Rebellion CTO: PSP 'kicking arse,' just in the shadow of DS

by Alan Tsang { Jun 21st 2008 at 9:00PM }

Rebellion CTO Chris Kingsley sat down with GamesIndustry.biz in an interview and he had quite a few positive things to say about the PSP. However, he claims that publishing games on the PSP "wasn't a deliberate choice, it just happened. We were very keen on it as a platform and it took off for us." Earlier during the the week, Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley echoed similar sentiments.

The CTO went on further to say that Sony's handheld has a good few years left in it, thanks to its versatility, but admits that publishers are not as keen as they once were about software on the PSP. Why? It isn't piracy, according to Kingsley, but rather developers want "to work on the flashy, high-end stuff." He cites the PS2 as a "less glamorous platform" that has remained economically viable for publishers because the software matches the right platform -- Kingsley feels the reason why the PSP has been "kicking the arse of pretty much every other system out there" in Japan is precisely because it has the right games. His illation on the PSP is that Sony has "done a great job," with "tens of millions of PSPs ... worldwide." but that its "incredible" success has been overshadowed by the DS.

Tags: developer, ds, gamesindustry.biz, rebellion

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Joe @ Jun 21st 2008 9:07PM

I wonder if this is a sign that Rebellion is going to make more PSP games or is wanting Sony to pay them to make games for the PSP. I would love to see Sony buy Rebellion seeing as Rebellion is a great independent dev out there. Plus if Sony were to buy them Rebellion could help both the PSP and PS3 with getting more new games out there on each system.

Andrew @ Jun 21st 2008 10:43PM

^^^ I agree

cafecito @ Jun 21st 2008 11:15PM

Rebellion should work on original stuff for the PSP. I'm sure they have the tech expertise, experience and talent. That's easier said than done tho, I'm sure...

Jeremy @ Jun 21st 2008 11:31PM

They've mostly done licensed games for the PSP, which actually have sold okay, despite being so-so quality.

They should talk to Kuju, who have put out some decent, original IP on the PSP only to see it flop.

cafecito @ Jun 21st 2008 11:53PM

The PSP crowd's a difficult one to please...

Jacksons @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:05AM

It's doing pretty well for a system that has so few titles geared towards kids.

Zippon @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:37AM

*.....publishers are not as keen as they once were about software on the PSP. Why? It isn't piracy, according to Kingsley, but rather developers want "to work on the flashy, high-end stuff."*

Sorry, but I call BS on this. According to Kingsley's comments, developers should be primarily making games for the PS3 and 360. But "primitive" systems like Wii and DS get tons of titles as well.

Swing and a miss....

Wayne @ Jun 22nd 2008 2:50AM

They want easy money. They will make games for the system that will make them the most money.

Zippon @ Jun 22nd 2008 3:48AM

Bingo!

We can argue all day as to WHY software doesn't sell on the PSP (outside of Japan), but sales are what drives all of these developers' plans.

Don @ Jun 22nd 2008 2:15PM

That's not entirely true about Wii & DS. Wii hasn't been getting very many games for awhile now... and from what I can tell, even DS hasn't either.

naxe @ Jun 22nd 2008 3:16AM

The thing that has hurt the psp isnt the piracy. Its pricing. the quality of the game doesnt match up with the high cost. 40+ for a half ass game hardly seems worth it to me. there are a few exceptions to that opinion and they are all big sellers.

not everyone has hacked their psp's to pirate games. but sony needs to pick up the slack when it comes to innovative games and quality games on the psp.

Zippon @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:11AM

You will be hard-pressed to find a PSP game that costs $40+. The vast majority cost $15-$30.

I agree that we get a lot of half-baked attempts, but DS games are even worse (quality and complexity), and they cost $15-$40 as well. :-/

Alien @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:06AM

Well Rebellion had many games on the PSP , and most of them did pretty well financially . I would like to see them working on more PSP games , tough they stated that they want to move on to onto the next-gen consoles ...

andwhyisit @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:23AM

@Zippon

$60-$70 new outside of America.

Oh and Sony of Japan seem to be the only ones making a effort with the PSP, which explains the good sales. Sony of America only seems to focus on the PS3, and SCEE obviously doesn't give a shit.

Zippon @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:14PM

I know prices are higher for games outside the US. But is that unique to the PSP? If people want to blame high prices for poor PSP sales, stating that they cost $60-70 outside of America is irrelevant if games for other systems cost just as much. What do 360 and PS3 games cost? $100+?