PSP software holds no place on 2007 bestseller list
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Apr 10th 2008 at 12:30PM }
2007 was a pretty incredible year for PSP, wasn't it? It featured some fantastic games, such as Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, Jeanne d'Arc, and more. Unfortunately, too few actually went out to buy these games.Next-Gen compiled a list of the bestselling games from 2007, and PSP exclusives managed to get zero games on their list of 100 games. (Data is compiled from the US and UK. Japan is not included.) That means no PSP games managed to break 460k sales (the total of the 100th ranked game) in all of 2007.
Is piracy making a significant dent on PSP software sales? We'd say "yes." No wonder Sony is asking about the homebrew situation; and no wonder the PSP library for the rest of the year is so slim -- publishers have been burned.
[Via P3F]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
dabamf @ Apr 10th 2008 12:42PM
That's lame...I didn't realize it while looking through the list. The same thing is happening to the PSP as is happening to the PC, and honest gamers are the ones that miss out.
Lars @ Apr 11th 2008 2:44PM
I don't know about that. I would think it's expected for a portable. I know I only buy PSP games when I'm going on a trip unless there's something really good that I just have to play like GoW:CoO.
The DS is completely different to me though. People use it as a pacifier for their kids. I expect anything meant for kids to way outsell anything for teens-adults. The DS is just another Furbie or Tickle Me Elmo. I'm not saying that there is nothing there for adults too, but it's generally geared towards kids.
midnightshade @ Apr 18th 2008 1:47AM
That sucks, and it really sucks for me, as they are my 2 systems. PC, and psp. both of them are having less and less releases. It sucks big time, both are open type platforms (well the psp is with cfw) and are the most powerful systems in there category. My girl controls the tv, so consoles are out, not that I would want to pay $60 for dumbed down console games anyway! I love pc games, and psp games are great too. Sony needs to get some devs on this. The psp is selling a lot, but there is nothing to look forward to now that crisis core and gow are out.
calot @ Apr 10th 2008 12:49PM
Dude most people in here download pirate games. PSP owners are destroying the psp. While some games sell very well, most dont. Jeanne Darc, final fantasy tactics, silent hill, and other great games deserved to sell much much more. Stop downloading games people youre doing a wrong to yourself and million other psp users
Duffski @ Apr 11th 2008 11:48AM
"...most people in here download pirate games..." How can you say that? What evidence do you have? I have never downloaded a pirate game, and although I somtimes wait for a game's price to drop before I buy (the new title price can be too much for me to justify spending on a game), I always buy the UMD game. I would prefer to do that to support the PSP and its sales - and that's the only way that the console will survive and more game come out.
I just wish that Sony would put the same effort into the UK that it does into Japan... If they put ads on TV, ads in mags, and ads at cinemas for games like GOW, Patapon, Syphon Filter, etc, (showing the game play, not the cr*p ads with stretchy-rubbery faces) then they may actually see increased sales - surely it's worth a try?!
I am really pi**ed off with Blockbuster who have just stopped selling all PSP games, and with W H Smith who have done the same - I don't live near a real game shop. All they seem to sell now are crap Nintendo games - like Nintendogs! Why are these useless games consuming so much space in shops? Where's all the decent stuff?
And finally - if Sony sorted itself out and released all games worldwide at roughly the same time I imagine that fewer poeple would turn to piracy to get hold of them. Why for instance can you only get hold of Resident Evil on the PSP store in Japan??? I'd love to play that, but will not turn to piracy so I can't. But no, instead we get 'quality' games like Reel Fishing and Judge Dredd... Who are Sony employing?! Are they all idiots not to understand that thay are pi**ing off their own customers?
Dogmeat @ Apr 10th 2008 1:14PM
dang that sucks.
GoBob @ Apr 10th 2008 12:50PM
Interesting. What about the DS? Piracy is much worse on there. It's strange, I didn't really buy a lot of games(like 8?). I'm wondering if the sluggish sales are a combination of piracy and used game sales. Some people aren't too thrilled in paying $30-40 for a portable game. I know I bought 2-3 PSP games new off of ebay and one or two used games.
GoBob @ Apr 10th 2008 12:53PM
Also, those three great games mentioned were released when? Last April? When did you see an ad on TV for these games? I also blame poor marketing. Fortunately, Crisis Core is getting good TV time, so I expect sales to be quite good. That, and FF7 stuff sells itself.
Kane The Second @ Apr 10th 2008 1:02PM
ugh more whining and bitching about piracy. Piracy is EVERYWHERE PSP, DS, PC, 360, Wii, Movies, Music, Porn and Anime.
Its SONY's fault that PSP software isn't doing so well, first of all they should have made the PSP more secure and second they need to advertise their games more and by their games I mean all games and not just God Of War and Crisis Core.
dabamf @ Apr 10th 2008 1:32PM
I heard from one of the hacker websites that said when the PSP first came out the hardware was very easy to hack. Because Sony started with such a vulnerable system, even firmware updates would never be able to fully keep people out!
RadioScott @ Apr 10th 2008 1:06PM
I have to admit that that's some sobering news. Kinda makes you wonder about the 10-year life cycle story that went around a few weeks ago.
This is part of a much larger issue. Piracy of all kinds of media is here to stay, and it's only getting easier. Sony and all other game companies, music companies, etc. need to come up with a new way to monetize content. Going to a store to buy entertainment is a centuries old business model that simply doesn't apply anymore, especially when it's so much easier and cheaper to be a pirate.
Sure, you guys can keep appealing to a sense of consumer altruism. But, come on, where's the corporate altruism? Putting those two words together actually makes me laugh. So, nobody's going to feel a need to do right by the corporations.
Nope. The Sonys of the world are going to have to come up with a better reason to get consumers to give them money.
Jason @ Apr 10th 2008 3:24PM
Your comments about consumer/corporate altruism are dead-on in my opinion. Call me cynical but I really do think that all corporations operate at the very threshold of "screwing the consumer"; its all about the bottom line. Well for most consumers its got to be all about the bottom line as well.
Plus the fact that you sit at a computer and d/l free stuff takes the feeling of risk out of it. You're not hurrying out of the store with a game in your pants, hoping nobody notices. You're not breaking into somebody's house and taking a game or two. The ratio of risk to reward is very heavy in "rewards" favor so a lot of people who wouldn't have the guts to chunk a brick through Gamestop's storefront and make off with a bunch of games most certainly have the guts to "right-click save-as".
All morality arguments aside; If you can get item "A" for $40.00 or for $0, which would you do?
Cyden @ Apr 10th 2008 9:20PM
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All morality arguments aside; If you can get item "A" for $40.00 or for $0, which would you do?
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A good point, and I'm with you, but there are exceptions... I just got back from Gamestop with Crisis Core. I'm on custom firmware so I could've just downloaded it, but for some reason I wanted to own it.
A real big selling point on custom firmware for me is older games (though I admit that for most people its piracy pure and simple). I bought FF1 and FF2 back when they re-released them and when those games came to a close I found myself wanting to play part 4 and 6 again... Since the PSP doesn't have the remakes of those games like the wretched DS does, my PSP was hacked the next day to accommodate me.
Lets face it, the PSP in its unlocked state can play damn near anything, from DOS games to NES and PS1 games. And while Silent Hill 0rigins was a nice show of support, it only triggered a thirst for a portable Resident Evil, which has yet to be released outside of the Japanese PSP Store. So lack of strong support leads to hacking which in turn, diminishes support further... A vicious little circle.
Kenneth @ Apr 10th 2008 1:08PM
But i just saw Burnout Dominator, Spiderman Friend or Foe, Ben 10: Protectors of Earth, Crash of the Titans, Tomb Raider: Anniversary, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas, The Bigs, MX Vs ATV: Untamed, Football Manager 2008, The Sims 2: Castaway, NBA Live 08, TMNT, Thrillville: Off the Rails, Shrek the Third, Ratatouille, Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08, Transformers: The Game, Spiderman 3, WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2008, Pro Evolution Soccer 2008, The Simpson Game, Need for Speed: ProStreet, Madden 08, Fifa 08 for the PSP were all on there
dabamf @ Apr 10th 2008 1:17PM
Yes, but they are not PSP exclusives. All that you listed were available for other systems.
dabamf @ Apr 10th 2008 1:20PM
On a related note, you will not find any PC Exclusives on the list either. Eff piracy!!! I'm not going to dump anymore money into a bad-ay gaming system; that's a waste. My apologies to Crysis, Company of Heroes, and World in Conflict. You were great games, but everyone just stole you.
Kylock @ Apr 10th 2008 1:23PM
I bought Crysis!
dabamf @ Apr 10th 2008 1:29PM
I did too! That makes two of us...everyone else downloaded it :-(
DarkDrakonus @ Apr 10th 2008 1:30PM
I don't know about anyone else here, but I am a 29 year old married male, with my first child on the way. I pay a mortgage and car payments plus utilities, and with the economy the way it is right now I seriously cannot justify paying $40-$70 on a single game. So I go to a local shop and buy the games used when they come in. I can usually save myself 50% off new price. There have been a few games like WipEout Pulse and Lumines 2 that I have bought new because I played the older ones and really enjoyed them. And there are a few games that are coming out that I will buy new, like the new R-Type and Space Invaders Extreme, mainly because I was able to play the demos to those games.
Honestly, if Sony got off their ass and solved their liscensing issues with other developers and brought out more demos, I think sales would be better for them. For me, I am more willing to buy a game new after I have either played a demo or tried it at a store then just seeing screenshots and reading reviews.
Kylock @ Apr 10th 2008 1:35PM
Hear hear! Developers! Hear us, the players, when we say you need to release demos. Most of us don't trust the game review sites any farther than we can throw them... and I haven't learned how to throw data yet!
buzzbean @ Apr 10th 2008 4:03PM
Better than buying used is Goozex. Don't know how many have tried it but it allows you to trade your games for what the market demand is, and buy games for the market cost. I have played through a huge back catalog with this site. I still buy new games I have to have right away, but then trade them out for old games I was on the fence on. Not sure the policy here for shameless promotion but for those who have not heard Goozex rules!
http://www.goozex.com/trading/asp/join.asp?idr=552555158682
Trading allows people to do the right thing and buy a game, rewarding the developer, and still be thrifty and trade finished games. All with out being A$$ raped by 2nd hand stores like GameStop.
JM @ Apr 10th 2008 9:07PM
Right on, man! Personally, $30 for me is the threshold. There's alot of good DS games for $30 and under.
Also, I bought Patapon the day it was available because it was obviously a good game for only $20.
For me, $20-$30 is no-brainer money and $40-$60 is seriously-have-to-think-about-it money.
Frank @ Apr 10th 2008 1:43PM
This has to be on of the stupidest topics I've ever heard. Priacy. HA! That has to be the biggest joke ever, when you have 2 previous topics stating that one game has sold 1.5 MILLION UNITS and the second being that the PSP has outsold every other console for 2 weeks straight.
The problem with this "list" that is completely subjective. It doesn't include Europe or Japan/Asia. So it only measures the relatively small audience of US/UK.
Then you follow the fact that 2007 was not the greatest year for the PSP, since most of the games released were Remakes of previous IPs. It had it good games but nothing note worthy. Silent Hill, Manhunt 2, Battlefront 2, Monster Hunters 2, etc. All very good games but games that for their own reasons failed to attract better sales.
In the end I would not blame piracy as the main problem since there's alot of conflicting data. Even though, there is a small portion which is to blame for that. I would blame a lack of seriously good games(GOW/Crisis Core any one?) and a flawed list. One that most likely wanted to bring a highlight to American games/console maker. This is of course disregarding the fact that consoles have better games, better features.
GoBob @ Apr 10th 2008 1:56PM
Quoted for truth.
Draco @ Apr 10th 2008 1:42PM
When you ignore Japan and the rest of Europe you have to expect Xbox games to take the lead. I mean Monster Hunter would have made the list pretty high. along with many others.
Tru-blu @ Apr 10th 2008 1:48PM
I interested if GOW: COO and FF:CC will be on the Top 100 list for 2008. I purchased both of those games and didn't download them.
bryansurvive @ Apr 10th 2008 1:56PM
are you listening to yourself frank? the psp sold a bunch not the games. PSP not Games. PSp not games. PSP NOT GAMES!!! lol
ehh i agree with whom ever said we should get more demo. i remember psx had demos and those were hella fun. i mean we got wireless the works on our psp and we dont really get much from it. but sony and publisers expects a lot back.
gumby @ Apr 10th 2008 1:54PM
Well I love my psp and I used to buy lots of games for it, probably once a month. But after the PS3 started getting some good titles I have bought less and less in fact the last new game I bought for it was Logans Shadow. I'm interested in the games but it has become more of an issue of time to play with me and unfortunately the psp has been pushed to the back.
RealDoubleJ @ Apr 10th 2008 2:15PM
Note to Sony: Do not make PSP exclusives that appear on the PS2 within 6-12 months. Force developers to stick to their guns & help shift units!
Not every portable gamer (read: anyone who's picked up a gameboy in 20 years) is either a) aware of homebrew or b) doesn't want to do anything illegally but why would they pay more money than a DS for a system that has a non-existent movie/tv show library & the chance to spend 20% more at retail to play GTA: liberty city stories/vice city stories, R&C size matters, silent hill origins & syphon filter (games that were supposed to sell this console) when the ports will come out for a more patient wallet.
For the record: I don't do homebrew because I don't want to accidentally brick my psp in the process of doing it (because there is a good chance it WON'T work) & then have Sony laugh at me when I ask for a replacement
velcry @ Apr 10th 2008 2:58PM
I bought a lot of PSP games last year, though some were used games. Metal Gear Acid / Portable, GOW, Crisis Core, Lumines.
But I refused to purchase some games cause I knew I wouldn't enjoy them much after the 3rd hour playing them, and seriously, $30-$40 for a game I wouldn't be playing very soon after?
Curiously, I'm surprised that so many DS titles made the top 100 list. I would have thought that the DS piracy issue was more problematic, given that it's easier to pirate. As you can see, all the people who said it is Sony's prob is right.
Kenneth @ Apr 10th 2008 2:32PM
o i see.....
freakin piraters are ruining everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
joy @ Apr 10th 2008 2:32PM
Some are now putting the blame on the poor performance of PSP games on piracy. who are the some????
emirabal @ Apr 10th 2008 2:59PM
Again, its been stated before in the commenst, but GIVE ME A BREAK, piracy, PSP doesnt sell games becaue the games they make SUCK ASS, lets be realistic, the greatest game i have seen thusfar is GOW-COO and if the developers took the time and effort to make the games like GOW COO than you wouldnt have people not buying games that suck.
I have bought several games but i have not dropped oney for games i cant be certain about.
Taz @ Apr 10th 2008 2:56PM
I hate people who say, I'm just downloading the games so I can try it out and if I like it, I'll buy it.
Don't try to justify pirating games...
I hope those who homebrew one day bricks their PSPs!!
andwhyisit @ Apr 10th 2008 8:27PM
Homebrew has nothing to do with piracy.
Jacksons @ Apr 10th 2008 3:04PM
I always pick up my favorite franchise games, but that only equaled 5 games in 2007.
Jacksons @ Apr 10th 2008 3:09PM
The $40 price point has kept me from buying a few games right off the bat, sadly. When I read reviews that it'll be over in 3-4 hours and has no replay value..my $40 can be better spent elsewhere. (like on one of many PS2 games I missed that now cost pennies, woot!)
koehler83 @ Apr 10th 2008 3:21PM
lol bricking PSPs is like ancient... Way to keep up with the news. You sound like bible thumpers blaming violence on Grand Theft Auto.
Anyway.. bitch about it all you guys want.. Its funny.
I say wait until next years numbers. When they'll include games people actually care about. Not niche titles like Crush and absolute crap like Star Wars Battlefronts.. which was supposed to be a hardware seller.. HA!
DepheCt @ Apr 10th 2008 4:17PM
I hate these posts talking about piracy is hurting this or that and expecting us to feel bad. Maybe these companys should do a little more work in their anti piracy division, ever think of that? I pirate every single game I can, even more so for the psp. For one... have you ever went looking for a psp game that you loved only to see the store you went to had 10 or less psp games on the shelf? I have... its sad. Yet they complain about piracy.
If they took more time to protect their systems from the get go, this wouldnt happen. I can thinking of about 100 things they could do to stop piracy.. and thats just off the top of my head... which makes you think doesnt it... sure its hurting the devs games, but it sure is bringing in money on consoles sold ;). I know they sell a ton of handhelds due to people knowing they can play games for free.
Anyways, thats my take on it.. now I am off to play some PIRATED Killzone, Poor me.. I am such a bad guy.
DarkDrakonus @ Apr 10th 2008 7:12PM
Its interesting that you say the company should do something about the piracy. The funny thing is, thats what the homebrew love, a good challenge. The people that crack the software to bring you homebrew enjoy the challenge of breaking the code so they can hack it. I'm going to wager that no matter what any gaming company does for piracy protection, its still going to get hacked. Just the way it is these days.
midnightshade @ Apr 18th 2008 1:46AM
Your an f;n a ; hole 0---- you are the reason there are no games coming out, I hope you enjoy those pirated games, and I hope you walk in front of a bus tomorrow! I would laugh thats for sure! One less pirate in the world, good riddance!
bigboy88 @ Apr 10th 2008 4:22PM
I don't think Sony deserves this. They also have to listen to what people r saying 2 them. I e-mailed them a bugfix 2 put in 3.95. I put it in my 3.93 be4 I installed it. Then, 2 test it, I bought a new pandora's battery and put it in the PSP. I still had 3.93
bigboy88 @ Apr 10th 2008 4:22PM
just copy the same 1 from 3.73 and put it in the same place on 3.93
Asaf Singerman @ Apr 10th 2008 4:42PM
I have never pirated a game before, despite this I only buy used games or greatest hit games. As people have said it is really hard to justify paying $40 for a portable game, if developers would make their games longer and include better online multilayer I would feel differently.
I bought both syphone filter games, pre-ordered actually, and still play them because they have great multilayer, but honestly how many other games have as good infasturcture capabilities. GOW was good, but too short and no multiplayer, same with Daxter. The only game I still play without infasturcture that i beat is Burnout and Wipeout.
I cant speak for everyone but I know I would but more games if they offered better multiplayer, were longer, and had more replay value.
Jacksons @ Apr 10th 2008 4:51PM
You might actually be able to speak for everyone on that. The value just isn't there at $40 (usually.)
Lars @ Apr 11th 2008 2:47PM
I thought GoW:CoO had great value. I guess it depends on what you really want out of a game. I'm pretty bored with shooters though, so even though I really enjoyed the first Siphon Filter, I just can't get into the new ones.
held225 @ Apr 10th 2008 4:57PM
Well here is how i look at this: Hackers = criminals. People who pirate games are the lowest of the low and should be registered as cyber criminals. And a lot of people here said "maby Sony should have made it hack prove" there is NO such thing as a hack prove system. And some of also said "Sony should licence more game dev." LOL how? Because of the stupid pirating , game dev. dont make any money making a PSP game! and if they aren't making money why should they make a new PSP game people are gona pirate it anyways...so why bother ?? people keep bitching that there are no good PSP games well why did you buy a PSP in the 1st place hu? so you can pirate DS games on your PSP?... the point is people need to stop hacking every new system just accept it for what it is.
Gorgak @ Apr 10th 2008 5:21PM
I just bought my PSP last month. I don't currently use homebrew because I have no need for it...yet.
I bought a few greatest hits titles and Patapon, which are holding me over for now. But, eventually I'm going to want to play some Mario on this thing.
I don't think homebrew is indicative of piracy. Personalization and modification is fun. My computer, my car, my house, nothing I buy stays stock for long. Homebrew just sounds fun.
Alien @ Apr 10th 2008 5:49PM
Well the PSP has many games in the multiplatform region , and Madden for the PSP did sell over 500k ... so its not a big pitty ... but in the same time I dont see there many 3rd party DS titles neither ...
static @ Apr 10th 2008 6:53PM
Homebrew itself isnt a problem, loopholes for pirates just happen to come with the game. piracy is wrong but once again when you live in the uk/europe and have to wait almost a year for a game which has been out in america for ages(rockband/crisis core) then piracy becomes very appealing i am currently debating if i should downgrade my psp so i can play crisis core before i read all the spoilers of the internet
game developers have invested money in their games and if people don't like the game then thats fine but if they no of torrent downloads for the game surpasses the sales then thats not right and thats downright robbery.
the reason the psp migh be doing so well sale wise is probably because people just get all the games for free
sony should look into more demos and possibly making games downloadable