Famitsu Weighs In On Battle Between DS And PSP

Thanks to IGN Pocket for its discussion of a recent Famitsu-sourced Japanese magazine article quizzing readers and game creators about their impressions of the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP handheld consoles. In a reader survey, it's revealed that "14.8% checked that they'd like to purchase a PSP, compared to 11.8% who checked that they'd like to purchase DS... 7.1% stated that they think the PSP's design is cool while just 2.3% stated the same for the DS." It also polled developers and industry figures on questions such as "Which design do you like better?" ("PSP = 251, DS = 42"), and "Which do you want to be left standing in the end?" ("PSP = 84, DS = 156".) Which handheld do you want to be left standing?

Comments

Famitsu did an earlier Nintendo DS v. PSP poll

[Anonymous Coward]

It was of both gamers and developers, as was this one. Check Magic Box, June 7.

Gamers voted that DS would trounce PSP in every category, and were more excited about it. A majority of developers were more excited about PSP.

My take? Many developers see the innovative features of the DS and scratch their heads, wondering why they should go through all the work of coming up with new ideas to take advantage of them, when old ideas still sell. Gamers, being the ultimate reason for the technology in the first place, see the potential of the Nintendo DS hardware and drool. The disconnect between the two opinions here should be surprising, but somehow it isn't, considering the game sales slump that Japan's been going through recently. Seems like a solvable problem, however....

ONLY number

[superpulpsicle]

While everyone looks at the dimension, number of games, size, screen resolution.... the only number that really matters is PRICE.

Will Sony screw themselves with a whooping $300+ handheld. If DC is $150 then PSP will technically have to be twice as good to win.

Depends on price, battery and games for PSP

[Thag]

It seems pretty clear that the DS will have the right combination of price, battery and decent games to be successful. Nintendo has that down cold. And the form factor is a good one. (Though, does it have a headphone jack?)

Those variables are still up in the air for the PSP, though. If it's more than $300, less than 10 hours, or has nothing to offer but more of the same from the PS1 and PS2, it will be dead on arrival. Also, the PSP is kind of a brick: it's nearly an inch thick. And the design doesn't protect the screen.

As for playing back movies and MP3s, without recordable PSP disks, that dog won't hunt.

Honestly, I think Sony took one look at the DS at E3 and said "It's good. We're so screwed." That's why they're cutting costs elsewhere like in the handhelds division.

Jon Acheson