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[Ignatz Mouse]

It's true, but the whole debate there was pretty heated from both sides.

I agree. That's why I said that a lot of the anti-DS folks needed a banning too (and I think some of them were temp-banned).

Here's my beef, harsh as it may seem: I am tired of people putting down my choices in gaming, and doing it from some sort of superior position. It's extremely widespread here, and insidious. I starting being active in the gaming forum again after being mostly an OT guy when I got interested in the PSP, and spotted the crap right away. When I started a thread about PSP from the perspective of somebody who's been less-than-satisfied with Nintendo handhelds (I buy 'em, but generally find few games I really like) and whether the PSP woudl be any different, I was told that I must just not like handheld gaming, or that my taste in games was bad. It was veiled, yet very clear. I started a thread to celebrate the PSP and there were flames withing 3 threads, and a lot of general dismissal. Why is the hell do people feel the need to bring up the DS in every PSP threa and vice versa? I've actually called out anti-DS posts as well, but a lot less becuase not owning a DS and not being as interested, I read a lot less of the threads about it.

So my beef is with putting down any system whatsoever. And that includes people who clearly (from other threads) are down on the system making reasonable-sounding statements that sound like facts that aren't-- like that most of the PSPs library can be had on consoles, when in fact far less than half can be-- or that PSP offers no "pick up and play" style games when there are actually quite a lot of them for those who aren't interested in putting down the system-- in fact, most PSP games are quite pick-up-and-playable. And on the DS side, I have posted several times about how putting down the DS's graphics is a pretty lame argument, since a) graphics don't make the game and b) the DS hardware is well-suited to the kinds of games that fans of the Nintendo handhelds like.

Harsh? Sure. But I'm tired of the assholes. Ever since the DS pulled ahead of the PSP, those assholes have been much more crazen on the threads I read (PSP and Sony threads, mostly).

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Is that the new explanation? PSP is priced competitively in Japan given the feature set it has and it hasn't done as well as the DS, certainly not 'killed' it.

Price certainly is an issue for many consumers, but the argument is circular. Sony priced and built the PSP to appeal to a target audience, and it hasn't worked out for them. It's not price, but a failure in strategy.

Also, comparing the PSP to previous handhelds is a bit of a red herring. Someone brought this point up before, but handhelds of the past was at least a generation behind which allowed developers to build gaming experiences that were different than what people can experience at home and at value prices. The PSP was supposed to be a portable PS2, but its turned out to be a machine filled with crippled 'toned down' ports of the exact same game people can buy for their PS2, at exactly the same prices.

Again, it goes back to a lack of vision and probably arrogance on Sony's part. The PSP had great technology, but its execution from the faulty button designs, the analog nub, load times, and software and pricing begs for a lot more. It's just a bad portable ATM.

I'm not sure how to interpret this excpt to say that I haven't heard anybody put the PSP down outside of message boards, but I know an awful lot who say that they think it's cool but don't want to spend that kind of money. Is that a "new explanation" or just how things seem to be shaking out?

 

[Mook1e]

I'm not sure how to interpret this excpt to say that I haven't heard anybody put the PSP down outside of message boards, but I know an awful lot who say that they think it's cool but don't want to spend that kind of money. Is that a "new explanation" or just how things seem to be shaking out?

I wouldn't even reply to Deku's posts. He is so anti-PSP it's a bit sad.

Sony priced and built the PSP to appeal to a target audience, and it hasn't worked out for them. It's not price, but a failure in strategy.

I would really like to know what hasn't worked out for Sony? Is it:

1. They've successfully entered the handheld market when no other competitor to Nintendo could.

2. They've sold quite a lot of hardware, software, and UMD movies (which are pretty much free money with their profit margin)

3. They've successfully introduced a new media format (which they've had massive problems with doing in the past - see minidisc and betamax)

4. They continue to produce PSPs with increased production numbers from their original estimate of 12 million by March 06'.

5. Third parties have not only come on board with PSP, they are primarily what's driving it's sales and success.

Now, where is this failure in strategy?

The misguided predictions of (quite) a few overzealous Sony fanboys did not come true, so now Sony has failed?

 

[Mook1e]

On topic. Congrats to Nintendo and to the DS. It's a welcome addition to my entertainment system collection.

 

[Deku]

I'm not sure how to interpret this excpt to say that I haven't heard anybody put the PSP down outside of message boards, but I know an awful lot who say that they think it's cool but don't want to spend that kind of money. Is that a "new explanation" or just how things seem to be shaking out?

Maybe it isn't a new excuse for you, but it's a new thing i've been reading from a number of posters, especially after the Gigapack thing. If the product has value, people will buy it. Obviously, you're either arguing for all its features, the PSP has very low value to consumers or it just doesn't have the right kind of things people want at the price. Either interpretation isn't flattering to the portable.

As for me being anti-psp, yes, I have a right to be. I bought one on day 1 and have been disappointed with it. It has a mediocre games list and the Japanese software support isn't hot either. Far cry from the PS2 portable Sony promised it would be.

 

[Drinky Crow]

As for me being anti-psp, yes, I have a right to be.

Do remember this line while I'm bashing the DS and its sorry software library.

 

[cvxfreak]

Deku is completely correct in calling it a failure of strategy because:

1. Ken Kutaragi: PSP = walkman of the 21st century. Yeah right.
2. Kaz Hirai: PSP takes handhelds out of the ghetto. Yeah right.

 

[jman2050]

The misguided predictions of (quite) a few overzealous Sony fanboys did not come true, so now Sony has failed?

In the context of this forum yes. In a market context, of course not. The PSP is a success, even when compared to the DS. Just not as much.

Now if PSP slows down and loses support ala GC, THEN it would be considered a failure. But I don't see that happening, and besides, it's way too early to tell.

 

[Drinky Crow]

Ah, the PSP does indeed rock. If only it had photo scaling/editing software included.

Proper modern web browsing at a 256x192x2 resolution on a 90 mHz relic? Not bloody likely!

 

[elostyle]

It's 66mhz16mhz actually. The biggest problem for a webbrowser would be the 4 megs of ram. Of course a touchscreen ist sweet for webbrowsing but how would you know.

Can you read PDF files on the PSP? I might want to get one if it did.

 

[Deku]

Deku is completely correct in calling it a failure of strategy because:

1. Ken Kutaragi: PSP = walkman of the 21st century. Yeah right.
2. Kaz Hirai: PSP takes handhelds out of the ghetto. Yeah right.

as the technofiles love it. its got a mishmash of features that dont come together to do the right things. it's a terrible mp3 player to boot.

 

[Drinky Crow]

Of course a touchscreen ist sweet for webbrowsing but how would you know.

I would because I own a Pocket PC, dillhole. I'd rather browse the web with my PSP because it's faster and has more screen real estate. The touch screen isn't exactly useful when I have all my URLs cached and my login/passwds stored in cookies -- unless I actually want to enter data, which is maybe 5% of my browsing experience, the PSP is actually vastly superior.

It's a great MP3 player, BTW; sound fidelity is MUCH better than my wife's iPod mini. It just sucks for storage and size compared to the ol' iPod.

 

[elostyle]

I would because I own a Pocket PC, dillhole. I'd rather browse the web with my PSP because it's faster and has more screen real estate. The touch screen isn't exactly useful when I have all my URLs cached and my login/passwds stored in cookies -- unless I actually want to enter data, which is maybe 5% of my browsing experience, the PSP is actually vastly superior.

It's a great MP3 player, BTW; sound fidelity is MUCH better than my wife's iPod mini. It just sucks for storage and size compared to the ol' iPod.

Wow, I didn't expect you to actually take the bait :lol

So does it support pdf viewing?

 

[Tony HoTT]

I've insulted the PSP here and there. I actually like it though, but mostly for homebrew. While DS is home to all my favorite franchises, the PSP has some games I want to try still. I haven't used my PSP in months though because it froze and fucked up my memory stick and I can't afford a new memory stick right now. But once I do it's neo cd time!

 

[Drinky Crow]

No idea. I'd guess it doesn't, given that PDF rendering requires an Adobe license or plug-in.

 

[DDayton]

I'm still thinking that the PSP was partially an attempt to dump the Palm license and create their own handheld unit, minus most of the organizer functions (already present in most cell phones).

 

[cvxfreak]

I would because I own a Pocket PC, dillhole. I'd rather browse the web with my PSP because it's faster and has more screen real estate. The touch screen isn't exactly useful when I have all my URLs cached and my login/passwds stored in cookies -- unless I actually want to enter data, which is maybe 5% of my browsing experience, the PSP is actually vastly superior.

It's a great MP3 player, BTW; sound fidelity is MUCH better than my wife's iPod mini. It just sucks for storage and size compared to the ol' iPod.

I think the new video iPod, which is much more of a competitor to the PSP than the iPod and iPod mini were, has sound that rivals the PSP. I haven't listened to the PSP in awhile, so I'd have to doublecheck.