Sony: iPhone not a threat, GPS coming within 9 months
by Alan Tsang 
{ Jul 18th 2008 at 2:45PM }
Addressing the new iPhone App Store, which has many games available for download on it, Koller feels that the iPhone "is more of a threat to DS than anything else" because of its nature as a secondary gaming device, hence attracting more casual gamers. We agree -- with an onslaught of specialized exclusives coming up like Resistance: Retribution, Papapon 2 and Dissidia: Final Fantasy, it certainly seems the PSP is poised to have a bright future.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
McDoobie @ Jul 18th 2008 3:08PM
Lol, right. Can't compare the iPhone to the DS. Sure, it is a "gaming device," and is more powerful than both the DS and PSP, but it also costs $299/$399 - which is more than a 360 and almost as much as a PS3 - and requires a monthly fee (the bill). Why would either handhelds feel intimidated?
Sean jdahsdka @ Jul 18th 2008 3:09PM
I kind of agree that the iPhone/iPod touch are more of a threat to the DS, because they are, well more casual, and a lot of the games in the App store, are casual (like Monkey Ball). And the PSP is a little more hardcore, with games like Monster Hunger, for example.
tekdroid @ Jul 18th 2008 3:13PM
To compare an iPhone - essentially a phone device with gaming a very poor aftertought (and no tactile controls); to two brilliant devices with tactile controls and great games (as well as many not-so-great) is beyond me.
The markets they are going for are totally different.
1) The consoles don't make calls.
2) Phones only do very few games half-decently, with the overwhelming majority entirely forgettable.
How is this going to change with merely an accelerometer and bigger screen?
Competition? of course not.
Peter R. @ Jul 18th 2008 4:08PM
Thank you tekdroid, at least someone understands. The Iphone is no competition for either the DS or the PSP. First off a good portable gaming device needs tactile controls, the Iphone has none. Of course, some of you may say the DS has proven full touchscreen games can be great(which is true), but to that I say there's a big difference between using your finger for game control than using a much smaller more precise stylus. Because the Iphone is all touchscreen there's a serious limitation on the types of games that can be made for it. I shouldn't even have to mention the storage limitation. No one is really going to purchase the Iphone or Ipod Touch for its gaming capabilities, the PSP and DS just provide better options and more variety in that department.
Andrew Hoffman @ Jul 18th 2008 3:46PM
Nine more months of waiting for GPS functionality? What the hell have of their devs been doing the last year? I feel a little cheated, actually.
tekdroid @ Jul 18th 2008 3:58PM
spare a thought for Australia, with no plans for half-decent mapping software announced at all. Currently you can get some basic mapping happening with MapThis! and a homebrew-enabled PSP, but not much more.
Danny F. @ Jul 19th 2008 11:54AM
I hear ya. The headline is somewhat priceless.
Its like theyre saying "The iPhone is not a threat, GPS is coming in like ummmmmm 9 months..."
Uh iPhone GPS pretty much already... wtf are you gonna do within 9 months that you haven't in the last 2 years Sony???
-_-...
acefondu @ Jul 18th 2008 4:00PM
GPS is a waste. Put more money into getting games for the system. E3 made me very happy with the announcement of Stardust and Resistance. But the GPS is needless.
redbrick @ Jul 18th 2008 4:05PM
Ars has a similar article as well. Comparing the PSP to the iPhone is pointless at best. They target different segments of demand. Given the minor overlapping capabilities of the two devices, this is far from enough to bridge the huge gap to be considered competition. I don’t understand people’s logic sometimes.
Adding capabilities to the PSP is the device’s ONLY redeeming quality at this time. If the GPS (or any enhancing attachments, better PS3 interaction) does not come soon…. the PSP’s will be doomed.
farfisa @ Jul 18th 2008 4:17PM
It's amazing it's taken this long for GPS to get stateside. Hopefully it'll at least be cheap! I'm kind of excited about that one.
I think "new features, new functionality" is part of the reason that nobody's buying games. Sells hardware though! Seriously if it wasn't so versatile, it'd be harder to hack too.
what? @ Jul 18th 2008 4:35PM
agree we need games more than a GPS
I somehow doubt a psp-GPS could ever go toe-to-toe with a proper GPS... and since there is no phone on PSP, the GPS would never be as useful as Google Maps on a phone - so what;'s the point? (which i have on a berry and it's da bomb)
wem003 @ Jul 18th 2008 4:41PM
whatever.... I am done with mine. Tired of waiting for games that interest me to show up.
Time to dump it.
Jeremy @ Jul 18th 2008 5:21PM
Having 1 or 2 great (or very good, really) games every 12 months or so is not a "bright future", nor is it a way to keep a fanbase happy. Especially given how short some of those "great" games are. (GoW was what, 4 hours? And if Resistance is like the Syphon Filter games, it will be 6-7 hours worth)
Daniel @ Jul 18th 2008 5:00PM
Sweet I been waiting for the GPS!
bryansurvive @ Jul 18th 2008 5:27PM
that shouldnt even be in the agenda for important things to talk about.
2 games for the first half of the year... please! thats horrible!
lets talk about sex baby, lets talk about you and me!
talk about all the good things, not the bad things.
Orion @ Jul 18th 2008 5:48PM
I have a new 3G iPhone as well as a PSP and a DS.
I must say, I really like having everything in one unit. And no, I don't mean like the PSP overseas with it's add on camera, and it's add on GPS, which makes it bulky. Both my PSP and DS haven't been turned on for this whole weak, despite me reallllly loving Battlefront RS :).
Buying games is easier, and often times hurtful to the wallet because it's SO easy to buy, it's hard to tell yourself to stop. Little amounts add up easy.
However, I did find the internet radio (aol radio) to be a LOT better than the internet radio that the PSP offers. The organization was simply what made it easier, as was the amount of stations to choose from. Knowing what album, singer, and song plus cover art that was playing is also a welcomed touch.
Graphics for the iPhone are pretty impressive. Especially with Crash Bandicoot and Moto Racer. I could easily see this as being a major threat to the DS.
However, I do believe you are comparing apples to oranges. A 10 year old kid would not be able to afford (or not allowed to have) such an expensive phone, and separate gaming devices like handhelds will always have a place. In the same breath, I do believe the iPhone will take a lot of money from the DS, and for that matter, the PSP's already fledging software sales. Sony always says that it doesn't worry about competition even when it's in trouble, so what's new. They still they the PS3 is a success, so whatever...
I don't want to tick anyone off here by saying the iPhone should have a place in any gamer's library. I still love my PSP, but honestly, if having all the games on flash memory, and having the device EASILY sync with my computer to dload movies, music, and hundreds of programs, as well as make calls... I am doubting ever really being interested in buying another video game branded gaming device instead of just having an all in one device like this.
As far as game complexity, it's already impressive, but there is an MMO coming out as well as a 3D platformer similar to God of War. I'd say both Sony and Nintendo should be very afraid.
Oh, one last thing regarding price. Not only do you get much more for your money, PSP games and DS games can get as high as 39.99..... most games on iPhone are roughly 4.99-9.99. So in essence, if you're going to buy a lot of games, the PSP and DS probably will cost you just as much if not more over time. Gatta love not having to pay for packaging. :)
Just my 2 cents...
bryansurvive @ Jul 18th 2008 7:36PM
i understand and agree with everything you said except for the last part, i dont agree. using your phone would be pointless without a plan which is about 110 bucks a month plus the purchase of games and thats without tax. i believe youd still spend more on the iphone.
Orion @ Jul 18th 2008 7:52PM
yes, but you forget that what you're paying for is the phone service. So that implies that the cost of the psp, or ds, would be coupled with how much you pay for your cell phone every month as the iPhone offers both. In that sense, the iPhone is still cheaper.
I pay just 30 dollars more a month than I did with my basic Verizon phone that didn't do much of anything. So if you buy two games a month, that's 30 + 9.99 + 9.99 for the iPhone, and 30 and 30 for the PSP. That's 10 bucks cheaper for the iPhone, and those are with the highest prices you'll find.. most don't cost that much.
So yes, separate the PSP and DS is cheaper than the iPhone. But when you couple up the fees for a phone plus those devices, you get a much sleeker, smaller, organized, and efficient device with the iPhone.. and it's cheaper all around. That and you can actually access GPS, the internet, aim, etc without being tied to a wifi signal. I can't tell you have valuable that is...
marcusjm @ Jul 18th 2008 7:15PM
There is one big difference. PSP.s can be used on Airplanes, IPhones cannot. This is a cruicial difference between Cell Phones and gaming devices. It is also a good reason NOT to include phone capabilities into the PSP.
Becides. I can recieve real radio and play most music on my Sony Ericsson. Better camera than the IPhone too.
I think SONY has more to worry from Microsoft if they decide to get into this business.
bryansurvive @ Jul 18th 2008 7:36PM
not really. yes the iphone is a phone but you can always go on airplan mode which enables the use of the phone by going on wifi mode.
Orion @ Jul 18th 2008 7:47PM
Wow, it's evident you dont HAVE an iPhone. First thing in the settings area on the phone is to have the iPhone in Airplane mode... able to play, no signal coming in.
Let's do some research before making gross accusations :).
bryansurvive @ Jul 19th 2008 12:06PM
no i dont have an iphone but thanks for noticing. i just thought it would be smart to have an airplane mode cus my phone has one and if it had wifi you could go online and play the games. but no your are right no iphone for me :) not at all.
Virtuous @ Jul 18th 2008 7:43PM
Nine months to introduce GPS to the US is a joke. Apple is poised to stomp on Sony once again! People criticized Apple for taking so long to put GPS on the iPhone. Sony will have taken far longer to get GPS on the PSP in the US. If Nintendo doesn't watch out Apple will blow by them too.
cafecito @ Jul 18th 2008 8:43PM
The iPhone shouldn't be a threat. I, for once, won't be getting one because... I'm heterosexual.
Mattchewie @ Jul 19th 2008 1:12AM
I wouldn't say its not a threat. If anything gaming on the iphone might be the pilot for a standalone device.
I like my PSP and my DS but its hard for me log long hours on them, so even for short games, I can make them stretch. I will agree though, they need to get some decent games out.
Personally I think its time for the second iteration of the device and have a more stead fast plan. I can't help think how much cooler and enjoyable coded arms could of been if I had a second analog stick :(.
marcusj_m @ Jul 19th 2008 6:01PM
IPhone is hardly a threat to the giants like Nokia anyway and lets not forget that Sony And Ericsson already has a cooperation. I'd rather have my 5 megapixel camera than some crappy 2mb. And GPS? Old news, had it like 5 years ago on a cell.
Bibbly53 @ Jul 19th 2008 9:36PM
I would like to see more from the firmware in terms of options (such as being able to have specific icons appear optionally - such as camera, the update icon from UMDs, Internet Search, RSS channel, Internet Radio, Remote Play, Skype, Location Free player, and Online Instruction Manuals) respectfully.
I'd rather see the PSP camera on the market. (with the AMAZING options from the PS3 camera)
I'm looking less forward to GPS and more forward into what can be added to the PSP in terms of firmware. (I'm really digging the new visualizations - very nice!)
theclaw @ Jul 21st 2008 1:19PM
Seriously, what are they doing? The core hardware and software have been ready for ages. They just need localization.
Bah! PSleeP and Waitstation3 are the systems of choice for those who LOOOOOOVE waiting.
momokoyc @ Jul 24th 2008 4:40AM
Really? The iPhone 3G seems more amazing, but I still like psp and going for ps3, friends give me software to convert DVD video to ps3. http://www.daniusoft.com/ps3-video-suite.html.
And agree with marcusjm "I think SONY has more to worry from Microsoft", whether go into the business, xbox is good console.