PSP Fading Already?

[fishsandwich]

I just got a PSP for Christmas and I went out shopping for some games.

Not a whole lot out there.

i finally asked a Gamestop employee what was the deal... he admitted that Christmas had wiped out the PSP stock but that PSP releases were becomeing fewer and farther between. This same store used to have a pretty large section devoted to PSP... how it's been moved to the back corner of the store and it's 1/4 the size of the old one.

The guy at Walmart said that Walmart was going to stop carrying the actual PSP console but still carry the games. Im a bit skeptical about this... this Walmart isn't known for cracker-jack employees.

Anyone know? The DS outsold the PSP by a wide margin over Christmas and the DS section was at least three times are big as the PSP section in several of the stores I visited. Didn't the PSP sell close to the PS2 this past holiday? That can't be good.

Anyone know?

[GarrettCRW]

Given that I broke down and bought the thing after Christmas, I'd say yes.

Seriously, however, the PSP has been moving very well at the Target I work at-and our game selection is pure ass. The problem is, the Dreamcast also had problems with games not showing up in Target (my previous store got like one shipment of Skies Of Arcadia, totaling four), and we all know how well that system went.

[FlufflePuff]

In the places I've been I've seen less than half the space that is devoted to the DS being given to the PSP. To top that off, half of the PSP space is movies that noone wants. Let's be honest here and say that very few good games have come out for the PSP in the last year. Whether Sony is too busy fighting other battles I don't know, but when the only game I'm excited about is the Castlevania rerelease, it doesn't bode well.

I do seriously doubt Walmart will stop carrying PSP though. Nor do I see the system going under, I simply see retailers not having anything to stay excited about so they shove the system to the back.

[josekortez]

Personally, I don't think Sony is pushing the PSP enough. They're spending more resources trying to get PS3 up to speed with the Wii and 360, so PSP is getting the shaft. However, in Japan, it seems like the PSP is getting more interest. They seem to like a lot of games that aren't that popular here like Monster Hunter Freedom. Maybe when Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core comes out here, things will change but I doubt it. I do love my silver slim unit though...

[Aussie2B]

I dunno, of the stores that I've gone to near me, the PSP selection isn't too bad, but it's not great either. It's definitely smaller than the DS section, but I almost always see PSP near the front of a store, while DS is often near the back. My main problem is that games tend to sit at their MSRP for a long time and then just completely disappear. It's hard to find anything that's been marked down, and the used sections usually are pretty small too.

[Poofta!]

im had a psp for 2.5 years now, actually i own 2 (i also bought the new white one). and i have to say that i dont think the psp sections have decreased at all, at least not here in nyc. the game section was always tiny with about 1/4-1/2 of the ds one. ALWAYS. and i have to say that in my opinion this past year was the best for psp releases, we got disgaea, final fantasy tactics, metal gear port ops plus, castlevania, metal slug (i think it was 07) and many others i cant think of right now.

is it dying? maybe but i dont think sony is discountinuing it anytime soon, they are really serious about the psp-ps3 connectivity so i think we'll see it prosper for a while still. its also much too expensive right now to be near its deathbed, consoles usually die at the price of 50$

i have however noticed that local gamestops get few shipments of it in and are usually sold out of it. i attribute this all to the post holiday lull. give it a month or three for things to get back on track.

[esquire]

The DS will alays have more space dedicated partially because (1) it's Nintendo which has dominated the handheld market for the past 2 decades and (2) like the Wii, there is a ton of budget games and shovelware for it, especially when the games consistently run at least $10 cheaper than PSP games. Thus, there are more games being developed for the DS due to market share and cost/profitability.

[otaku]

the library could be better but its not to bad. Far better than ds which is just a bunch of shovelware if not for the nintendo franchises, and the psp is the superior machine by far.

I have three psp games coming to me by the end of this month: wipeout pure, patapon and pursuit force 2 can't wait should be a blast

[roushimsx]

I'm looking at picking up one of them Daxter packs in the near future. It's nice that some of the games I'm interested in are getting ported over to PS2 (GTA LCS / VCS, Size Matters, Logan's Shadow, Twisted Metal, etc), but others (Metal Gear Acid 1 / 2 / Portable Ops / PO+, PQ 1 /2, Killzone Liberation, etc) seem destined to be PSP-only for the foreseeable future.

My biggest gripe about the games in the past was the price, but god DAMN are they getting affordable now a days. Most of the stuff I want is $20/new at most.

[G-Boobie]

PSP software has never moved very well for whatever reason; I can't remember a time when the PSP section of any store was particularly robust.

I'd say, though, that the PSP has had some fantastic releases last year; Castlevania, Silent Hill 0rigins, Disgaea AoD(which may be the best port ever), Final Fantasy Tactics, Syphon Filter, Beasts, and Metal Slug Anthology. This year looks almost as good, with God of War, Crisis Core, SNK Arcade Classics, and the game I'm probably most excited about, Patapon.

Also, if you consider how heavily Sony is pushing PSP and PS3 integration, I doubt we'll see the PSP fade anytime soon.

[scooby105]

Exactly. I don't download the one or two games I want, I buy them. But, nonetheless the point is right. I own a PSP to play Nintendo games, along with some CPS1 and CPS2 games, and to play some movies when I travel occasionally, but other than that, it's about it. I buy around one PSP game a year. There's not much good besides Virtua Tennis and Tiger Woods Golf in my opinion.

[KanYozakura]

I work at Target, and PSPs don't sell for shit.

The only people who have me pull one out of the case have their card/check declined shortly afterward.

The DS, on the other hand, moves at least 2-3 an hour on a slow day...when they're in stock, of course.

At least the better PSP games are coming to PS2...*crosses fingers for Dracula X*

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

The responses in this type of thread (on any gaming forum) never cease to amaze me.

Coming from a PSP owner who purchased one at launch, has a game library of close to 50 PSP titles (actual UMD's), uses it on nearly a daily basis, and keeps track of what's going on with the system and software pretty regularly ... in response to your question, no, I would not say that the system is "fading away", nor is it's software lineup for 2008 and beyond in any type of similar shape.

There are plenty of great titles for the system that are still easily accessible at retail either new or used, there's some AAA titles on the horizon, and the PSP's free firmware extras are growing and it's PS3 connectivity is getting better by the month.

What I have noticed is a lot of major retail outlets like Target and Wal Mart decreasing the amount of space that they dedicate to the system and software ... is that a direct correlation to how well the system is selling?

Well, if my memory serves, 2007 was a banner year for the handheld in terms of global sales ... so I don't know. Go figure. I guess they need to make more room for all the awful shovelware on the DS.

If I were you, I'd recommend shopping in GAME stores for PSP software, especially ones that carry used games. Stay out of the Targets, Wal Marts, and other department stores ... those are going to provide a really skewed view of what's REALLY available.

And check the Playstation online PSN Store for exclusive game downloads and the Playstaiton official blog for the real skinny on what's REALLY going on with PSP.

Don't believe the hype, and don't let the shelf-space dedicated to the DS software fool you ... because as awesome as the DS is, the ratio of crap shovelware to AAA title is at least 20 to 1 on any given shelf.

[Icarus Moonsight]

The PSP is improving not fading. It used to be good for only emu's, but there has been some great games out recently. Granted, I'll take the PS2 release over PSP (for those ports) and I'm hoping to see more in the last remaining year(s) of the PS2, but I know some games I want will remain stranded on PSP Isle so I'll have to pony-up and nab one someday. The smaller sections and selections at retail may actually improve this year as the games and systems seem to be selling better.

[neuropolitique]

The responses in this type of thread (on any gaming forum) never cease to amaze me.

Coming from a PSP owner who purchased one at launch, has a game library of close to 50 PSP titles (actual UMD's), uses it on nearly a daily basis, and keeps track of what's going on with the system and software pretty regularly ... in response to your question, no, I would not say that the system is "fading away", nor is it's software lineup for 2008 and beyond in any type of similar shape.

There are plenty of great titles for the system that are still easily accessible at retail either new or used, there's some AAA titles on the horizon, and the PSP's free firmware extras are growing and it's PS3 connectivity is getting better by the month.

What I have noticed is a lot of major retail outlets like Target and Wal Mart decreasing the amount of space that they dedicate to the system and software ... is that a direct correlation to how well the system is selling?

Well, if my memory serves, 2007 was a banner year for the handheld in terms of global sales ... so I don't know. Go figure. I guess they need to make more room for all the awful shovelware on the DS.

If I were you, I'd recommend shopping in GAME stores for PSP software, especially ones that carry used games. Stay out of the Targets, Wal Marts, and other department stores ... those are going to provide a really skewed view of what's REALLY available.

And check the Playstation online PSN Store for exclusive game downloads and the Playstaiton official blog for the real skinny on what's REALLY going on with PSP.

Don't believe the hype, and don't let the shelf-space dedicated to the DS software fool you ... because as awesome as the DS is, the ratio of crap shovelware to AAA title is at least 20 to 1 on any given shelf.

seriously, do you work for Sony? Every post in this forum seems to be defending Sony in some regard.

I, for one, hope it is fading so the freakin price comes down. I've wanted one since launch but am unwilling to fork over so much for one. Just when the prices started coming own they redesign it and pump the price right back up. Wtf? This is one of two handhelds I don't have yet because of that.

[GrandAmChandler]

I agree with Nero, and I think it is fading, not a stellar line up thus far for 2008, with the exception of the big one that everyone is waiting for..... God of War, which really should have come out at LEAST a year ago. They just aren't making enough exclusive titles that have made me "OMG I MUST HAVE THIS" as opposed to DS. Hence why you are seeing the total space allocated dwindle in most retail stores. Sony doesn't care, because PS3 is their main focus right now.

[Bojay1997]

I wouldn't say it's done just yet, but the fact that UMD is pretty much dead as a video format (with the exception of MTV movies) and that the upcoming release list for the next six months or so is somewhat thin (with the exception of Patapon and God of War) indicates to me that it's not as vibrant as it could be. Having said that, it has sold enough units worldwide that it's going to be around for some time to come and I would bet based on Sony's traditional refusal to give up (remember Minidisc?) that they will probably launch some type of sequel to it down the road. It's a great system for more mature gamers and a good alternative to the world of shovelware that makes up most of the third party DS library.

[fishsandwich]

If I were you, I'd recommend shopping in GAME stores for PSP software, especially ones that carry used games. Stay out of the Targets, Wal Marts, and other department stores ... those are going to provide a really skewed view of what's REALLY available.

That's the weird thing... I hit SEVEN (I kid you not... I counted) Gamestop/EB Games this past week looking for Disgaea (new or used) and I *never* found it. Only two stores were carrying Jean D'Arc, the other game I wanted. What to guess where I found both? BEST BUY.

Best Buy didn't have the top selection of games for the PSP but it came close. Oddly enough, another Best Buy I tried was the WORST of the bunch in terms of selection. I am all about Gamestops and EB's (we have nothing else here in Atlanta) and I always go for used over new. I was also looking for Killzone... I found it in two places but it was too expensive, even used. I found it at WAL-MART for $20, new.

I buy the Christmas arguement... it's just been a month (not counting all the gift cards and Christmas cash after Christmas) and the PSP has got to take lower priority over the Wii, PS3, 360, and especially the DS.

I still think the PSP is fading, though. Atlanta is a huge market and the PSP game sections in every store are generally smaller than everything but the original XBox and Cube.

I bought a PSP for myself and then my partner surprised me with another one. Now I have two. I'm going to use one for commercial releases and the other for emulators.

[neuropolitique]

Depending on where in Atlanta you are this may or may not be of much help. But, there is a new Play N Trade across the street from the Mall of GA. A few others opening in the area, iirc. Not huge selections yet, but they ain't GameStop.

[Aussie2B]

And check the Playstation online PSN Store for exclusive game downloads and the Playstaiton official blog for the real skinny on what's REALLY going on with PSP.

Don't believe the hype

Oh the irony of those two sentences being back-to-back. :P