PSP2 is real, 'pretty powerful' and in developer's hands.

[Kantor]

makingmusic476 said:

Kantor said:

KungKras said:

As I precicted a few months ago about how a compeititor would fare against the 3DS:

It will be like if the Dreamcast launched AFTER the PS2, this will get ripped to pieces. (unless Sony pulls something REALLY REALLY impressive)

In an extreme circumstance, if Sony handles this perfectly, it could be the relationship between the Xbox 360 (launches early, rave reviews, enormous amounts of third party support, and even more first party support than the 360) and the Wii (laughed at, ridiculed, weak hardware, trounces everything for three and a half years).

But I really don't see Sony doing what Nintendo did with the Wii. So, while your analogy may be a little extreme (It's not going to send Sony out of the business), I can see where you're coming from.

But I hope it's closer to the first, because the PSP wasn't a bad console, it just used a terrible disc format, didn't have enough buttons or analog sticks for what it was trying to do, aimed at completely the wrong audience, and was thoroughly outclassed by the DS.

It wasn't really aimed at the wrong audience.  The main problem was that it was before its time.

It was one of the first handheld convergence devices - a single device capable of handling games, movies, music, and more.  The issue is that it's functionality and codec support for these formats was pretty limited, and it was quickly outclassed by the the first proper wave of convergance devices that hit 2-3 years later (the iPhone being the most notable).  On top of that it was static hardware in a market knowing for seeing significant technical improvements year on year. 

It was doing pretty darn well over those first 2-3 years, but it quickly became old and outdated, and since then it has relied mostly on hardcore gamers and people who want free games for sales.  All the while it still retains the pricetag of a device that's far more than just a games machine, yet most potential buyers don't give a rats ass about all the extra features.

I suppose you're right there. But then perhaps it's too late for the PSP2?

As you mentioned, the device which connects music, movies, games and the like is already here: the iPhone. And it has a phone and a touch screen (though I highly doubt the PSP2 would lack this) thrown in for good measure. Apple has released countless iterations with not much to distinguish them, and every single one sells massive numbers. Indeed, they made the screen larger and doubled the price, released the iPad, and even that was a breakaway success. I have no doubt that the iPad Nano will do just as well.

The only way out of this would be to make something closer to a pure gaming machine. Something like the DS. Something like the 3DS, which has pretty much not a single detractor on Earth, will have an enormous library of first party games, a huge amount of third party support, casual gamers, Nintendo fans, 3D fans, and pretty much everyone else. At this point, I'm not really considering getting a PSP2. Sony has to pull off something really incredible to survive here, and if it's revolutionary enough, it could be another Wii. But the chances of that are infinitesimal.