Sony PSP Sales Way Up 76
WeAz writes "According to an article via Yahoo's news service, Sony is reporting that they have sold 800,000 PSP units since the system's release last month. Demand for the system is so strong that there's already a shortage arising. To combat this, Sony 'would increase monthly PSP production by 100,000 units to one million in April, as it prepared to launch the product in the United States and Europe.' Ken Kutaragi, Sony Computer Entertainment's CEO said that monthly production of the PSP will eventually rise to 3 million units."
Re:Wait a second... (Score:5, Insightful)
Yeah, except with decent resolution, competent hardware, a usable form factor, and the fact that it's coming from a well-established gaming division. I'll consider the PSP's battery life+UMD-shooting a draw with N-Gage's horribly convoluted game changing requirements.
The resolution thing still confuses me. My Nokia 3660 has better resolution than the N-Gage.
Also, I'm not a Sony apologist. If anything, I'd probably fall into the Nintendo fanboy category. I have a Gamecube, GBA, GBA SP (original GBA given to younger brother), and a DS. The dismissal of the PSP as "another N-Gage" still struck me as inexcusably trollish.
Also, the lack of good games on the DS so far is still disappointing.
Re:In other news (Score:2, Insightful)
As opposed to Sony, who's lineup stars include...Gran Turismo, Metal Gear Solid, Ridge Racer?
Glass houses...
Re:Everyone's got the wrong headline... (Score:4, Insightful)
However, If they're increasing production, that usually means sell-through is going well.
Re:This is good and bad. (Score:4, Insightful)
WHAT? This would be a reasonable criticism against the Gamecube (and you're entitled to your opinion), but essentially what you're saying here is that the XBox is the ONLY console with a good online system? PS2 online is exactly as good as the game's creator makes it. The fact that Sony hasn't stepped in the middle of it all to offer standardized tools and interfaces in exchange for a slice of revenue every month is a reasonable decision. Microsoft's approach is reasonable, though I personally find the subscription model unappealing, it is competitive. For people who play online regularly, XBox Live is worth it, but not so much for infrequent online gamers. Sony's approach is less convenient, but is pretty good considering it's free. Some people don't WANT to pay each month just to use the network adapter that they have on their console - I'm glad they have a free online system, even if you think it isn't 'good'.
I know, I know, don't feed the fanboys (Score:5, Insightful)
The PS2 did well during it's early days because of Grand Theft Auto, Metal Gear Solid 2, Gran Turismo, Tony Hawk, Max Payne, SSX, Final Fantasy, Virtua Fighter 4, and a bunch of other great games. It also ran uncontested during a period of the console cycle when people were in a buying mood. The Dreamcast died because it launched at a dead spot during people's buying cycles. People had just got PS1's En Masse, and asking them to switch again to a moderately more powerful system was just foolish. People weren't ready. On the other hand, if you had Dreamcasts that would put you at ripe for a new console about when the XBox started strutting it's stuff, which makes sense. I don't recall any of this so-called developer pinching... Any links?
But no system is without their exclusive must-try games. The GameCube has the astoundingly great and totally original Metroid Prime, an excellent Treasure title in Ikaruga, a great Zelda, Resident Evil 4, Pikmin 2, the highly original Harvest Moon series, the excellent and gimmocky Crystal Chronicles and 4 Swords Adventures, Donkey Konga, Wario Ware, etc. No hardcore gamer that appreciates the art can afford to ignore the gamecube.
The Xbox's online capabilities are excellent, but remember that even with XBox live, only 10% of all gamers ever bring their console online. It also only pushes about 50% more polys than the PS2, which when it comes to gaming terms is not a significant difference. The XBox does have some great exclusives, such as Halo, Ninja Gaiden, and Crimson Skies, but I don't need to convince you of that. I do really hope that with the next generation of hardware, everyone emulates XBox's online capabilities. On the other hand, I'm not looking forward to the headache of implementing and debugging all of that online capability, but oh well. All for the fans.
But really, everyone defines 'hardcore' as something different. To me the hardcore gamer has all three of the current platforms, and most of the past ones as well. I'd consider someone hardcore if they owned a SuperGraphix, a Final Fantasy Wonderswan, or possibly just a Neo Geo. A Dreamcast, Virtual Boy, Jaguar, or 3DO bought after they were obviously dead systems might also suffice if there were mitigating circumstances. Most of the publishers I've talked to consider hardcore players to be owners of two systems, who spend over X hours a week on videogames, and who buy more than N titles a month. You, apparently, are defining hardcore people as those whom you see on XBox live. Hence, if you're trying to appeal to "hardcore" people because you think they buy more games, you really need to break that down into the demographic that you think that you're getting. If you're trying to appeal to "hardcore" gamers because you think that only they will understand your genius design, then you need to look at why your system is so impossible to use (MOO3, anyone?). If on the other hand, you're trotting out the name of the 'hardcore' gamer because you want some cred for your argument, you need to find a better backing. Who are these hardcore gamers, specifically, and what is it about the [ NES / SNES / Genesis / TG16 / Sega CD / 3DO / N64 / Saturn / Playstation / Jaguar / Dreamcast / PS2 / XBox / Game Cube / PS3 / XBox 2 / Game Tetrahedron ] that makes them feel that it [ Roxxors / Suxxors / Blows 'yo Mamma / Is going to rule over all ].
And in summary, a Penny Arcade [penny-arcade.com] cartoon.
Re:MOD PARENT DOWN (Score:3, Insightful)
Only the last sentence you stated is glaringly wrong "at least be responsible enough to know that you have the facts, before you digest them as such."
Since we are talking facts, let me restate my original posting and the parent.
1. Damn near every unit shipped has been sold. This is the history of the PSP. This is why there is a pending shortage. (ok you have me this last sentence, it doesn't refute my point)
2. Even in Japan, its been difficult to find one even weeks after release.
3. The parent assumes there is salable stock in warehouses and stores that is unsold. Normally, the parent would have a point, but that does not apply here.
Let me restate the parent I was responding to:
(Parent stated)
1. Sony has not sold 800K units. Sony has shipped 800K units.
2. They aren't "sold" until they're in the hands of consumers.
Now, are you going to tell me that anything less than nearly all of this 800k are *not* in the hands of consumers ?
Thank you for talking about Sony's past history of engineering shortages, it is quite interesting and would be a good topic in its own right, but please bring the discussion over to how many of those shipped are in consumer's hands.