Should we consider the PSP dead?

by Joystiq Staff { Jul 18th 2006 at 10:15PM }

There's a fairly decent write up over at Gameworld that takes a look at the success so far for Sony's PSP. Without a library of hugely-successful titles -- at least when compared to other systems -- and the near death of the UMD movie format, is it time we all just gave up on the PSP ever being a viable gaming platform?

Well, Gameworld sure does make some convincing arguments. Here are just a couple:

To date there are currently only three PSP titles that have sold over one million units. They include Grand Theft Auto: Liberty Stories with 2.84 million, Ridge Racer with 1.04 million, and Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee at 1 million.
... the DS Lite shines brighter in every aspect, and finally gamers budgets are going to be very strained over the course of the next ten months at least as we all rush to buy the Wii, PS3, or an Xbox 360.

We all have our own personal gripes about the system, with problems ranging from exceedingly long load times to just poor control schemes on lazy ports. The question is, will there ever be a game on the PSP that you just have to have? Is Loco Roco really the answer for a system that can't seem to catch on with the masses -- at least compared to its cheaper competitors -- or is it forever doomed to lay waste in mediocrity?

[Via Evil Avatar]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Billy @ Jul 18th 2006 10:21PM

DOOOOOMD!!!!!!!! BURN SONY BURN!!!!

fakiu @ Jul 18th 2006 10:24PM

yes

Chris Robinson @ Jul 18th 2006 10:24PM

Personally, I think that PS1 downloads might be the thing that pushes the PSP over the edge. Other than that, it's going to take a solid Xmas lineup like the DS had last year.

duscrom @ Jul 18th 2006 10:25PM

I think it's really unfair. The failure of the PSP is only when compareing it to the DS. If you took thos enumbers on thier own, and stop compareing it, you'd have a decently well selling handheld.

Babylonian @ Jul 18th 2006 10:25PM

Seeing as the only thing I bought in like the past 6 months was MGS: Digital Graphic Novel, which isn't even a game, then maybe. But you'll inevitably piss people off with this headline.

Mark @ Jul 18th 2006 10:28PM

That is a good argument. I decided already to get a DS Lite because of the variety of games, most of which are original (not ports). Well, at least Sony tried, but you got to realize that Nintendo is the king of the handheld market. By the way, I am an Xbox fan.

Colin @ Jul 18th 2006 10:30PM

Um, it seems a little premature to lay a system to rest that has sold as well as it has. It is not beating out the DS, sure. But can you tell me any company that has had an even tiny dent on Nintendo's grasp on the handheld console market?

Sega's Gamegear came the closest with a final sale count of 10 million worldwide after 5 years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Gear

Sony has shipped/sold what, approx 16 million worldwide? In a year and a half?

I'll admit there aren't a lot of AAA titles for it, but you know what? There are a ton of A and AA titles for it. Capcom alone has slathered all kinds of sexy love on the PSP. If you don't like those kinds of games, thats fine. But to deny the respectable amount of solid games (and some really awesome looking ones coming up) is just fooling yourself.

The game library itself is something that the Gamegear never had. In fact, no other non-Nintendo handheld console has had the level of support that the PSP has. It has also sold more than any non-Nintendo Handheld.

Oh, and yeah UMD movies suck. But everybody could tell those were gonna fail. Flailing about and going on about the failure of the movies being a sign of the PSP failing is silly. Its a sign that people don't want to pay 25 bucks for a crappier version of a DVD.

So I'd say the cries of the PSP's death are a bit immature. It has sold a record number of handhelds for a non-nintendo company, it has huge third party support, has a respectable library with some big name titles coming up, and last and not least, I'll wrap this up with an arguement Nintendo fanboys have used for years.

Sometimes its okay to not be number 1.

Games on the number 2 console can be just as fun as on the number 1 console. Trying to hasten the death of the number 2 console just deprives you and other gamers the fun of playing different games.

-Colin

Christopher7xii @ Jul 18th 2006 10:31PM

Not dead, sinking though. PS1 EMU games will rock its sales, and then Final Fantasy Crisis Core whenever that finally fucking comes out...

thunderleg @ Jul 18th 2006 10:32PM

What angers me is Capcom seems to be continuing my favorite game series exclusively for PSP, and no announcement for it continuing on PS2 where it started. (Monster Hunter)

I have absolutely no intention on buying a PSP just for one series.

How aggravating.

Antonio @ Jul 18th 2006 10:32PM

Wipeout Pure and Lumines were the best PSP games released (and they were released at launch). Drop the price of the PSP to $150 and release new games at $30-$35 and the PSP still has a chance.

Scott @ Jul 18th 2006 10:32PM

I agree with post #1. Besides the fact you can buy ps1 games from ebay and play them on the ps2/ps3 (well, i hope u can on the ps3) having portable FFVII is unmistakably attractive. But if it doesnt kick off properly, there are problems, or the right games arent available straight away...the psp is a goner. Did sony REALLY think they could compete with nintendo in the handheld market anyway just cause they stole the console market? With the demise of the psp and the cost of the ps3...along with development worries on the ps3, how long will i take for sony to lose it's brand popularity?

Lynk @ Jul 18th 2006 10:34PM

My friends who have bought PSPs have all sold them, two of them traded theirs in to get a DS, those who bought a DS have upgraded to a DS lite...

To me at least, the PSP failing pretty miserably.

Andrew @ Jul 18th 2006 10:35PM

While I bought a DS (it was half the price here in AUS) and think its a great system, I take issue with the articles conclusion.
"DS Lite shines brighter in every aspect..."
The PSP clearly has better graphics. Not that will save the system.

steve @ Jul 18th 2006 10:38PM

I have been very anti-Sony for a long time. I have never owned one of their systems, and may never. But I do have to admit that there is one game coming out that has me drooling: Ghosts & Goblins. I would trade many of my Nintendo DS games for that game, if only it were on a system I owned...

striderhayasa @ Jul 18th 2006 10:38PM

yeah, but it's going to be a slow death. PSP is a good portable that lacks a good library. No killer app after being on the market for over a year is not a good sign.

With Zelda, Final Fantasy, Castlevania, StarFox, JumpSuper Stars2 and Bleach2 coming...it's going to be a slaughter at the end of the year.
What's coming for PSP this christmas? Lumines 2? What else?

striderhayasa @ Jul 18th 2006 10:43PM

@ colin

Are you kidding me? PSp library is better than any Nintendo handheld other than DS?

GBA's library destroys PSPs library hands down across every genre except for two, sports and racing. Every other genre GBA is king.

look it up and compare. It's no contest.

Dave Mendez @ Jul 18th 2006 10:43PM

I like the psp; it's the CEO of portable devices (Chief Everything Officer)
I have a 1gb memorystick that has the latest tracks out (my playlists are mixtape style; they have to be the newest tracks) I've been doing the portable movie thing way b4 the Ipod video with the use of 3rd party software.
I have jpegs of the fam in case I run into old friends and when I want to get down with some games, battlefront, gta liberty city, need for speed and twisted metal (i still have fun with that joint) do the trick.

Thank you to all the hard working liberators of sony oppression for the downgraders to be able to run emulators of the NES, SNES, MAME etc.........

The PS one made the mod-chip business and cd/dvd burner manufacturers millions/billions and made consumers very very happy.

The PSP ushered in the error of xtreme hacking along with microsoft (xbox) I say this because the average person who owns any of the aforementioned devices has heard the word mod-chip, hack, downgrade and firmware.

So props to sony for the psp, even without the downgrading, it's alot cooler to own than an Ipod which took half a decade to do movies music and video.
Sony just came right out and gave it to us all in one shot; the hardcore gamers F--ked it up because they were disatisfied with the quality of games.
My hardcore gaming is done on the PC or with a console connected to the net, the psp fills in all the other gaps when i'm not in front of a pc or console.

Peace

Erik Novak @ Jul 18th 2006 10:45PM

I hope not. I've owned both systems, and played both system's best games. I've enjoyed the PSP games much more and they sure as hell have longer lasting appeal. DS games get old quickly due to their shallow, gimmicky natures. Phoenix Wright is the only acception to this for myself. Meanwhile, I love taking Lumines, Hot Shots Golf, and MegaMan Powered Up wherever, and I'm really looking forward to the RPGs coming out for it, even if they are ports.

Also, just because it's a port doesn't mean it's a bad thing. After all, that's all half of Nintendo's games are for DS.

Premaximum @ Jul 18th 2006 10:47PM

@13: He said "Made a dent in Nintendo's grasp" not "The DS' grasp". Last I recall, the GBA was made and distributed by Nintendo...

Derek @ Jul 18th 2006 10:47PM

Fo sho it be dead!
Muhahaha!
I just hope blu-ray isnt like UMD...haha nvm it will be anyways!
/xbox 360 fanboy...and damn proud!

Colin @ Jul 18th 2006 10:51PM

13:
Huh? No, I didn't say that. Try reading it again.

Thank you.

-Colin

Tom @ Jul 18th 2006 10:52PM

"having portable FFVII is unmistakably attractive" ~ Scott

Agreed, but you know what's even MORE attractive? A portable (and revamped) version of Final Fantasy III. I'll be buying it for my *DS* this fall. ;)

Niel @ Jul 18th 2006 10:52PM

There is only so much hombrew I can stand so I say yes.

house husband @ Jul 18th 2006 10:53PM

I think its funny that a system that was supposedly better than the DS because of its "grafix" has people excited over games that will look no better than the current games on the DS.

What a funny world we live in.

Colin @ Jul 18th 2006 10:54PM

Whoops, sorry. That was for post 14. I got thrown off by the post below. :p

And the GBA is much older than 1.5 years. So give the PSP another 4-5 and then we can truely compare libraries. ;)

-Colin

Dux @ Jul 18th 2006 10:55PM

wow. I remember when people were saying the PSP was going to wipe the floor with the DS. and now just over a little bit over yr after the PSP was released some of us are already considering the PSP dead.

Shagi @ Jul 18th 2006 10:59PM

I don't own a DS beacuse there isn't one game I want to play on it.

Playstation emulation might be interesting, I still am hoping for some good games on the PSP. I like it much better than the DS both design and Philosophy wise.

Its too bad Sony was happy relying on UMD movies (which I never bought a single one), or we'd probably have at least a few more good titles.

Also Expect Loco Roco to be added to the 1 million + list unless of course everyone has really burried the PSP already.

ninx @ Jul 18th 2006 11:00PM

It's not dead. It isn't exactly rolling.........

But it isn't dead yet.

Jon D @ Jul 18th 2006 11:00PM

I think the PSP is far from dead. The only reason I feel people are treating it like total garbage is because they're comparing it to either the DS or home consoles. The DS comparison is fine, but these PS2 comparisons are unexceptable in my opinion. If I had another $250+ to shell out for another one (I broke mine through my own neglegance), I'd definitely buy another one. With T5:DR right around the corner along with numerous other good titles like Power Stone, Ghouls and Ghosts, and all the titles out now, the PSP is a pretty damn good handheld. The MP3 player functionality, homebrew, web browser, and all the other bells and whistles are pretty fantastic. We can play MOST GBA and SNES games on a PSP. How is that not a slap in the face? lol.

I don't understand how a handheld like this gets such a bad rap when Nintendo keeps re-releasing the same thing in different shapes and sizes. You shell out however much the original DS costs, only to bend over and buy a DS Lite years later. The DS lite is a good handheld because of the original and crazy games it gets, but I prefer my broken PSP over my working DS.

@ Post #13: the GBA has no good fighting games either. heh. Tekken 5 : Dark Ressurection > Tekken Advance
MK Unchained > MK Deadly Alliance or whatever it was

john @ Jul 18th 2006 11:00PM

I sold my psp and got a ds when the lite came out and never looked back. PSP is just bad.

striderhayasa @ Jul 18th 2006 11:00PM

@ colin

my bad colin. Too many windows open, reading too much crap at one time. Sorry about that.

Neogin @ Jul 18th 2006 11:02PM

Sure. If's it's Sony, we can forgive them for being 2nd, but god forbid if it's the other way around. 1st only matters is Sony is first, right?

Personally, I don't really see many PSP games..yet. There are a few gems worth keeping tabs on, but as of now, I have no use for the UMD movies. If anything, I'd use it for homebrew programs, and few games.

Nolan D. @ Jul 18th 2006 11:04PM

I have one and haven't played it in months. When I go to Target or somewhere I don't even look at the PSP games anymore cause there are no games I think are interesting enough to buy at a PS2 game price. DS lite is so awesome. After the Opera browser comes to the states I'll definetly carry it with me everywhere!

LATER.

Amos @ Jul 18th 2006 11:04PM

That's because the PSP, while decent, just fails when you start comparing it to the Lite. w00t, good graphics and some ok games with some multimedia functions, *or*, decent graphics, awsome must-have games being hyped out the wazoo from the company everyone already knows and loves from their childhood as well as this touch screen things that becomes buttloads less gimmicky when you actually use it and realize how "empty" the DS would be without it...at half the price, it's really no contest.

Elvis @ Jul 18th 2006 11:04PM

I traded in mine yesterday. Got a DS Lite, and it rocks!!

Feep @ Jul 18th 2006 11:07PM

I don't mean to sound like a fanboy, but if the DS doesn't have a single game that interests you, I must wonder what kind of gamer you are. There are outstanding games in almost essentially every genre imaginable...2-D platformer, 3-D platformer, FPS, turn-based strategy, sims, puzzle, sports, RPG, fighting...not to mention the quirky awesome games like Trauma Center and Phoenix Wright. Essentially, all it lacks is RTS and generic WWII games, but hey, nothing but the PC has anything decent there. The PSP may not be dead, but it deserves every bit of negative press it's been receiving over the last couple months.

Alpha @ Jul 18th 2006 11:08PM

Well it certainly was looking good for the PSP in the beginning. That sexy looking screen persuaded me to like the PSP more than my DS and the PSP's launch had better games than the DS had with a 4 month start. Then the drought of games began and the PSP never got back onto it's feet. The DS just got a land slide of quality games last fall that helped propel it to the top.

Rene Ramos @ Jul 18th 2006 11:13PM

Too bad. That screen was pretty nice. I will get one when they hit that $100 sweet spot with some different color choices, not before. The black one feels too slippery and the white one looks to "me too"

imark G5 @ Jul 18th 2006 11:14PM

Sony killed it with meaningless firmware updates that do nothing but stop letting you play homebrew games & emulators. if they worried about security just block the reading iso's of PSP & let emulation & homebrew live on.
the idiotic & anti-user friendly file system is a huge turn off to.
i got my psp a few months after its release & went a whole year before I even bought a new game outside of the 2 i got originally.
ITS A GREAT VIDEO PLAYER. Nice Mp3 capability to have when you need it. Shows off picts well if you want to see what you did with your Sony digital camera. OH yeah & I guess it has some games to play & over priced movies to watch on disc. With Blu-Ray or DVDs they should add a folder of pre-rendered PSP movie files to transfer to your stick & go. That will sell some systems. Hopefully that PS1 Downloading isnt 40bucks a game, cause thats a cool idea too.

J @ Jul 18th 2006 11:16PM

"all it lacks is RTS" - Feep

It's got Age of Empires :P

striderhayasa @ Jul 18th 2006 11:17PM

@ jon D

GBA has

King of Fighters
Street Fighter Alpha
Super Street Fighter
Guilty Gear
Tekken

Look at the games that you are using to support your argument. A remake of a 20 year old game, a dreamcast port and an arcade port. Then you go on to use illegal ROMs as another example? How is that pretty damn good? In order to get a decent library on PSP you have to emulate the competitions OLD 8 bit and 16 bit library because your own library sucks ass. LOL! Tekken alone is suspect because sony couldn't get the damn D-pad right.
Come on man, you have to come with better than that.

PSP needs great titles that you can't get anywhere else. Period. That's why the DS is so much better. The best games for it more often than not, you can't get anywhere else. Look at lumines....you can't get than on any other portable or console.

oh wait...

Anonymous @ Jul 18th 2006 11:18PM

Nintendo is definitely raking in the market. I stopped by EBGames today and noted that the two DS Lite's were in use...not by kids but by older teenagers, traditionally Xbox and PS2 followers. The screen is just dazzlingly bright and the games are fun to play. The PSP used to look good, but DS Lite outshines it in every practical respect. It looks better, it plays better, and it costs less. Why would I ever want a PSP?

Okay, so I have one, but I don't play it. It was a complete waste of money. Lumines could have been made for DS.

Jacob @ Jul 18th 2006 11:18PM

PS3 is next.

Jed Merrill @ Jul 18th 2006 11:19PM

Maybe when Real Time Weapon Change becomes a standard feature on PSP, then I'll have faith again.

See http://www.Wii60.com if you don't get it.
(See the classic video "Sony's Embarassing Press Conference.")

lolersticks @ Jul 18th 2006 11:20PM

@ #6 Colin

Shipped/Sols 16 million? Ha, but no. Shipped 16 million, but only sold 4.6. Granted, that's half of the Game Gear, but you have to remember that the gaming market is much bigger now, and 10 million should be the low point.

DJ @ Jul 18th 2006 11:21PM

Sony's made a pretty big dent in Nintendo's market share in the handheld arena, the only market that Nintendo seems to even be making a profit from (their Gamecube division hasn't been that strong financially). I thought the PSP was going to fail at such a high price, but i see more and more people walking around with one and converting from their gameboys and DS's. Nintendo has monopolized the handheld market for ages and swapped the competition like flies, but amazingly Sony's doing pretty well.

Avid Nintendo supporters openly flock out and squack about how small the PSP library is or how there aren't any established mascot/flagship titles. Well the truth is...they're right. But then again, they are also falling back on franchises that were established in the NES and SNES era! Zelda, Mario, Mario Kart, F-Zero, Metroid, Donkey Kong, all of these franchises are ancient. PSP has only been around for about a year and a half, and only has around 15 million units sold. More and more established titles like Lumines, Mercury, Loco Roco, Wipeout, Ridge Racer, Daxter, and insane amount of rpgs will start to make their place on the system. Big publishers like EA have already seen that porting console games into the handheld sector isn't always the best idea and that it's wiser to make something suited for a specific platform instead.

Lambda @ Jul 18th 2006 11:28PM

The DS Lite just begs to be played, I have a PSP and a DS Lite, I use the PSP for homebrew and some web browsing, but I see the DS Lite and I just HAVE to play it, even though I haven't bought a new game in months... I've got almost 1 game for every genre, MPH is fun, Advance Wars is fun, Mario 64 DS is compelling, New Mario Bros is fun, Animal Crossing is so flippin' addicting, Mario Kart wins in racing, I mean, I've covered all corners of my gaming likes and I don't care that it's not up to par with the PSP's graphics.

n8dogg @ Jul 18th 2006 11:29PM

I can definately see the PSP doing much better upon a price drop and the release of some very anticipated games in the future. I do know that Dark Ressurection and Crisis Core are making many I know become first time PSP buyers.

And Capcom has been doing great with the system, releasing plenty of games that are tempting me plenty.

Unfortunately, I don't have the funds to spare in order to pick one up... which takes me back to my first point.

I do have a DS Lite, but honestly.... I'm really waiting for Children of Mana. For a while I've just been using my DS as a nicer GBA. I finished Metroid Fusion, and I currently have my Pokemon Fire Red taking up residence in the bottom slot.

Mario Kart and Metroid are decent fun, but they wern't the masterpieces that I had expected.