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.
I own a PSP and a DS, there a loads of games to play on DS, when I complete one there's always another good frist and thrid party gamee to play. However with PSP I only have 2 games: Crisis Core (awsome) and God of War(great). When I was purchasing a PSP I was like there are soo many good games I want to play, how ever there were only a hand full.
Anyway by Sony saying the DS is for kids well they just admitted something, that DS rules the largest audience of gaming: children.
Right now there saying theres:
Rockband rival, GH and Assasins Creed is also on DS (not too great). All they're stating is they have new content comming out that is going to make this year's business more succesful. It's not good how there claiming they're not going to aim at children since THAT IS THE MAIN CORE AUDIENCE OF GAMES
Someone forgot to tell Sony that winners don't use drugs. Because they're clearly on them.
I use my DS for learning purposes (learning Japanese). The PSP has nothing effective on that front.
The PSP might be for winners (debatable though, obviously), but talking shit about a console that's kicking your console's arse up and down the market is not.
This is from someone who has owned both handheld consoles. (I had lots of money left at the end of the month)
The DS I'm afraid to say is for kids and old people. It's marketed as a family device.
The PSP is aimed at that sort of gamer market.
I have since sold both the consoles as I found myself not using them. There's only so much gaming one man can do and when I leave the house I like to get exercise or visit the better half, not play video games in the park.
The DS games are for kids. Bright colours and shitty graphics all round. The DS also doesn't need to display a fancy picture, simply because kids and oldies don't give a rats arse about the power of the console.
The PSP games, while they are aimed at that frat-boy demographic, are crap and there isn't enough of them if you ask me. While they looked a hell of a lot better than the DS, they just sucked.
What you really want is a console with the interface of a DS and the power and picture of a PSP but since there isn't such thing (Nokia N95 anyone?) you have to settle with one.
What also helps is Nintendo has a rather clever marketing department behind them, Sony has dipshits.
I personally think the whole handheld market sucks but that's just me.
The only reason Nintendo is doing well is because it is trendy to own a DS, DSI & Wii. It targets casual players ! witch are far more than hard core players. So of course Nintendo will sell more units ! Cheaper always sell more...if this wasn't true every one would be roiling in Ferrari's.
is the pandora battery STILL the only way to hack the PSP? cmon man
You know, there was a time when this war was something to be really looked at, but now I think Sony has a few issues to look at. I will always play a PSP over a DS or DSi because of the titles that they represent. Sure, you may have PS2 graphics, but it's PS2 graphics in my pocket...who can bitch. If the next gen PSP really wanted to step up their game, whats the possibility on adding on a network like the 3G? Scrap the convention of wireless ad-hoc and walk straight into on-line titles. I think alot more people would be interested if they could be playing a version of COD online...anywhere.....even with PS2 graphics :P
Huh, I guess this is why I just traded in my PSP for a DSi
Also I do the majority of my hardcore gaming on my PC or 360, so what is Nintendo targets casual gamers, they make a killing while doing it. I have a DSi and a Wii, I don't have a PSP or a PS3 because I don't really need one and they aren't cost effective for me. I use to be a hardcore Sony fanboy, and i think they still make quality products, I just can't really afford one and I don't really do anything but casual gaming on a hand held
Well, let me say this.
My DS is the best alarm clock I've ever had. My PSP, however, was sold three years ago. Neither console I really played games on, because let's face it, most games for both system are STUPID. If ONLY my DS could hold old Gameboy cartridges ... I'd be playing Kirby right now.
Fuck the PSP. Fuck the DS.
This may be a similar comment to the guy that mentioned Apple diversifying, but why is it so hard to believe that Apple may release a game-centre iphone or itouch. The itouch IS a diversification of the iphone. So why not the igame or what have you.
They have the touchscreen technology (match or better DS), they have widescreen high resolution (match or better PSP), they have internal storage, they have developer backing (to a degree). If the main thing they lack is buttons and being a game focused machine, couldn't they just release a model which does fulfill those things.
I think I might be on to something here because all the mobile manufacturers except Apple have thus far had a million and 1 models at any given time.
if Apple can't come to grips with releasing a cheap notebook, why would they even delve into gaming? AGAIN? gaming is mostly about cashing in after a year, Apple loves making money since day one.
PSP for winners, c'mon its like a downgraded version of ps2. 90% of the games are whatever because of graphics and blurry screen and only 10% are ok because of original idea.
Having but a PSP and DSi. I would say I prefer the PSP in design of both the user interface and the unit. However, the software for the DSi is more extensive than the PSP. Also, the touch screen on the DSi gives it more functionality that the PSP. With that said it is disappointing the comments that was made by Sony. Both devices are designed for different markets.
How amazing - a company thinks its own product is better that its competition. Is the sky still blue?
I have a PSP Slim, DS and DSi in my household and the system that gets used most is the DS. I would love to play the PSP more but Sony's lack of support is astounding, releasing a new SKU every year, but what about the damn games. I have 5 games on the PSP, I have 40 on the DS ! I also own a Wii with about 30 games, Xbox with 25 games and PC with 100 games, all my games are originals.
I would likely have bought a PS3 if I had such a negative experience with Sony, lack of decent games, screwing your customers with various lock downs, generally treating your customers like marks to be exploited...
I love how all those games are on the DS, or at least close equivalents. Let's see.. there's guitar hero for the DS, assassin's creed for the DS, tons of final fantasy games for the DS and definitely a few Hannah Montana's for it... I'm not sure what their point was with that, but it sounded like they were trying to say that the PSP has more games? But then listing ones that are also on the DS is just... strange...
da da da daaaaaaaah daaah daaah da daaah daaaaaaaaaah!
If Sony goes UMD-less in the PSP2, then I hope they wise-up and give people a way to read/record their UMDs to memory sticks. (Or any variation of that idea...such as allowing downloads of games onto memory sticks...even if it requires that you put the original game in your old PSP and hook it up to a computer...or have us buy a UMD reader/drive that would allow the process to take place.) I'd be happy as long as it wasn't more than $50 for any additional hardware and it allowed me to play my PSP1 games on the next version.
The whole idea of portable should be that you don't have to take 2 systems with you to play your games.
DSi is totally for kids and girls which is why I have one since my wife wanted it. But now I'm buying Final Fantasy Tactics A2 and III so I guess I can't complain. I still wish she would of rather wanted a PSP though. :-(
Hey ppl, there are a lot of really interesting comments below but like it or not.....the fact still remains
PSP: has a LOT more functionality then the DSi, however its not out of the box, i have a PSP 1000 and i hacked it, free games for life......movies, music..
the screen is also a LOT bigger and crisper then the DSi.
i travel a lot and have seen tons of people with their PSP (not just teens) watching movies of playing games.
DSi: my father used to work for nintendo, he is retired not but got a DSi in the mail from one of his friends as a token months before it was released to the public.
the DSi is a waste of money if you are above 13 years old, the graphics compared to the iphone and PSP are appalling, yes it has a bigger screen then the DS, but what good is a big screen with mediocre graphics? the camera is not worth mentioning and the touch screen is, pardon my language, bullshit when compared to the itouch and iphone, and shit in general. nintendos adds always consist of adults, i have yet to see a SINGLE adult pull out a DS/i and listen to music for play games.
Iphone: i have one....would you like to know what a iphone is?
its a bloody phone.
thats it
nothing else
just a phone.
so tell me...if you owned a multi million $ company and just invented the worlds best touch screen and merged it with a portable device (i.e.....the iphone) what would you do?
A) push its functionality to the limit with games etc..and hope some rich people who have some money to waste will buy them.
B) stay linear and keep its functionality limited (leave it as a phone)
C) none of the above.
to tell you the trust, allmost everyone i have met/know owns a iphone, except for my wife, she cant even text,
and a lot of people do buy the games and apps...but why? is it really worth it to pay for a game or app that you will only use once in a while? no it isnt, however
the reason we but it is simple....
Marketing
I work for unilever, we make AXE, Dove, Lipton, Brisk, and many more....Dove has/had a program about girls and their make up.....well we kind of contradict ourselves since we make axe (that promotes what dove is trying to say is bad) and we also make some make up stuff for girls, i cant rememder the name atm.
my point is.......This is ALL a big Marketing gig.
How come you guys make targeting kids sound like a bad thing? Businesses generally have target audiences. Never thought of buying a DS? Chances are you are not the intended audience.
I can't believe that Sony guy is trying to tell Nintendo how to market. Nintendo is doubling their sales and raking in the money whilst allegedly ignoring the demographics according to Sony, a company presently losing big money from their gaming dept. It's kinda like an F student telling an A student how to study.
So what would make Sony happy? for Nintendo to properly address their demographics and take an ever larger market share away from Sony? It would seem Sony is either masochistic or extremely jealous.
Their ignoring demographics statement doesn't make much sense to me either though. I see older ppl 30-40+ play the DS/Wii all the time, I can't say the same for the PS3/PSP. I'm fairly confident the statistics would probably confirm this.
All of you bashing Nintendo's marketing and or business strategy practices should go apply to Sony, your logic would seem to fit well there.
btw I own neither systems and don't plan on getting either. I just know that:
1) profits are better than losses
2) 100 million sales is better than 50 million sales, and hence the people have voted for the winner with their dollars for what matters most in business, the bottom line.