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 3 of 3)
8-29-2008 @ 12:06AM
andwhyisit said...
If anyone doesn't understand the article yet me help by summing things up.
- Sony of Japan take on PSP, PS2, and PS3 at once, with great success.
- Sony of America follow suit except they can't handle all three at once.
- Sony of America spread themselves too thin and decide to mostly focus on the consoles instead and let the PSP sell itself.
- PSP starts dying from lack of support by Sony and eventually devs.
- Everyone stupidly blames piracy.
Reply
8-29-2008 @ 9:37AM
Wreckard said...
It's pretty obvious that no one in the comments here actually read the article, which made a lot of very reasonable points about the struggles.
Hell, I think half the people here just read the headline and nothing else.
8-29-2008 @ 12:50AM
Tyler said...
Well, actually, no, the psp isnt beating the ds in japan, at least this month. Figures show that Nintendo DS is outselling the PSP by about 10000 consoles at the moment. VGchartz.com thats where you get the real figures, not the ones from the company promoting the consoles
Reply
8-29-2008 @ 1:06AM
andwhyisit said...
I know that. Did you hear any present tense? No.
8-29-2008 @ 10:58AM
something said...
I think most have misinterpreted his meaning. The reason he wants to blame Japan is because they as developers and companies are not spreading. They are staying local, hiding in their sandbox where it is safe. MHP2G will not see the light of day anywhere but in Japan. There will be no American release of Phantasy Star Portable. Sony is probably even reluctant to export their Final Fantasy PSP games out of Japan. Sony America is really dragging its feet. I don't see any more PSP related advertisements and my trusty game store no longer has a "new release" shelf for the PSP. Hardware sales for Sony is amazing in Japan, so it's very obvious why they are making new hardware. Software is plentiful there as well. But in the US, no new games, so no need for new console. The old ones work just fine and won't cost $170 to do what it's already been doing: collecting dust from lack of releases.
Japan sells pirated media (games, movies, CD's) for less than $1. I spent $100 and even now I haven't seen all the movies, played all the games, or listened to all the music. No bitching about piracy Sony America, you just have the tip of the ice burg and still don't sell as much.
Reply