Analyst Michael Pachter doesn't see a bright future for the PSP. In fact, he believes that we're nearing the end of the syste's run, due to the paltry release lineup for the remainder of the year. The introduction of the PSP Brite is seen as a sign of weakness, suggesting the redesign will confuse and anger more than excite. "Constant tech tweaks and upgrades might work for telephones, but they're not what gamers want ... it creates confusion, and leaves many users with older models feeling inadequate," Pachter told Das Gamer.Because everyone needs someone to blame, Pachter offers this advice: "Blame Japan," he says. He believes that Sony is being much too ambitious, handling the PS2, PSP and PS3 simultaneously. "[Japan]'s instructing the US to play catch-up with Microsoft on Xbox Live, step up its online game with Home, offer movie downloads and push the Blu-ray home theater initiative just to begin with. Something had to give. The company has been spreading itself too thin."
Ironically, PSP's strongest territory is Japan, where new releases continue to be announced on a regular basis. While we'd disagree that PSP is on a deathbed, it's obvious that drastic work needs to be done to change the current state of the PSP.
[Thanks, Ronnie D.!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
8-27-2008 @ 10:05PM
gurbinder said...
Not the end of psp, end of umd maybe.
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8-27-2008 @ 10:17PM
gurbinder said...
"He believes that Sony is being much too ambitious, handling the PS2, PSP and PS3 simultaneously."
So hes saying to give up on PS2? PS2 is still legendary and still alive, its not going to die for atleast another one or two years , maybe more.
8-27-2008 @ 10:10PM
acefondu said...
The PSP is doing great in Japan, Patcher is a goon for putting the blame in the only region it's dominating.
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8-27-2008 @ 10:19PM
Gerry said...
I dont agree with him at all as I dont believe the PSP to be dead or on its last legs. But I do agree with him regarding the potential of Sony being overstretched or focusing on too many things. I do agree with this and think that there is a danger in Sony attempting to support soo many platforms, add-ons, and all of the other bells and whistles it does. There is a danger that the quality will go down if the company is stretched to thin.
In any event, I'll be still supporting the PSP for as long as their are games and yes, I'll be buying my PSP-3000. I'm not confused by it nor do I feel inadequte. Then again, my last name isnt Patcher.
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8-27-2008 @ 10:29PM
aj said...
But....the PSP doesn't have a platry release line up in Japan. It's North America that has the dirth of games.
I've heard that it's the rampant piracy of games that's hurting the PSP and limiting the releases. The PSP-3000 and the newer firmware is an attempt to stop that. (And it should stop. Seriously. If you pirate PSP games you should get cancer.)
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8-27-2008 @ 11:16PM
lonesomefolly said...
Because we all know that the japanese have no piracy!
8-28-2008 @ 3:41AM
pixelator said...
The guy is right. The PSP (for the USA market) looks to be on its last legs. The Japan market gets everything - so yes, it's SOJ behind these choices.
Piracy hasn't done squat. Poor sell-through and low support and marketing in the USA has done the PSP in, here. One need only look at Asian markets - or the DS, which has its share of flash carts for pirating games, to see that piracy (which is rampant in Asia) doesn't keep a system from succeeding.
You can blame Sony. They're the ones who introduced the thing at $300 to start with and held back the Japan-only Basic Pack at first, the ones who have failed to localize hot JP titles, failed to properly promote the system in the USA and flatly refused to bring the nebulous keyboard or port peripherals like the camera, TV module, downloadable video/MP3 content and more. How long have we waited for the damned GPS?
Sony sucks. Sorry to say it, because they've made some amazing hardware in the past (PalmOS based CLIE line of handhelds comes to mind) but they just repeatedly shoot themselves in the feet with needlessly competing devices that interfere with their own products like the Mylo stealing the PSP's internet potential with its keyboard and so forth.
The PSP, I'm afraid, is all but deceased. As the USA market, so will eventually follow the rest of the regions. We can only hope the PSP 2 will feature proper net support with GOOD downloadable content, aggressive 1st, 2nd and 3rd party dev support from the get-go, a UI closed to hacking (so publishers and Sony can't blame piracy for poor sales) and a host of peripherals available to ALL markets, not just Japan. I for one hate being relegated to the mostly-junkware, kiddie-fied, eyeball-straining and limited capability DS for hot new upcoming titles.
Bah. Who am I kidding?
8-28-2008 @ 3:13PM
Christopher said...
Piracy? That would be ridiculous since the -hub- of game piracy is Japan. You can go down to Akihabara and buy disks full of ROMS. So if that's the case, why is PSP so hot in Japan?
8-28-2008 @ 6:02PM
Erik Stroud said...
Actually, its china that is the piracy hub. Though, Americans fuel the piracy even more. Also, Why blame Japan? The reason they keep coming out with these redesigns and making the PS3 what it shouldn't be is mostly because of us. We want everything in one box causing them to forget about the games. I don't mind having separate things for each task. Bu,t the public wants Sony to do so.
Sony of Japan has some effect on us, but, Sony here makes its own decisions. So, it not right to blame one part of the company. If you are too blame any thing, its Sony being to big headed because of the PS2.
8-27-2008 @ 11:12PM
Joe said...
I too believe that pirates have hurt the PSP but in no way is the PSP dead yet. I still think it will sell for some time more. Plus Apple makes new Ipods almost every year and people do not get mad at them I see no reason people should get mad at Sony for the PSP. I see no reason I need a new one so I will not be getting another one.
Also Sony some time back said they would keep changing the PSP with new PSP even this site posted about it. So for some time Sony has had this in there plans and I believe that Sony might still be making a new PSP.
So may be some time you might have to update to a new PSP but at this point in time there is no need.
I also wonder if Andrew you were trying to say sstem and not syste.
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9-06-2008 @ 10:06PM
Christopher said...
"I too believe that pirates have hurt the PSP"
That's not even logical. If it hurts the PSP, then why in the hub of Piracy that is Japan is the PSP doing so HOT? Seriously, you can go to many parkets and buy ROM disks ON THE STREET.
If Sony seriously wanted to stop Piracy, they could take a big chunk out of it right on their own doorstep.
8-27-2008 @ 11:24PM
smi04 said...
Nor does Sony have to compete with Xbox and Xbox Live in japan. Patcher is saying Sony Japan is being unrealistic in its expectations outside of Japan, as even a company as large as Sony has limited resources.
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8-27-2008 @ 11:43PM
Manuel said...
I think that analyst made a mistake:
PSP=HOME for PS3
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8-27-2008 @ 11:53PM
Jacksons said...
Blame Canada! Blame Cana---oh. Japan? Right.
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8-28-2008 @ 1:55PM
aj said...
Canadians are to blame. Long bitter from having the North American market referred to as "America", and all games releases in Canada being labelled as "American", we've decided to be generally surly. But Canadian game studios will still pump out the games for you ungrateful yanks!
8-28-2008 @ 12:48AM
KarlW said...
I'd agree. Japan is to blame for the failure of the PSP. Not the consumers, but the management. SCEJ don't know how to manage a console in a competitive environment. They think the reason the PSP isn't selling is because there aren't enough colour varieties.
Phil Harrison had a similar point about the Japanese not really getting Western gaming. It's true. The number of games that appeal to Western gamers are abysmal on the PSP. It's getting better, but it's too little too late.
Social gaming is big in Europe, and FPS and Action games are big in the US. Japan likes gimmicky tamogotchi-like games with fuzzy creatures and characters with hairdos that defy gravity. That's what SCEJ focuses on, which is why the PSP is big in Japan.
Games that don't fit the Japanese market - like GT Mobile and Resistance, aren't given much support from SCEJ. Even Japanese developers aren't given enough support or encouragement, if they aren't developing a cute and fuzzy game.
There needs to big some big shake-ups in the Sony management if the PlayStation is going to survive in this increasingly competitive industry.
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8-28-2008 @ 1:22AM
Justin said...
you really couldnt put in any other way I LUV the Psp series No scracth that i luv sony But sony continues to treat America like we are some kind of unknown planet The psp is capable of so much yet america has not even seen half of its potential. Do WE have to go on strike just for them to listen to us cause i will.
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8-29-2008 @ 4:28PM
thoraxe112 said...
amen brutha
sony treats america like the kid who has an older brother and a little brother
Asia (lil bro) gets everything new stuff every week blah blah blah it makes me sick
and Europe (big bro) gets cool new gadgets at regular realeses
and we are stuck with older versions of japanese games and im tired of this crap
but i dont think japan is to blame i think that freakin SCEA has to pull their heads outta their asses and find someone who can actually get people excited to make cool new psp games and ps2 games
and personally i think i could manage the psp's situation better than those bucket heads
8-28-2008 @ 1:37AM
david0 said...
"characters with hairdos that defy gravity" funniest thing Ive read today
sony has nothing to worry about with ressistance,star wars,KH,and dissidia coming to the psp but these are the ony games I am excited about so the psp just needs more games
(Wheres DMC?)
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8-28-2008 @ 1:47AM
Smokey said...
Can't believe what im reading, seriously. Japan leads the way in serious game development, whether they're puzzlers or big epics.
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