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."
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."
- 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.
Good point. Sony seems to be talking only about future production and future demand.
On the other hand. Sony is currently shipping 100,000 PSPs per week, and if they really do plan to launch in the US and Europe anytime soon, they will need a hell of a lot more than that. Even a million a month is only 333,000 for each region.
If they really care about making a dent in DS market share, they will need more than 80K/week output in the US.
Sounds like another N-Gage to me...
I would actually argue that the Playstation 2 appeals less to the true 'hardcore' gamer than any other system. Nintendo caters to the old-school (note that I didn't say 'skool') nostalgic gamer due to it's franchises, and after the death of the Dreamcast, most of the hardcore console gamers went with the Xbox (yes there are other good games besides Halo 2), at least from what I've seen of that former crowd, of which I was one. Mostly because of the fact that Sony pretty much killed the Dreamcast due to initial marketing hype and developer pinching (EA and Squaresoft to start with), to which they are, of course, entitled, but nonetheless, it left a sour Sony taste in many gamer's mouths. No doubt about it, the PS2 succeeded as well as it did because the PS1 was 'cool'. And 'cool' is not what brings the true gamers, as you put it. Games are. And I'm talking about quality, not quantity (which the PS2 obviously has).
I don't own a PS2 because there's not a single game I want for it that I can't get on another console (at least in the long run), its graphic capabilities retained much of that 'PS1 look', and it doesn't have a good online system in my opinion, and the majority of it's top selling games (like the GTA series that you can get on an Xbox as well) don't really interest me. Pretty much all my gaming is done online now, and normally exclusively with people I've known to play games or argued with on message boards for years. I still have no interest in the PSP either, besides the fact it's a cool looking little gadget, simply because I have no interest whatsoever in any of its games. Wipeout? Metal Gear card-battle? Yet another good-yet-overrated Spider-man game? No thanks for now.
+5 for the observation, +50 for presentation.
[javac] 100 errors
PlayStation2 is THE gaming system for the true gamer
I've been playing video games since pacman. I resent statements like these.
the cosmos in 20 words or less: thumbuki.com
No, it would make you a fake one.
Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
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.
WHAT? This would be a reasonable criticism against the Gamecube (and you're entitled to your opinion), but essentially what you're saying here is that the XBox is the ONLY console with a good online system? PS2 online is exactly as good as the game's creator makes it. The fact that Sony hasn't stepped in the middle of it all to offer standardized tools and interfaces in exchange for a slice of revenue every month is a reasonable decision. Microsoft's approach is reasonable, though I personally find the subscription model unappealing, it is competitive. For people who play online regularly, XBox Live is worth it, but not so much for infrequent online gamers. Sony's approach is less convenient, but is pretty good considering it's free. Some people don't WANT to pay each month just to use the network adapter that they have on their console - I'm glad they have a free online system, even if you think it isn't 'good'.
Seen any BadMarketing lately?
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!
Katamari Damacy is the PS2's saving grace. I can safely say as a Nintendo fan that this should be the game you guiltily fork over $110 for a used PS2.
It took 3 years for a game to come along to convince me that a PS2 was necessary for my gaming life.
Of course I think the argument for a GameCube was made two years ago with Metroid Prime, so I don't know why all you PS2 fans don't have a GameCube yet.
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
just as the /true/ grail grants life, a /false/ one will take it from you.
the opposite of true is false. the opposite of fake is authentic.
also, a comment like "PS2 gamers are the only true gamers" is perhaps one of the most fanboy 12-year-old type of comment imaginable. there were plenty of "true" gamers long before the PS2 or even the original PlayStation, and there will be plenty of us around when the PS2 is long gone. a "true" gamer isn't about a "my console is longer^H^H^H^H^H^H^H better than yours" pissing contest, or divisive flames, they are about having a good time and experiencing the best games, old and new, tried and tired, experimental and old-school.
peace. i may not be a "true" gamer, but i am certainly a gamer. i was a gamer before Sony put together their first PS2 and i'll be a gamer long after Sony puts together their last PS2, barring death, dismemberment, and the like.
MORTAR COMBAT!
I agree with the sentiment, but not the statement. You're a gamer even if you just play old NES games. Unqualified statements of console enthusiasm are... unseemly... on Slashdot.
Also, you forgot Pikmin 2.
The original poster made it clear they were a "hardcore gamer". Obviously a system catering its online system to casual games doesn't matter to them, and can even be a negative to some gamers (it leads to more little kids online, for example). And it was clearly an 'IMO' statement, so you seem to be taking it a little too personally...
Anyway, here are credible reasons to believe that the PS2 just doesn't have a good online system compared to Xbox Live:
1. No unified friend list (and with that, no ability to check what game's your friends are playing).
2. Widespread cheating. (This is probably the biggest deal. Look at what happens to fighting games on the PS2 as opposed to the Xbox versions.)
3. Freaking typing is used in many games to communicate.
4. No real ability to update games, either to fix unforseen glitches or add content (yeah, a few PS2 games allow this, but not to the same level).
5. It's free. This is actually a negative, as the nominal Xbox Live fee allows grievers and people who exploit temporary glitches (like in Halo2) to have their credit card(s) banned. They also end up basically losing money if they mess around.
6. Online games can be "turned off". (MS did make a deal with EA to allow them to do this with Xbox Live, but they are thankfully the only company who can. And honestly, who really enjoys EA games and isn't used to getting ripped off anyway?)
There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. -- Francis Bacon
Fucking hilarious. Mods, correct this injustice!
Sleep is futile.
[javac] 100 errors
"Rez isan exploration of philosophy and ideas in a novel way."
Your ideas intrigue me, I would like to subscribe to your Game Review Newsletter.
Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.
I wish there was a 50/50 friend/foe option. Half the things I see you post, I agree with and make sense to me. The other half make sense, but I dont agree with them.
Your post here is a case of the former.
Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.