All these new PSP game titles got me thinking... why the sudden push to make PSP games?

Did the reduction in development costs, plus digital distribution change the economics enough for developers to see PSP as a profitable platform to make games on?

Is it the success of the DS? Is it the large PSP install base?

How much did that old SDK cost?

The support for the PSP as of late has become insane, i mean for the platform with the least amount of games sold per console the games just keep coming and coming!

I wouldn't be shocked if this is all on the back of Sony making the PSP less hackable through FW and also the upcoming PSP Go that is going to take digital distribution for the console to a whole new level!

I think the Go has interested companies cuz they can make a better profit because the games can't be pirated on the Go.. but that could change. Though I think Sony would do everything in their power to prevent it.

IIRC it used to be 10k or so per dev kit and now it's about 2k or so

I imagine the rush is caused by several things:
1.Capcom got a major hit to the tune of 3.5 million in one region alone.

2. If i'm not mistaken the 3000 can't run isos and i'm sure the go wont either

3. Higher return on dowload games.

4. cheaper dev kits

Probably a mix of the PSP go (somewhat of a new start for the PSP), harder to hack the new PSP's, cheaper development costs and sony persuasion (moneyhats, less royalties, more support from SCE, ...)