Sony takes aim at iPhone gaming in new PSP ad
By Donald Melanson 
posted August 17th 2010 11:51AM
posted August 17th 2010 11:51AM
Well, it looks like Nintendo isn't the only gaming company that thinks Apple is the "enemy of the future" -- Sony has now also taken aim at iPhone gaming in a new PSP ad featuring Kevin Butler's pint-sized counterpart, Marcus Rivers. In it, Marcus reminds viewers that the iPhone is built for things like "texting your grandma and calling your girl," while the PSP is "built for big boy games," some of which can be had for as little as $9.99. See the whole thing for yourself after the break.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWVnPlUCrf8
Wow, as little as $9.99? I've bought games for the iPhone that I would put up against anything on the PSP for 99 CENTS. Also, I don't need two devices.
The PSP has its place but this ad campaign reeks of desperation.
why did they show the worst games on the psp though?
I always find the American/european made games for PSP are ....crap. I never saw a decent title before. If you can play japanese games on your PSP, i am sure you would never touch the iphone games.
Then again, i don't even want to buy an iphone, i am happy with my xperia 10.
@Wrong Oh, I've been looking at the Xperia X10, it's strangely hard to find real info about it, everyone keeps repeating the official press releases - do you know when Froyo is coming out for it? can you do 720HD video yet? and how is performance etc. say compared to a Galaxy S Captivate? I can't decide between the Captivate and teh X10 - but I haven't been able to find a working X10 at an AT&T store to play with
When John Carmack ports Rage to PSP running at 60FPS come talk to me... SUCKA
Translation: We are taking Apple as a competitor serious now.
The second playstation got rid of the UMDs and told my PSP game collection to go fuck itself I decided PSP can do the same.
I would much rather have a device with games that can be used on other devices etc., then get stuck buying some handheld unit I will only use on long plane rides or car trips where I'm not driving.
Make the psp 99$ and games .99 and I'll grab one out of impulse. At it's current price I'd rather put the money towards a new gaming machine or another xbox after this one RRODS (again)
Step your game up!*
That being said;
No longer game with my PSP (had 4) and no longer, for that matter, even own a PSP. Good games but I have sort of moved on as a gamer. I don't game as much, and when I do it's just straight PS3 (WOOT - only way to do it) but I will admit the advertising / marketing of both PSP and PS3 has stepped up considerably. I'll admit though, I miss that crazy ass robot baby thing.
um...atleast he has a girl to call..
i mean...i'd rather than than a game...just saying...
sony KINDA...fails with this one.
*that than
I liked my PSP when it first came out but I've lost interest. It's just more convenient to play games on the iPhone, if I want to.
Comparing the PSP or the DSi to ANY smartphone is just ridiculous.
Yes the iPhone 4 starting to show excellent samples of games and the potential to it, but still is just a smartphone, just like Androids and the others.
PSP + Android smartphone will fail big time, and anyone who'll try to cramp hardware just for games is nuts.
Suddenly companies want their smartphone to do EVERYTHING!
Apple's approach on games will be thru their iPod Touch, and that is very smart. Sony is going on the defensive simply because the games quality on mobile devices are getting close to theirs at a lower price, soon there'll be no more $50, $60! games. Consumer wins.
All of those games looked like iPhone games, but for 3 times the money. :\
This a FAIL! Let start with game price $9.99; last time I check the iPhone start at free. Next the iPhone is a phone, it can browse the internet, check email. a game system and etc… all in one device.
@garybr psp can do flash, iphone won't. psp has physical buttons. Iphone don't, iphone games that starts free are usaully demos, Iphone games that are full price usaully ends quicker than most psp games. when playing a game on the psp i can see all 4.3inch when playing games on my iphone or ipod touch that has touchscreen button see at least 2.8. When i press a button on a psp i know i pressed it. when i do on a iphone it doesn't really show
The iPhone can do flash. Heard of this thing called jailbreak?
Free games aren't almost only demos, heard of things like free-app-a-day?
"Iphone games that are full price usaully ends quicker than most psp games"
Yes, but what is full price for an iPhone game? Oh yes, something between 5 and 10$. I think the ad said 10$ is the cheapest you get on the psp?
"when playing a game on the psp i can see all 4.3inch when playing games on my iphone or ipod touch that has touchscreen button see at least 2.8."
That's because the iPhone and iPod Touch were actually meant to be portable so of course the screen is smaller in size.
"When i press a button on a psp i know i pressed it. when i do on a iphone it doesn't really show"
It does usually show, but you can't feel it. yes, buttons on a touchscreen can light up or somethign like that when you press them.
Since the original Game Boy, I've always kinda looked at portables as only for casual gaming. I realize that they're not, but the experience, control, and gameplay depth often pale to their full console counterparts. Of course, I've owned a few since then, including a DS, but never got too into them because I tend to spend my gaming time on something like a PS3, 360, or PC. At no point am I going to be at home and choose any handheld system over a full console or gaming PC. To me, that makes no sense.
This leaves handheld gaming relegated to either casual, 10-15 minute intervals throughout the day or long trips where I want to kill time. I am not the kind of person that would ever consider toting around more than a phone, a wallet, and a set of keys in my day-to-day, so there is essentially no room in my life for something like a PSP. I'm not going to invest in a new portable game system just for killing time on long trips, especially considering how capable of an entertainment system an iPhone is. In other words, the iPhone completely satisfies my needs for portable gaming.
This advertisement clearly shows that Sony is worried about the new onslaught that's being led by the App Store, but gaining momentum on Android and soon to be assaulted by Microsoft. With that many phones out there with gaming capabilities, Sony is absolutely going to lose the buyers who would have previously picked up their system for casual (read: portable) gaming. That's going to hurt.
To those who think the iphone is just a smartphone.. who the hell are you kidding? You obviously don't own one. If there is something that a small hand held computer could be useful for, there is an app for it. Either on itunes or in cydia for jailbroken units. It features a plethora of network tools, several web browser, web servers, file maintenance, book programs covering many languages, games out the yin yang (many of them are indeed better then most of the psp and ds games which have an average rating of 4 on the review sites...and cost a fraction less), as well as extremely exceptional movie and audio support. The 3rd generation video chip supports shaders for crying out loud.
Just because the psp has a game pad dosnt mean it actually has any good games.
@jeffmd trust ds & psp games own the iphone games.I myself owns a ipod touch and most of the games are pretty boring after a while. Most of my games are the full version too. ds and psp games just feel more like full games not some kind of mini games. Don't get me wrong n.o.v.a on the touch is cool but whats the point if my thumb cover 30% of the screen and no physical buttons are a downer for me. So in the end ds and psp games are alot better at gaming while the iphone is a great smartphone with some good game capability.
that little marcus reminded me of a little eddie murphy. this kid could be big.
psp owns BTW.
My experience with iphone gaming and psp gaming:
15 minute commute to work: critter crunch
4 to 5 hours after work: MHFU online
long trips: preferred gaming device is PSP, mainly due to air travel and iphone has abysmal battery life which I need to call up people and services.
That is all.
Thank goodness Sony's gaming systems don't share DNA with Sony crappy A/V products!
This commercial is filled with techno-logistical continuity flaws, apparently talking accross the...tv camera, has insufficient audio, requiring a call from a RAZR (wow) to the guy's iPhone so he can repeat the price of the games, which again, are cheaper on the iphone, just what the hell is Sony thinking?! Sony PSP has some SWEET games, games that are exclusive to it, why not talk about reasons TO BUY the thing, and not to malign it for? /utterly confused.
I have an iPhone 4. I sold my PSP and my DS. I will pick up my Gameboy Pocket for portable gaming.
Seriously? The PSP is no Harcore Game Platform, If i want to play a game I use my Xbox if i want to play a game on the go the iPhone is more than enough for me, I have a PSP and i never use it
is that an actual iphone they're using in the ad. isn't that slander or libel or something
@vanglorious No, it's an AirPhone no.4. :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUT39op2Pp8
That would actually be bad enough to only have lame castle!
Of late I have seen a great many kids getting bored with their DS and wanting to get a PSP and I'm not talking about one or two, I mean heaps and their parents are buying them.
I am over 40 and love using my PSP and I have hoped for some time that my phone would merge with my PSP. It seems that Sony might just deliver my wish sooner rather than later.
Then your PS3 and PSP complement each other nicely, to me it's a big win to Sony.
I don't like Apple products one little bit and will not buy iProducts ever, to me many of the iGames are not in the same league as PSP. Albeit that may be changing but time will tell.
Is the PSP perfect...no it's not but it's still a really good platform with a lot of great games that are from simple to highly complex games.
Sony bring it on..... PSPhone plus HD playback would be awesome!!!
Haha that's a great marketing campaign! :D