DS ships 1m in Japan, Sell through 1m by Saturday. US also 1m sells
- Thread starter tetsuoxb
- Start date
I don't doubt that PSP will sell well but it won't be because of the games but rather the hardware. It's the Xbox all over again. I find it sad how easily impressed some people are.
It'll be interesting to see what kind of software Western consumers pick up with their PSPs when they have the choice between EA game PSP version and EA game PS2 version.
It'll be interesting to see what kind of software Western consumers pick up with their PSPs when they have the choice between EA game PSP version and EA game PS2 version.
mashoutposse
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jarrod said:
I largely agree. I do think that, like the home console market, the pricing of the competition will not have much of an effect on the PSP's ability to sell. As long as it is reasonably priced and *available,* it will do very well.
john tv said:
I would've as well. My biggest fear of the DS is that the two screens will relegate it to niche status at some point. Nintendo, in their PR, often refer to it as the Developer's System. As if, somehow, developers will drop their licensed garbage, fourth sequels, GTA ripoffs, and uninspired platformers the moment they see that they have *two* screens to work with.
I admire the spirit under which the DS was created, but I think Nintendo's putting too much faith in the gaming community to be genuinely creative with the device.
I predict a lot of maps.
The one thing that might save the DS, like the way fighters kept the Dreamcast alive, and how RPGs [named "Final Fantasy"] buoyed the PS2 is a good string of strategy games and/or RPGs. Those could get a good gameplay boost from a secondary touch screen, big time.
Sure, but I also think that logic extends to DS somewhat. I do think $149 is a bit high though, especially for the casual/non-gaming consumer Nintendo wants to court... they should drop to $99 next March when PSP launches (maybe dropping the Metroid demo to placate early adopters). Drop GBASP to $69 too, to try and keep some appeal there. Nintendo needs to get DS to mass consumer pricing as fast as possible and $99 is really the sweet spot.mashoutposse said:
PSP also runs the potential risk of losing some of it's visual force appeal once Xenon information starts flowing. A $199 PSP will look far less appealing next to a $299 Xenon, regardless of it being portable or not.
I noted earlier my porblems with the DS, mainly the lack of interesting software. Here are a few problems I have with the PSP
Well I'm not really sure where Sony is aiming with the PSP.
-Yes, I'd like a portable movie player, but that means I have to buy a proprietary disc and duplicate my movie library? Big turn off, especially given there has been very little movement in terms of Sony's competitors adopting this stupid format. And I doubt they want the UMD to be the de-facto format for portable video anyways.
-Portable storage sounds nice, but I have the more popular SD cards which works with 'more' gadgets out there, since pretty much anything non Sony uses one of these. PSP means I need to plunk new money into cards instead of using existing cards I don't need.
It can be argued that even if it did use SD, I'd have to buy a new card anyway and that's true. But I still wouldn't have the flexibility I would have had with SD since I have more than one SD card and they aren't always sitting inside my digicam or laptop.
-Non clamshell design
-Software - Just like the DS Nothing is all that interesting. Pretty graphics is all that PSP has going for it ATM. Do I really want GTA again on a portable system? and SquareEnix has yet to make a peep. I'm sure when they do, it will be big, but I don't know. Square already is working on the DS and frankly, its 50.50 at this point where the next big Squeenix game is going to go to.
-Battery Life
At the end of the day, I don't think graphics technology is going to matter much if Nintendo can deliver the goods, and that is good games. One thing the DS has going for it is that it is compatible with the GBA games. And for the PSP it is obviously the advanced graphics technology and the analog stick.
We need more time to figure out who has the advantage. Sales wise, Nintendo is out the gate fast. Demand for PSP is certainly very high. But I recall the PSX launch was a success until the hardcore technophiles were done with it and Sony pretty much had a dud in their hands. So guaging success based on initial sales is always tricky. Save for N-gage, any Sony or Nintendo branded hardware is going to come out strong. The real work is in the months ahead.
At the moment though, the tactical victory belongs to Nintendo.
Well I'm not really sure where Sony is aiming with the PSP.
-Yes, I'd like a portable movie player, but that means I have to buy a proprietary disc and duplicate my movie library? Big turn off, especially given there has been very little movement in terms of Sony's competitors adopting this stupid format. And I doubt they want the UMD to be the de-facto format for portable video anyways.
-Portable storage sounds nice, but I have the more popular SD cards which works with 'more' gadgets out there, since pretty much anything non Sony uses one of these. PSP means I need to plunk new money into cards instead of using existing cards I don't need.
It can be argued that even if it did use SD, I'd have to buy a new card anyway and that's true. But I still wouldn't have the flexibility I would have had with SD since I have more than one SD card and they aren't always sitting inside my digicam or laptop.
-Non clamshell design
-Software - Just like the DS Nothing is all that interesting. Pretty graphics is all that PSP has going for it ATM. Do I really want GTA again on a portable system? and SquareEnix has yet to make a peep. I'm sure when they do, it will be big, but I don't know. Square already is working on the DS and frankly, its 50.50 at this point where the next big Squeenix game is going to go to.
-Battery Life
At the end of the day, I don't think graphics technology is going to matter much if Nintendo can deliver the goods, and that is good games. One thing the DS has going for it is that it is compatible with the GBA games. And for the PSP it is obviously the advanced graphics technology and the analog stick.
We need more time to figure out who has the advantage. Sales wise, Nintendo is out the gate fast. Demand for PSP is certainly very high. But I recall the PSX launch was a success until the hardcore technophiles were done with it and Sony pretty much had a dud in their hands. So guaging success based on initial sales is always tricky. Save for N-gage, any Sony or Nintendo branded hardware is going to come out strong. The real work is in the months ahead.
At the moment though, the tactical victory belongs to Nintendo.
The PSP launching in early to mid 2005 might be a major problem here in the USA, though. It has already lost the first Christmas sales rush, and it won't be "new" by the second Christmas. Perhaps Sony would be better off delaying the US launch until later in the year.
mashoutposse
Ante Up
btrboyev said:
Sega Dreamcast = released by a company with a poor reputation; details of the successor to the market leader were released 4 days after launch and rendered DC obsolete (75m poly/sec hype, DVD, PS1 backwards compatibility -- all of this was confirmed on 9/13/99).
Sony Playstation Portable = released by a company with enormous goodwill amongst gamers; the successor to the market leader (in the eyes of everyone but Nintendo themselves and a select group of fans) has already arrived and is vastly inferior
The situations aren't comparable in the least.
Graphics don't matter... when the two are comparable. PSP's graphics capabilities far outstrips those of the DS. It's not close. At all.
Remember, these are video games -- it should be a given that graphics play a significant part in the appeal of the hardware.
That's nice, and the system will probably do well in its own niche entertaining those types of people.
20 million in 2 years? After playing one for a few days, that is definitely within the realm of possibility.
Timbuktu said:
Hell, changes in portable consoles didn't affect the Game Boy much, but that is neither here nor there. I do think that in the end, Sony runs the risk of competing with itself (what with it's PS3, especially it's PStwo, and PSP), in much the same way Sega did back when it had Nomad, Gamegear, Genesis, 32X, and several other machines that I can't remember right now. Strengthening your brand is one thing, but you've got to be careful. The PSX has already been a victim of this.
Difference being, GB was never pushed primairily due to it's visual prowess. PSP runs the risk of losing graphics whores and technology heads to next generation consoles almost immediately next year... which is the higher end market Sony's looking at uprfont for PSP. They'll have to cut costs even further potentially to bring in a wider audience.Timbuktu said:
DavidDayton said:
It's going to be a pretty big problem, yes. Especially if Sony doesn't get costs down significantly by then. Not only will Sony be unable to catch up with the NDS userbase, but they'll probably launch with a limited number of units so as to not take too much of a financial hit (putting them farther behind)
Eh. Even if the PSP tanks, it's still a Sony victory -- if the price point tells us anything, it's that Sony is attempting to destroy Nintendo. ANY sales hurt Nintendo... even paltry ones. Sony is hoping to, at the very least, get a foot into the handheld door. Even if the PSP fails, Sony has improved their chances of getting their next handheld unit to the mass market.
As a side note... am I the only one who thinks that Sony's abandonment of the Clie line dovetails into the launch of the PSP?
As a side note... am I the only one who thinks that Sony's abandonment of the Clie line dovetails into the launch of the PSP?
mashoutposse said:
How can you come to that conclusion by only playing a PSP? That's like me saying that Katamari Damacy should sell a million copies because I thought it was fun.
Anyway, Nintendo needs to sort out the software issues soon. The PSP's technical advantages will become a real weapon in the abscense of good games for the DS. Just being cheaper isn't going sustain them.
mashoutposse
Ante Up
jarrod said:
DS will need to drop its price to remain competitive. Sony already did this preemptively with their ~$200 price point. It would have been much harder for PSP if it started at $299.
The effect would be doubly more severe on the DS.
seismologist
Banned
heh people here sure love their PSP's 
But I can guarantee that 2 million people aren't buying the DS because of the graphics. There's more to it than that. Just because something comes along with better graphics isn't necesarily going to turn people away from the DS.
Mash you need to realize that the graphics difference isn't a big a deal to everyone. Just out of curiosity, were you a handheld gamer before PSP? It seems like your main reason for buying one was to show off the graphics.
But I can guarantee that 2 million people aren't buying the DS because of the graphics. There's more to it than that. Just because something comes along with better graphics isn't necesarily going to turn people away from the DS.
Mash you need to realize that the graphics difference isn't a big a deal to everyone. Just out of curiosity, were you a handheld gamer before PSP? It seems like your main reason for buying one was to show off the graphics.
mashoutposse
Ante Up
Timbuktu said:
The worst thing that can happen to Nintendo is that people get "used to" what the PSP offers.
mashoutposse
Ante Up
ge-man said:
One doesn't have to be a soothsayer to know that the PSP is going to do ridiculous numbers at retail...
I don't understand this statement.
The 3 things PSP has over the DS is movie playback on a proprietary format, better graphics and MP3.
If you distill it down, at the end of the day it is the graphics power that will be the selling point for the PSP. Movies might matter, but right now, I don't see it happening and I'm not prepared to invest in a duplicate library of my favorite movies just for psp. As for MP3, these things are everywhere and it probably would only be slightly more useless than the CD feature was for the PSone.
Both machines suffer from a lack of quality software. I really think software is to key here not what the individual machines offer.
ThongyDonk
Banned
mashoutposse said:
After you wrote that i realised how much of a loser you must be.
People want Gameboy games.
Not a game they've got at home already playing on their big 40" Plasma's. PSp's biggest problem is the PS2. Once people start realising they are buying what they already have. All the while Ninty are throwing out DS exclusives.
It seems to me Ninty have delayed all the killer app's til PSP's USA Launch.!
I agree, though Nintendo surprised first by coming in $50 less than expected. Nintendo really needs to get aggressive with pricing though, Sony's in a tight spot now and a $99 DS could take some of the wind out of their sails.mashoutposse said:
DS isn't being pushed on it's visual prowess though, so no it wouldn't. PSP's "wow" factor will be overshadowed by Xenon's even more significant "wow" factor next spring. If casuals flock to the prettiest thing next year, that'll be Xenon.mashoutposse said:
mashoutposse
Ante Up
seismologist said:heh people here sure love their PSP's
But I can guarantee that 2 million people aren't buying the DS because of the graphics.
I would say that most are buying because it is something new. It sure isn't about the mediocre lineup of titles available to them now.
The PSP is better than the DS in many more aspects than just "graphics." It's a PS2 in the palm of your hand. Graphics, sound, control, and actual game depth. Add in the well-executed non-gaming multimedia aspects, and it all ads up to the PSP being a leap over the DS in many, many important aspects.
Previously, handhelds have failed to hold my interest due to the fact that most titles had game design that were a generation or two back. Again, that's in all aspects -- graphics, sound, control, and actual game depth. Heck, the DS may even be a step back, since the best stuff on it are all minigames. I love the fact that PSP games will be much more robust, and it is that which will keep me interested in it for far longer than any previous portable.
ThongyDonk
Banned
Amir0x said:
Okay if you're laughing with me
If you're laughing at me (GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR)
I could see easily myself getting a PSP to use primarily as a portable video playback device (though I'd use a memory stick & not the UMDs, which I'll never, ever buy any of).
Of course if that happens, I'm bound to get some games too, but the decision to import Driller & WarioWare Touched has really turned my opinion around on the DS lineup. Both games are awesome...
This kind of turnaround in my opinion proves to me that it really comes down to software (which might be bad for PSP, since PS2 is my system I play the least).
Of course if that happens, I'm bound to get some games too, but the decision to import Driller & WarioWare Touched has really turned my opinion around on the DS lineup. Both games are awesome...
This kind of turnaround in my opinion proves to me that it really comes down to software (which might be bad for PSP, since PS2 is my system I play the least).
ThongyDonk said:Okay if you're laughing with me
If you're laughing at me (GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR)
Yeah, I'm sorry, I was definitely laughing at you. I was this close to considering writing a long essay about the million ways it was wrong but I figured I was too lazy this early to do it.
ThongyDonk
Banned
Yep i was wrong all wrong. You are right. I am Wrong.
ALL BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE SO.
Take it as you will, but a few forum members stating what they believe is fact, does not make fact. Mine was an opinion, as is yours. Neither are right until proven WRONG.
:lol
ALL BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE SO.
Take it as you will, but a few forum members stating what they believe is fact, does not make fact. Mine was an opinion, as is yours. Neither are right until proven WRONG.
:lol
Drinky Crow
Banned
Rougyhly 2-5M gamers across the US and Japan constitute the Nintendo faithful. Hey, the Gamecube got to a 2M in a serious hurry, and look where it is now -- grovelling for scraps from Sony.
Unlike the rest of you smarty man industry insider types with your hotlines to Yamauchi and all, I dunno how it's all gonna turn out. But I'll tell you this: if the PSP is a runaway success, I'm gonna be INTOLERABLE.
Unlike the rest of you smarty man industry insider types with your hotlines to Yamauchi and all, I dunno how it's all gonna turn out. But I'll tell you this: if the PSP is a runaway success, I'm gonna be INTOLERABLE.
Drinky Crow
Banned
Vampire Chronicles is loads deeper than Mario 64. I lost a year-and-a-half to mastering Anakaris and Morrigan for competitive play in Nightwarriors and Vampire Savior.
Actually, I can't believe that I'm gonna be playing a WiFi-enabled arcade-quality 2D fighter -- now THAT'S the innovation *I* want. If Sega makes a WiFi-enabled VF4evo port, I'll probably have some sort of aneurysm of joy.
Actually, I can't believe that I'm gonna be playing a WiFi-enabled arcade-quality 2D fighter -- now THAT'S the innovation *I* want. If Sega makes a WiFi-enabled VF4evo port, I'll probably have some sort of aneurysm of joy.
ThongyDonk
Banned
Amir0x said:
Prove me wrong then wise guy?
All mouth as always
mashoutposse
Ante Up
Wuster said:
If people become used to these things:
-large, beautiful screen
-current generation home console graphics on a handheld
-CD-quality sound presentation w/ high fidelity sound effects and copious amounts of speech
-analog control for portable 3D games
-long, home console-worthy games from popular franchises
-movie playback with perfect image quality and framerates
-MP3 playback and photo viewing out of the box
...Nintendo will be in BIG trouble.
Bluemercury
Member
Im having a hard time believing that PSP will outsell DS any time soon, specially in europe at 260 .......
Drinky Crow
Banned
I'm not arguing that handheld gaming has ever had an issue with depth. FFTA and Tactics Ogre have some really amazing depth and detail, and there's nothing stopping some crazy stat-crunching monster SRPG from coming to the GBA, much less the DS or the PSP.
That said, I think the point Amir0x was trying to make was that the DS' novelty controls are a DISTRACTION that encourages the development of shallow games with "pick up and play" gameplay.
That said, I think the point Amir0x was trying to make was that the DS' novelty controls are a DISTRACTION that encourages the development of shallow games with "pick up and play" gameplay.
Bluemercury
Member
mashoutposse said:
Of course they will, any company that isnt Sony when facing it is in trouble......always.....its a law or something, sure would like to know who wrote it.....
Oh and the "current generation home console graphics on a handheld" isnt exactly true.
More like Dreamcast/old pc graphics....
But Nintendo can always pull a Gameboy More Advanced outta their ass & stomp all over the PSP, so I don't see how they are in a major bind...
Right now they are in a comfortable position where they can produce hardware at a profit (or a miniscule loss). There's no reason they can't chance this stance if it becomes necessary to compete.
Right now they are in a comfortable position where they can produce hardware at a profit (or a miniscule loss). There's no reason they can't chance this stance if it becomes necessary to compete.
mashoutposse said:
Yes, I lopped a lot of stuff out of there. I know that that's incredibly unfair, but please make the best of it.
What are your secret industry contacts telling you that have lead you to the previously hidden knowledge that only the PSP will receive "long, home console-worthy games from popular franchises"?
I'm not saying that you're making silly assuptions without a shred of evidence, mind you; I'm sincerely curious as to what information you do have!