PSP Slim sells 1 million in Japan

by Justin McElroy { Nov 26th 2007 at 11:30AM }

Wonder why you see so many iterations on portable hardware instead of actual iterations? Here's your answer: Japanese people love them. If you need proof, check out this new release from Sony that says that the new PSP Slim (our name, not theirs) managed to sell 1 million units in two months in Japan. The kicker? That's two weeks quicker that the PSP reached the same milestone there.

Sure, there are other factors you could chalk it up to (a lower price point leaps to mind) but you still have to admit it: A million people rushing to buy a console that's been on the market for nearly three years is pretty darn impressive.

[Via PSPF]

Tags: japan, PSP, psp-2000, psp-slim, pspslim

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 26th 2007 11:32AM

Its official: All nintendo needs to do to get Wii flying off the shelves in the hundreds of thousands again is launch one with more flash memory and/or a DVD player.

Marginal Iterations FTW!

megaStryke @ Nov 26th 2007 11:38AM

Flash memory? DVD drive? Are you on crack? All they need to do is paint a 1-Up Mushroom on the side and call it a "special edition".

Fernando Rocker @ Nov 26th 2007 11:39AM

I prefer the red mushroom instead of the green mushroom...

In fact... it would be nice =)

plyx @ Nov 26th 2007 12:03PM

I think you guys meant to post here:
http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/

or possibly:
http://www.dsfanboy.com/

Chris @ Nov 26th 2007 12:30PM

DVD drive whats the point ? I'm sure you already own a DVD player even if its inside your pc/360/ps3, £180 is fine and I (or enyone else) wants to pay extra for something which they already have 2 of.

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Nov 26th 2007 12:34PM

Fernando,

Can you be nice and reasonable like that all the time? That would be great.

@Plyx
C'mon man, it was on topic. Y'know, the fact that small tweaks sell more than new products? Crap like your statement is where other trolls get their mojo from.

Hell, I wager if you sold a FF branded PS3 then people that already own the damn black monolith would rush out and get it. To a smaller degree, it may even work here. How many people bought the Halo 360 and already had an elite/premium?

Fernando Rocker @ Nov 26th 2007 12:37PM

borland

I will try, really... I don't want to finish like name123 or like Joe.

gonk @ Nov 26th 2007 12:51PM

the wii already is flying off the shelves in the hundreds of thousands

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Nov 26th 2007 12:54PM

@Fernando

No worries, but outside of a PS3 thread you don't seem like such a bad guy. No expects a carebear forum, but you need not whip out the smack-talk cannon every time.

Still, I'm thread jacking myself so....

I like my PSP slim, but then it's my first PSP purchase. I hope any future updates are a little more substantial.

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Nov 26th 2007 12:56PM

@gonk

In most of the world the Wii is flying off the shelves, but not in Japan. But I think that is due more to the popularity of handhelds than Sony dominance: Witness the DS/PSP sales.

gonk @ Nov 26th 2007 12:59PM

could be. they also might still be diverting some supplies, but I dunno. you'd have to check stores to see if they have wiis just sitting around

i don't care myself though, i barely ever play my on my roommate's

billzilla @ Nov 26th 2007 1:24PM

Mention any boon for the PSP and all people can talk about are the Wii and DS.

In reality, it was the perfect upgrade for me after almost 3 years with my imported JP PSP-1000. It served reliably, but the 'marginal improvements' like video output, lighter weight, slimmer form and faster load times (etc) made the choice for me a no-brainer.

The $169.99 price has been around a while, so you can't chalk the boost up to that, alone.

FOXHOUND @ Nov 26th 2007 11:33AM

I wish we(North Americans)would get the multiple color selections of consoles & handhelds too... A black Nintendo Wii would be nice. And the grey/silver PSP slim doesn't look bad either.

Simstim @ Nov 26th 2007 11:44AM

Go to: www.colorwarepc.com you can customize the color of your Wii but its expensive. I didn't see any handheld services though

Ken Seang @ Nov 26th 2007 11:49AM

Wow this went off topic real quick. But yea if they made the Wii any smaller it would sell even faster!

Brello @ Nov 26th 2007 11:55AM

Happy with silver, myself. No new game releases last week and none this week either, though. So it goes.

Mr Khan @ Nov 26th 2007 12:16PM

It's the DS Lite phenomenon redux, but with 2 differences

1. It isn't sparking 100k a week sales
2. It has more tangible upgrades than just a different look

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 26th 2007 1:27PM

The DSLite redesign was a massive improvement over the phat, and it was more than just "looks". The dimmest screen setting on the lights was the brightest the phats got. Also the battery life is much longer, and the D-pad doesn't suck nearly so badly.

PSP's redesign is what, exactly? Weight? Did they do anything else (seriously, don't know)?

Mr Khan @ Nov 26th 2007 1:45PM

More usable RAM

arrrgh @ Nov 26th 2007 2:11PM

nonono...the PSP redesign made it slimmer too (by like .04%)

my friends and i were looking at them and we couldnt tell, at first glance, the diff between the slim and my buddy's original ;)

Blast Processing Megadrive @ Nov 26th 2007 12:28PM

I'd love to get me a Felicia Blue PSP one of these days.

Adv2k1 @ Nov 26th 2007 12:38PM

on topic this is typical for Japanese market. people waited in lines for hours for a PINK DS LITE. The had pictures of people playing with White DS lite, as they waited to buy Pink one. WHy do you need more than one of the same exact console? because it goes well with your hair for that day...

ugh fucken Japanese live in a totally different world than us. The PSP 2000 was barely a upgrade, it doesn't justify buying it.

Deuz Augustine @ Nov 26th 2007 1:02PM

Yes, the Japanese are very unique in that they are the only race of people who are interested in buying fashionable things.

gonk @ Nov 26th 2007 1:04PM

they're like women!

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Nov 26th 2007 1:05PM

"The PSP 2000 was barely a upgrade, it doesn't justify buying it."

Unless it is your first PSP purchase. And while I hate the idea, a redesign is as good as a new product launch if you can generate interest. The slim's new features aren't so important as the fact that the relaunch was timed with several very good games.

Older owners dusted theirs off and new ones were roped in. Moreover, many are getting hooked by the "poor man's video iPod" aspect of the PSP. I don't think the PSP will ever match DS sales, but it is carving its own market out now worldwide.

Zoesch @ Nov 26th 2007 2:46PM

I had a launch PSP which served me very well but was starting to give up on the analog stick, so after playing with a friend's slim I decided to get one instead of repairing my old PSP. The difference in weight and size might not be apparent when you look at the thing, but when you hold it it's night and day (I never found the original PSP uncomfortable but this is much better, at least I noticed I stopped slouching because my hands would invariably drop while playing with it)

Rob Accomando @ Nov 26th 2007 1:03PM

I bought one and sold my fat one for more $ because it had custom fw. Did it mainly for the TV output.

Adv2k1 @ Nov 26th 2007 1:37PM

i should of said justify 're-buy' it. oh well to late for that.

you know what will be shameful if that stupid nintendogs version of ds lite sold a few million. Seriously the game has been out forever and why would anyone need that now? I mean come on, I doubt that game has more than 1 month lifespan, after that its boring and tedious. The kids are probably bored of that too.

however knowing japanese 4 million will buy it, and only play nintendogs on that. And own a ds lite with zelda and only play zelda on that, and so forth. WHy? Because they are stupid

ikiryou @ Nov 26th 2007 2:28PM

Wow. Two negative comments in the same column attacking Japanese people for their spending habits? Do I sense *jealousy* in your grammatically-incorrect and totally ignorant comments? Yes I do.

You officially win the Joystiq Imbecile With The Smallest Prick Evar Award.