Ok, so finally the PSPs graphicall showcaser and in many peoples opinion the sistems best game finally hit the million. But it was not a bumpless ride. The game needed to be bundled to reach this number, so here are a couple of ideas regarding the PSP, software sales, hardware sales and how can both remains acceptable to Sony and some developers. Of course Im not talking just about CoO Im mostly talking here about the curent state of the PSP market. The ideas are entirely mine so if you find something to be wrong with them please post it because Im always open to new ideas ;)
- whitout the bundle the game would still be in the 800k region and the million mark would probably be delayed untill late Q4.
- if Sony makes at least a million bundles the game will later on hit 2 million sales
- quality games and good advertising campaigns can move PSP games, unfortunatly not as far as much as they should.
- hardware moves software... literally. Bundles can give a second life for PSP games. Some older titles that are in the million region and will be bundled ( Ratchet & Clank ) will probably reach the 2 million later on. Daxter was stuck in the 300k region in the US now it sold an aditional 1.5 million with bundles.
- Sony should bundle more 3rd party games: it worked with Renegade Squadron and it will probably help Madden 08 to become the first american football game to reach the million on the PSP. At least this way Sony could secure some exclusives IMO.
- folowing Ready at Dawns success ( selling ~ 3.5 million games on the PSP ) some smaler developers could see an oportunity in developing for the PSP . Some already did ( see High Impact Games ).
- PSP is doing good hardware wise , but it needs to seriously catch up software wise . Chains of Olympuses "rival" just reached 2.13 million on the DS ( Imagine Babies :P ). It might be softcore, and there might be more than 2x as many DSs out there, but its still should do far better.
- UMD prices should be reduced. I know that for games like Crisis Core and Chains of Olympus you can ask for a full 40$ pricetag but lets be honest , Patapon was saved from disaster because it had a 20$ pricetag. Gamers are not willig to give out 40$ for a near PS2 portable experience when they can buy an older PS3/360 game.
- developers ... at least advertise you games on the PSP if you want it to sell. One thing is certain many publishers lost their fate in the PSP, so they wont risk to put in their games a high advertisement budget. There where some good examples this year from Sony and Square Enix but this wont be enough.
- PSP game openings are not great. The highest US opener was Crisis Core ( to date ) at 250k sales during its first week. Chains of Olympus did only 160k barely edging out the 2005 mega hit Liberty City Stories. Still many games are showing legs, despite the small opening, like Size Matters. It opened at 27k in the US and it reached the 540k. 20x as high. Other examples include: Tekken DR, the Need for Speed games, soccer/football games, Burnout Legends, Sonic Rivals etc. They are often folowing GBA like sales patterns.
- PSP needs more games ... more good games. In this game draught many bad and mediocre games are selling/sold on the PSP at a much higher rate than they should even if they are based on huge box-office successes. ex: Iron Man, The Golden Compass, 300 March to Glory are just some examples.
This is all that I wanted to say. Feel free to comment, add some info or bash my opinions ;)
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