Sony refuses to cut PSP price, DS continues to own planet

Sony really needs do something--they can't just sit back lazily. In Japan, the PSP is utterly crushed on all fronts; in the US--a territory the PSP has competed well in--it is starting to fall behind in the wake of the Lite and its many colors. In Europe, we know the DS has the lead ,and I think we can assume the lite is doing well there; but, with numbers rarely released, who can tell by how much. But hey, if Sony doesn't do anything to try to get back in this, that's okay with me. I just hope they come out with something in the next gen to keep Nintendo atleast having to try in the portable area, after all it is not crazy to speculate we wouldn't have a DS (and thus the brilliant games we have all enjoyed) without the threat of the PSP.



With all due respect,
Fox

I agree about the competition thing

If it weren't for the PSP, we wouldn't have seen the DS until this year, most likely, and even then, we would've seen crap like they pulled with the original GBA, selling us a crippled handheld with a better one (backlight babyyy!) waiting in the wings

I fully agree on the competition aspect as well. That's what drives the industry. Of course, it also tends to drive the industry into producing a LOT of drivel, but that's also where we get a lot of our best and brightest.

I believe them when they say they will not cut their price, but do you honestly think they would say anything else? Even if they were going to drop the price $100 on Monday, they would deny an upcoming price cut all the way up until Sunday night at midnight.

You can't take a product that isn't selling great and tell people it will be cheaper in two months without forcing your next two months sales figures to plummet. I believe Apple does this all the time, with great success (No pre-announcments).

Leave PSP along geeeeh! Let it die peacefully will you!

No idea if it's related to this Sony news (probably not), but here in Canada there has been a DS Lite price cut... at least in the sense that this week most major retailers are selling for $10 less (139 vs 149) than they were last week.

And somehow, those of us who own both still manage to enjoy the great games on both. Imagine, in spite of the Japanese sales, the success of the Lite, that there might be 'another system' that has its own merits -- and has already sold better than some consoles at their respective 1.5 year marks (like the Gamecube, for example).

The question is, would there be room in the DS Fanboy philosophy for acknowledging such a hypothetical 'other system' can coexist without resorting to petty 'we win, they suck' blogs? Or do higher worldwide DS sales provide the ammunition Nintendo faithful have been waiting for since the first PS1 vs. N64 sales results?

FWIW, Sony and other companies regularly deny such things as price drops, new models, etc. How smart would it be to tell the world 'If you wait a couple of months you can buy this for 50 bucks less'..? THAT would really help sales, eh? You know, the same way Nintendo let everyone know at the launch of the Phat that the Lite was already in development...

"And somehow, those of us who own both still manage to enjoy the great games on both. Imagine, in spite of the Japanese sales, the success of the Lite, that there might be 'another system' that has its own merits -- and has already sold better than some consoles at their respective 1.5 year marks (like the Gamecube, for example)."

Where did that come from Pixelator? I believe the last time I wrote a reply to you I was impressed by your clear mind. Perhaps I was wrong? No one bashed the PSP, or said it had bad games here. No one said the PSP has no merits. No one has even said that it is experiencing wretched sales! It merely is falling rapidly behind its competitor. Can you accept that? No matter, you'll have to get over it eventually.

"The question is, would there be room in the DS Fanboy philosophy for acknowledging such a hypothetical 'other system' can coexist without resorting to petty 'we win, they suck' blogs? Or do higher worldwide DS sales provide the ammunition Nintendo faithful have been waiting for since the first PS1 vs. N64 sales results?"

To be honest, I could care less that the N64 and the GameCube sold worse than their competitors. I know which ones I like better and that's really all that matters to me. Why do you feel so defenisve about the PSP selling less than the DS? It is clear you like the PSP better (please don't deny it). Why come all the way from PSP fanboy to be defensive? You always take a knife to any DS fans who dare head over to PSP fanboy and post--what are you doing here, trolling? Well, I guess it worked--I'm even bothering to reply to your post...


With all due respect,
Fox

Like any Sony bots, they just can't RESIST defending their precious. Pathetic.

"No one bashed the PSP"

Make no mistake, I think Koller is an idiot, but the blog DID say: "You (PSP) guys go ahead with your (mp3 player) handheld."

"No one has even said that it is experiencing wretched sales!"

Except 5: "Leave PSP along geeeeh! Let it die peacefully will you!"

"To be honest, I could care less that the N64 and the GameCube sold worse than their competitors."

Exactly my point. Sales don't affect my enjoyment of the PSP *or* DS. What I find noteworthy is that so many DS fans/fanboys DO seem to care, and the 'yay, DS beats the PSP' mentality pervades.

"what are you doing here, trolling?"

Dissenting, not trolling. If you're going to use that device on me, please don't pretend to be some benevolent judge of my 'clear mind' or whatever else. In 2005 when the DS was experiencing lower sales in the USA (and even Japan) than the PSP, was I in here or any other forums rubbing it in DS owners' faces? Was I ever here lurking and sniping over cracked hinges or other bad DS news? No.

Yes, I 'take the knife' to the actual trolls on PSP FANBOY, for good reason - they're prolific and aggressive flamebaiters. It's that 'us vs. them' brand-loyal fanboyism that I tend to comment on.

"It is clear you like the PSP better (please don't deny it)"

Yes, and yet I own, play AND like both. I probably own more DS games than most. It's trolling and shortsighted fanboyism I take issue with. If system preference disqualified us all from stating our views, there wouldn't be much posted, either here or anywhere else.

"Make no mistake, I think Koller is an idiot, but the blog DID say: "You (PSP) guys go ahead with your (mp3 player) handheld.""

I was referring to actual comments--and that one jab made by a blogger for DS FANBOY shouldn't have prompted you to get all upset. Heck, that’s not nearly as bad as one of the bloggers over at PSP fanboy suggesting that DS fans beat up and mugged a guy with a PSP.

If you like your PSP, fine, be happy, and go preach to the choir at PSP fanboy, but don't expect PSP loving here. If you do, you’re being naïve.


"Yes, and yet I own, play AND like both. I probably own more DS games than most."

Good for you? I still don't see what this or your original post has to do with this blog entry.


"Except 5: "Leave PSP along geeeeh! Let it die peacefully will you!""

Your right EXCEPT five--some fool who was making a stupid one-liner. Again, any reason to come over here and be all defensive? Do you really feel the need to stand up for the machine THAT much? To be honest, what five said wasn’t worth comment. What do you do when a child says something immature and wrong? Just ignore them, don’t feed it attention. Maybe I should take some of my own medicine…


"Dissenting, not trolling."

You made a post that was largely irrelevant to the blog entry itself, and rather defensive without much reason--which to me seemed like you were trying to start something. Put whatever definition you want on it, or attempt to explain it away. I really don't care.


"Exactly my point. Sales don't affect my enjoyment of the PSP *or* DS. What I find noteworthy is that so many DS fans/fanboys DO seem to care, and the 'yay, DS beats the PSP' mentality pervades."

Then just be happy and stop being so defensive about people who don't care for the PSP as much as you do? Do you think really any of us enjoy our DS’s more because of its sales? I don’t enjoy my Game cube any less because it was trounced by the PS2 this gen. I admit its poor sales in the face of its competition, and enjoy it anyway—without feeling the need to go to competing websites and declare it to the world that I don’t care about sales for my own security.


"If system preference disqualified us all from stating our views, there wouldn't be much posted, either here or anywhere else."

I take no issue with you having a preference or stating your views, but this particular blog entry probably isn’t the place. We know your views pixelator (People who own both pwn people who don’t!) What irritated me was that your post was largely irrelevant to the blog entry and the comments made, and as this goes on we are sinking still farther and farther away from the original entry. *sigh*

Can we put an end to this, or do you insist on continuing?


With all due respect,
Fox

Fox, I think *you're* the one getting agitated. I was simply commenting on the tone of the article and how some of us can get along without the animosity between camps. Blogs like this just stir that up more and generate cross-forum trolls, flamewars, etc.

"I was referring to actual comments"

You said nobody slammed the PSP, and people did - in both the blog and the comments.

"If you like your PSP, fine, be happy, and go preach to the choir at PSP fanboy, but don't expect PSP loving here. If you do, you’re being naïve."

That's just it -- We're all gamers in basically the same boat, subject to the whims of the publishers, devs, manufacturers and market. You keep saying 'you come over here' like you're referring to a treehouse across the road. Last time I checked, I was just as qualified to post here as you. I probably own and have played more DS games than many who post here. I'm not 'preaching' the PSP. I haven't violated any TOS or gotten what I'd consider antagonistic with you. I think you should practice some of that 'clear mindedness' you talked about and relax.

If my intention here was to start a flamewar and troll the blogs like some do at PSP Fanboy, you'd certainly know it by now.

"Then just be happy and stop being so defensive about people who don't care for the PSP as much as you do?"

Why are YOU being defensive about me posting a dissenting opinion here? I'm not even saying anything critical about the DS - just pointing out that it'd be nice if we could dispense with the 'neener' factor.

"without feeling the need to go to competing websites and declare it to the world that I don’t care about sales for my own security."

Bragging about how device A is outdoing device B makes one look fanboyish and petty - and THAT is what I'm criticizing, both as a PSP *and* DS owner. I'm as free to question the motive behind two 'DS owns PSP in sales' blogs in one day as you are to defend them.

"I take no issue with you having a preference or stating your views, but this particular blog entry probably isn’t the place."

I think you _do_ take issue with my preference, because my points are relevant. Arguing against what I said is totally fine, but when you attempt to disqualify my very position by saying I'm out of place, trolling, or defensive, we drift further and further away from the topic at hand.

"I was simply commenting on the tone of the article"

Here is your original post:

"And somehow, those of us who own both still manage to enjoy the great games on both. Imagine, in spite of the Japanese sales, the success of the Lite, that there might be 'another system' that has its own merits -- and has already sold better than some consoles at their respective 1.5 year marks (like the Gamecube, for example).

The question is, would there be room in the DS Fanboy philosophy for acknowledging such a hypothetical 'other system' can coexist without resorting to petty 'we win, they suck' blogs? Or do higher worldwide DS sales provide the ammunition Nintendo faithful have been waiting for since the first PS1 vs. N64 sales results?"

I see no comment about the tone of the article--in fact you don't even mention the article until you are finished writing your two paragraph rant.


"That's just it -- We're all gamers in basically the same boat, subject to the whims of the publishers, devs, manufacturers and market. You keep saying 'you come over here' like you're referring to a treehouse across the road. Last time I checked, I was just as qualified to post here as you."

I'll say it again; I have no problem with you posting here. But as I said before, I think twice now, your post to me seemed irrelevant to the topic at hand and intent on stirring the pot. Take off the first two paragraphs of your original post that were not necessary and irrelevant and we wouldn't be having this conversation.


"Bragging about how device A is outdoing device B makes one look fanboyish and petty - and THAT is what I'm criticizing, both as a PSP *and* DS owner. I'm as free to question the motive behind two 'DS owns PSP in sales' blogs in one day as you are to defend them."

To be honest, you should be used to it by now. This website posts everyday about the success of the DS. If you don't like that you are welcome to enter any address into the bar at the top of your screen. This website covers news about the DS, and if the DS is beating the competition, they are going to tell you about it. Makes sense considering it’s DS FANBOY. You are welcome to question it’s motive, but your first post did nothing of the sort. It didn’t question the tone, as you claim, and it did not question its motive, as you claim. As I have said, you don’t even mention the article until your third paragraph.


"I think you _do_ take issue with my preference, because my points are relevant."

I believe I have already stated that I could care less which system you like best. But if you have it stuck in your head that I am replying because I hate PSP owners, then you have entirely misinterpreted everything I’ve said.


"because my points are relevant"

No, the points in your first post for two full paragraphs were not relevant to the conversation about Sony not cutting the price of the PSP.

"Arguing against what I said is totally fine, but when you attempt to disqualify my very position by saying I'm out of place, trolling, or defensive, we drift further and further away from the topic at hand."

There is no arguing with you. You refuse to accept that your rant about people who own both still have fun has nothing to do with the topic at hand. What the heck does this:

"And somehow, those of us who own both still manage to enjoy the great games on both. Imagine, in spite of the Japanese sales, the success of the Lite, that there might be 'another system' that has its own merits -- and has already sold better than some consoles at their respective 1.5 year marks (like the Gamecube, for example).

The question is, would there be room in the DS Fanboy philosophy for acknowledging such a hypothetical 'other system' can coexist without resorting to petty 'we win, they suck' blogs? Or do higher worldwide DS sales provide the ammunition Nintendo faithful have been waiting for since the first PS1 vs. N64 sales results?"

Have to do with Sony not cutting the price of the PSP? Really, what does that have to do with it? DS fanboy philosophy? What the heck?

Nothing seems to get through to you here. I just simply cannot fathom how your two paragraph rant pertains to the blog entry.

To be honest, we can argue about this until the cows come home, but you’ll never believe that your DS fanboy philophy rant (that’s what I’m naming it) is irrelevant, and I am afraid I am not going to believe that it is relevant.


With all due respect,
Fox

pixelator, will you never learn? How can you get so bitchy on PSP fanboy when somebody says something contrary to the Almighty PSP and then do the same thing on DS fanboy. You suddenly (actually you've done this before, so it's not that sudden) become your favorite insult: a troll. There goes your platform , buddy. And Fox is right. Not one of your points is relevant. You can bring up handheld sales versus console sales as much as you want but even the average idiot knows that they're not really comparable. They're different machines for different purposes and you're not stupid enough to pretend that you don't know that. You are trolling friend, and nobody believes otherwise.

Remember, no fanboy in the world is as defensive as Nintendo Fanboys.

Now all we need is the "riiiiiidge racerrrrr" "Massive damage" bashing of your post pixelater.... or however the name is spelled as I'm to lazy to scorll up and look. I must be reading it on my crappy PSP. It does massive ridge racer damage to DS fanboy. Dang...

Boasting equality and open mindeness here is like talking about gay rights... here....

Actually what i find amuseing is the article is about SCEA, but showing sales charts from Japan.

My suggestion, is spend more time playing the games the reading these blogs. I wish DS Fanboy had a filter where I could get the awesome informitave stories and not this PSP hating flamebait dribble. Over entusiastic news on games.. no matter how potentially flawed they may be... that's what I like to see. Posting more links to vids for Pokemon, I'm all for it. 18 Final Fantasy 3 posts in a day? Sign me up. But "You guys go ahead with your (mp3 player) handheld.".... Why you gotta be haitin?

So is Fox gonna rip into me, cause I didn't say "PSP SuX, fuck your dead UMD player/crappy port machine, DS FTW".... Probabbly... and i'm still expecting the Ridge racer/massive damage comment too. Am i going to read any replies... maybe, but probabbly not. Do I still dread any blog postings that the two Nintindite girls post? Yeah.. make me wish there were such passionate fanboyism on the other fanboy sites. They tend to be more of focused news sites, not the us vs. them mentality of DS or Wii Fanboy.

But fuck, if i have to make a stand and take a side.... NEO GEO POCKET COLOR FTW!!!!!!!!! Now if you'll excuse me, I must do some more massive Damage to Edgworth....

To be honest duscrom, I don't need to say anything. You have made a fool of yourself without needing me at all. Just this morning I was wondering when the PSP battalion would show up to defend their embattled leader.


With all due respect,
Fox

Actually, Fox, you just made yourself look like an idiot because Duscrom's response wasn't about boasting the PSP, but rather about negative reporting by the Nintendo sites. Thanks for illustrating your lack of common sense, although I see that from a lot of fanboys.

Seriously, we're all gamers, people should stop rooting for companies and just be gamers. Yes, Nintendo did great things w/ the SNES and NES, but we have to be greatful to Sony for increasing the videogames market exponentially, thus making the average gamer from the 18 to 24 range.

Hopefully Nintendo will expand the console market to more casual gamers, but I know at least I'll also have my 360 and PSP to rely on for mature or different gaming experiences I can't get from Nintendo. Everyone wins, right?

"Actually, Fox, you just made yourself look like an idiot because Duscrom's response wasn't about boasting the PSP, but rather about negative reporting by the Nintendo sites. Thanks for illustrating your lack of common sense, although I see that from a lot of fanboys."

Actually Erik, I was referring to where he came from, not any words he had for the PSP. He is a regular poster at PSP fanboy. And yes, I do believe he made a fool of himself. Insulting two of the liveliest bloggers here is rather foolish, and to be honest drew a laugh from me. But you can tell he's trolling anyway, which was another reason I said he made a fool of himself. saying something like this is just stupid and asking for it:

"Remember, no fanboy in the world is as defensive as Nintendo Fanboys."


"but we have to be greatful to Sony for increasing the videogames market exponentially"

Don't believe I ever said anything about Sony not increasing the market with the PS1 and PS2.


"I'll also have my 360 and PSP to rely on for mature"

Oh gosh, I am so getting sick of this type of stuff...I'm not even going to try to counter. If you really think that than it is too late.


But hey, welcome to the party Erik. More of you friends from the "other tree house" will probably be showing up as well.


With all due respect,
Fox

Fox, time to give it up. I tried to be civil and present a point of view that 1). didn't diminish or denegrate the DS in any way, shape or form and 2). was entirely relevant to this blog insofar as the frequency of this sort of blog goes beyong simply reporting DS success.

Stars, you know as well as I do that I'm not trolling here, nor am I attacking the DS. Sad that what seemed to be some degree of sobering of your perspective is so easily tossed aside by overdefensive antagonistic rejection of any opinion that doesn't fall into lockstep with the aggro Nintendo fanboy mantra of 'everything else is crap, we win, neener-neener' etc.

"I wish DS Fanboy had a filter where I could get the awesome informitave stories and not this PSP hating flamebait dribble."

I was wishing the very same thing...

Heya Fox...

I'm a regular poster all over the Joystiq blog. But I am always posting at Neo Geo Fanboy. That system still rocks my socks.

No seriously Fox, you did a great job of proving me right.

I frequent all sides of the Joystiq blogosphere. Irony is I probabbly read DS fanboy more then PSP fanboy. Mostly because there is no news anymore. A bunch of sony's bad PR decisions. I've been playing Pheonix Wright all weekend, But to be honest, I consider myself a gamer. From "The Other Side?" oh give me a break. End the persicution complex. It's no you vs. them thing. And Nikki and the other one could do well to stop instagating that. It's like the East coase, West Coast rap feud.

But hey, what do I know. "Just this morning I was wondering when the PSP battalion would show up to defend their embattled leader" Talk about a laugh. That's making a fool of onesself. I just stated my opinion. But then.. shit, nothing says quality Hillary Duff promoting the DS. Oh.. it's posted by Nikki. I think they are a great testiment to Nintendo's expanding the market as they seem to be the only females on the joystiq blog sites.. and I could be wrong about that. They are passionate fans of Nintendo.. and that's great too. But how come they are always attacking the PSP? Show me one Blog Post, where the PSP fanboy staff does the same thing. You appearently read the site enough to call me a "regular poster".. actually I don't think you are a regular reader, ro you'd realize I'm NOT a reagular poster.. hell, i don't post anything, I comment. I'm much more regular on VE3D.com.. which ACTUALLY makes me a PC fanboy.

"Fox, time to give it up"

Nice pixelator--ignore my entire post to you and hide it with, you better give up man! I seriously LOL'd.


"I wish DS Fanboy had a filter where I could get the awesome informitave stories and not this PSP hating flamebait dribble."

"I was wishing the very same thing..."


Goodness guys, she says ONE thing and you are all up in arms, posting massive rants about how terribly mean our bloggers are to poor little ol' PSP. As I have said before (and that was ignored by pixelalator too ,how convenient), her MP3 player jab was not nearly as bad as a PSP fanboy blogger suggesting that a guy was beat up and mugged by DS fans. Did I go over there and throw a fit about that?


With all due respect,
Fox

Ha ha, "DS continues to own planet."

Thus far, you've erected the following strawmen against my points, none of them actually countering the points I've made:

Me: This us vs. them mentality is pointless.
Fox: You should expect this mentality and not comment on it.

Me: Posting two blogs mentioning higher Japan sales is petty.
Fox: You're a troll. I was wrong about you being 'clear minded'. This blog has nothing to do with what you're saying. You prefer the PSP so your opinion doesn't count, whereas those of us who prefer the DS, well, OUR opinions on the PSP still count.

Me: We're all gamers, why argue about two systems that both have merits? Why bash?
Fox: Nobody is bashing the PSP here. You should go back to PSP Fanboy. You shouldn't come over here.

Me: "We'll be over here playing with one of our DS Lites. You guys go ahead with your mp3 player handheld."

Great job pixelator, stick a halo on your head and a pith-fork in my hand. Though I am not too worried, any-one with one-tenth of a brain and has read more than your post will know your speaking crap and taking things out of their place.

You continue to dodge my question, time after time. This time you dodge it with glorifying yourself and trying to down me. Very mature of you.


"Me: This us vs. them mentality is pointless.
Fox: You should expect this mentality and not comment on it."

You SHOULD expect it--you get it EVERYWHERE you go. Just like I expect an “us vs them mentality” at PSP fanboy, and everywhere else I go. I don’t see you starting crusades anywhere else?

You still deny my main point though. What does this have to do with the blog entry!? I'll post your original post again, seeing as you completely "overlooked" my last post to you, post number 13.

"And somehow, those of us who own both still manage to enjoy the great games on both. Imagine, in spite of the Japanese sales, the success of the Lite, that there might be 'another system' that has its own merits -- and has already sold better than some consoles at their respective 1.5 year marks (like the Gamecube, for example).

The question is, would there be room in the DS Fanboy philosophy for acknowledging such a hypothetical 'other system' can coexist without resorting to petty 'we win, they suck' blogs? Or do higher worldwide DS sales provide the ammunition Nintendo faithful have been waiting for since the first PS1 vs. N64 sales results?"

What does this have to do with the blog entry!? DS fanboy philosophy? What the heck? You claimed to be questioning tone earlier; I don’t see you questioning tone. You claimed to be questioning motive as well. I don’t see that either. In fact, you don’t even mention the entry until your third paragraph.

“Me: We're all gamers, why argue about two systems that both have merits? Why bash?
Fox: Nobody is bashing the PSP here. You should go back to PSP Fanboy. You shouldn't come over here.”

You SHOULDN’T come over here if what you are going to post has nothing to do with the article, and is intent on stirring the pot.

Pixelator, you can take my words, mix them an order they were not intended, and try to make yourself look like a saint; but the fact remains staring you in the face. Your two paragraph rant had nothing to do with the article, and seemed rather intent on stirring the pot for no reason other than you got overly upset over: "You guys go ahead with your mp3 player handheld".




With all due respect,
Fox

Aren't these Japanese sales figures? I wish I could see more U.S. ones.

Fox, you've been projecting since the start. I've repeatedly told you what the relevance of my post was: I spoke to the content and tone of the blog, the fact that it was one of TWO posted that day citing 'losing PSP' sales and the subsequent comments by DS fans... And that's just this one blog.

Apprently so miffed that I'd dare to 'come here' and question Alisha's blog, you proceeded to go after ME and not my argument - that I was a troll, implying it's all due to me preferring the PSP, citing my participation at PSP Fanboy, ANYTHING that might disqualify me having any opinion. Your strawmen went up and down like targets at a carnival shooting contest. You even tried to say nobody here had bashed the PSP! Hilarious.

My original post cited the blog and made direct comment on this rabid basher attitude I find prevalent among the Nintendo faithful. And no, it's NOT as common to see such things in the Sony forums, which is my point. If there was as much DS bashing on the PSP sites as there is PSP bashing on the DS sites, I'd probably get my news from IGN and Gamespot only.

Disagree with the points I made, but you can stop with this diversionary idea that it somehow had nothing to do with Alisha's blog, because it did. I did write it, after all.

Jason, NPD numbers (the ones most quoted online) are good for noting trends, but they lack online sales numbers and others, they're not exactly reporting the whole story. Even so, since the Lite launch and then aain with the two new colors, the DS has been pulling strongly away from the PSP.

278K vs. 146K for August, DS vs, PSP respectively. PSP software performance is at the bottom of the charts according to NPD, as well. 876K vs the DS second to last place 1,083,000. By comparison, the PSP outsold the DS in August of 2005, 167K to 103K.

This tells us a few things - the Lites and hotter games have over doubled DS sales, and that PSP sales have slipped, but not by that much, especially considering it got no new models, colors or price drops (phat) like the DS did. Again, remember these numbers aren't absolute - just take them as indicators of sales rather than total US sales.

I've said this at PSP Fanboy: Sony needs to do three things prior to Christmas to save the PSP from sharper decline: 1). Price decrease, 2). PS1 downloads CHEAP and 3). New colors. After the holiday, they need to follow that up with 4). Redesigned PSP model and 5). Downloadable music and video server ala iTunes. If they do NONE of the above, I'll be the first to tell you the PSP is never going to regain momentum against the DS in the USA. We can pretty much forget Japan unless Sony comes out with an Uber Hentai PSP Pack for Y10,000 that comes with several hits of crack.

That's if Nintendo kicks back from here on. If they get even more aggressive with with pricing, more new hardware editions and get more blockbuster games topping the charts, Sony may simply have no chance with this PSP gen. I don't know. PSP2 vs. the next 'true' GBA might be interesting, though.

pixelator

If the GBA sales taught me anything, is that people are crazy for Pokemon. Back in the day, the pokemon games were always in the top ten, much like the Sims here in America. Add to that Dragon Quest games, and Phantom Hourglass, Nintendo will be produceing software to push DS sales forward.

So far, on the software side, PSP is hitting this winter with MGS:PO, which will probabbly move some units, and in the US the GTA juggernaut. Unfortunatly that is really only one title to push sales of the PSP. The Unknown is oddly enough, the Next Gen consoles. While i still don't subscribe to the idea that handhelds push console sales, i think the oppisate can be true. Espically with the interconnectivity of the DS->Wii, and PSP->PS3 that could drive up sales for either platform.... Or, drive down sales for both, simply due to consumer dollars going towards the new consoles. PS3 and Wii are launching, and in japan, Blue Dragon is more than sure to make a big deal.

A Price drop on the DS will happen when Nintendo sees a need. Having 70% majority with DS flying off the shelf faster then they can make them in japan, NOJ has no reason to drop price any time soon. As for NOA, their respnse should be similar. The price won't drop unless sales drop. That's the nature of buiesness. And once pokemon drops here... Which can't come fast enough, then DS sales are more likely to increase.

The down side is, in the US all we have, as onlookers is to go by what each company tells us. And when it comes to that, each term is up to interpritation. Nintendo says they've sold some 22 million units worldwide, and Sony says they've Shipped 21 million units worldwide. Are they the same thing? Public says no.. but remember, if they are sitting on a store shelf, Sony has already gotten paid for them.

Sony Needs a price drop on the PSP, but with this holday season seeing the release of Final fantasy 3 and Pokemon Rangers, against GTA, we'll have to see, but trends favor the DS.

Yeah..Nintendo fanboys are pretty defensive. But then again, check the URL. "Fanboy". I laugh at all of you.

"I've repeatedly told you what the relevance of my post was: I spoke to the content and tone of the blog, "

For the last and final time, as this is the last time I'll argue with you, your post did not even mention the article until the third paragraph. I don't see you questioning the motive or the tone. You don't even mention the dang thing.


"you proceeded to go after ME and not my argument "

What argument? You basically threw a fit!


"that I was a troll, implying it's all due to me preferring the PSP, citing my participation at PSP Fanboy, ANYTHING that might disqualify me having any opinion."

You have an opinion, what I argued for was that this wasn't the place to spout it out, your rant was not relevant to the entry. I cited PSP fanboy because you looked like a fanboy throwing a fit!


"Your strawmen went up and down like targets at a carnival shooting contest. "

You have some ego. Straw men? lol


"And no, it's NOT as common to see such things in the Sony forums, which is my point."

You've *_GOT_* to be kidding me...


"Disagree with the points I made, but you can stop with this diversionary idea that it somehow had nothing to do with Alisha's blog, because it did. I did write it, after all."

It's not a divisionary fit; it's been my main point the whole time! Your rant does NOT have to do with Sony not cutting the price of the PSP. If you can read those two paragraphs and honestly tell me that it does, then my goodness.


And that's a wrap, I really can't stand this anymore. People call DS fans defensive, but I think we've seen enough for this entry to say otherwise. See you round pixelator. Just remember, deep breaths. And watch out for us "rabid fanboys". lol


With all due respect,
Fox

Fox, you're nothing more than the average defensive DS Fanboy. I see it now, and I've wasted untold minutes responding to what I initially took for an honest misunderstanding.

Did Alisha's blog say only that Sony's Koller denounced plans to drop the PSP price? No. Where is it written that people must only respond to that one point, and not the rest? The MP3 comment, the citing of the sales figures yet again, etc.

From what I'm seeing, both sides of this nonsense are the hugest "defensive" (..this word..) fanboy tools on these blogs. To the point where each go to the other site simply to spark debate and attack each other. I see no problem with someone preferring another system, but some of you really take it to the heart.
But you guys actually have both systems, prefer ____, and still feel very offended when people rag on _____. Fair enough, but take that shit to Joystiq. You do realize these are...toys, right?

My, one little off the cuff comment seems to have spawned quite the debate... and not really about the issue at hand, but really, whether or not I hate the PSP and whether or not I'm trying to spawn a fanboy war.

Well. Let me clarify for clarification's sake.

I owned a PSP. Note the past tense (though I've been considering getting another one, which I'll get to soon). I loved it at first... played Lumines until I was certain my fingers would fall off and my eyeballs bleed. Unfortunately, I couldn't find much else to interest me on the system, and my friends who had one all seemed to be using it for other purposes. Since I'm not about to buy movies I already own again on UMDs, I wasn't too interested in that aspect, and I have an iPod... so what was I to do with this beautiful, shiny handheld? I played a few more games, but for a long time, there was a very lackluster lineup of games and I turned to the DS more and more until finally selling my PSP. Now that there are some more games for it that interest me, I may get another one.

So there you go. I love Nintendo, but certainly not to the exclusion of any other systems. However, as I write for DS Fanboy -- you did notice the title, right? -- poking fun at the competition is part of the gig. It doesn't matter who it is or what it is. I had the same disparaging tone when considering Apple's foray into gaming. Why? Because I do think the DS is the best handheld and best format for gaming on the go. Nintendo is innovating the game market. Nintendo is moving things in new directions. I LOVE the stylus -- I think it makes so much sense and it makes games more fun. And I appreciate what Nintendo is doing, business-wise.

Sony, unfortunately, makes it easy to poke fun at them. They need to realize that they have a different market. All handheld gamers are not cut from the same cloth, but they do have one thing in common (and it's the same thing that all system owners want): they want games made for their system. The PSP, since it has controls that are pretty similar to the PS2, has a whole lot of ports and not a lot of games that seem to be designed uniquely for that system. The DS almost requires games be designed for it, since it is so different... and I think that makes them better, overall. Now, I'm generalizing here, obviously, but I'm also getting off track.

Sony didn't need a new color with the PSP. They needed to create some incentive for people who already didn't own one to buy it -- and the biggest obstacle is price. Many people anticipated a price drop and it's not coming. That's what this is about. And not only will that hurt the PSP, but as was discussed earlier, that reduces the chance of serious competition between the systems (since their prices are so vastly different) during the holidays and that hurts the market as a whole.

And there are a lot of handheld gamers -- the sort of people who commute and so have their handhelds all the time -- who continue to use their PSPs as little more than a glorified media player. We didn't create that truth. Sony did. Will we talk about it? Damn yeah we will! Should we ignore it so some fanboy doesn't get upset and say we're downing the PSP? Sorry, but it's a part of the market and the industry. Why should we ignore it so as to avoid some fanboy war? If you guys argue, that's your choice. Nowhere did I force anyone to get into some big debate. Rather, I made a crack about a fact of the market, and perhaps you didn't like my tone, but I'm sure there's lots of things that get posted on the intarweb that aren't always to everyone's liking. Them's the breaks.

We bring you facts and news, and we put a wry, tongue in cheek spin on a lot of things. That's just our tone. It's not new. It's not even different. I'm not really sure why my femaleness came into the discussion, but it shouldn't really have a bearing on this. I didn't make the joke because I have boobs. I made the joke because it's been something of a hard truth. It looks like Sony is going to break out of that, but they still have a hard road in many markets. Japan is one of those, and they're one market for which we get mostly accurate numbers on a regular basis.

As for debate... really, go for it. Have fun with it. There's a lot to discuss when it comes to the market. It doesn't have to be an us against them when it comes to US, the gamers. In the market, it often is, and that spurs competition. But out here, we can hold hands and sing campfire songs or not. It doesn't really matter. But let's not blow things out of proportion, either.

I promise I don't hate the PSP, or PSP fans, or really, anything else. Except mushrooms. They're just gross. But I am going to crack jokes, at everyone's expense (even, at times, my own), and if you don't like that mixed in with your news, may I recommend CNN.com over a news blog of any stripe?

Thanks for reading.

Wow. This thread really needs to die. :( One mention of the opposite handheld or console on a blog, all hell breaks loose.

Alisha, you think Nintendo is the cat's meow in terms of their business model - that they're taking gaming in 'new directions' with technology that's decades old... That's fine, but some of us prefer not to have to wade through the 'witty sniping' you steep your articles with. It's fanboyish and immature.

I've developed games for the Gameboy and SNES in the past. Nintendo's no angel in terms of their biz practices, believe me.

You go ahead and tout unsupported 'facts' like how PSP gamers are relegated to music and video because the games aren't compelling... Those of us who know better will continue to say otherwise.