apr 6th 2007 5:40PM

Russdogg,

You can play multi-player with only 1 copy of the game. Start it on one system and then get ready to run multi-player, and then do the same on the other system.

Maybe it doesn't work for every game, but it has worked when I tried it.

Johnny Lasley @ Apr 6th 2007 7:08PM

#1 is right, but it is something I have always felt about Sony. They still make the best system, but they fail to follow through on their commitments.

Par of the course of Sony.

Thomas @ Apr 6th 2007 10:23PM

The PSP is a great system, but it costs too much... parents like the psp, probably know that it's the superior system, but people don't want to spend 199.99 on children, and the ds games are more marketable towards children.

Kade Storm @ Apr 7th 2007 4:11AM

Txa's posts say it all! No, really. It doesn't matter what the official line was on Sony's behalf, because this is more an issue of fan perceptions and expectations. Something about the initial hype behind this console did leave a 'DS KILLER' impression on most; c'mon, that was all rave around the release time for the PSP.

So yeah, comment 2 and 3 (Ed Barton and Mike Wolf) - excellent observations.