PSP vs DS game price showdown, it's a draw

by Christopher Grant { Apr 9th 2007 at 2:36PM }

Don't have a PSP but that recent $30 price cut just put it within your financial grasp? Then we'll not only advise that you look for additional employment, but we'll direct you towards this handy article at Curmudgeon Gamer that addresses some of the tired, specious arguments you may have seen propagated on this here internet. Namely, that the PSP has no games and, what games it does have, require a second mortgage to finance.

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 ... ~~or make us a more attractive 425 pixel wide chart!~~ Update: Thanks for the chart, Steve!

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Tags: charts, prices, retail

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ken @ Apr 9th 2007 2:46PM

I'm going to stay out of this flame war that is about to ensue, but I want to say this....

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.

shase @ Apr 9th 2007 2:47PM

Fun is keyword... I love Gitaroo man lives!... but its 40$ for a pretty short 1st player. But its still a lot of fun with another player.

Yoshi Likes Boys @ Apr 9th 2007 2:50PM

Truly Vlad-level numerical analysis. Bravo.

Casey Weston @ Apr 9th 2007 2:53PM

Do those numbers take into account that more PSP games will likely be in discount bins or at discounted prices than DS games?

Flit @ Apr 9th 2007 2:55PM

I like the ds better. It's more of a "pick up and play for 4 minutes" system. Most of the games i've played on the psp have been intensive, 4 minutes to boot games.

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.

Mr Khan @ Apr 9th 2007 2:56PM

@ 3: lol

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

Bluebreaker @ Apr 9th 2007 3:00PM

Our family is DS crazy and my mother said her pink DS was the BEST, BEST present I EVER bought for her.
Neither of us have stop playing with them in the half year since we bought it.

Jack of No Trades @ Apr 9th 2007 3:18PM

I will pick up a DS when there is more than just cooking games and mario on it.

I guess will never own one then..

Ken @ Apr 9th 2007 3:22PM

I honestly own about 30 DS games, Jack, and I don't own one "cooking" game, and only three Mario games. (Mario 64-DS, Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time, and New Super Mario Bros.)

:) The rest of the games still hold my attention longer than any PSP game I own (which is about 4).

Leshrac @ Apr 9th 2007 3:26PM

I haven't done a real in-depth analysis of this yet, but it sort of seems like an obvious point is being left out here...

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

Bluebreaker @ Apr 9th 2007 3:30PM

Some of the DS games are at the $39 mark (like Final Fantasy III and Mario Kart DS)

Jack of No Trades @ Apr 9th 2007 3:30PM

Ken

Im just being a smart ass to all the casual gamers out there.

Gameboy rules them all.

Dutton @ Apr 9th 2007 3:46PM

One very important thing being left out in this story. EB and Gamestop, where this article samples prices, is notorious for artificially jacking up the price of $30 DS games to $35.00. Most of those DS Games can be found at major retailers for $30 not $35. EB and Gamestop have regularly charge $5 over MSRP for DS games.

ANt @ Apr 9th 2007 3:49PM

My PSP is a paperweight.....no interest in the DS

Aex @ Apr 9th 2007 3:50PM

Last time I went out looking at DS Games, all the ones I wanted were $35 ... So I didn't feel like it was a big difference paying $40 for the PSP games. DS games used to be $30, but most of the new ones are starting out at $35. I mean hell... NSMB is $35...

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

NeverSage @ Apr 9th 2007 3:57PM

I prefer quickie games for my handheld systems. $40 is just way too much for a game like Loco Roco. Katamari Damacy was $20 new when it came out for the PS2. Why is this twice as much? Unfortunately they got my money since I ended up buying it anyway... the game rocks.

Silver R. Wolfe @ Apr 9th 2007 3:57PM

I enjoy my PSP far more than my DS and greatly prefer the price point of most PSP games to most DS games. I feel I'm getting more bang for my buck and overall, I've been enjoying them much more too.

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.

sheppy @ Apr 9th 2007 3:58PM

"EB and Gamestop have regularly charge $5 over MSRP for DS games."

Umm, look up the MSRP on those games again...

Aex @ Apr 9th 2007 3:58PM

@NeverSage

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.

Ryuukuro @ Apr 9th 2007 3:58PM

I still say Sony didn't drop the price enough BUT I've seen an uptick of people wanting PSPs. That said, all of them didn't know about the price drop until I mentioned it.

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.

shase @ Apr 9th 2007 4:00PM

There are still PSP games for 50$. DJ Max Portable 2 (an awesome game) is 50$.

Aex @ Apr 9th 2007 4:02PM

@shase

I don't think import games were counted in this one ;)

Kizzle @ Apr 9th 2007 4:10PM

Great that the PSP has almost as many games coming. Not great that the quality level will be substantially lower. Numbers alone don't tell the story.

How the hell is $40 amazingly awesome compared to $50? When your competition offers games at $25-$35, it's not good enough.

_.Frylock._ @ Apr 9th 2007 4:22PM

lol, if people saw the really good games for psp, like ace combat, syphon filter, battlefront 2, they'd realize that the ds is for kids. 3.03 OEA makes mincemeat of anything that the ds has. i have six gigs of enjoyment at my disposal, stick with your mario kart and metroid scrubs, lol

Meloche @ Apr 9th 2007 4:22PM

I wish some DS games were a bit cheaper. FFIII is 50 bucks here in Canada, which is only 10$ cheaper than a Wii game.... x_X

sheppy @ Apr 9th 2007 4:24PM

"There are still PSP games for 50$. DJ Max Portable 2 (an awesome game) is 50$. "

Ultimate Jump Superstars for DS is $50... imports don't count in the equation. Unless you want to argue PS2 games are $64.90?

Rubang B @ Apr 9th 2007 5:43PM

@Bluebreaker, where is Mario Kart DS $40? I got it for $35 the day it came out and I highly doubt they raised the price a year later. FF III is the only $40 DS game I've ever seen, and I got it for $24 at Target during their sale 2 weeks back.

@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.

Extinction @ Apr 9th 2007 5:59PM

"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.

Peter S. @ Apr 9th 2007 6:00PM

Some DS games are MSRP 30 USD, but EB/GS jack up the price by 5...
$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

AssemblyLineHuman @ Apr 9th 2007 6:14PM

"...the median price for each system is a common $29.99."

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.

Brian the Watcher @ Apr 9th 2007 6:16PM

What everyone needs to understand is that the DS and PSP are going after different markets and offer much more different unique gameplay. I am 30 years old and I seriouslly did my homework before I decided what I wanted. For me the PSP was a better decision because of the WIFI, MP3, movie playback, expandable memory (I have 4 full length films on my memory card - 4 gigs - tons of pictures and like 6 game demos) plus all the games I own are kick azz for me and geared towards a certain crowd. Anyone who says the PSP has no games is on crack...I personally own Project8, Ace Combat, Afterburner, Metal Gear, Syphon Filter, Medal of Honor, Madden 07, NBA Street, Street Fighter, Tekken, Ratchet&Clank, Daxter and a couple more! All these games rock not to mention the 6 UMD movies I also own! Either way the DS is a nice machine but it was not for me!

jp @ Apr 9th 2007 6:53PM

psp imo is better
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

NeverSage @ Apr 9th 2007 7:01PM

@Aex

:), 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.

rokobungi @ Apr 9th 2007 7:12PM

so the real reason there's no $50 PSP games...
COMPETITION! if the DS wasn't leading right now you can bet that all those $39.95 games would be $10 more

Pawsie @ Apr 9th 2007 7:25PM

exactly.. how many 40 dollar DS games are there?

floetry @ Apr 10th 2007 8:23AM

i own a psp and i have to say psp games are better to me but thats my opinion. ds games r kiddish to me

Taz @ Apr 10th 2007 3:44PM

I have the PSP & DS Lite. I have way more fun
on my DS Lite than I do on my PSP.

Own 25 DS games vs 6 PSP games.

NekoMode @ Apr 10th 2007 11:35PM

Dunno about you buy I always thought paying $40 for a PS1 port was a bit pricey. $30 seems more reasonable considering there is very little dev cost in porting a game you made 10 years ago.

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.

matt a @ Nov 21st 2007 11:25AM

Over all I'm more towards the ds. The games are cheap although I get them for free and the game play is just a lot more fun.. I got the psp for lumenes or however you spell it and then traxxpad came out.. That's about the only games I like out of the 15 I bought (I sold the rest). If my girlfirend wasn't in the picture and I didn't like making beats so much I would sell my psp in a heartbeat.