With any luck Rockstar will realize what this means. GTA:CTW did not flop because of demographic. 2D GTAs just aren't that popular. They had a fanbase a decade ago, but that is long gone with the slew of 3D GTAs. On top of that, the newer fans probably wouldn't like the dramatically different style.

This probably means they shouldn't bother with another DS GTA though. Unless they can make it work in 3D the game is destined to under-perform.

Leeds should just do San Andreas Stories for PSP/Wii next year.

I think CTW would do well as an XBLA/PSN game though.

Well the thing is that they went for the easy money. THey could have kept the Story and minigames, but could also change the perspective to 3d. The game would certainly be selling more than is now. If the quality remained, it could be the best selling GTA game in Handhelds, but top down is no-Go, it seems.
One question that remains is: could a 3d GTA be made for the DS?

I played C.O.P: The Recruit and it's a very good game. It's not a 3D GTA but it's exactly like Driver 2. The three islands are big and beautiful (I can't say the same thing for the vehicles but there is a lot of citzens, vehicles and other things going on the screen, very impressive). If Ubisoft (or whatever developer made it) can make this game, Rockstar can make an excellent 3D GTA for the DS.

Advertising? Was the 1000 commercials on TV that I saw not good enough?

WOW....thats AMAZING

but it shows one thing

maybe PSP just doesn't have compelling software people wanna buy

as GTA:LCS & VCS are stills elling reasonably well, while we blame piracy for the sales of new PSP games

I am just very confused

Even tho its port,it has got great reviews.
But like many reviewers said, don't let the 2d stuff think that it sucks...But dam It looks boring!
I'm not gonna buy it on PSP.
Might buy it for Ds.

A lot of it has to do with the pricing structure. Paying $40 for a PSP is just ridiculous to me and to the parents buying their kids PSP games.

I think piracy's too often used as a scapegoat.  Same thing happened with Dreamcast imo.

DS piracy is just as if not more rampant than PSP, yet it has great selling titles consistently.  Same was true for PS2, PS1 and Wii really.

It also depends on the popular titles being released and who they're target audience is.

Chains of Olympus was the biggest PSP game last year. The target audience seems far more likely to pirate that title over most of the big DS titles.