PSP is 'gateway drug' to other Sony hardware

by Ludwig Kietzmann { May 23rd 2008 at 5:55PM }

"For us, the PSP is a very high growth, high margin business and something that is a very good product for us," said SCEA senior marketing manager, John Koller, speaking at today's 6th annual Wedbush Morgan Securities Management Access Conference in New York City. As conveyed by GamesIndustry.Biz, Koller's message was all about the fortunes of the PlayStation Portable, set loose in a world where handheld gaming has grown beyond its smaller screen size, both commercially and socially.

"In the past, it was a small screen experience. It was something that was very difficult to have from a social perspective," Koller explained. "Those things have changed." And with change comes, well, a lot more change. The kind that rattles in your pocket. Says Koller: "For us, the PSP is a very high growth, high margin business and something that is a very good product for us." He allegedly likened it to a "gateway drug," with first-time gamers (users?) eventually following their noses to Sony's PlayStation 3. The images there are like, so vivid, man.

Tags: John-Koller, PS3, PSP, SCEA, Sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

BananaBoat @ May 23rd 2008 6:03PM

My PSP is a gateway to dust.

Except for the occasional import game, and God of War, my PSP hasn't gotten any use. Disappointing really.

Bloo @ May 23rd 2008 7:08PM

I bought my first PSP the day it came out, used it for a couple weeks, sold it that Christmas.

Got my 2nd PSP free from my Sony card. It sat brand new in the box until the slim came out at which point I sold it.

Right before Gof of War came out I got a slim. I used it for a few days and haven't touched it since.

One day...

Ninjakamster (XBL: RNK2K) @ May 23rd 2008 8:50PM

I've enjoyed using my previous fat and now slim PSP. I don't use my slim anymore because I have a much more expensive laptop and just feel drawn into using that more right now. : )

Lord Bowser @ May 24th 2008 6:11AM

Your life is a gateway drug to heroin.

Geoffrey @ May 23rd 2008 6:12PM

I have a PSP, and it's meh at best. I mean, I do use it and enjoy it, but it hasn't done a thing to make me want a PS3. Then again, that could be that of Gamespot's top 10 games for the PS3, I can get 9 of them on my 360.

Sora267 @ May 23rd 2008 9:08PM

Did you say Gamespot?

It's a witch! BURN IT!!!

Sora267 @ May 23rd 2008 9:08PM

By "it", I meant "he", by which I meant Geoffrey.

SoulBlade @ May 23rd 2008 6:14PM

I love the PSP - custom FW makes it totally worth it. Whether I consider it a gateway is another story.

Cesaria (MKW:2621-2994-1376) @ May 23rd 2008 6:14PM

This isn't fanboyism here, which I'm sure it'll be attributed to, but there isn't a whole lot of 'must buys' on the PSP. That makes no sense, considering how long it's been out.

Kodros @ May 23rd 2008 6:24PM

When has there ever been a "must buy" on a handheld?

Mr Khan @ May 23rd 2008 6:27PM

Pokemon

Jhongerkong @ May 23rd 2008 6:40PM

Bangai-freaking-O

Yes, its a must buy

BPM [MKWii: 2578 3585 8392] @ May 23rd 2008 6:47PM

All of the Ace Attorney games.
Advance Wars.
Meteos.
Lumines.
The Megaman ZX series on DS, and the PSP Megaman remakes.
MGS Portable Ops.
Loco Roco.
Patapon.

I'd go on, but then I realized how much I hate lists.

Haggard @ May 23rd 2008 7:53PM

GTA's sort of are.. I mean, they're not perfect, but they're still damn good - and they're GTA.. on a handheld.

chispito @ May 23rd 2008 8:57PM

Well if you don't like handhelds then of course none of the titles will be must-buys. Handhelds aren't right for everyone.

For me, the NDS is my favorite console of all time, based largely on the fantastic games available for it.

voodoo_craig @ May 23rd 2008 6:18PM

Gateway to hand cramp for me.

Chris @ May 23rd 2008 6:18PM

The only reason I chose a ps3 over a 360 (after I purchased my Wii) was because of Bluray. I'd say Bluray is FAR more of a "gateway drug" than the PSP- I am in no way interested in purchasing a PSP. Seems to me the only real reason people still buy it is for the homebrew.

Akamaru @ May 23rd 2008 6:18PM

I use my PSP almost every day. Although it's mostly for web surfing and watching anime and movies when in bed or on the go. I've bought a few games but I do mostly all of my gaming on the PS3. I could see the PSP being an awesome system for someone who can't afford a HDTV/PS3 or a kid who doesn't have his own TV to hook up a system to.

BPM [MKWii: 2578 3585 8392] @ May 23rd 2008 6:19PM

I love my PSP, but it doesn't make me want a PS3.

Full backwards compatability and a $300 price tag will make me want a PS3.

Kristof @ May 23rd 2008 6:24PM

Good luck with that backwards compatibility. I'm pretty sure Sony is into looking forward and selling games for THIS generation.

Arttemis @ May 23rd 2008 6:35PM

But they sure love to sell their PS2s. They're *definitely* focusing on "THIS" generation....

BPM [MKWii: 2578 3585 8392] @ May 23rd 2008 6:45PM

You can look forward without forgetting the past. Just because new games come out doesn't stop old games from being fun.

glutto @ May 23rd 2008 6:22PM

I also enjoy my PSP. There are a (very) small handful of PSP games which I enjoy, plus custom firmware greatly expands it.

I have no interest in PS3 unless BPM's suggestions are implemented.

Gehodra @ May 23rd 2008 6:23PM

Speaking of drugs...

*rummages around*

DangerMouse @ May 23rd 2008 6:25PM

Definitely my favorite MP3 player.

bigd7387 @ May 23rd 2008 6:28PM

Sorry but I owned 2 of them and everytime I told myself, there will be a game I like, then I sold it. I guess it's not my drug but the DS now that's a drug. DSPhat and now the DSlite.

Noshino @ May 23rd 2008 8:51PM

in my case, the DS was addicting for about a month because of EBA, but once I had already gotten S on all the songs, well, then it was Star Fox Command, fun for a bit, but then I realized that not there aren't many people online and so no true multiplayer battles could be played...so I gave up on it, the only playtime it gets now is Fire Emblem Rekka no Ken...

chispito @ May 23rd 2008 9:05PM

Nosh- Like any system, finding a friend to play with increases the fun factor exponentially (who also has to have the system and for the best experience, also the game*). Also, there have been some remarkable DS games since the time of EBA. What genres do you like? I've blown a fair wad of cash on DS games and I could recommend a few personal favorites.

*a few games, like Geometry Wars, have incredibly generous download play.

Noshino @ May 23rd 2008 9:34PM

Well, any game in general, specially since I was so in love with my GBA I would be looking for...

Puzzle/exploration ala Metroid Fusion (btw, no sidescrolling Metroid for the DS? seriously wtf)

SRPG such as Fire Emblem or Advance Wars (I wasn't very fond of AW:DS, I don't know why), challenging ones that is, ala before Sacred Stones...

and "music" games because EBA...are there any other games that REALLY take advantage of the touchable screen?

The other genres I would normally get for PSP, Twisted Metal, THUG2 Remix, GoW, Riiiiiiidge Racccceeeerr, Syphon Filter, and such.

chispito @ May 23rd 2008 10:35PM

You're right about Metroid. The NDS needs a good old fashioned 2D Metroid like the desert needs the rain. There are two well received Castlevania entries for the DS already, with another on the way. AW:DoR is pretty fun, though I didn't play DS so I can't say how it's different.

If you can handle a risky SRPG-type experience, Shiren might fit the bill. I absolutely love it, though you have to learn to roll with the punches. It's probably due for a price drop any week now, too.

The World Ends With You has been getting rave reviews for a few weeks now, though I'm stuck early on. Probably more of a unique ARPG though.

Other games I love: Geometry Wars; Contra 4; Markokart DS; New SMB; Zelda PH... and some others.

Mr Khan @ May 23rd 2008 6:30PM

I don't know, it really seems to me that PSP has been stagnating in North America at least since the start of 2007. None of my gamer friends really use theirs outside of one who plays a homebrew Smash Bros on his

The region where it seems to be thriving, really, is Japan. PSP seems to be taking the lion's share of the jrpg's that PS2 used to get, with DS and Wii also taking a good, but less significant chunk each

Fernando Rocker @ May 23rd 2008 7:07PM

Actually, is the DS the system that is receiving almost all the JRPG's... a lot more than the PSP.

tactics @ May 23rd 2008 7:12PM

two words for you my friend.

ETRIAN ODYSSEY.

get this game NOW.

you too fernando rocker.

-"superfan" tactics.

Fernando Rocker @ May 23rd 2008 7:13PM

A lot of Square games (remakes and new IP's), Atlus, Mistwalker... 5 upcoming gmes from the Disgae devs... even Valkirye and Tales series...

And the 3 Dragon Quest games announced this week (besides DQ9)

Just compare:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/ds/cat_48.html

http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/cat_48.html

Maverick Saturn @ May 23rd 2008 7:21PM

So far it looks as if the portable that has the most thrilling RPGS wins in Japan, right now Monster Hunter is enough to keep the Japanese happy, Capcom is making sure of it, and as long as the fans cry out, they will keep adding more and more. Capcom isn't stupid.

Not even Final Fantasy remakes etc can come near to a good old epic battle against a Rathalos :)

MH2 ftw!! m
^^

BPM [MKWii: 2578 3585 8392] @ May 23rd 2008 7:25PM

Monster Hunter is the kind of game that will only sell well in Japan, and not so well elsewhere.

Why? I can't say for certain. But I think here in America we prefer long-distance multiplayer (online), whereas meeting up with friends to play is more popular in Japan.
(MH Freedom lacks online multiplayer, just local multiplayer; online is only for content downloads)

Maverick Saturn @ May 23rd 2008 7:30PM

That an the fact that ya'll are cheapskates ¬_¬ Spend more time downloading then buying.

MH2 could only sell 2 mill plus in Japan because they actually BUY the game rather then download. Thus Capcom is spurred to make more games for them, and thus the reason they take ages to come out anywhere else, we get shafted cos we are just not important enough, and thats cos we download and hack.

Besides that, Americans won't buy a game like Monster Hunter on as large a scale as Japan because, like you say, you don't do group meetings, and Capcom need to have an online mode like WoW sort of thing.

If that were added, there would be no RPG on either DS or PSP that could surpass it.

Fernando Rocker @ May 23rd 2008 8:27PM

tacics

I have that game... you may be interested in this:

http://gonintendo.com/?p=44087

=p

Noshino @ May 23rd 2008 8:54PM

Fernando,

if what you were trying to prove that the DS has more RPGs then the PSP, then that list is unfair...Pokemon is on it....

glutto @ May 24th 2008 1:57AM

MH is a great series. North Americans just don't get it. I suppose they expect to have auto-aim, auto-attack, auto-macros, auto-heal, auto-combine, auto-win, etc, etc.

Spoiled brats.

Sadly I've only managed to get one person I know addicted to it. The rest all failed, even after they tried to please me. Failed....

Residentevil72501 @ May 23rd 2008 6:39PM

My PSP is still sitting on a store shelf somewhere, however i sure as hell have a PS3. I like it.

DMeisterJ @ May 23rd 2008 7:11PM

My PSP gets constant use out of Monster Hunter Freedom 2.

But 1 question?

Why is that a picture of the ugly "phat" PSP instead of the beautiful slim?

All that is is a gateway to doughnuts.

KeenCommander @ May 23rd 2008 7:15PM

Bull...crap! I love my PSP but it would never encourage me to buy a PS3. That's like saying everyone who runs Windows will magically go out and buy a 360. They may both be made by the same company, but they have very little to do with each other.

Mr.ESC @ May 23rd 2008 7:19PM

I like more the PSP phat than the slim one.The slim PSP is very fragile while the PSP ´phat is very resistant.

Maverick Saturn @ May 23rd 2008 7:26PM

My PSP is very happy, recently it played God of War, now I picked up MGSPO+ which has FINALLY come out over here, so all my characters from MGSPO, Venus and Gene included have all made a happy jump over to my new game where I can happily continue pwning noobs online :)

If not that, I'm playing Monster Hunter 2, I dunno how anyone managed to complete that game, the mosnters can be ridiculously frustrating sometimes.

In due time I will have Crisis Core, but these days, FF games don't seem to have the same excitement factor as say the announcement of a new Monster Hunter game, the whole stand like a prat and wait for your turn to attack is getting rather dry.

And on the way to and from uni I listen to music, don't make much use of internet anymore and movies, clogs up space for psn games and music.

Kujel @ May 23rd 2008 7:47PM

More Sony spin doctoring!

Maverick Saturn @ May 23rd 2008 8:03PM

I'm guessing Sony officials mugged your home or something, looking back on every comment you've made, I can see you hate Sony and hate bitches. God knows why, maybe you should try embrassing all, then you wouldn't be so angry ¬_¬

Kujel @ May 23rd 2008 8:05PM

Maybe if I took it in the ass.

Maverick Saturn @ May 23rd 2008 8:31PM

But from the way your going on, anyone would believe thats already happened to you, no point pretending it doesn't happen, guys who have unfortunatly unwillingly experienced it in prison have been scarred for life, expressing anger towards everyone and acting tough.

Thats what you're doing ¬_¬ In every article you post in...suspicious...