CNET editor says DS for girls, PSP for adults

by Andrew Yoon { Apr 10th 2007 at 12:00PM }

David Carnoy, executive editor of CNET, has written an interesting piece about the appeal of Nintendo DS to females. Girls seem to love Nintendo's handheld, and they help make a large portion of Nintendo's current audience. For example, one CNET editor's girlfriend "liked the concept of the touch screen ... She thought it was more interactive than what you had with the PSP."

Certainly, women can enjoy PSP (see picture), but it's clear that PSP is largely targeted towards males. But is that really a problem? As Carnoy points out, focusing on this demographic has created a large library of games that can entertain an audience that simply won't be satisfied by the DS's numerous casual games: "Fact is, the number of really good titles for the DS is actually pretty thin, especially if you happen to be over 21 and don't worship at the altar of Mario or Pokemon. If you're looking to play more 'adult' games with any sort of backbone, the PSP is a far better choice with a much stronger game library."

Like almost every other analyst out there, Carnoy believes that PSP can better attract a wider audience with a redesigned handheld. The problem appears to be Sony's reluctance: "I wouldn't be surprised if I saw the DS Extra Lite before I saw the next iteration of the PSP."

[Thanks, Joel!]

Tags: adult, cnet, david carnoy, DavidCarnoy, ds, nintendo ds, NintendoDs, psp

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

TwoLOUD @ Apr 10th 2007 1:00PM

Hey hes right. Like myself..I hate the DS. Lack of good games, lack of graphics. Its for kids and girls or uber nerds, geeks, Mario freaks, Pokemon nerds that like those kid games. Nothing good Ive seen on it yet that outplays the PSP IMO. I dont like the dual screen, that pen thing is just very annoying to me. I agree..DS is for girls and nerds that live with mommy and daddy. There that should get under some DS fanboys skin.

txa1265 @ Apr 10th 2007 12:33PM

That was one of the most idiotic pieces of sub-intelligent 'analysis' I have ever read ... like a typical male 20-something gamer with no clue why someone wouldn't like violent games - who equates head-shots and blood with 'mature' or 'adult'.

rabe7thebest @ Apr 11th 2007 11:05AM

ha thats why I hate analysts.

Zelos @ Apr 10th 2007 12:59PM

@txa1265

Agreed. To say that the DS library is thin is ridiculous, unless he's insecure enough that playing a game with no blood threatens his manliness.

Ryan @ Apr 10th 2007 2:32PM

The psp is why i got bak in to handhelds, theres way to few games that i would enjoy on the ds. If i was 12 again and still worship mario and pokemon i would get a ds. But i grew up and now i cant stand pokemon.

Johnny Lasley @ Apr 10th 2007 1:13PM

He is right. Don't use fanboy stereotypes like "kiddy" and "violent" games, even though both are somewhat true. There is a deeper difference between DS users and PSP users.

Sol.. @ Apr 10th 2007 4:12PM

Seriously, when will nintendo freaks (please note that mario and pokemon riff in the article because thats SO true) get the message that the DS is for different people. I'll admit that the kiddy argument is old and fairly ignorant on whats hot in japan, but you really have to be on that jpop wavelength to enjoy it or any nintendo product and thats REAL.

also please acknowledge that bias can affect how you percieve a game. Because I LOVE british crime films and dialog i absolutely ADORE the getaway series. You won't hear me pointing out it's obvious, extremely fustrating flaws.

Extinction @ Apr 10th 2007 2:09PM

I agree with him completely, and this is why I don't like the DS

Szu @ Apr 10th 2007 3:15PM

It's true that the PSP is gear toward the 20-something male demographic. But the DS covers that demographic, the female demographic, and everybody else.

The whole concept of "kiddy" and "mature" has been completely mangled by the some of the gaming community.

So if my grandfather is willing to play with his DS, but ignores the PSP because the games don't appeal to him. Then, isn't the PSP in essence, "kiddy" to him.

Also, my grandfather won't play GTA or Tekken 5 because it's too violent for his taste. Doesn't violent also mean that the game is "mature"? So a game the is geared toward 20-year olds is too "mature" for my 80-year old grandfather.

Kade Storm @ Apr 10th 2007 2:25PM

Wow, side from TXA and poster number 2, we've got education train-wrecks in this very thread. Awesome. The world's going to hell.

Saigon @ Apr 10th 2007 2:48PM

One of the reasons why I like the psp more than ds is because alot of it's games are aimed at a more mature audience. The ds does have games that are aimed at mature gamers as well, but it seems to me that they get overshadowed in popularity by games like Pokemon and Mario. The psp could actually use some of those accessible casual games that ds has, then maybe it could attract more younger gamers(including girls). Also, why hasn't sony released a pink psp yet, or any other colors besides the "masculine black". From what I understand the pink ds has been selling pretty well.

Aaron Walker @ Apr 10th 2007 3:15PM

This seems to be such a retread to me from someone who seems to be dancing the line of starting yet another DS vs. PSP flame war.

That said, I keep wondering why the "industry experts" keep talking about an urgent need for a PSP redesign.

I own the PSP. I like the design of the PSP. I like the PSP doesn't have a dual screen, touch screen or stylus. I like the games for the PSP. Even if it came in different colors, I like the black PSP. That's why I brought the PSP.

I don't like the design of the DS. I don't like the dual screen / touch screen / stylus of the DS. I don't like the games for the DS. I don't care the DS comes in different colors. That's why I didn't buy a DS.

I wish these "industry experts" would stop telling me the system I paid for is some how not good enough. Sony, please listen to actual owners of the PSP about what you should/need/shouldn't/don't need to do with/about the PSP (and at some point down the line) PSP2, and not these industry pundits.

I voted with my dollars for which system I like better. And that's the best kind of voting I can think of.

Saigon @ Apr 10th 2007 3:23PM

@krunkjuice

You're obviously so grown up./sarcasm

http://www.gamespot.com/games.html?type=games&platform=1024&mode=all&sort=score&dlx_type=all&sortdir=asc&sortdir=asc
A link to MORE than a "few" quality psp games.

Well, this post has now become a magnet to retard fanboys.

txa1265 @ Apr 10th 2007 3:42PM

My point original had nothing to do with the useless and tired 'DS vs. PSP' bashfest this has become - why even bother anymore! It is about putting down gamers in both camps based on their preference! The article is sexist and otherwise stereotyping - saying the DS if for girls and kiddies, and that the PSP is for people who want games 'with a backbone' is small-minded tripe, they might as well say 'DS gamers r GAY'!

haywood jablomey @ Apr 10th 2007 4:12PM

"There is a deeper difference between DS users and PSP users."-Johnny Lasley

I agree. DS users are people who love to play video games. PSP users are self-absorbed, shallow individuals who don't really care about good games.

Bring on the hate!

txa1265 @ Apr 10th 2007 4:16PM

@ krunkjuice - what does this have to do with the subject at hand?

I mean, I'm playing the heck out of Call of Duty right now, and while I can (and do) complain about the load times, controls and 30-second wake from sleep, I also have a load of fun. I love FPS and (preferably western style) RPG, and the PSP delivers more of those.

I also love strategy and puzzle and adventure (classic) games, and the DS owns those areas.

The DS does poorly in areas where fast paced, graphic rich environments are called for - as an example, I recently played for review back to back MACH for the PSP and F-24 Stealth Fighter for the DS ... talk about contrast!

Each system has strengths and weaknesses, and each has a pretty decent library - though neither yet touches the GBA library ... but they will.

Saigon @ Apr 10th 2007 4:53PM

That link was meant to show you that there are alot of quality games on psp. As you can see from the frist page, alot of psp games have gotten good reviews. If you wont take one reviewers word for it, just look at the player reviews. So I guess there are only a few psp games YOU enjoy but to me, and apparantley lots of others, there are more than a few.

Saigon @ Apr 10th 2007 5:48PM

Well in comparison to ds, the psp actually has more games with higher scores on reviews sites, like Gamespot, Metacritic, and etc. So if numbers don't lie, then there you go...So I guess that was "enough" reason for 27+ million people to have bought one.

P.S.
How are the games I personally like relevant in this retarded argument we're having?...which I'm now done with btw.

Ben @ Apr 10th 2007 5:54PM

Wow, some of the people here are completely blinded by their fanboyishness. Seriously. There are good games for the DS AND the PSP. So get over it. Different people are going to buy different systems, it depends on their preferences. There will be no one uber-handheld that rules them all, they both have their strengths and weaknesses. So STFU and stop arguing, and go play whichever handheld you might have and have fun.

Mr Khan @ Apr 10th 2007 6:10PM

Both handhelds have a wide variety of games, and the only reason (IMO) the PSP did badly was because it didn't give many gamers something unique and distinct, it gave us PS2 on the go, which wasn't enough to compel many to buy it

However, this CNET article is deliberately inflammatory, i know a few girls who have a PSP, and many of my friends (16-18 year old boys, PSP's key demo) have and love their DS

Someone else who said it here was right, he might as well have just said "DS fans r teh ghey" it would have made the same point

Kade Storm @ Apr 10th 2007 6:51PM

Bloody hell, I gotta' have my say!

You see what I find amusing is that some sad sod in the last page, made this utterly uneducated statement, which went something like, "PSP caters to hardcore gamers, while DS makes games for girls, kids and those *uber nerdy type of gamers.*" (quote isn't accurate, as reading this person's post over would just make me wish to see him being beaten up by jocks)

WORD, BROTHER! HARDCORE GAMERS ARE LIKE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAMERS! NOTHING LIKE 'UBER NERDY GAMERS'. Afterall uber-nerdy-gamers, play too many games - they're hardcore - OH, CRAP = PARADOX! Last time I checked, hardcore gamers were the ones viewed as nerds! But truth be told, it's this particularly arrant group of people that reinforce the bad videogame-geek stereotype. These are the gamers actually starts using the same bad vocabulary (nerd; geek; gay) to berate other gamers that he/she (mostly he) considers lowly.

Let me be one of the few to say that 'hardcore gamer' punks like this shmuck are the fanatic nerds of the gaming commune, and they're a friggin' disgrace to gaming as a hobby.

And getting back on-topic: Someone also added to the ignorance by saying that there's a deeper difference between DS players and PSP players. Damn, and I play both! OH, I AM SUFFERING AN INTERNAL SCHISM! I AM SPLITTING APART LIKE A HUMAN CELL UNDERGOING DUPLICATION! THERE'S A DEEPER, CONTRASTING DIFFERENCE... WITHIN ME!

Ha! Ha! What a joke!

yanipheonu @ Apr 10th 2007 8:52PM

@ #4

You see, it's people like you who have caused me to have no desire to go online with Playstation fans... A lot of them seem to be arrogant jerks who value you based on your system preference....

I hate the rampant fanboyisms on both sides. Just f**king try both, if it doesn't fit your lifestyle, fine. Just don't bash a system because you happen to not like it. Not everyone who likes the system you don't like are "huge geeks". I used to be a huge Nintendo fanboy, but this got in the way of me experiencing some great games, as I would always bash the PSP.

That said, I'm planning to get a PSP, mostly because I happened to want some sort of video player anyways. And I'm perfectly OK with all the other systems in the gaming universe.

Ryan @ Apr 10th 2007 8:48PM

@krunkjuice

I was reading this great review of a game call Puzzle quest Challenge Its seem like a great M rated game for close minded person like me. Oh nvm its Not M rated. But hey its on the ds too So u can enjoy it. Oh wait, bad news game rankings has it at 79% But hey u can get the psp version its got a great score of 87% Must be the one analog joy stick.

I could go on with a few more games on both handhelds but i think u got the idea. And oh Puzzle quest, Its a pretty good puzzle game. If u enjoy them check it out.

Luis @ Apr 10th 2007 9:42PM

I agree with some stuff he says. Heck I was 11 when i got my psp.

neyLa @ Apr 10th 2007 10:44PM

how do i understood girl ¯\(o_O)/¯

Also: the DS vs PSP argument will go on forever. Just... learn to accept that the other guy likes the system he uses?

Dahk @ Apr 10th 2007 11:50PM

Its like the Porsche vs. Ferrari argument.

These things will go on forever.

jamar @ Apr 11th 2007 9:34AM

The PSP's appeal doesn't necessarily lie in the "violent" games (hell, I only like about 15 titles out of the whole PSP library- all but 5 were Japan-only). I like the PSP because of the "kiddie" games like Taiko no Tatsujin Portable (The US only got a PS2 version of this game), Katamari, and Densha de GO (well, it's a stretch to call a train simulator a kiddie game). I also have a DS- I like games like Phoenix Wright (I speak Chinese too, so I have fan-translations of all 3 PW games on my PSP with an emulator- I only got the DS version for the extra case), Cooking Navi (it's a Japanese recipe guide- because I would otherwise not have a clue how to cook), a Japanese-English dictionary, and a Korean-English dictionary. Well, Ouendan too (the songs in Elite Beat Agents seem to rub me the wrong way- I'll stick to the J-pop and I'm eagerly waiting for Ouendan 2) Each has its own advantages, but the DS definitely appeals to more people with its non-games (especially the dictionaries and cooking guide). The PSP is more of an entertainment device.

Extinction @ Apr 11th 2007 8:59PM

"The DS library includes the GBA library"

The PSP library includes the NES/SNES/N64/GBC/GBA/PS1/Master/Gamegear/Genesis/MSX/NeoGeo/Wonderswan/etc/etc

pixelator @ Apr 11th 2007 1:00PM

"Don't take my word for it, read some reviews"

Trust me, we aren't taking your word for it.

Speaking of those reviews and that 'broken gameplay' you refer to, might want to check those scores. IGN, Gamespot and meta sites like Gamerankings and Metacritic all list more highly rated games on PSP than DS, and more low rated games on DS than PSP.

"The DS library includes the GBA library."

Then the PSP library includes a growing portion of the PS1 library, as well as tons of emulation platforms via homebrew.

"DS users are people who love to play video games. PSP users are self-absorbed, shallow individuals who don't really care about good games."

Clearly it's the trolling DS users like yourself that are self-absorbed and shallow that they can't allow for the PSP having good games, nor that PSP owners have a love for gaming. Talk about pot calling the kettle black...

"Its for kids and girls or uber nerds, geeks, Mario freaks, Pokemon nerds that like those kid games."

And thanks for reminding us that insecure fanboys span both ends of the DS/PSP spectrum. Needless to say, the DS library is not limited to or even necessarily defined by, Mario and Pokemon. I personally would prefer fewer iterations of those two franchises, but then again, the PSP has more than its share of retreads and ports.

"You can argue that all you want but the numbers don't lie."

Right, and the number show the PSP is doing far better than any other non-Nintendo handheld in history, and better than the Gamecube did at this point in its life. Keep shooting your argument in the foot like that and nobody else will have to post at all. You'll refute yourself just fine.

"Last time I checked, hardcore gamers were the ones viewed as nerds! But truth be told, it's this particularly arrant group of people that reinforce the bad videogame-geek stereotype."

A-fricking-men. This bears repeating (or branding into the forehead of every Sony or Nintendo hypocrite fanboy troll).

"The PSP's appeal doesn't necessarily lie in the "violent" games"

Also bears repeating. My favorite PSP games include Puzzle Bobble, Ridge Racer, Daxter, Ratchet, LocoRoco, Lego Star Wars II, Katamari and others.

All that said, the analyst was no better than any of the DS or PSP bashing fanboys. Tripe like his should simply not be printed. Waste of time to read, waste of life to bicker over.

NeverSage @ Apr 11th 2007 7:55PM

"I wish these "industry experts" would stop telling me the system I paid for is some how not good enough. Sony, please listen to actual owners of the PSP about what you should/need/shouldn't/don't need to do with/about the PSP (and at some point down the line) PSP2, and not these industry pundits."

I don't disagree with you that the PSP is fine, but the reason they don't listen to you is BECAUSE you already own one. They want to sell it to all the people who don't have one. They have to listen to what they say. And obviously there's something the DS has that the PSP lacks. I don't know what it is exactly, but it's selling like crazy.

@Kade Storm

W00t! Yeah, I said it.