Some observations: the $50 PSP game is gone (the vaporous Oblivion for PSP notwithstanding), replaced by the much more amenable $40 game; EB Games lists 102 new games for the DS and 94 for the PSP; the average cost of a game on each platform is only off by $2.54; and the median price for each system is a common $29.99. With Sony telling teens to "get their own," convincing the chronically underemployed that PSP games are affordable is more important than ever.
The data is available on Curmudgeon Gamer in a variety of formats if anyone cares to remix it ...
[Via PSP Fanboy]
(Page 1) Reader Comments
It's not about cost, but it's about how much fun I get for my dollar. Sure paying $40 is a LOT better than $50, but if I personally don't get any enjoyment out of the game, then it's not worth $40 or even $30.
Same could be said about the DS, but I seem to have much more fun with my DS. But I'm glad Sony got smart and brought the price down slightly.
Kudos to them.
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Also, versitility. I can play a touch intensive game like Kirby Rainbow (or whatever it's called), or then go to Castlevania Portrait of ruin, and not have a single touch command.
If i'm gonna play my psp, i usually end up playing my ps2.
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But, yes, it's all about getting your money's worth, i think the sliding scale for both PSP and DS usually fits in with the amount of gameplay you get
$50 games would certainly be worth it for PSP, considering that UMD's have more storage capacity than GameCube and Dreamcast discs, but again, its about how much of that 1.8 gigs they actually use
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Neither of us have stop playing with them in the half year since we bought it.
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I guess will never own one then..
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:) The rest of the games still hold my attention longer than any PSP game I own (which is about 4).
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From the chart, it appears most DS games will either be $20 or $30, whereas most PSP games will be $30 or $40. I realize there are some differences, but it looks like there are about as many $20 PSP games as there are $35 DS games, so it's almost a wash on this count.
In any case, is it just me, or does this analysis seem to suggest that you'll probably be paying $10 more for a PSP game than a DS one, at least for games that people would actually buy (or that I'd actually buy anyway)?
-Leshrac
http://alinktothefuture.com
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Im just being a smart ass to all the casual gamers out there.
Gameboy rules them all.
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To the point, the price difference isn't as big as a deal as it used to be, when psp games were $50 and DS games were $30. Now Sony realized $50 was too much and Nintendo realized they could gouge you more :) Win-Win
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The thing I DO like about PSP games is that they all eventually end up at discount prices or in the Greatest Hits price level, making them very affordable.
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Umm, look up the MSRP on those games again...
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Unfortunately, because of people like you, they have decided to make a second Loco Roco game. Paying for games has such an unfortunate outcome :( /comfort Neversage.
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And both systems need better game selection.
DS games are fun but are often too kiddy (hate that word) or quirky for the I'm-Mr-Macho-Gamer crowd.
PSP games are too much like PS1/PS2 standards and aren't novel enough. People look at them and shrug. Also, a lot of people ask about movies and are disappointed to find that they aren't being made anymore.
There's nothing on PSP to interest me yet. I'm a little disappointed with the offerings on the DS (and friend codes are an abomination) but I had to get New Super Mario Bros. and I like that there are all sorts of oddball games that aren't on other systems to try so I'm happy with it.
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I don't think import games were counted in this one ;)
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How the hell is $40 amazingly awesome compared to $50? When your competition offers games at $25-$35, it's not good enough.
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Ultimate Jump Superstars for DS is $50... imports don't count in the equation. Unless you want to argue PS2 games are $64.90?
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@Jack of No Trades, according to Metacritic, Cooking Mama is only one game out of 222 DS games. Mario's name is only in 6 of the 222 games, and they're all very very different.
Mario Kart DS (racing)
New Super Mario Bros. (2-D platformer)
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (RPG)
Super Mario 64 DS (3-D platformer)
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (2-D puzzle platformer)
Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (basketball, made by Square Enix)
So by your No Cooking No Mario standards, 96.85% of the versatile DS library would suit you just fine. Have a nice day troll.
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I don't. Games like that aren't worth paying for.
So now PSP games not only cost the same as DS games, they have more gameplay, and better quality audio and visuals.
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$35 http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=180220
$30 (I know it says 25, but the game is still 30 in most retail stores. The original MSRP is listed as 30 as well.)
http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-NTRPAOSE-Elite-Beat-Agents/dp/B000HE9LL8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-2659142-7738250?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1176155717&sr=8-1
However, some games like Pokemon D/P, Mario Kart DS, and New Super Mario Brothers are HIGHLY desired and sure-fire sellers that Nintendo charges an extra $5 over the median DS game pricing. So some games are indeed $35.
http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-NTR-P-A2DE-Super/dp/B000ERVMI8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-2659142-7738250?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1176155739&sr=8-1
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With only six different prices, I don't think the median is really that important. Aside from that, I'm not really surprised. I never really noticed a massive price difference between PSP and DS games.
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ds get gba games tht look a lil better and have some touchscreen
innovative my ass very very few titles are innovative
nsmb was so innovative u touch the power ups to use it/ sarcasm
and how are ds games charged so much when they look so horrible and dont cost as much as psp games to make
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:), I didn't know about that new Loco Roco game. Sweet. And, honestly, I didn't buy it. I refused. But my girlfriend got it for me anyway. It's hard to stick to your ideals when your being undermined like that.
" 'I prefer quickie games for my handheld systems'
I don't. Games like that aren't worth paying for.
So now PSP games not only cost the same as DS games, they have more gameplay, and better quality audio and visuals."
Hey, I respect that opinion. I can see where people actually just want a portable playstation. But for me, I like games that I can play for 5 minutes at a time when I'm on the train or something. I'm not going to play metal gear for hours when I can play it on a TV that's 10x the size of the PSP screen. I guess I'm just showing my GameBoy roots.
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COMPETITION! if the DS wasn't leading right now you can bet that all those $39.95 games would be $10 more
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on my DS Lite than I do on my PSP.
Own 25 DS games vs 6 PSP games.
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So tack Final Fantasy Tactics PSP & Disgaea PSP to to few PSP games I look forward to. When you guys shape up and give Legend of Dragoon and other impossible to find PS1 ports give me a call 'cause it seems my entire PSP collection are ports.
DS on the other hand mostly original games. Its not weather it is a port or not $20 or $40 I would gladly buy a game twice over if it was good enough. Quality of games that is key.
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