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PSP Usage Lower Than Expected
Next Generation has an article analyzing the numbers of a recent PSP usage survey. Despite a showing that there is strong brand loyalty, the numbers are probably not what Sony was hoping for. From the article: "Most said they had no plans to buy any UMD movies. Less than 50% said they would use the PSP to watch video or view pictures using a memory stick. The figure drops to less than 30% among female users. Sony will be concerned that 50% of users admitted they had not touched their PSP in 'some time'. 25% of male users have updated their PSP for Internet use, with only 10% of female users doing same."
It is not suprising that there is a lull now in the PSPs growth as a system. The initial "wow" of the system is over and now it really needs to build its base of games. The movies and other features are all supplementary to the games. The UMD movies are a small market because very few people are going to buy the same movie twice. Once for DVD, which will be people's first consideration, and once for UMD. Sony now has to invest heavily into growing the library of games available for it.
When they do their first price cut for the system will be a good gauge of how the system is doing. Right now, I think that they shouldn't be too disappointed. Unless they dont have the games lined up, of course.
They definitely should of waiting until a larger game library would be available before the launch. I think this is clearly a case of Sony not wanting Nintendo to have an even greater amount of lead time than it had.
I think Nintendo might win the war on this round of handhelds (yet again). Their games are more fun so far, and with the launch of Nintendogs (which appears annoying to me at first, but it was kinda fun after 5 minutes), it will attract a MUCH larger casual and female gaming audience than the PSP. Thats where i think Sony will lose the war on PSP, they might get more on the hardcore gaming market, but casual and female gamers will make a big difference.
Not to mention the DS is still about half the price of the PSP...
You can fool some of the people all of the time
Sony Executive 1: ... More Madden and Grand Theft Auto!
Sony Executive 4 (from the back): I've got it! Now hear me out on this. People love Madden. And people have spent millions on our "Grand Thief Auto" series.
Sony Executive 2: "Theft".
Sony Executive 4: No, they really bought it! Anyway, here's what I'm thinking... "Grand Thief Madden"! You have this super hip character, right? And he takes things and stuff, kind of like a thief. And there's this really cool narration thing going on, doing a play-by-play of the things he's taking. You know, cars and trucks and stuff.
Sony Executive 3: Like "Grand Theft Auto"?
Sony Executive 4: "Otto", sure, whatever. His name is irrelevant. The point is that he takes stuff and Madden does the calls. Like he'll take a bike and Madden will say "Hey folks, look here, 'Otto' just took a bike!" or whatever.
Sony Executive 1 (to all): You hear that, boys? Why couldn't you come up with this during the focus meeting? Go with it!