Sony says the DSi is for kids, the PSP is for winners
By Nilay Patel 
posted April 4th 2009 4:37PM
posted April 4th 2009 4:37PM
If Nintendo is really committed to reaching a broader, more diverse audience of gamers beyond the "kids" market that they've always engaged, there isn't much new with the DSi to support that. Significant gamer demographic groups are being ignored, and there continues to be limited opportunities for games from external publishers to do well on the DSi. Compare that with the PSP platform, where we have many blockbuster franchises from our publishing partners launching this year, representing a wide variety of genres and targeting diverse demographics. Games such as Rock Band Unplugged from MTV Games, Assassin's Creed from Ubisoft, Dissidia Final Fantasy from Square Enix, and Hannah Montana from Disney demonstrate the commitment that publishers have to the PSP. From our own first-party studios, we're launching unique versions of LittleBigPlanet and MotorStorm, and we're also planning a steady stream of downloadable games -- both new titles and PSone classics -- to add to the content that PSP owners can already purchase wirelessly through PlayStation Store.Pretty strong words in response to the fairly un-hyped US launch of the DSi tomorrow -- especially since Ninty's sold just about twice as many total DS units than Sony's 50m PSPs, hard numbers from which no amount of marketing bluster can really distract. In fact, if we were in charge at Sony, we'd be more worried about the emergence of the iPhone and iPod touch, which have sold over 30m units total and attracted a ton of buzz from game developers while the PSP seems to be stagnating in the face of endless rumors of a UMD-less PSP2. Harsh truth? Maybe, maybe not -- you tell us.
New season Monday, GO CUBS!
Woohoo Cubbies yeah! Milton Bradley!
...not till you get a second analog stick, PSP.
Cubs are aweful, the white sox are much better. Have you been watching the cubs the past 100 years...?
Wait, what does that have to do with this article?
Oh right. Absolutely nothing.
Sony, wake up. Apple's 3.0 is going to start attacking the GPS market NOW. The ipod touch will most likely come with a mic built in (otherwise they wouldn't be bundling in the 'mic' app). And that means skype on the touch without any mess.
Apple is also likely to start diversifying. They might come up with a 5 (or 8 or more) megapixel camera, flash and real lens and all. They might make much larger batteries. They might one day kill the psp by merely bringing a series of "pro-gamers" iphones or ipod touch with the required buttons. (this latest one is a stretch, given their design history, but it becomes plausible if they decide to go head-on against sony and nintendo).
Sony you have been milking this old piece of tech since Pluto was a planet. Please wake up. Throw that UMD diskettes away, for christ's sake. Put in a phone in its place. You have to integrate your small gadget strategy. No more scores of PSPs & Mp3s and boring phones and cameras. Make something new, like the PSP was in the dark ages. Give us shock and awe.
Or maybe continue on your gradual transformation into Creative Labs.
Nothing surprising from Sony. They think they're the best.
I think their prices are ridiculous.
It's amazing how you jack nuts can bring the IPhone into context, as such, regarding ANY news article.
$10 to the first one of you that actually admits they are sexually attracted Steve Jobs or admits they've had sex with their IPhone.
@Linhares - I'm going to save this absurd tripe and post it up again when apple releases their 3.0 phone and we can all have a good laugh :)
"The ipod touch will most likely come with a mic built in (otherwise they wouldn't be bundling in the 'mic' app). And that means skype on the touch without any mess.
Apple is also likely to start diversifying. They might come up with a 5 (or 8 or more) megapixel camera, flash and real lens and all. They might make much larger batteries. They might one day kill the psp by merely bringing a series of "pro-gamers" iphones or ipod touch with the required buttons."
@ KevinC: Wanna make a bet about the mic on the touch? Wanna make a bet about competing head on with GPS devices? Wanna make a bet concerning a better camera? Wanna make a bet about more diversification in this arena? (just look at history, and at how the original ipod has diversified)
What you fail to get is that Sony has this crazy assortment of half baked products all over the map. I had a sony ericsson phone, and to listen to mp3s it required some proprietary jack. The psp, which I also have, is, to this date, stuck with those huge outdated UMDs.
Apple is not perfect of course. I hate the fact that itunes is country-by-country (while TPB is worldwide). Skype isn't available for those sorry Canadians. I could go on and on; there's plenty to complain about them. But Sony is slowly dying, whether you like it or not.
@HI
Wow, I didn't know Ozzie Guillen was gay.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Hi Linhares,
No, I don't want to bet that apple will improve their camera on the iphone or include a mic on the touch, but I would like to bet that apple will not, "come up with a 5 (or 8 or more) megapixel camera, flash and real lens and all"
and I would also like to bet that apple will not "bring[ing] a series of "pro-gamers" iphones or ipod touch with the required buttons."
The required buttons and the larger battery would both DESTROY their aesthetic and that is the first and foremost design consideration. Some third party might offer an add on but the iPhone will NEVER have the 'required buttons' for a serious portable gaming system
Also, why would you mention the proprietary jack on your sony ericson phone when I am sure you are aware of the proprietary headphone chip on the nano? Or rather, the proprietary EVERYTHING to do with apple.
As for a mic on the touch...I really have to wonder. Being in bed with AT&T, they might not want to lose phone time and they certainly don't want to lose iphone sales to the touch. I vote no to the mic but I'm not married to it. :)
Best,
KevinC
@ KevinC: Look here: http://www.edibleapple.com/report-apple-orders-32-and-5-megapixel-camera-sensors/
"a recent report from DigiTimes which notes that Apple recently secured an order with OmniVision for 3.2 megapixel image sensors to be used in the next version of the iPhone. Apple is largely rumored to be releasing the next iteration of the iPhone sometime this June, and as reports of upgraded hardware keep rolling in, the next iPhone model keeps looking better and better. Some of the already rumored upgrades for the upcoming iPhone include Video Recording capabilities, new and innovative battery technology, a 32GB model, faster Internet speeds, and of course, the new iPhone OS."
I have a PSP and an iPhone, and I love them both.
@Linhares
It's really not that important to me BUT:
First, apple ordered some 3.2 mega pixel cameras. It is 'assumed' they will be used in the iphone, and they might...hell, they probably will be. This is a far cry from the "a 5 (or 8 or more) mega pixel camera, flash and real lens" that you stated.
Also, I would not hold out on a "new and innovative battery technology." I really don't consider apple an innovator, their a stylist. They have produced a great product with limitations and intentional locks, that infuriate me, to maintain an iron fisted grip on their hardware/software. The things that can't be done on the iphone, that are innate to the hardware, should have effected sales. It's too pretty for that though...consumers like pretty bobbles. - side rant, sorry.
At any rate, I don't own an iphone so I don't know about the battery but I imagine battery life is an issue due to apple's insistence that multitasking isn't in place due to battery life. If that is the only reason for the battery discussion, no, I do not believe they will do anything about it. I believe the multitasking issue is about software control, not battery life.
I also don't own a psp, I just don't think that iphone is the end all be all portable electronic device.
Best
How did u get "final fantasy 7" on the PSP????
Once you get hold of a Pandora's battery...
And that's the easiest method, anyone without some skill to follow a tutorial will get their hardware unlocked, and off you go to download games from the PSN Store! Crash Bandicoot anyone?
I'm liking the MID-esque psp2 mock-ups. Add a keyboard in there somewhere and I'm sold. :D
The screen is touch-enabled.
Didn't you notice, man?
Without a capacitive touchscreen, a digital keyboard is about worthless.
Sony sounds rather butt-hurt. You'd think they'd be use to this by now.
I'd be butt-hurt too if I still sold and supported a console that had graphics like the original PSX and its titles were washed out, stripped versions of PS2 games. I mean seriously, DSi is bringing new features and possibly better internal hardware specs. PSP-2000 made it slimmer at the cost of battery life, the PSP-3000 is exactly like the 2000, except made it harder to hack and added the microphone. Sony's idea of revamping the PSP is releasing it in new colors, many of which never make it here to the states.
If this were still 2004, Sony could have the right to say this, but c'mon, 5 years later and they're still bashing Nintendo, Sony you FAIL!!!!!
to Setnev,
Doesn't the new DSi have decreased battery life compared to the DS? You must be a Nintendo fanboy, all the points that you made about the PSP, slimmer at cost of battery life, releasing in random colors etc, is exactly what the DSi is doing. Heck, you are losing GBA support witht he DSi compared to the DS. So what if the PSP got a mic, Nintendo added a random camera. Don't nitpick at the PSP and point out the realtive "crappy versions" when Nintendo is doing the same shit.
To add to what Son had to say, Setnev you pretty much completely contradicted yourself with this phrase:
"I'd be butt-hurt too if I still sold and supported a console that had graphics like the original PSX..."
What kind of graphics does the DS have then you dumbass? HD?
Exactly what I was going to say.. And DS graphics are shit compared to the PSP.
I take it Setnev has never played the new God of War: Chains of Olympus or Resistance: Retribution titles.
@son
From what I hear the battery in the DSi does drain faster than the DS lite - if you don't change the settings. By default the DSi's screens are several levels brighter than the max setting on the lite. Drop that down to DS lite brightness and it should be about the same (should be doing that anyway for an effective comparison).
That sounds a little dumb though, one of the new "feature" is a bigger, brighter screen, but if you have to lower it to the regular DS, than whats the point? I feel like the DSi is a poorly made re-release just so Nintendo can milk the franchise one last time before they release a new generation hand held.
Look out, Nintendo, the PSP has Hannah Montana.
Exactly what I was thinking...
But in all honesty, you have got to see that a majority of DS games are aimed at the kids, while PSP seems to follow the more mature audience...
The leading product doesn't have to tell you why the other products are inferior. I'm just saying.
*cough* WII *cough*
(Yes, I own a Wii)
Everyone owns a Wii, it's just that we don't use it.
Really, Sony? Are you sure you want to piss off Square and a few other big labels that develop for both platforms.
In a few years iPhone will be the dominant mobile gaming platform unless Sony really pulls something out of their ass with PSP2. I would much rather just carry an iPhone than a PSP/DS and a iPhone.
I just can't see that, with it not having hard dedicated gaming controls. Its a novelty gaming system.
Eh, I'd say there's very little chance of that happening as long as Nintendo has their first-party developers, as long as the DS is cheaper than the iPod touch, and as long as the DS/PSP has actual, you know, buttons.
It may become a platform to be reckoned with, maybe....
But "the dominant mobile gaming platform"? Not a chance. Touchscreen is fine for a lot of things, but there are just too many gaming genres where it would just be too imprecise and frustrating. There's no way the iPhone or the Touch will surpass a purpose-built, dedicated gaming handheld as the mainstream mobile gaming platform. It just won't happen.
Not without buttons they won't. Imagine playing COD on a Iphone. Ew.
Look the reason DS is doing well is because it s more catered toward the causal gaming audience and thats what iPhone games mostly consist of. You are not going to be seeing hardcore games on it anytime soon if ever. And I think if iPhone can get the casual gaming market like Nintendo did then I think iPhone has a good chance. Its oh so easy to buy games on iPhone. Apple has a great content delivery system with the app store.
You're still missing the point. Those games are a novelty. Remember the N-Gage? Now, granted, the iPhone is set up much better for this kind of thing, but it will never be the leader in handheld gaming because IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY BUTTONS! Shooters, platformers, racing, so many kinds of games would be too frustrating to play with imprecise controls. Think about playing Mario without having the D-Pad, just a virtual one.
Granted, there's a few games that touchscreen might make better, but the DS already has that, as well as buttons.
Compare the battery life on the iPhone and DS.
People seem to be forgetting that iPhone OS 3.0 supports accessories that can access core functions. i.e game controllers
More accessories? So a hypothetical iPod touch / iPhone game controller could be as successful as the e-Reader, then.
Comparing battery life of the DS and iPod touch / iPhone isn't entirely fair, though, because if my DS battery runs out, I can't play games- if my phone's battery runs out, I can't call or text people, which is significantly more important. (or it is for me, anyway)
@ Episilon-Not
It should be Epsilon-Naught
While I tend to agree that the iPhone probably won't become a dominant force in mobile gaming, I do find it odd that "buttons" is the reason cited for it not succeeding. I think the current crop of games has suitably demonstrated (and, let's not forget that these are pretty much 1st generation games for a new platform) that buttons are not necessary. Gamers, despite the apparent need for new technology, often seem to be stuck in the past.
yeah, psp is for mp3/mp4... ds is for games...
Exactly... And there are other devices better suited to that (iPod Touch comes to mind instantly, along with other PVPs with huge harddrives).
I don't think I'll be able to get into PSP gaming mainly because of the hacking that's so prevalent online.
Aw come on Engadget, why you have to ruin my day. Here come the fan wars.
I guess a big heap o' flamebait will stir things up on a Staturday afternoon.
-oh and you spelled wieners wrong. :p
and you spelled "Saturday" wrong
Someone explain the joke to this guy.
I'm doing something.