Developers were even more gung-ho about PSP though... pretty much everyone expected the DS to get N64'd and Nintendo to (eventually) go the way of Sega.  This wasn't fanboy opinion either, you saw media articles about it constantly back in 2004 before Iwata turned things upside down.

As for Japan, I agree it's going to be interesting, and it's definitely the market where PSP had the best track record and leaves a decent opening for NGP.  On the other hand, PSP's success is almost a fluke there, and was driven almost single handedly by a franchise that NGP might not even be able to hold on to (exclusively, or at all).  Sony's press conference wasn't exactly great from a JP perspective, the emphasis (weirdly) was really mainly on western titles.  If Sony bungles this with no strong JP focus, it's going to be like the transition from PS2 to PS3 all over again.

I think 3DS has enough "wow" factor to get it by with the mainstream press, at least for the first year or two.  After that it'll probably be overlooked in favor of the impending Wii 2, which is basically what happened with DS/Wii.

NGP is iffier, it definitely has the tech to make industry press salivate and fall over themselves, but then so did PSP.  I think PSP's track record is going to haunt it to some degree, most positive articles even will probably still be tempered with a passing mention of "how things went last time".  Definitely a tougher road for Sony this time.

Where I think 3DS actually stands the most chance of some negative perception is (believe it or not) in Japan.  I think we're going to see a lot more multiplatform titles spread between it and PSP, and in the early going I expect a lot of those to probably sell better on PSP too.  PSP's newfound strength may also prove a stumbling block for NGP though, Sony doesn't really seem like they have clue when it comes to Japan and if not for Capcom, PSP would've died a pretty painful death years ago.  If NGP can't secure MHP4 exclusively, it's over.

Very interesting and well thought point. Ironically, the sooner NGP comes the better for 3DS will be since PSP will have two rivals. I just hope we don't have to see PSP-3DS multiplaform titles for years, so I hope NGP kills PSP soon xD

Yeah, it really is a weird situation.  Sony would actually probably be better off in Japan just sticking by PSP, but at the same time they have pressure to launch the next cycle since Nintendo is.

It's almost like the next gen home console conundrum.  Nintendo's obviously going to launch the Wii successor first, and it's pretty clearly going to be a PS3-plus class system in terms of spec, but that's going to simultaneously put pressure on MS and Sony to launch next gen (to compete with Nintendo) but financially it's actually in their interests to hold back and keep with 360/PS3 (and Wii 2 being in the same spec ballpark will encourage that with lots of 3rd parties too).  The next few years should be nothing if not interesting.

As to the first paragraph, while I agree, you know that the media has absolutely no clue what goes on in the video game business.  Did you know the 360 had a sci fi sex simulator a while back? lol

As to the second, come on! It wasn't a fluke, exactly.  :(     Yes the DS was better, but even now the PSP is getting a crap ton of great games.  If they win any place, it will be Japan.  Even if this thing is the best thing since sliced bread, the 3DS is gonna kill.

Sure, but it's wasn't just the media either.  It was also the developers, the publishers, the analysts, the retailers... basically the entire industry.

And fluke probably wasn't the best word for it, but then again, where do you think PSP would be in Japan today if Monster Hunter had never released on it?  How many of those crap tons of great games would it have gotten?

Well when you're the second coming of the PS2....even people who didn't like it thought they saw the writing on the wall.  Even the GB had to start somewhere. (pokemanz)  But yes, point taken.

How did this thread turn into a 3DS versus NGP thread. Their isn't even a single game from either console in the Ipsos chart. I don't get it.

  I love the real world...Gears of war 3 rules.....he he he ..