PSP-4000 and PSP2 Coming Soon

[Nature Boy]

It will be interesting how Sony will let existing user to transfer their UMD games to PSP Go. If Sony said screw user with UMD and tell them to repurchase their games via PSN, then expect their system to fail.

I totally disagree. You're talking about backwards compatibility of a sort here, and nobody is 'screwed' when a new console isn't BC.

They are potentially saying goodbye to 1000/2000/3000 owners here if they don't make the newer games downloadable to the those machines, but that's life - consoles die, and I can't play 360 games on my original Xbox. If I can play the new "DLC" games on my PSP 2000 then that's awsome. If I can't then I'll probably wait until the Go has something I want to make a purchase. In the end, I can't lose.

The PSP has been around for four years now which is short, but not *ridiculously* short IMO.

[ScourDX]

I totally disagree. You're talking about backwards compatibility of a sort here, and nobody is 'screwed' when a new console isn't BC.

They are potentially saying goodbye to 1000/2000/3000 owners here if they don't make the newer games downloadable to the those machines, but that's life - consoles die, and I can't play 360 games on my original Xbox. If I can play the new "DLC" games on my PSP 2000 then that's awsome. If I can't then I'll probably wait until the Go has something I want to make a purchase. In the end, I can't lose.

The PSP has been around for four years now which is short, but not *ridiculously* short IMO.

Dunno about you. I find Sony is putting a lot of risk. Beside they are competing against DS Lite and their PS3 isn't winning the console race. Sony should've work on improving their customer relation instead of releasing new portable hoping it will solve the piracy issue. I believe their ignorant will be their downfall.

[kupomogli]

We have alot of people bashing the PSP because of the amount of games coming out on the system. Companies aren't releasing as many games because of the ease of piracy on the original PSP and PSP2000. Iso files have yet to work on the PSP3000, but homebrew and emulation do work now so it's not that far away.

So yeah. Piracy is a big issue on why Sony isn't getting as many games. It's atleast better that the system has fewer but better games, but not for the company.

Then alot of people also like to complain about the load times the PSP has. Now I'll agree SOME games do have long load times. Midnight Club LA Remix has some of the worst load times on the system. The amount of times you'll change screens and how quickly you'll change screens only to load a race here and there, and the load times are about 15+ seconds each. But then there are games like Brave Story where the load times are almost non existant or games like GTA LCS, VCS, and Driver 76 where the load times are very infrequent to what you're doing and other games where there is hardly any loading, but not as low as a game like Brave Story(we've got Star Ocean 1 and 2, Mega Man Powered Up and Maverick Hunter X, Castlevania Dracula X Chronicles, Space Invaders Extreme, Crisis Core, Gurumin, Jeanne D'arc, etc, etc, etc. So alot of good games where the load times are infrequent) So it's got its share of hit and miss. Thankfully it's got alot more good games with barely any load times than crap games with alot of load time or even good games with alot of load time.

So anyways. The PSP Go is also a representation of a system to go to all digital and cut load times down to almost nothing if not nothing period.

Regardless. The PSP is Sony's first venture into the portable gaming market. This is an area that Nintendo has dominated for over a decade and sent many systems to their doom, all of them more powerful than what Nintendo has been at the time. So the PSP actually standing up against Nintendo is far more than any other company has been able to do. I'd say they are doing well for the system considering that they're still making money, regardless of the fact that the DS is doing better in sales. I own both systems and I love them both, but I favor the PSP much more.

*edit*

Also. To add more to what Nature Boy said. The Nintendo DSi removed GBA backwards compatibility but that's selling extremely well. Why complain now when Sony is doing the same thing pretty much? There are too many hypocritical views where alot of people state that they don't care about something when one company does it, but when the other company does they're fucking over the customer. Is Sony not supporting the PSP after the release of the PSP Go? No, they're still supporting all their systems, just like they've still been supporting the PS2.

Oh yeah. And a rumor floating around is that backwards compatibility for PSP Go and the original PSP will still be there but not really. Video game stores will have kiosks in which you can rip your UMD games to the PSP Go. If you happen not to have a broadband connection, you can also pay for games at these kiosks to download to the PSP Go as well. Though if you have a Mcdonalds or any Wifi hotspot around you, then there you go, no need for a broadband connection that most everyone has already.

[Nature Boy]

Companies aren't releasing as many games because of the ease of piracy on the original PSP and PSP2000.

Do we have any proof of this, or is this just something we let pass because we think it's common knowledge?

I'd argue that piracy on the DS is easier: you buy a card and load it with games. On the PSP you have to hack your firmware. Say what you will, but I believe less people will want to potentially brick their investment over paying $40 for a pirate card.

And just how many Pandora batteries are there out in the wild?

[Jimid2]

Also. To add more to what Nature Boy said. The Nintendo DSi removed GBA backwards compatibility but that's selling extremely well. Why complain now when Sony is doing the same thing pretty much? There are too many hypocritical views where alot of people state that they don't care about something when one company does it, but when the other company does they're fucking over the customer. Is Sony not supporting the PSP after the release of the PSP Go? No, they're still supporting all their systems, just like they've still been supporting the PS2.


This is a ridiculous argument. First of all, the DSi is backwardly compatible with DS games - and it is a significant hardware upgrade from the DS (bigger LCDs, more RAM, faster CPU, etc.). If Sony does not accommodate current PSP users by offering them a tool to rip their own PSP games to the PSP Go, they will have released a system that has no significant improvements to spec (a whack of internal storage vs. an optical drive and the addition of BlueTooth being the only significant non-cosmetic differences between the Go and the 3000), and is not compatible with the currently available games. This would be the equivalent of making the PS2 Slim incompatible with PS2 games, or the PSOne incompatible with PlayStation games... It's stupid beyond words... Nintendo knows that in order to encourage current users to upgrade to the new system, you have to ensure they can continue to use their current library of games - the GBC was compatible with Game Boy games, the GBA could handle GB/C games, the DS and DSLite could both play GBA games... The DSi is actually a next gen - games that will use the DSi to it's full capacity will NOT be backwardly compatible with the DS. The PSP Go is the same damn machine as the PSP 1000 and up in terms of the code it runs - anything that runs on it will run on the previous versions of the machine... I suspect that the vast majority of possible "Day 1" adopters would come from the ranks of current PSP owners, and most of us won't bother if our current library of games are unplayable on the new system without having to BUY THEM AGAIN.


Oh yeah. And a rumor floating around is that backwards compatibility for PSP Go and the original PSP will still be there but not really. Video game stores will have kiosks in which you can rip your UMD games to the PSP Go. If you happen not to have a broadband connection, you can also pay for games at these kiosks to download to the PSP Go as well. Though if you have a Mcdonalds or any Wifi hotspot around you, then there you go, no need for a broadband connection that most everyone has already.

This would work for me if a store or two in the neighborhood had these kiosks, and if the service were FREE. If they charge me for the privilege of ripping my own games, well... I can assure them that I will eventually be ripping my own games for free, with or without their help... And I doubt if this "solution" would encourage those living outside of major metropolitan areas to adopt the PSP Go...


Do we have any proof of this, or is this just something we let pass because we think it's common knowledge?

I'd argue that piracy on the DS is easier: you buy a card and load it with games. On the PSP you have to hack your firmware. Say what you will, but I believe less people will want to potentially brick their investment over paying $40 for a pirate card.

And just how many Pandora batteries are there out in the wild?

The piracy card is grossly overplayed by Sony - of course piracy is easier on the DS, and of course the DS is still substantially more successful. Look at the number of downloads for any given iteration of CFW and you can justifiably make the case that less than one percent of the 20+ million PSPs sold to date are running Custom Firmware... That's leaves a big market; you should be able to sell some good games if you put some energy into it...

I don't really care - personally - if Sony make it possible to copy my UMDs to the PSP Go or not. I will not buy one before I can do so, however. The bottom line is that eventually the mods community will bust the system open - it might take a year or more, but it will happen - and I'll gladly purchase one when they do, if Sony haven't given me the appropriate incentive to buy one before that.

[CosmicMonkey]

PSPgo and PSP 3000 will BOTH be sold at retail side-by-side. If you want to have the option of downloading games from PSN whilst continuing to use your UMDs, stick with a 3000 or older model.

If you've never owned a PSP and have no UMDs, then the PSPgo would be a good choice.

They serve two different demographics. You will not be able to rip your UMDs legally in any way, shape or form. The PSPgo IS NOT replacing the 3000 model. If you want a physical copy of a game stick with a current model of PSP.

Honestly....

[kupomogli]

From the sounds of it if you upgrade you will be able to get a digital copy of each of your UMD games. I don't know how it'll be done since the kiosk rumor was not mentioned, but whatever, you can still use your games. I prefer discs so I'll still be keeping my PSP 2000 and won't bother buying a Go.


Sony has made it clear that the PSP Go will not render your UMDs useless. So what will happen to them if you do upgrade to a PSP Go? Will you have to buy the digital copies of the games you already have in UMDs? John Koller appeases your worries as he address this very issue.

Says Koller:

We're in the midst of putting together a good will program. We'll be unveiling that soon [because] we actually think there's a significant group that will be upgrading from the 1000...In the past, we've seen a 20-25% trade-up factor, and I assume that's going to be the case here. We've modeled that. So we're looking at a good-will program—a short term good-will program that would continue for years

afterward.

This goodwill system, further explains Koller, will essentially be similar to Portable Copy, wherein Blu-ray movies are ripped and converted from the PS3 to the PSP. However, you will not be ripping your UMDs. What will happen, actually, is that there will be a PSN-based digital distribution that you can sign up for service. At least that's what it sounds like.

And there's more. Since Koller likened it to Portable Copy - which in case you didn't know is for free - there's then a possibility that this new service for UMD owners will be free as well. We don't know for sure yet, however, if this service will be made accessible to all games across the board, or if it will be limited only to select ones.

http://pspupdates.qj.net/Sony-to-offer-new-digital-copies-for-old-UMD-games/pg/49/aid/131931

Also. It seems Miyamoto sees the PSP Go as a threat to Nintendo. If he didn't I don't think he'd go to the booth to specifically look at it.

http://www.cubed3.com/media/2009/June/jb/e3miyamotopspgo.jpg

[Baloo]

From the sounds of it if you upgrade you will be able to get a digital copy of each of your UMD games. I don't know how it'll be done since the kiosk rumor was not mentioned, but whatever, you can still use your games. I prefer discs so I'll still be keeping my PSP 2000 and won't bother buying a Go.



http://pspupdates.qj.net/Sony-to-offer-new-digital-copies-for-old-UMD-games/pg/49/aid/131931

Also. It seems Miyamoto sees the PSP Go as a threat to Nintendo. If he didn't I don't think he'd go to the booth to specifically look at it.

http://www.cubed3.com/media/2009/June/jb/e3miyamotopspgo.jpg

Well, I doubt that he really sees it as a true threat. He could be just looking at it for hardware specifications, how it works, and just general information on it. That way he can just one-up it any way possible.

[BHvrd]

Well, I doubt that he really sees it as a true threat. He could be just looking at it for hardware specifications, how it works, and just general information on it. That way he can just one-up it any way possible.

Yes, like adding Friend Codes. Go Miyamato!

[The 1 2 P]

Also. It seems Miyamoto sees the PSP Go as a threat to Nintendo. If he didn't I don't think he'd go to the booth to specifically look at it.

http://www.cubed3.com/media/2009/June/jb/e3miyamotopspgo.jpg

I'm pretty sure he's looking at it with the same thought in his mind as the rest of us: "$250 for this piece of shit? Epic Fail Sony. But don't worry, yall still have that Hanna Montana Lylac Psp going for you."

[Nature Boy]

I'm pretty sure he's looking at it with the same thought in his mind as the rest of us: "$250 for this piece of shit? Epic Fail Sony. But don't worry, yall still have that Hanna Montana Lylac Psp going for you."

Actually I'm pretty sure he doesn't sound like a total fan boy, and is actually quite a bit more articulate than that.

Since we're totally guessing at what he's doing I think he's doing what he's always doing as a creator: checking anything and everything out looking for ideas. He did come up with a game design while gardening after all.

[The 1 2 P]

Actually I'm pretty sure he doesn't sound like a total fan boy, and is actually quite a bit more articulate than that.

I see the art of sarcasm has eluded you yet again(despite the fact that we really don't know what he said). Furthermore, go look at the other threads for Sony's press conference and for "who won e3". You'll notice that several people have called the PspGo an epic fail, including those who only have a PS3 and only buy Sony products. I don't think Sony thought that one out far enough before pricing it with it's hardware limitations.

[Nature Boy]

I see the art of sarcasm has eluded you yet again(despite the fact that we really don't know what he said). Furthermore, go look at the other threads for Sony's press conference and for "who won e3". You'll notice that several people have called the PspGo an epic fail, including those who only have a PS3 and only buy Sony products. I don't think Sony thought that one out far enough before pricing it with it's hardware limitations.

Just because lots of people have called it an epic fail (regardless of their 'console affiliation') doesn't make the comments less annoying or sarcastic. It makes them pointless.

:deadhorse:

I've never looked at the Sony E3 threads because I'm not interested in them.

[The 1 2 P]

Well from my stand point it's a fail because I can't play my Psp games on it. Sony has a program coming where some of the games will be free to download(if you own the original) but it will be very limited in the selection of games available. So I'm 100% certain all my games won't be playable on it and thats not a good selling point.

[calgon]

Also. It seems Miyamoto sees the PSP Go as a threat to Nintendo. If he didn't I don't think he'd go to the booth to specifically look at it.


....Seriously?

[Mr Mort]

Meh, I've got a 2000, I see no reason to upgrade to the Go, particularly if I can still download new releases on my 2000 if they don't come out on UMD. At most, I'll just have to upgrade from a 2gb card to 4gb. The new features simply don't justify a new purchase, and the fact that my UMD's would be worthless unless I dragged them to some kiosk, doesn't help.

When there's a true successor to the PSP, I'll take a closer look.

[maxlords]

Heh...now that I've got enough info about the Go...I've already gone out and bought a brand new PSP-2000. I have too many UMDs to risk issues with playing them. I only had a 1000 before and it won't last forever.

[kupomogli]

....Seriously?

Not in that it will dethrone the DS or reduce the sales that the DS is getting, because it wouldn't, but why even bother going to check out the system? Nintendo probably has other people to check the competition out, so why did Miyamoto specifically go and check it out?

Even though that $250 is way too expensive(I'm sure there will be a price drop soon after release as I know hardly anyone will pay that price,) PSP development kit prices have been lowered and all PSP games from this point on are going to be both UMD and digital download. This gives developers more incentive to create a game on the PSP than before because even if the PSP Go fails and people buy the much cheaper PSP Slim 2000/3000 every digital download would be an increased profit to developers due to phasing out some of the third party sales and used games sales(Walmart, Gamestop, etc.)

So truthfully, the system really doesn't matter, it's the concept behind the system that is going to atleast push some extra developers to the PSP.

[Matt-El]

Miyamoto owned a Saturn and praised Yuji Naka on Nights into Dreams. He's interested in anything games. As are anyone else involved in the gaming community.

Also, cocks.

[chicnstu]

Nintendo probably has other people to check the competition out, so why did Miyamoto specifically go and check it out?


I'm sure he went there to be friendly with their competitor, just checking out what they have and having converstations. That's what I would want to do if I was him.

[kupomogli]

PSP Go is clocked at a maximum of 480mhz instead of 333mhz like every other PSP. This is most likely since the system supports using a PS3 controller and also entering the XMB midgame.

If the system gets downgraded then I might pick it. Homebrew and emulation will own with the speed increase. Maybe N64 will actually be playable? If this happens I'll keep both my PSP2000 and I'll get a PSP Go, use the supposed kiosk to rip my games and put them on the PSP Go and then put all my older systems on the Go.

http://img.qj.net/uploads/articles_module/132704/fcc-screencap.jpg?396980

[Icarus Moonsight]

Oh, so they are continuing to support the UMD models? What of Patapon 2? Disturbing trend or boneheaded decission? I vote both.

I just bought a 2000 less than a year ago and traded-in for a DSi when it launched... I'm not buying another handheld for quite awhile. I'm stuck in a 50/50 here. I half want to go out an secure all the UMD copies of games I'm interested in before they dissapear from the retail space and the other half just wants to chuck it all on eBay and say to hell with it.

[ianoid]

1)No 2nd Analog stick, me no buy. Why not listen to your consumers?

2)I just find it hard to believe that Sony is really losing so much from piracy. I would guess that less than 1% of the retail value of the games could be captured as earnings. Probably a tenth of a percent. It is typical for the loser to start pointing fingers, and Sony is definitely the loser.

3)This unit will not sell. Sony has clearly put itself in the position to be reactive, rather than leading the pack. This unit is just another misstep in the ongoing saga of Sony's poorly performing handheld.

4)I love the PSP, aside from the missing 2nd analog stick. I prefer to play games on it over the DS, but I probably play them equally because of all of the better selection of games available for the DS.

5)The whole download only model is both the future and a huge pain in the arse. I am amazed that I'm still plopping disks into my consoles. On the other hand, I can't imaging paying $60 (not that I do that much) or even $40 for a title that I could accidentally delete, that I can't resell, and that I can't keep around in perpetuity. I don't think consumers are savvy enough to recognize that the download only model is 1 part convenience and 2 parts waste. Having the PSPGo ascribing to this model makes it even less attractive to me. If games I buy won't follow me around for the rest of my life, or at least 10 years, I just might not buy them. I also don't think that the industry realizes how much resale of games finances the purchase of more games. I would guess that if you got rid of the current used game market altogether, the retail market would actually shrink. All us used game bottom feeders would buy less, have less to get into, less to play, and there would be less draw for lower price point buyers into video games at all. The prices are quite a barrier, and used game lets the medium reach at least twice the audience it would otherwise.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Interesting how many people are under the imprssion that the PSP Go! is going to cause a drastic and/or sudden overnight change to a download only format ...

... the Go! is clearly a experiment that Sony can afford to conduct using primarily existing PSP hardware in a reworked case.

Sony's on the record in saying that the 3000 unit will remain at market and a majority if not all releases will continue to be released on UMD, and there's no indication that the legacy UMD software downloads as well as all future DLC only releases will ONLY be available to the Go!, 3000, 2000, and 1000 users will likely be counted into the equation of the experiment even if they think that they're part of the solution by not upgrading.

If current PSP format users (1000, 2000, 3000) don't buy new releases on UMD Sony will likley view that as a desire to move away from the format. If current PSP format users use the onboard PSN store to download software (anything from wallpapers and themes to PS1 games to legacy UMD releases) Sony will likley see that as a desire to move to a download service.

In fact, this whole move to the Go! format may have a LOT to do with the purchasing tendencies of CURRENT PSP users ... the PSN store has been live on the XBM of the PSP for quite some time now and very easy to use in wi-fi environments. Turn in on, go to the store, buy a game, dowload it directly to your PSP.

And, of course there are other factors which are strongly influincing the industry to see the value and profitability of DLC as a whole ... from the Wii shop channel and VC releases to XBLA to STEAM, to the iTunes Market (which is probably THE biggest proponent of this shift) ... we the collectors can piss and moan about the loss of plastic casesm, paper manuals and physicial media all we want - the bottom line is that the general public (and very likely some of us collectors) are currently spending more and more on DLC on a yearly basis making this move more "attractive" to companies.

As a collector I'm torn, I dig boxes and manuals as much as the rest ... but as a techological futurist I wholly embrace an era where all of my purcases can be made day and date of release without leaving my house, without having to drive to a store and be hassled about pre-ordering multiple future releases, and having a console or portable where my ENTIRE library is available at my fingertips with no worries about "storage space".

Personally, I'm not really worried about "resale" value for games as I've probably only "sold" or "traded" less than 5 games in the last 10 years. I do understand that not being able to "trade in" games will be an issue for some, it's just not for me.

Concerns about non-perpetuality of digital-only software are reasonable ... but as it's been proven at the very least by Nintendo with the VC, as long as the ability to emulate is out there (and it always will be both legit and homebrew) if backwards compatibility isn't an option for download only purchases that can be transferred or re-downloaded - we'll likely be able to buy some type of port of said games via a "legacy" store like Wii shop and virtual console (or the Sega Classics on XBLA). I mean, christ, how many times have we collectors purchased Super Mario Bros on PHYSICAL media much less digital versions? ... And if companies don't make it happen in a legit capacity, there will always be a community of techies working out ways to emulate older platforms on newer systems.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that anybody who's anti-DLC-only is wrong ... it's just that sometimes, change can be hard ... but sometimes it's unavoidable.

I also don't think there's THAT much cause for concern ... physicial media still serves a big purpose in the market and it'll be around a while longer - even and especially (according to Sony) in the case of the PSP.

[zektor]

The Nintendo DSi removed GBA backwards compatibility but that's selling extremely well. Why complain now when Sony is doing the same thing pretty much?


No, no, no. You see, the DSi removed compatibility with a PREVIOUS handheld. It was considered a real bonus (to me at least) that the initial release (and Lite release) actually had compatibility with the previous handheld. By the time the DSi was released, you couldn't find many (if any) GBA games in stores and the DS's own library was already vast and chock full of great titles. This was certainly a glorious way for Nintendo to move on. They could have removed GBA compatibility with the Lite and I would have been ok with it.

But, the PSP is a different scenario. The specs on the new Go are the same (more or less) as their previous handheld. I am in no way looking at this device as a next gen handheld. It is still the PSP we all know, with a makeover much like the PSP1000 to PSP2000 makeover. But this time they have decided to remove a critical component...the UMD drive. You see, this situation and the DSi/GBA backward compatibility situation are both completely different.

[The 1 2 P]

The reason the PSP Go will NOT have a second analog stick (http://www.industrygamers.com/news/sony-debated-second-analog-on-psp-go/).

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

The reason the PSP Go will NOT have a second analog stick (http://www.industrygamers.com/news/sony-debated-second-analog-on-psp-go/).

While I fully understand not segmenting the development and PSP userbase ... I think that they could have easily taken a cue from the hardware modding community in adding a second "simulated" analog stick that simply maps out the up, down, left, right to the X, Square, Triangle, and Circle buttons respectively, that way developers wouldn't have to do ANYTHING different than what they've been doing normally.

But, they're also correct in their assessment that developers have gotten very good at using the face buttons as a 2nd analog solution.

Medal of Honor Heroes and Heroes 2 control superbly for a 1 analog system.

[kupomogli]

That's weird. I thought I submitted what I typed up.


But, the PSP is a different scenario. The specs on the new Go are the same (more or less) as their previous handheld. I am in no way looking at this device as a next gen handheld. It is still the PSP we all know, with a makeover much like the PSP1000 to PSP2000 makeover. But this time they have decided to remove a critical component...the UMD drive.

You answered your own question. The PSP 1000, 2000, 3000, and Go are the exact same system except that the Go doesn't utilize UMDs as it is going to be for the "digital only fanbase." They're still selling the PSP 3000 so if you want to play the games on UMD and digital, go buy that system. If you want to play the games digital download only, then go buy the Go.

It's not like Sony is dropping support of PSP games, just the UMD which you'll more than likely have a PSP if you have UMD games(unless you're a collector who has games but not the system; an example would be 1 2 P who needs to buy the system as it does have alot of awesome games.)


The reason the PSP Go will NOT have a second analog stick (http://www.industrygamers.com/news/sony-debated-second-analog-on-psp-go/).

I know the reason without clicking on the link though, though Frankie ended up answering it for a consumer side a little bit. The PSP works fine without the analog on pretty much all RPG titles, action games, and most 3d action/adventure games.

Developers have worked around the fact that there isn't a second analog stick quite well and there's honestly no reason the system really needs to have a second analog for the most part. Games like the Gundam Battle series uses the left analog as a camera viewpoint as well as to switch lock on with the digital pad to move and the buttons to do all your actions. The Syphon Filter games use the analog to either move or aim(depending on your preference,) the face buttons as the opposite(move or aim,) the digital pad to change weapons and inventory, with your R to fire and not really remembering what L does. These two Syphon Filter games are my favorite of the series that I've played and I enjoy them more as stealth/shooting games far more than the Metal Gear series which I actually hate the gameplay but enjoy the story. Then finally, from the same developer, Resistance Retribution has the same type of gameplay as Syphon Filter but it's far more action oriented and has a semi lock on as long as the enemy is in the sight lock.

Now. The only type of games I think wouldn't work as good would first person shooters, but then again, if they use the style of shooting Syphon Filter used, then why not. I haven't played the game as I dislike FPS games, but I've actually heard the Coded Arms games for the PSP were actually good and actually controlled extremely well without the second analog stick.

So no second analog stick is not a problem for what I've played and the PSP is by far my favorite current gen system. I just think people like to bitch just because the PSP doesn't have a second one, regardless if it doesn't matter or not.

[DeputyMoniker]

Not in that it will dethrone the DS or reduce the sales that the DS is getting, because it wouldn't, but why even bother going to check out the system? Nintendo probably has other people to check the competition out, so why did Miyamoto specifically go and check it out?


Good save. Lol.
Please, tell me, what is your definition of "threat", then.
PSPGO won't reduce Nintendo sales = threat?
Are you sure you didn't just change your mind after you posted?

He's looking at it because he wanted to see it. I don't doubt that owns a PS3 and a 360 as well. How stupid would it be for him to pretend competition doesn't exist? Yeah, he's going to listen to what they say, look at what they have to offer, and take those things into account when he makes business decisions.

[Sonicwolf]

Too bad the second analog stick idea is always shoved aside. It would allow for more fluent PS2 ports and such. Battlefront PSP is unbearable when it comes to controls.

[kupomogli]

Good save. Lol.
Please, tell me, what is your definition of "threat", then.
PSPGO won't reduce Nintendo sales = threat?
Are you sure you didn't just change your mind after you posted?

The PSP has currently been the only system to pretty much stand up to any of Nintendo's handheld consoles, which that in itself is a threat. But, Miyamoto could have just read online. "It's only getting digital downloads, smaller, and has the same battery life." He was over at the booth turning it all around while looking at it. Like holding it at a different angle might find some sortof hidden compartment.

I don't know about you, but I don't take 5 minutes(possible exaggeration) to look at the outside of a handheld when viewing a handheld I might be interested in. I'll possibly pick up a DSi someday to replace my DS, I'll open it, hold it and test out how comfortable it is to hold, and if the buttons and their placement are crap like the DS Lite or if they're comfortable enough to make the DSi worth purchasing as a backup. That's it.

[Sonicwolf]

No non-nintendo handheld has ever sold as many as the PlayStation Portable before and I believe that if you look at its sales, it is a potential threat to Nintendo.

[Jimid2]

No non-nintendo handheld has ever sold as many as the PlayStation Portable before and I believe that if you look at its sales, it is a potential threat to Nintendo.
I doubt that Nintendo consider the PSP a "threat"... They may look at it as a potential opportunity, but if the Wii and DS teach us nothing else about the way Nintendo is doing business, they should clearly demonstrate that Nintendo has decided to play the market, and not the competition, this gen... Microsoft and Sony consider each other threats, and they've been in an arms race for six+ years now... I think a lot of that "beat the competition" attitude was brought by Sony to the handheld arena as well - remember the early hyperbole about how the PSP was the most powerful handheld and would crush the Nintendo DS blahblahblah? The Wii and DS have outsold their competition by a factor far greater than 2 to 1, despite being the lesser systems from a hardware perspective. How did Nintendo ever find the foresight and fiscal courage to develop and finance these systems if they considered Sony or Microsoft a "threat"? While the pundits decried their hardware decisions as short-sighted and cheap, Nintendo looked at the market and thought, "We can make fun games for interesting systems at a reasonable price point and people will buy them", and they were right. Their ability to step out of the video games arms race is the reason they're so successful today. They know it's a big market and there's room for more than one player. They know that many of the people who own a DS also own a PSP. I'm sure they don't lose sleep over that...