We've been reiterating this point many times before, but for those of us with PSPs outside of Japan, we must prepare for an incredible software drought. While games like Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 and Secret Agent Clank will occupy our summer, there isn't much to look forward to from third party publishers on Sony's handheld. Ubisoft's UK managing director Rob Cooper told GI.biz: "I think that Sony is disappointed with sales and it's unsure as to which way to take it ... Sony needs to show us a bit more about what its plans are to convince the publisher to invest lots more money into it. Especially when you've got the DS selling at such a tremendous pace.""It's direction, a real strategic decision by Sony as to what it wants to do with that product. It's a great shame that sales are at the level they are, because you've got a hardware system that is absolutely beautiful ... we're not developing too many games on it until we get some direction." Ubisoft currently has zero PSP games in development, a trend not uncommon amongst non-Japanese publishers at the moment.
Ubisoft is responsible for a number of flawed PSP ports, such as Rainbow Six Vegas (Metascore 60) and Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (Metascore 61).
[Via NeoGAF]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
6-05-2008 @ 10:20AM
Neuromancer said...
Sounds to me like the problem is Ubi makes shitty PSP games.
Good games sell themselves and you don't need Sony to sell them for you.
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6-05-2008 @ 3:51PM
Lars said...
I agree, it sounds like an excuse from Ubisoft. Sony makes awesome hardware that is very flexible. So, the PSP can take any direction based on the games made for it.
Sounds more like Ubi is confused what direction to take.
The DS may sell like hotcakes but I think it's because it's meant for kids really (yes, adults can enjoy it too, but it's clearly designed with kids in mind). Any big-name item geared towards kids is going to sell like hotcakes. In my experience I see a lot of DS's simply used as a pacifier for kids who recently outgrew baby pacifiers. I would suspect that the number of mature gamers using PSP's vs DS's is skewed towards the PSP.
6-05-2008 @ 4:02PM
Lars said...
I agree, it sounds like an excuse from Ubisoft. Sony makes awesome hardware that is very flexible. So, the PSP can take any direction based on the games made for it.
Sounds more like Ubi is confused what direction to take.
The DS may sell like hotcakes but I think it's because it's meant for kids really (yes, adults can enjoy it too, but it's clearly designed with kids in mind). Any big-name item geared towards kids is going to sell like hotcakes. In my experience I see a lot of DS's simply used as a pacifier for kids who recently outgrew baby pacifiers. I would suspect that the number of mature gamers using PSP's vs DS's is skewed towards the PSP.
6-05-2008 @ 10:34AM
trystero said...
Nah, I have to agree with Ubi on this one... Yeah, the games Ubi put out were pretty bad, but there is *no* strategic direction for this platform. Every few months a Sony exec tries to provide some vision, but I hardly ever see that vision executed on.
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6-05-2008 @ 3:22PM
Ayrkain said...
"Strategic Vision"??? I could care less about strategic vision. I hate the fact that this gen is full of morons spouting off marketing terms as though that's really what the whole thing is all about. Sure, marketing plays it's role, but this is supposed to be about GAMING, not marketing bullshit. Let Ubi make some decent games, then they can make their own direction.
6-05-2008 @ 10:57AM
Ted said...
So the Rainbow and Ghost games suck? Thats too bad because I love UBiSoft games usually.
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6-05-2008 @ 10:57AM
Nobledevil said...
Wait... so they make two mediocre piles of dung that could have been amazing, benchmark titles for the PSP and they blame Sony for this...
Yeah, the PSP could use one big strategic plan from Sony that they can stick with forever (like the DS has), but Ubisoft's games sucked anyway, so I doubt that if the system gets the direction they want that they will suddenly start making great games for it.
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6-05-2008 @ 11:05AM
matt said...
Sounds about right. My brother quit from Sony's marketing department 2 years ago because he felt that those in charge had no clue what they were doing.
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6-05-2008 @ 11:09AM
matt said...
I am shocked to hear that Sony is disappointed with sales. I can see a year ago or longer, but since Christmas the PSP has been selling great, and not just in Japan.
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6-05-2008 @ 11:14AM
matt said...
Oh, and I am tired of the PSP being compared to the DS. The DS/gameboy line has been out for a long time and is established.
I'll also let you in on a little secret too...THE DS HAS A BOATLOAD OF GAMES!!!!
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6-05-2008 @ 12:09PM
required said...
The PSP has as many if not more games than the DS and the PSP most definitely has more critically acclaimed titles.
6-05-2008 @ 11:21AM
chris said...
i agree with ubi, it is not an issue of THEIR games it is a issue of games at all, when i got to gamestop, i have been staring at the EXACT same wall of games for what seems like a year. Sony has no idea what to do with psp in America, and i honestly think they don't care
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6-05-2008 @ 11:22AM
pixelator said...
At least someone is saying it. Because it needs saying.
I've said it before - Sony is abandoning their best chance at a solid game platform this gen. It's not the PS3.
The PSP has units out there to make a GOOD system. Why Sony refuses to push the machine properly, provide incentives to developers and bring the goddamned Japanese games over here is beyond me. They're wondering what to 'do' when the answer is simply 'your jobs'.
How many DS games don't get ported over from Japan? Not that many. How many third parties developing for DS here in the USA? Tons. How are DS software sales? A hell of a lot better than the PSP. That's due to more effort being spent on the part of Nintendo to make sure the games are filling shelves, accessories are filling racks and there's a constant buzz of interesting new stuff coming down the pipe. Sony has lately failed at all of that, despite decent to rather good hardware sales.
WAKE UP, SONY! Your best shot at a good Christmas and 08/09 season is quickly slipping away.
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6-05-2008 @ 11:34AM
JM said...
I thought it was pirates what were killing the psp...
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6-05-2008 @ 2:06PM
Anthony said...
Actually I think it's ninjas that are killing the PSP -- Nin-tendo-jas
6-08-2008 @ 4:29AM
Kade Storm said...
Hmm. Well, then it's quite possible that thinking isn't your forte. Why? Because pirates are everywhere and abusing every product and market. They are part of the problem, but are they 'the only problem'? You'd really be proving me right on the thinking bit if you were to answer with a 'yes'.
6-05-2008 @ 11:34AM
acefondu said...
I like the PSP, but the game selection is dry as a bone. It should be obvious to any game developer that putting a good game on the system should be profitable since there currently are none (or 2-3 if you want the less dramatic answer).
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6-05-2008 @ 12:10PM
required said...
Again, the PSP has as many if not more games than the DS and the PSP most definitely has more critically acclaimed titles.
6-05-2008 @ 1:16PM
acefondu said...
I wish I could agree with you, but I'm a big fan of facts, and the facts are that the DS is owning the PSP in every respect. Especially games. And the 'more critically acclaimed' comment is really funny considering the DS has taken every hand held game of the year vote since it came out, Phantom Hourglass being the most recent. Again, I really wish I could agree, I'd like nothing more than a reason to play my PSP again.
6-05-2008 @ 2:14PM
required said...
acefondu the DS is not owning the PSP in every respect. In fact the thing can't do much at all in comparison.