I'm in Thailand.

I agree with that. DS has also a huge software piracy, I would say it´s more expensive since you have to buy extra stuff. But the DS has a quite larger install base and most casual gamers are not informed about it. Yeah, I hate the UMD, it´s lousy and its data transfer speed is low compared to memory sticks.Sony wanted to introduce a portable medium for games and movies and make money out of it, but actually the medium failed due to lack of interest and bad technical traits.

When I was in Hong Kong (1.5 years ago now), PSPs were being sold *everywhere* pre-hacked, and with mega-game compilations.

Its no wonder to me that the *hardware* is popular - but at least the software has recently taken off in Japan (how much of this is for "export" purposes to places like HK or China?).

(the DS was the same BTW - in HK anyway)

...

The only solution I can see is driving users to play online (much harder to bypass protection) - but this a core difference between a "console" and a "handheld".

Theres still some other games not on that list from Gamestop to be released from sony

Ape Escape 2
Loco Roco 2
Papapon 2
Resistance: Retribution

They havent given up on it yet, a few key titles for the christmas are comming up. But next years list looks very bare....

When I worked at Gamestop I would loathe stocking UMD videos as I knew the outcome -- No sales!

I dunno, the DS is easy as shit to pirate as well. And even if half of PSP owners pirated their system, the sales should still be much better for games. I just think Sony killed themselves by always focusing on POWER and movie playability, on console and handheld.

I used to be one of the people who thought that piracy ruined PSP. In reality, however, it has to do with the lack of new software. I've honestly only played GOW and CC:FF7 this entire year.

lt also doesn't help that the DS is unstoppable. Eventhough that is not entirely true since this is Sony's first go in the handheld market.

OMG ... here we go again . But I wont even bother this time around to try and explain why its far from being dead in the US or EU ... who the hell cares what one guy from the million believes , Il rather go and play Patapon now thank you .

Piracy helped psp sales. At first, PSP sales proved to be a bust, but when psp piracy started to spread, sales of PSP started to boom, especially in Japan. And Japan also has Monster Hunter to help sales for those people who does purchase legit copies