TheRealMafoo said:
The problem is it's very easy to hack, and steal all the games. Who wants to develop for a system like that?
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Piracy, etc., didn't become a 'problem' until much later, though I'd argue that it ultimately is the only thing keeping the system limping along at this late date.
No, the PSP's fate was sealed because:
1. The software was/is too expensive for a portable system.
2. The hardware was/is too expensive for a portable system.
3. The battery life was/is awful for a portable system.
4. The DS exists.
The first three problems would have been potentially surmountable if the fourth had been a traditional, steady-as-she-goes, portable--unfortunately for Sony, Nintendo made a 'bet the company' play and came up huge. I also need to stress that these issues apply to garnering a mass market audience, and I am not addressing the typical gamers Sony was initially targeting via 'Game Machine 101' marketing.
I also think there is a huge problem in that, outside of Monster Hunter (and that only applies to Japan), there hasn't been a single break-out hit on the PSP that really defines the hardware and/or captures the general imagination (in this case, Nintendogs basically curb-stomped the PSP and it never really had a chance after that).
Sure, later on, piracy became an issue/concern but, as others have already cited, it's a double-edged sword and, personally, I don't think the PSP would have sold nearly as many units without it nor is it nearly as easy (or safe) to pirate as the DS and GBA, both of which haven't suffered in the least for it.
As for the notion that the PSP is doomed to be discontinued sometime in 2009, who can say? I think that, ultimately, the PSP line will end up being folded into Sony's cell phone division so that it emerges as more of an iPhone competitor than a traditional game machine. I say this mainly because Sony had enough trouble figuring out what the market really wanted with the PS3 and, short of straight-up copying all aspects of the DS--including the general thrust of its software (PSParrots anyone?)--they might be a bit gun-shy about charging back into a head-to-head confrontation with Nintendo. Whether this means the PSP is officially abandoned in 2009, though, I have no idea.
Note: personally (and speaking as a typical gamer, i.e. someone that's been playing since the dawn of time), I *do* like several games on the platform and own about 30 titles, all told (unfortunately most bought used or discounted since I just didn't care enough about 90% of them to buy them when they hit the shelves), but it just hasn't brought much of anything to the table I couldn't get somewhere else (and generally better, to boot).
Note 2: the parallels between the PSP and GameGear are manifold to a point where it's amost scary: subsitute GameBoy for item number four above and you basically have all the reasons the GameGear ultimately failed (not to mention it, too, relied far too heavily on console re-treads, etc., to sell it).
