PSP needs more third party titles

by Majed Athab { Jun 4th 2008 at 12:45PM }

There's no doubt in our minds that this gaming drought surely needs to end. First party titles have been quite good in keeping us PSP gamers entertained, but what happened with third party titles? There has been a significant drop of PSP third party titles since the initial years of portable PlayStation and we're wondering where the future of PSP software is heading.

Pocket Gamer is thinking the same as they've asked their readers on what third party titles they would like to see appear on the PSP. The answers have been varied and, perhaps, this means there's still lots of options for developers to play around with. We know our own readers are quite vocal about what games they want, too, so we're posing the same question onto you. What sort of third party titles do you want to see on the PSP?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jun 4th 2008 12:58PM

More casual, quirky, cute, quick pick me up and play games like LocoRoco. I think we have enough RPGs at the moment for now. : )

Daniel @ Jun 4th 2008 1:48PM

RPGs and "good" RPGs are two different things. And I don't mean SRPGs, I mean true 3D JRPGs. Not these sprite SNES style RPGs.

Kylock @ Jun 4th 2008 2:13PM

I didn't realize that 3D rpgs were the only 'true' RPGs. When did I miss that memo?

Frastoglegnia @ Jun 4th 2008 2:40PM

As much as I like Crisis Core's blockbuster movie approach, the upcoming Yggdra Union update will be the new game for RPG purists.

"Good" RPGs have to be 3-D and not use sprites? I've always heard the opposite: That "real" RPGs (crawlers) are often more concerned with customization, stat manipulation and personal progress than elaborate cut-scenes and intricate storylines. That's why so many hardcore RPG fans loved Etrian Odyssey (and didn't care about the primitive graphics), while the critics' choice, Jeanne d'Arc, is usually suggested as a fine starting point for RPG beginners. And the whole point of sprites is to allow significant portions of the battlefield/dungeon to be seen on a relatively small screen. That's why the characters become homunculi during battles: it's a semi-aerial view.

Characterizing 3-D RPGs as "real" and "good" and sprite-driven SRPGs as "bad" and "phony" is ridiculous. Players who excel at either kind of game are concerned not with graphics and cut scenes but strategy and stat manipulation.

Ayrkain @ Jun 4th 2008 1:26PM

Y'know the PSP's recent success in Japan was based primarily on two games: Crisis Core and Monster Hunter Portable 2G. Guess which two games didn't get a mention in that article at all?

tim @ Jun 4th 2008 1:27PM

i think some pick and play games.. final fantasy remakes, a few more great puzzles games (think when lumines first came out), sly cooper portable, more nis america remakes. As for psone games: ACTUALLY put some out. and some more new downloadable games like echochrome.
there are so many possibilities... sony just needs to put in some effort

Hashbrown Hunter @ Jun 4th 2008 2:25PM

I think that is the main reason why Sony should have the PSN and downloadable games for PSP. Because at times like this when PSP has no retail games, Sony itself can capitalize on desperate gamers wanting a new fix :D

A win-win situation IMO.

PostedOval @ Jun 4th 2008 1:36PM

Crisis Core was FANTASTIC on the PSP... and sold very well.

matt @ Jun 4th 2008 1:48PM

See CFW and Hackers for the reason why there are no more 3rd party games.

I disagrees with you Ninjakamster, besides FF:CC, I'm still waiting for a decent RPG. I would also like to see a lot of platformers and PS1 remakes.

Hashbrown Hunter @ Jun 4th 2008 2:15PM

Yes, we all know that hackers and the rampant piracy on the PSP has been the one we've been pointing the finger towards for a long time.

But if anything they were kicking it while it was already down.

If some of you don't remember, the PSP wasn't so hot after the first year it was out. Things had slowed down a LOT because a lot of people thought the PSP was a disappointment. THEN the piracy scene exploded once the GTA hack was discovered and then other exploits uncovered in the firmwares.

The pirates and homebrew community just took advantage of the situation.

Saigon @ Jun 4th 2008 1:50PM

I personally want more(i.e. a $h!tload more) rpgs and srpgs.

@ninjamaster - psp definitely doesn't have alot of rpgs, especially compared to the ds.

Squenix needs to start showing the psp more attention, especially now that it's continually #1 on hardware sales in Japan. They've given the ds: dragon quest, mana games, front mission, more ff games, and now the new Valkyrie Profile. *shakes head in disappointment* Like WTF?!

Well, at least we're getting Dissidia, and Birth by Sleep. Which should both be kickass.

tracy @ Jun 4th 2008 1:50PM

If anybody is looking for a sliver slim psp i'm selling mine for 150.00

BlackFreefall @ Jun 4th 2008 1:51PM

Does anyone remember that petition asking Capcom to bring Resident Evil for the PSP?

Mikhail @ Jun 4th 2008 2:00PM

I want to see a 2D game from Vanillaware.

strike @ Jun 4th 2008 2:00PM

Dont forget, Guilty Gear is also comin soon. Can't wait for Birth By Sleep and Dissidia, they're gonna be system sellers!!!

Also, I do not think there are that many original RPG's, like Dragon Quest, just SRPG's (which isn't nessacerily a bad thing, but I'd happily replace a few with JRPG's).

Tracy:

Is it on ebay? If so, can you give me a link? Thanks

cafecito @ Jun 4th 2008 2:15PM

Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden, Dragon Quest, Street Fighter, Soul Calibur, KOF, A -good- Tenchu, Grandia, etc... the list is endless. Oh! And a Kart game.

Pilch @ Jun 5th 2008 5:44AM

I'm also in with Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden, Street Fighter IV and Soul Calibur.

I would also add to the list Okami, ICO and Shadow of the Colossus and some more GOW/Heavenly Sword style games

Dreadhead541 @ Jun 4th 2008 2:22PM

soul calibur

Neuromancer @ Jun 4th 2008 2:46PM

Hell yeah!!! A remake of SC2 would be fantastic.

min @ Jun 4th 2008 2:22PM

I'd like to see more RPG's, Square Enix has stolen my heart for the time being, so i'd really like for some new amazing story lines. I'd also have been hoping for a Soul Reaver on the PSP along with a few other psx's. Maybe some more quick fun games like Katamari.

Jacksons @ Jun 4th 2008 2:35PM

I see nearly everyone's an RPG fan, but I'd rather see more 3d action/platformer type stuff.

min @ Jun 4th 2008 2:39PM

I agree, I could go on with a list of action shooters and fighters.
But latley iv'e been catching up on alot of RPG's which is why they're first on my list.

theMediaman @ Jun 4th 2008 3:00PM

I'd be happy with more portable PS1 content.

If they figured out how to get all three discs of FF:VII as a downloadable game, it would sell to everyone who's finished Crisis Core.

andwhyisit @ Jun 4th 2008 7:40PM

The current pops (pops is the psx emulator that sony made that runs all of these psn ps1 games) does not run ff7. Though you could use an earlier version of pops with popsloader, but that isn't possible with official firmware. So no chance of ff7 until another version of pops is released by sony to support it.

blindelf @ Jun 4th 2008 2:44PM

My dream for PSP would include another round of serious support from Capcom (Resident Evil, Devil May cry, PSP support for the new hi-res SF2 download game...maybe a PSP Okami...)

and Namco! Come on! You give us stuff like Tekken: DR and Ace Combat X and then abandon us!? Soul Calibur! More Ace Combat, more something...another Ridge Racer even...

oh, just for kicks, SEGA...how about a hardcore 2D traditional-style PSP Sonic? maybe new versions of Jet set Radio and Panzer dragoon...

and as for Sony...how about a whole bunch more PS1 d/l games!?

and oh yeah...Gran Turismo...seriously...

joey @ Jun 4th 2008 3:10PM

Can I have KOF 97 or 98 with tight controls.

Does anyone know if there's a port of Battle City / Tanks from NES days? I don't want to hack my PSP.
Actually, can I have Virtual Console for PSP?

andwhyisit @ Jun 4th 2008 9:26PM

I am planning to get a Wii, buy games from the virtual console so that I legally own them, then get roms for them and play them on my PSP. Would cost me $520 ($400 for a Wii and $120 for Wii Points for the games I want), but that is nothing compared to the cost of some of those rarer titles. Chrono Trigger cost me $300!

TibyAndy @ Jun 4th 2008 3:12PM

I like games that you can pick and play quickly. Rhythm games, retro-style games (platform, shooters), puzzles and action games are a must for me.

PSP is a platform perfect for those Genesis/SNES like games. Remember Havoc? Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel? Streets of Rage? Good old Sonic days? I'd love having games like these on my portable system. And I'm not talking about emulation. I'm talking about new games.

lorddshadow @ Jun 4th 2008 3:24PM

Okami
Soul Calibur
Monster Hunter Freedom 2G in English
Devil May Cry
A Remake of Metal Gear Solid / PSN Download
Gran Turismo
Resistance: FoM (remember that article about that)
Another Ratchet and Clank
Patapon Sequel
Longer God of War
New Final Fantasy

henry @ Jun 4th 2008 3:27PM

I want more figthing games ^^ Katekyo hitman reborn is coming september if i read the article right, and theres the king of fighter, but i want another installment in the dragonball z psp game series, it's good but not with that many characters

pixelator @ Jun 4th 2008 3:41PM

It's all well and good to say the PSP 'needs' more 3rd party titles, but it's quite another thing to get third party developers and publishers to pay for production of same.

With PSP software sales (especially in the US) dragging ass, there's not much incentive for that to happen. It will take work by Sony. We need to see more imported Japanese accessories and varied titles properly localized and promoted. We need to see less insane-o-advertising and more well thought out practical advertising. Developers incentives, training seminars and other assistance from SCEA would help. It might be surprising how quickly a publisher could allocate a dev team if they got some hardware to work with on loan from Sony.

Sony -desperately- (and quickly) needs to get behind their little breadwinner - because that isn't going to be the PS3 for the foreseeable future.

Jeff Brown @ Jun 4th 2008 3:49PM

I'd like to see more Final Fantasy, Front Mission, maybe a portable sequel to Rogue Galaxy, Metal Gear Solid (but not part of the Acid series), Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Stories, etc.

Dr Haisook @ Jun 4th 2008 3:42PM

I'd like to see Yuusha No Kuse Ni Namaikida in English. This game is brilliant. Truly one of a kind. And I think it would take just a couple of hours to translate. Text in the game is so minimal, but vital.

Cory @ Jun 4th 2008 4:12PM

Really want to see Civilization ported to the PSP... that would rock.

FPS A-Holic @ Jun 4th 2008 4:45PM

A really good First Person Shooter. I mean, Medal Of Honor 1 and 2 are great, they're defiantly the best FPS games on the PSP. But I'd like a finely tuned one, one that gave more. Syphon Filter is amazing, but it's third person, we really need another good FPS.

Lezard @ Jun 4th 2008 5:28PM

Well, first of all, how about letting us Americans have the Tales of Phantasia(Full Voice Edition), Eternia, and Rebirth ports? I hate the fact that almost that entire franchise was never released in the states. They gave us Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology, which I think was amazingly fun, so why not those ports? I think those could do quite well over here.

Jeremy @ Jun 4th 2008 8:57PM

Unfortunately, Tales of the World didn't sell very well. So I doubt they will bring over any other Tales games for the PSP

People say they want more rpgs on the PSP, but they haven't bought the many RPGs that PSP already has. People only want A list stuff, but developers aren't going to spend the money to make those (or localize them).

Maverick Saturn @ Jun 4th 2008 5:57PM

Monster Hunter with online is all I care about at the moment.

Gennataos @ Jun 4th 2008 6:49PM

I want to see more good western RPGs. Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony is a lot of fun and a step in the right direction. Next I'd absolutely love to see something like Neverwinter Nights brought to the PSP. You know, if we're dreaming here...

Jeremy @ Jun 4th 2008 9:00PM

Yeah, but Dungeon Siege bombed pretty hard. I got it from Best Buy for $5 only about 4 months after it came out.

Dave @ Jun 4th 2008 6:54PM

GRAN TURISMO PLEASE.

And also a kart game would be nice.

And just give us about 50 decent PS1 games. I have no qualms dropping 5.99 on a decent PS1 game.

mljachko @ Jun 4th 2008 7:04PM

more really original games like gitaroo man lives

Zippon @ Jun 4th 2008 7:56PM

Third party developers don't see the PSP as attractive because even when they do put out great titles, hip, rebellious users simply steal them (and then complain about the lack of new games).

The only reason Sony keeps putting out games is because they have a vested interest in selling more hardware.

(And yes, Sony could advertise better and do a lot of other things better, but piracy is the sinking ship and those other things amount to nothing more than rearranging the chairs and straightening the tables as the ship goes down.)

pixelator @ Jun 4th 2008 9:10PM

There's no hard evidence that 'hackers' (piracy) are impacting the PSP market more than a drought of new hot titles, relatively poor advertising, lack of hardware add-ons, mediocre PS Store support and virtually no games being imported from Japan.

Sony needs to support their breadwinner in the USA better. It's their strongest platform in the market and has a solid installed base... If the 360 can keep chugging along, so too should the PSP be able to pull out better software sales.

PS - there's piracy on all platforms, especially the DS and formerly the GBA. It doesn't make that big a difference as long as you have interest in your system...

bryansurvive @ Jun 4th 2008 8:39PM

i no longer believe that hacker are slowing down the psp.
dont you remember ps2 was getting hacked like crazy and you could burn a game without any knowledge. you could easily chip you station for like 50 bucks or less.
either way. f$*k piracy i like to buy my games. i want:
resident evil
devil may cry
grand tourismo
Ehrgeiz (remake)
driver
parasite eve
shadow of the colussus
mega man legends(i like the 3d worlds on this game.)
rival schools.....
why am i still talking sony and third partys! you should already know what to do. Im not in this for money. im in this for playing games and giving you my money. that should be a good reason alone. oh and to see me smile. :)

Smokey @ Jun 4th 2008 10:12PM

I think that the psp needs more "handheld" fun and light experiences, we're spoiled with a lot of full on, well made, well executed grand games, like Logan's Shadow and such. But if we had more down the line of Lumines and LocoRoco it would open up a new market much more, and the great thing about those types of games is that developers can afford to have a lesser budget, but still put out a damn fine game.

so I say puzzle, adventure, and perhaps even 2d rpgs with nonlinear structures and highly open ended (if they're 3d great, but i'd rather those 2 things than beautiful graphics) would be the way to go for 3rd party developers right now.

It'd be nice to get say some resident evil, tenchu, and other long standing titles to put on the system, but I think it's much more exciting for 3rd parties to do more unique things, which aren't being done on other systems with the psp.

Virtuous @ Jun 4th 2008 10:21PM

The PSP doesn't need any more sprite-based RPGs. The PSP needs more titles that take full advantage of the PSP's greater graphics capabilities vs. the DS.

Mikhail @ Jun 5th 2008 11:36AM

that is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard, a sprite-based game could take advantage of the PSP hardware look really god as well.

Joe @ Jun 4th 2008 10:39PM

I so want more games on the PSP. Even if they are remakes. Plus just a few weeks back in Famitsu they asked what system that people wanted remakes on and it was the PSP then PS3 not the DS which devs think people want there games on.

I also want more new IPs I still am wishing Gekido will come out. THis game was a GOW and DMC kind of game and I don't know what ever happened to it. Also there seems to be not that many new PSP games coming out any more and I hope come E3 there will be many new games from Sony and third party members. Because right now there is to few out there.

Also another thing I hate about third party members when ever there is a movie based game there is not one for the PSP ever other system gets a game just no PSP. I may hate those kind of games but having those on the PSP help the PSP. Also when you see those games on systems like the Ngage you get pretty mad.

So I want devs to make more PSP games. Because people do want them even though the devs think every one pirates games they do not. I for one do not know how to and even if I did I would never do that. So it sucks when I see games for other systems just not on the PSP and I want new ones. Because I have not touched my PSP in some time and the last game was Crisis Core and that was some time ago.