The PSP has been out since 2005, but developers are only now beginning to realise what makes a good game for PSP, admits the PSP marketing boss.
Talking of the recent good fortunes for PSP, Sony's John Koller said: "developers and publishers are now just starting to see what the keys to success are on the PSP.
"It's not like the console world at all, and it's something we've been preaching for a while," he added, pointing to key franchises such as God of War and Daxter appearing on the handheld in unique, handheld-specific incarnations.
The key is "making a unique game under that umbrella and making it creative and have it be something that you can't play on console", explained Koller.
"One thing we've noticed is that about 1 in 2, about 50% of consumers, are using the PSP at home. And if they are then... they don't want to buy the same console game that they play on a handheld.
"So, to avoid that kind of competitive play, a lot of developers and publishers are starting to say, 'all right, maybe it's time we start making games that are unique to that system under a strong umbrella'", he told IGN.
Koller also teased about a number of "key" and "expansionary" PSP announcements to come soon. "We have a number of key announcements that'll be made in the next few months that'll be kind of expansionary in what the PSP can do."
I remember in september 2005, people were telling me I was crazy getting a PSP (EU). I ignored them and had the time of my live. Now bundled with my PS3 it's getting even better. And I see more and more people around me with a PSP playing games, watching movies, listening to music. Imagine having wifi in the bus/train while using your psp to check stuff out on your PS3?!
Yes the PSP's future looks a lot brighter then it did in 2006 when the UMD (movie and music discs) failed to impressed people.
Developers should indded look into the option of linking their game to the PS3 in some way. Plus with the full force of the PSP recently unleashed it should be a lot easier for them to take it more serious.
I agree with the above, I use my PSP alot with my PS3.
My only gripe is that I have a Fat one, and the last skype update only worked on the slim version, so I hope the new stuff for it works on the fat one too!!
Wow they have just realised its hard to sell the same thing twice! No wonder these execs get paid millions a year. Its because they are such smart quick thinkers in business. Geeez !
Well it keeps outselling the DS on a monthly basis in Japan so they must be doing something right. I guess more exclusive games would elevate it even more so. I may get one soon enough. My PS3 demands it (It's a cheeky git sometimes).
Had one of the "chunky" ones, and got rid of it, the controls are rubbish for gaming. I was interested in the "slim" one, but they didn't fix any of the problems. Maybe if they made it smaller, got rid of the UMDs, put on an extra "nub" for proper FPS and racing games, I might take another look.
I've said the same thing all along, but then it isn't exactly rocket science! In 2005, all I got was fanboys saying the PSP is as powerful as a PS2 (it isn't) and a load of nonsense about how they could play console games on it. Sony made the mistake of pitching the PSP as a portable PS2 and look where it got them. You know, if I want to play a PS2 game, I'll do it on my PS2.
The PSP will do well if it is treated like a handheld, with handheld exclusive experiences. Only now does it really feel like it is hitting its stride. It has been doing very well recently, especially in Japan, and if they can keep the releases coming, I think it will continue to do well.
Unfortunately, I still think we are seeing too many cross-platform ports, and even Sony are still guilty of this, recently releasing Rachet and Clank: Size Matters on the PS2. As the PS2 winds down, it will be important to separate the PSP from the aged console.
Kinda the same thing devs should be doing with the Wii: making stuff that actually works for that console rather than the half ass crap they come out with generally, just like they have with the PSP
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