Slashdot Mirror
Sony PSP Sales Way Up
WeAz writes "According to an article via Yahoo's news service, Sony is reporting that they have sold 800,000 PSP units since the system's release last month. Demand for the system is so strong that there's already a shortage arising. To combat this, Sony 'would increase monthly PSP production by 100,000 units to one million in April, as it prepared to launch the product in the United States and Europe.' Ken Kutaragi, Sony Computer Entertainment's CEO said that monthly production of the PSP will eventually rise to 3 million units."
fart.
--beef
Sony has not sold 800K units. Sony has shipped 800K units.
They aren't "sold" until they're in the hands of consumers.
"Mod, mod, mod...and another troll bites the dust."
On one hand, I'm worried that this is going to stifle innovation in the handheld market (you know, by doing things like beating the DS). On the other hand, I'm enthusiastic; PlayStation2 is THE gaming system for the true gamer, and if the PSP captures that traditional gaming "spirit," it's going to be a beautiful time for handheld gamers.
OMG! Wau!
- Nintendo talks about its long battery life superiority.
- The DS will feature a brand new series in 2005: Mario DS, Metroid DS, Zelda DS. Followed by 2006 series of Mario 64 DS, Metroid DS, Zelda DS.
- In 2008, Nintendo plans on releasing DS-more-color and DS advanced.
I can see one mistake in your post.
:)
fp
The rest seems fine though.
Sounds very similar to the rise in DS production... I wonder if it is truthful, or is it just a competing news story to take the fire out from under the DS?
Sounds like another N-Gage to me...
+5 for the observation, +50 for presentation.
[javac] 100 errors
Damn near every unit shipped has been sold. This is the history of the PSP. This is why there is a pending shortage. Even in Japan, its been difficult to find one even weeks after release.
The parent assumes there is salable stock in warehouses and stores that is unsold. Normally, the parent would have a point, but that does not apply here.
"Sony PSP Sales Way Up"
Yeah, I mean, at this time last year they had sold, what, zero? I'd definitely say sales are up.
from jan. 3-9: 70,851
http://the-magicbox.com/topten.htm
for all of 2004: 482,252
http://the-magicbox.com/toptenlast.htm
total SOLD through january 9th: 553,103
this news was reported on january 20th. assuming 1 1/2 weeks worth of sales around 100,000 or so a week (average because the previous weeks was 70,000 and the week before that was 126,000), that puts units sold at 700,000 at the time of this release going out. so 100,000 psp's are sitting on store shelves? how is 100,000 psp's on shelves a shortage arising?
I'd contest that the PS2 lacks 'hardcore' appeal, or really that 'hardcore' appeal matters. The PS2 has had many games that could be described as Hardcore, from Final Fantasy Online to Devil May Cry to Rez. The PS2 has had a lot of great exclusives in it's lifetime. Ratchet and Clank, Metal Gear Solid, ICO, Katamari Damacy, the Silent Hill series, Tekken, Onimusha, Kingdom Hearts, Xenosaga, Hot Shots Golf, *Plug* Amplitude, Eyetoy: AntiGrav */Plug*
The PS2 did well during it's early days because of Grand Theft Auto, Metal Gear Solid 2, Gran Turismo, Tony Hawk, Max Payne, SSX, Final Fantasy, Virtua Fighter 4, and a bunch of other great games. It also ran uncontested during a period of the console cycle when people were in a buying mood. The Dreamcast died because it launched at a dead spot during people's buying cycles. People had just got PS1's En Masse, and asking them to switch again to a moderately more powerful system was just foolish. People weren't ready. On the other hand, if you had Dreamcasts that would put you at ripe for a new console about when the XBox started strutting it's stuff, which makes sense. I don't recall any of this so-called developer pinching... Any links?
But no system is without their exclusive must-try games. The GameCube has the astoundingly great and totally original Metroid Prime, an excellent Treasure title in Ikaruga, a great Zelda, Resident Evil 4, Pikmin 2, the highly original Harvest Moon series, the excellent and gimmocky Crystal Chronicles and 4 Swords Adventures, Donkey Konga, Wario Ware, etc. No hardcore gamer that appreciates the art can afford to ignore the gamecube.
The Xbox's online capabilities are excellent, but remember that even with XBox live, only 10% of all gamers ever bring their console online. It also only pushes about 50% more polys than the PS2, which when it comes to gaming terms is not a significant difference. The XBox does have some great exclusives, such as Halo, Ninja Gaiden, and Crimson Skies, but I don't need to convince you of that. I do really hope that with the next generation of hardware, everyone emulates XBox's online capabilities. On the other hand, I'm not looking forward to the headache of implementing and debugging all of that online capability, but oh well. All for the fans.
But really, everyone defines 'hardcore' as something different. To me the hardcore gamer has all three of the current platforms, and most of the past ones as well. I'd consider someone hardcore if they owned a SuperGraphix, a Final Fantasy Wonderswan, or possibly just a Neo Geo. A Dreamcast, Virtual Boy, Jaguar, or 3DO bought after they were obviously dead systems might also suffice if there were mitigating circumstances. Most of the publishers I've talked to consider hardcore players to be owners of two systems, who spend over X hours a week on videogames, and who buy more than N titles a month. You, apparently, are defining hardcore people as those whom you see on XBox live. Hence, if you're trying to appeal to "hardcore" people because you think they buy more games, you really need to break that down into the demographic that you think that you're getting. If you're trying to appeal to "hardcore" gamers because you think that only they will understand your genius design, then you need to look at why your system is so impossible to use (MOO3, anyone?). If on the other hand, you're trotting out the name of the 'hardcore' gamer because you want some cred for your argument, you need to find a better backing. Who are these hardcore gamers, specifically, and what is it about the [ NES / SNES / Genesis / TG16 / Sega CD / 3DO / N64 / Saturn / Playstation / Jaguar / Dreamcast / PS2 / XBox / Game Cube / PS3 / XBox 2 / Game Tetrahedron ] that makes them feel that it [ Roxxors / Suxxors / Blows 'yo Mamma / Is going to rule over all ].
And in summary, a Penny Arcade cartoon.
The ______ Agenda
'would increase monthly PSP production by 100,000 units to one million in April, as it prepared to launch the product in the United States and Europe.' Thought the projected release was Mar. If there having a hard time keeping shelves stocked in one part of the world, what about 2? For every game-a-holic Japanese kid, there's a spoiled american kid with too much allowance. All I can say - good thing I'm 3rd on the list at eb. That, and the fact that I can sleep standing up in a line at 12 o'clock. What nobody tells you is that at Frantic release dates - a calm voice and some commiseration with the EB staff nets you alot of good. I reserved neither HL2, GTA:VC, Halo2, or a DS, but still managed to get each opening day with a smile and an appology for the crowd being filled with a bunch of people -sleep+sugar-maturity. (Whoa - that ended a little off-topic)
Physics is nothing like religion. If it was, we'd have an easier time trying to raise money!
Troll? Damn, guess all the mods found roaches in their cereal boxes this morning...or is the term around here boxen.
"It'll destroy you if you try to make it mean anything to anyone but yourself." - Henry Rollins
Fucking hilarious. Mods, correct this injustice!
Sleep is futile.
[javac] 100 errors