Speaking to GI.biz (via EG), ex Sony frontman David Reeves has been vocal in suggesting Sony need to get the much rumoured PSP 2 out sooner rather than later if it wants to compete against Nintendo and the already announced and locked 3DS portable, due for release in this current fiscal year.
“It’s an exciting time and you could possibly have two handhelds coming out within months or a year of each other,” said Reeves. “Sony tried to make the transition with PSPgo, I think that changed some consumers’ attitudes, but they need to come back with something on PSP pretty quickly to stay in the game because Nintendo are shit hot at getting these things right.”
Whilst the PSP hasn’t yet been officially talked about by Sony, there are enough reports and rumours out there to suggest it’s just a matter of time, but it’s time that Reeves thinks Sony doesn’t have much of.
He’s also vocal in the interview regarding the PSPgo, which has struggled at retail since its launch despite offering plenty of reasons for gamers to make the move to digital downloads. “It was very, very expensive,” said Reeves. “Now they’re offering 10 games and they have to try and revive it.”
Watchful
He really said “shit hot”? Blimey guv’nor.
FoxHoundGabe
“despite offering plenty of reasons for gamers to make the move to digital downloads”
You mean now (the 10 free games stuff), certainly not at launch.
kivi95
Maybe thy show it at Gamescom or GDC?
FLUFFYB1TCH
The 3DS looks like a beast that will sell by the millions. I’ve never been much of a handheld game freak (not since skate or die on gameboy anyways…) Wish i had the opportunity to play Chains of Olympus and Peace Walker, but otherwise I’m quite content with my home comsoles. Am I missing out on anything people?
FoxHoundGabe
Yes, Chain of Olympus and Peace Walker.
BrendanCalls
Sony need to totally go back to the drawing board when it comes to their handheld strategy. The PSP is old and lightyears behind all its competitors.
Personally, I feel its one of the worst gaming consoles ever conceived, but thats just my opinion.
jimmy-google
Sony won’t be displeased with the PSP. No-one outside of Nintendo had sole the amount of handhelds before the PSP came along.
Over 60 million sales isn’t bad. It’s been out about the same length of time as the 360 but has 20 million more sales.
The PSP’s issue hasn’t been the hardware when it comes to people buying the psp, the lack of games over the last couple of years has (which is partly down to the easy to hack hardware).
The next PSP will be built around hard to hack hardware and firmware.
BrendanCalls
The hardware and firmware are the main issue with the PSP I think. The firmware is so easy to hack on the PSP that developers and publishers lost millions so just decided they weren’t going to build for it. The for any consumer who got passed the fact there was no software the control system on the hardware was rubbish, only 1 analogue stick just made the control of play incedibly difficult. And then ther’s just the ergonomics of the PSP. If you play for any lebgth of time it actually statrs to hurt and sometimes cramp your hands. Never had this problem with the DS.
I just don’t think Sony’s strategy from the start was correct for the market they are trying to attract. If they want to make money in handheld they need to take what Apple and Nintendo have done and then take it a significant leap forward. Admittedly i dont know what that leap forward is and if I did I would hopefully be working for them, LOL!!
jimmy-google
The 1 analogue stick is an interesting one as the 3DS only has 1 as well.
Never had the cramp in my hands problem my the psp or psp go.
jimmy-google
There is still a lot yet to be announced about the 3DS.
1. Battery Life – Wi-fi is the biggest drain on a bettery and Nintendo say the 3DS will permantly search for Wi-fi. This could prove a big problem.
2. Game Media – Yes the 3DS will be able to play DS/DSi games but they are yet to announce (as far as I’m aware) the media 3DS games will come on. Will it support download games like the PSPGo and iPhone/iPad?
3. Hard drive – Nintendo mentioned downloading updates for games on the 3DS but there was no indicating if this would be to a hard drive or memory card and if there is a hard drive how much space you’d get.
The 3DS is far from a polished device yet. Most games shown were video only as well. Sony may well wait to see the final spec of the 3DS before announcing a PSP2.
Raen
On storage I’m not sure of internal storage, but it does have an SD card slot and (for some reason) what looks like an IR port. Given that it’s not out this year I’d expect more info at GDC or Gamescom.
jimmy-google
Ah, hadn’t spotted that. I think there is potential in the 3DS but Nintendo have a lot more to reveal to convince I want one. Gamescom and TGS will be interesting and hopefully there will be a lot more gameplay footage
TSBonyman
By waiting they now also know exactly what nintendo are offering and can use that to their advantage.
BrendanCalls
But they waited for MS to announce and then release the 360 and for the last 3 years, Sony have been chasing behind in terms of sales. the gap is closing but there is something to be said for being first to market with the next gen
jimmy-google
So did Nintendo though and the Wii is miles in the lead.
The PS3 was just too expensive for most people.
TSBonyman
I don’t think they waited for MS, and as we all know now MS had access on some level to the CELL design and built their tech around that and as it turns out they were a bit hasty in terms of getting the hardware right.
True about the first to market advantage but i’m thinking with gamescom coming up if Sony made an announcement then, a new PSP launch might not be too far behind the actual 3Ds launch. And they can build their campaign around features that the 3DS doesn’t succeed at ( not sure exactly what those might be yet :) ). Ninty had a swipe at 3D glasses and the ipod touch as part of their 3DS presentation.
Apnomis
When you need to give away 10 games with your console just to shift some units you know something has gone wrong!
The 3DS will sell by the bucket load when it launches – hell even I’m keeping an eye on it after their unveil – so Sony don’t want to wait too long or it will already be too late…
To be honest, given the PlayStation’s demographic, they’d be better off doing a PSP Phone that can play PSP games before moving onto a PSP2. I just don’t know how they would make it sleek enough though…
jimmy-google
The PSP Go’s issues have almost all been down to it being released mid-cycle. Had that been the spec of the original PSP it would have been far more successful
Charmed_Fanatic
It might be too late then, they should just push the PSP then make something better then the 3DS in a few years
hazelam
there were asking people to pay more for a device with a smaller screen, less software that can only come from a monopoly supplier, and render it incompatible with most of the software that was currently available due to the lack of umd drive, and some games may never be available on the go.
i don’t know how anybody could have actually believed the go was a good idea.
jimmy-google
1. The PSP actual fits in your pocket making portable, unlike the PSP 1000, 2000 & 3000.
2. If you already have a PSP then yes you can’t play your old game but if you don’t then that’s not a huge problem.
3. No UMD discs to carry around makes the console far more portable. Yes you can download games to the older models but with no hard drive you’d need to carry a lot of memory sticks around with you.
4. I have never paid more for a PSP game as a download than the cheapest price of UMD copy (and I have well over 20 full PSP download games).
5. Bluetooth is a great addition allowing you to access the store and play games while using your mobile as a modem.
Yes there are issues will the PSP Go (some top games not being available (Crisis Core) and the over pricing by 3rd parties (Peace Walker)) but there are a lot of benefits to it as well.