Analyst Pachter says 'blame Japan' for Sony's PSP mis-management

[xtop]

http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/08/27/...is-management/

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.

[quexos]

PSP Brite ? they mean PSP 3000 right ?
But isn't new stuff and redesigns of the DS that is part of its success ?

[Germtop]

Yeah. It's called brite because of the bright screen.

[xtop]

psp phat - 1000
psp lite/slim - 2000
psp brite - 3000

and the ds has only had one redesign, right?

[fsavoie]

Originally Posted by xtop

http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/08/27/...is-management/

I don't think the hardware update is the reason for the psp les popular than the DS. Its frustrating to see nice little hardware update when you already have one... and the updates are not enough to justified buying a second one...

I think PSP games (like PS1, PS2, PS3) are more "adult" oriented than Nintendo... and the fact that "adult" have less time to play videogames outside of the house is the main reason.

I'm one of them now.. 2 or 3 years ago, when I was in university I used it alot for traveling in subway and bus... during breaks between classes... now that I work and have my car (not living in the city anymore so no subway) I don't see when could I use it anymore... When I have time to play, I'm at home and use my PS3 on my big screen...

[Luis_A51]

its odd, but arent PSP sales the best they've ever been right now? They must be doing something right. Sure the PSP doesnt get a ton of games, but it gets some really great ones (GOW, R&C,Patapon, Resistance:Retribution comming) and the usual sports, which are perfect for handhelds IMO.

The DS gets tons of games, but just like the Wii, 95% of its games are crap/shovelware

Although I do admit I feel shafted buying a slim only a few months ago....

[xtop]

i disagree. the only thing i find more adult about it is that it does more than games. the long droughts of good games is its problem

and to luis, do you think piracy has anything to do with the sales? cause i do

[dereksworl]

Originally Posted by xtop

and to luis, do you think piracy has anything to do with the sales? cause i do

[Luis_A51]

Originally Posted by xtop

i disagree. the only thing i find more adult about it is that it does more than games. the long droughts of good games is its problem

and to luis, do you think piracy has anything to do with the sales? cause i do

im talking hardware sales, they're doing great right now.
Unless you're saying the hardware is being driven by people wanting to play pirated games?

There have been several recent mega-hits in japan that have sold well. But yes as a whole the lack of great games is probably due to piracy.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by Luis_A51

im talking hardware sales, they're doing great right now.
Unless you're saying the hardware is being driven by people wanting to play pirated games?

There have been several recent mega-hits in japan that have sold well. But yes as a whole the lack of great games is probably due to piracy.

yea i meant piracy driving hardware sales. whats not to like about it when you can have a ton of emulators and free psp games. because like you say, its doing wonderful in japan. but what reason does the rest of the world have to buy a psp? we get a good game every few months

[Luis_A51]

Originally Posted by xtop

yea i meant piracy driving hardware sales. whats not to like about it when you can have a ton of emulators and free psp games. because like you say, its doing wonderful in japan. but what reason does the rest of the world have to buy a psp? we get a good game every few months

thats true, the last game I bought was crisis core, and besides maybe picking up some greatest hits games, the only thing on the horizon that interests me is Resistance, thats a hell of a wait between new releases

[reiella]

Well, I think the whole deathbed thing is over-rated.

Alot of the problem comes from competing directly with the gorilla that is Nintendo.

The DS is a real solid system [and well, umm, anyone who thinks a redesign of the current 'system' in the hand-held environment is a sign of death really needs to look at the GameBoy's revision history].

I really think the PS Store needs to get stronger leverage to the PSP and distinction between the two platforms would become more evident. Getting a PS Store app built into the PSP would do wonders imo.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by reiella

The DS is a real solid system [and well, umm, anyone who thinks a redesign of the current 'system' in the hand-held environment is a sign of death really needs to look at the GameBoy's revision history].

that was a bit different, but i see where you're going with it. nintendo only really changed it once, with the gameboy pocket. gameboy color had new games, same with advance.

[Sith]

While i don't agree with all of this, i will say that i think Sony is spreading
itself to thin....Support for the ps2 seems to be a double edged sword for
Sony, It brings in money still cause of all the units out there, but it's
taking time away from progressing forward while you support a really old system...

[BluOgre]

I don't understand this idea that Sony supporting the PS2 is hurting them. Is Sony actually making games for the PS2? All the releases this year have been 3rd party I thought? As far as I know all their attention is on PS3 and PSP.

My honest opinion it has nothing to do with PS3, PSP, and PS2......it probably has more to do Sony having to concentrate on Blu-ray more than anything else. Now there I will admit Sony spread itself way too thin trying to push a whole new movie platform as well as a whole new game platform. It's obvious they had to concentrate so much on the PS3 and Blu-ray, PSP got the short end of the stick. Hopefully they can fix it now that the hidef format war is over.