Thoughts on the PSP2 and the future of Sony portables.

[LordTheNightKnight]

theprof00 said:

LordTheNightKnight said:
"A slick looking device with strong games will push hardware for anything."

Take out the "slick looking" part. Many mainstream hardware of any kind has been anything but slick.

"LocoRoco and Patapon are both strong PSP titles."

No. Those are games that are really good from what I heard, but not strong enough to push hardware. You need games that lots of people want for your system. Often those games are the least you'd expect (like Monster Hunter moving more PSPs than GTA).

I agree. When it comes to software, Sony really needs to start branching out. They should copy the Nintendo strategy of showing developers what is possible on the system through the warioware demonstrations.

However, that also means that they are going to need some type of input that differs from the current analog based control style. They need to move toward a touch-screen based input or something similar that can allow for a lot of variation.

I will disagree, though, on a similar note. While those games are not hardware sellers, they contribute to an environment that is marketable. Individually, they don't hold much weight, but as part of a library, they offer the kind of diversity that help appeal to a larger demographic. For example, if each of those games sells 100 consoles a week, it's insignificant, but as part of a larger whole, it starts to make a difference. Loco-roco and patapon need to be on the system, as well as many others that display the kind of innovative interactive experience that they do.

I was just addressing the claim those would push hardware. Diversity like that is of course good, but a system needs the system sellers first ane foremost.