Schild's PSP Countdown Thread

[ahoythematey]

Boy, after reading that I'm glad that my problems with the DS(lack of great games) will be remedied over time rather than being forced to exchange systems and/or jump through CSR hoops.  Hopefully these dead-pixel/dust issues will be fixed by the time they make the PSP affordable.

[Hanzii]

Hmmm.

My square button is perfect.

Glare is a nonissue when you're playing.

I don't agree. Spring is coming here and when the sun is out and I'm on my morning train, a fastpaced game like Ridge Racer is a problem. But not hugely so.

Screen very much is robot Jesus.

I agree. The quality on movies and the one game i saw absolutely blew me away.

I saw my first PSP in person this morning on the Muni streetcar...

Damn not only are they $250 but they are the size of a small brick lengthwise.  What in the fuck would I do with it?  Buy a fanny-pack to store my gaming device?  No thanks, handhelds that can barely be handheld and are too big for even my baggy jean's deep pockets is just..  well, stupid?

I don't get this at all? Don't you guys ever wear coats?
I wear a coat and carry a bag to work, so it's bo problem.
Of course I also have a job and never wear baggy jeans, so maybe I shouldn't be discussing this with some teenager with bad cloathing sense...

[ahoythematey]

I don't get this at all? Don't you guys ever wear coats?
I wear a coat and carry a bag to work, so it's bo problem.
Of course I also have a job and never wear baggy jeans, so maybe I shouldn't be discussing this with some teenager with bad cloathing sense...

Well, I live in Texas and there is maybe, collectively, two months out of the year that require wearing a jacket/coat in most places, plus or minus the occasional crazy week of blazing heat/frigid cold.  However, that's besides the point.  The PSP size is problematic for a good portion of pockets, as is the DS's.  I'm pretty sure handheld-size reached it's zenith with the GBA SP.

Still, size is a lesser complaint with the PSP and isn't really worth whining about.  These people doing so must be forgetting about the Gamegear, Nomad, Lynx, and quite a few others.

[Riggswolfe]

A question, is the Spiderman 2 on the PSP like the console version? Sort of GTA-Spidey? Or is it some kind of sidescrolling game like the DS did?

[Strazos]

Who knows, it might even be the fraudulent, craptastic PC version.

[NiX]

Hard as hell finding a decent price on memory sticks. Waiting for the 512's to ship into EB so I can get 35% off.

[Kairos]

One can only hope that the release of a major appliance that uses the medium will encourage the production and sale of cheaper memory sticks a few months or so from now.

[schild]

I recently got back from a local diner where I was playing Lumines while having breakfast.

Everyone, including the hostess, my waitress, and 3 other waiters thought the PSP was just the coolest goddamn thing they'd ever seen. They didn't even know it was out yet. Maybe Sony really should have, ya know, THOUGHT OUT THEIR ADVERTISING PLAN. A spot on Desperate Housewives could *not* have hurt them.

[schild]

Just received Untold Legends from SOE, so it'll be in my writeup. ^_^

[MrHat]

I recently got back from a local diner where I was playing Lumines while having breakfast.

Everyone, including the hostess, my waitress, and 3 other waiters thought the PSP was just the coolest goddamn thing they'd ever seen. They didn't even know it was out yet. Maybe Sony really should have, ya know, THOUGHT OUT THEIR ADVERTISING PLAN. A spot on Desperate Housewives could *not* have hurt them.

Yup, really dumb of them to only start the tv advertising AFTER release.

They could of turned the gamer frenzy into a full out assault.

[schild]

Sony's PSP will hit Korea with streaming content services and online gaming capabilities at launch.
According to sources in Korea, Sony Computer Entertainment will launch its PlayStation Portable, or PSP, in that country on May 2. Unlike the Japan and North America markets, the first shipment of the handheld will come with Internet features ready for use. Sony is partnering with KT Corp., a major wireless Internet service provider in Korea, to offer easy online connectivity and other services.

Similar to the North American launch, Korean consumers will be limited to the Value Pack bundle of the PSP (which will be priced at 328,000 won, or about $320, in that market). The Value Pack will come with the PSP unit, an AC adapter, battery pack, headphones with remote control, a carrying pouch, a cleaning cloth, a strap band, and a 32MB Memory Stick Duo. But that market's Value Pack will have one big difference from the unit's previous releases: out-of-the-box online connectivity.

The first 100,000 units sold of the Korean PSP Value Pack will come with a Network Utility UMD and a limited-time membership for wireless Internet service, in addition to a UMD movie of Spider-Man 2.

By tapping the Network Utility UMD functionality, gamers in Korea will be able to enjoy a number of other online services in addition to games, including Web browsing, an online movie player, and an online music player.

The first shipments of the Value Pack also come with a membership for NESPOT, the wireless Web service offered by KT. Gamers who register to NESPOT will be able to access more than 14,000 wireless hot spots within Korea. They can also opt to get NESPOT APs (Access Points) installed in their houses for no additional charge. The first month of NESPOT usage will be free; thereafter, gamers will be charged a flat rate of 5,000 won ($4.92) per month.

Gamers who register with NESPOT will also receive a free online-enabled game developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Korea (SCEK), titled Glorace.

Other networked services scheduled for PSP consumers in Korea include on-demand streaming music, on-demand streaming videos (including TV shows), e-learning options, and electronic books. SCEK and KT expect that they will be the first companies to provide a full online experience for the PSP user in any market.

Looks like we get all the cool shit for free in May. Interestingly, they get a free game but have to pay a fee. I'm not sure I wouldn't like that. I'm still wondering when a company will make the first MMORPG portable game. Infected isn't quite an MMORPG. A Diablo Online would be a great one to do. Or...Untold Legends online, which is like Diablo (VERY like diablo) but I'll get more into that later.

I'm hoping we yanks don't have to buy the network utility disc and the tools can just be downloaded to a memory stick.

[El Gallo]

I don't know that more marketing would have helped.  The ipod-style commercials they had were probably attractive to their key audience, wealthy high school kids and maybe college students.  The problem is that many adults, even those who may play some games at home, just would not be willing to be seen with a handheld game system (yeah, I know it is supposed to be more, but that's what it is perceived as) in public.  If people see a non-child/teenager using these on the subway, they think "wow, that guy will never, ever, get laid unless he pays for it" and people just don't want to attract that kind of derision. 

[Paelos]

If people see a non-child/teenager using these on the subway, they think "wow, that guy will never, ever, get laid unless he pays for it" and people just don't want to attract that kind of derision. 

I don't think the response would be any different for these kinds of people if they saw a geek with a PSP or just reading a newspaper. And also, who gives a shit? Those people aren't gadget freaks, and therefore aren't the market at all.

[Sky]

If people see a non-child/teenager using these on the subway, they think "wow, that guy will never, ever, get laid unless he pays for it" and people just don't want to attract that kind of derision. 

You honestly give a fuck what someone on the subway thinks of you?

[El Gallo]

You honestly give a fuck what someone on the subway thinks of you?

No, I honestly think that a lot of people are not going to shell out a couple hundred bucks on a device that says "I live in my mom's basement."  We weren't talking about whether or not I would buy one, we were talking about why Schild's "this will be the new ipod" fantasy may not come true after all, and why advertising the things on a show aimed at 40 year old married women probably would not change that, unless they were trying to get them to buy the things for their kids.

And also, who gives a shit? Those people aren't gadget freaks, and therefore aren't the market at all.

I don't think that most people who have ipods or watch Desperate Housewives are gadget freaks, but I could be wrong about that.

[schild]

El Gallo, I'm not sure where the PSP touched you, but uhm, heh, no one is going to think anything about seeing someone playing one on the subway. Video games are part of culture. I wouldn't be surprised if 100% of our generation hasn't spent a portion of their time playing them. Including the women. Whether it be Snood or Super Mario or Half-Life 2. The iPod/Desperate housewives crossover are the same people who buy stuff like Bang & Olufsen, the Not-Cheap stuff at Nordstroms and are definately the types that would buy a Sony PSP. Spending money on advertising, I think someone said above, would have probably been a waste of money. And I agree. They'll have no problem selling the 1,000,000 units these couple weeks.

[Shockeye]

Yes, they will have problems selling these units if the midwest and AZ are any indication.

[schild]

It's odd. EBs and Gamestops all across the country have sold out. Period. Sold Out. But Best Buy and Walmart that each got 250/40 or so respectively still have them. Well, about half of them. I'm sure we'll get numbers soon.

[El Gallo]

I am not some PSP hater.  I think the PSP looks kind of cool, and I'd get one if I would ever actually use the thing.  I just think you are wrong that you average 35 year old is dying to play video games in public on a handheld, and I think you are very, very wrong to think that your average 35 year old thinks playing a handheld video game system is equivalent to listening to a walkman or ipod.  I think that an awful lot of people think "handheld video game system = for kids."  I've never seen someone my age or older playing a gameboy on the subway, for example, and I don't think that the PSP is "different enough" to cause some radical change in that. I've seen people listening to walkmen, discmen and ipods for almost my entire life.

"Kids toy" stigma aside, there just is not a lot of opportunity to use these things.  Where is Mrs. Desperate Housewife Fan going to break out the PSP?  In the car on the way to work?   From the parking lot to her office?  At her desk at the office?  At lunch with her officemates?  In the car back home to work?  Walking around the supermarket after work?  Wandering around the mall in the evening?  Really, the only place they could play would be at home, but at home they have better platforms, and they also have families.

Look at me.  Married guy, no kids, gaming nerd, fair amount of disposable income, own 2 gaming PCs, a console system, grew up on pac man, have multiple MMO subscriptions.  Live in a large city, like gadgets.  I should be a great customer.  But look at my daily routine.  I get up, walk to the office, and (a) walk to a resturaunt or bar and hang out for a few hours with Mrs Gallo &/or my friends, go home, go to sleep, rinse, repeat or (b) walk home, hang out with Mrs Gallo, play WoW or watch TV, go to sleep, rinse repeat.  On weekends when I am not working, I am either out doing something or at home hanging out.  I'd never play the thing at home, because I have better game platforms at home.  When I am not at home, I just don't see ever having the time or opportunity to play.  The only time I could imagine using it is when travelling via plane or train, but I don't do that so often that I would buy it just for that.  When I do travel, it's with Mrs Gallo which means I don't need a handheld to stave off boredom, or it's for business and I could always just take a laptop and probably have a lot of work to do anyway.  The reason I mentioned the subway in my initial post is that it is the only time I could imagine using the thing regularly would be if I took the subway to work every day, but even that is unlikely, since the thing is crowded as hell, and you probably would not have enough time to play a worthwhile game through anyway.

I use the ipod all the time, just like I used my walkmen and discmen all the time, in short bits throughout the day when walking to or from somewhere.  I also use it at home (since it replaced the mammoth cd changer) and when I am in a car.  But where's the time for me to use a PSP?

[Paelos]

I'd say gun for urban markets where public transport is the norm, ala NYC. Also, I'd say go after the business travel market heavily. Show young execs watching movies on planes, listening to music, and playing the games. Class it up, make it a multifunctional time-waster.

[Sky]

No, I honestly think that a lot of people are not going to shell out a couple hundred bucks on a device that says "I live in my mom's basement."

It's ok to be cool and live in your posh house and stick your mother in an institution, but it's taboo to live with her and nurture her.

Thanks for furthering my point about giving a fuck what people think about you.

As for the point you are struggling to make, why not just compare the amount of people who listen to music to the amount who play games? Games will always be niche, especially compared to something as universal as music.

[Paelos]

No, I honestly think that a lot of people are not going to shell out a couple hundred bucks on a device that says "I live in my mom's basement."

It's ok to be cool and live in your posh house and stick your mother in an institution, but it's taboo to live with her and nurture her.

Thanks for furthering my point about giving a fuck what people think about you.

As for the point you are struggling to make, why not just compare the amount of people who listen to music to the amount who play games? Games will always be niche, especially compared to something as universal as music.

That's SO not the point he was trying to make about living with your mother.

[Merusk]

I'd say gun for urban markets where public transport is the norm, ala NYC. Also, I'd say go after the business travel market heavily. Show young execs watching movies on planes, listening to music, and playing the games. Class it up, make it a multifunctional time-waster.

 The mass over-30 market is not what you want to target this at. Businessmen who travel a lot already have laptops, and are more likely to be catching z's or working on that laptop while on the plane than buying a handheld. If they want entertainment they're more likely to rent a movie at the airport blockbuster than waste time and effort putzing with ripping them to a PSP memory stick.  That's far, far too geek for even me and I'm the geekiest guy I know. Plus there are other things to consider, which is what ElGallo is getting at.  I'm only 30 and a gamer and there's no way I'm spending $250 on a handheld.  It's not just a stigma thing (I do get odd looks when I whip-out the Gameboy while waiting at the airport, I just ignore them.)  it's also a "why the hell would I spend $250 on something that won't help my career at all" thing.  Different priorities when you're working on getting more entrenched in your field and paying for the house, car and kids. $250 isn't justified on my budget and while I'm not wealthy, I'm not exactly poor either.  Maybe gadget geeks will get into it, but that's a limited market.

No, it's the 20-somethings that you want to aim it at.  Of course that market is very limited since most young 20-somethings are scraping away at a college bill, so again you're limited due to price.   I suspect most of you going ga-ga over this are 20-something or tech-heads, right?  Go for the geek market, go for the young gamers, but don't expect mass appeal should be Sony's approach.  Nintendo kept Gameboys at $100 all this time because they understood the market better and wanted to saturate it.  All you're getting at $250 is the same people who were buying plasma and HDTV at $6000 a set.  Everyone else will wait for the price to drop.

[Paelos]

I agree that is priced too high, but such is the case for the early adopters of gadgets. The first portable DVD players were well over $1000.

[Furiously]

I would think their target audience is Japanese.

The US people that play it on the subway, watch a movie on an airplane - that's just gravey.

[bhodikhan]

I dunno. I play mine when I'm at home as well. It is PORTABLE. I can play it anywhere in my house without disturbing anyone. Ear-buds are nice.

Sometimes I don't want to go to a specific room, turn on a TV and mess with a console.

My favorite feature about my new PSP is that I don't have to deal with all the b.net trash I've been "enjoying" in WOW. The PSP is a nice break from the insanity. It's mine and you can't take it down for 12-24 hours of maintenance or nerf it.

I'd rather refer to it as a PlayStation Personal.

[MrHat]

I dunno. I play mine when I'm at home as well. It is PORTABLE. I can play it anywhere in my house without disturbing anyone. Ear-buds are nice.

Sometimes I don't want to go to a specific room, turn on a TV and mess with a console.

My favorite feature about my new PSP is that I don't have to deal with all the b.net trash I've been "enjoying" in WOW. The PSP is a nice break from the insanity. It's mine and you can't take it down for 12-24 hours of maintenance or nerf it.

I'd rather refer to it as a PlayStation Personal.

F13.net -- Your definitive source for all things WoW and PSP.

[bhodikhan]

Ouch. I mentioned WOW and the PSP in the same thread. I wonder if I've tainted the image of the PSP by doing that.

If that's the case I offer my heartfelt apologies.

[Shockeye]

F13.net -- Your definitive source for all things WoW and PSP.

& Britney Spears!

[Furiously]

I missed the Britney thread. Linkage please.

[Shockeye]

I missed the Britney thread. Linkage please.

Some people spoiled it and it had to go to the Den.

[Hanzii]

I'd say gun for urban markets where public transport is the norm, ala NYC. Also, I'd say go after the business travel market heavily. Show young execs watching movies on planes, listening to music, and playing the games. Class it up, make it a multifunctional time-waster.

 The mass over-30 market is not what you want to target this at. Businessmen who travel a lot already have laptops, and are more likely to be catching z's or working on that laptop while on the plane than buying a handheld. If they want entertainment they're more likely to rent a movie at the airport blockbuster than waste time and effort putzing with ripping them to a PSP memory stick.  That's far, far too geek for even me and I'm the geekiest guy I know. Plus there are other things to consider, which is what ElGallo is getting at.  I'm only 30 and a gamer and there's no way I'm spending $250 on a handheld.  It's not just a stigma thing (I do get odd looks when I whip-out the Gameboy while waiting at the airport, I just ignore them.)  it's also a "why the hell would I spend $250 on something that won't help my career at all" thing.  Different priorities when you're working on getting more entrenched in your field and paying for the house, car and kids. $250 isn't justified on my budget and while I'm not wealthy, I'm not exactly poor either.  Maybe gadget geeks will get into it, but that's a limited market.

Rubbish.
An iPod won't further your carreer, they're just nice to have. And there's cheaper ways to listen to music, but 75% of those buying portable music players (and a lot are 30+) still buys iPod.
I'm 34, I have a wife and a kid and another one due soon... my PSP will arrive shortly from the States (I hope). The stuff that will further my career I expect my boss to pay for.

But of course the price will drop us gedget freaks and early adopters get to pay the premium - others will get it for around $150 sometime next year. I'll be paying a premium on top of the premium (even more so if my local customs office find out what I'm doing) just to own one of the first PSPs in my country - such is the joy of having a job and disposable income.
I'm not alone.

[Jain Zar]

I use my DS at work during my breaks.  Beats watching 15 minutes of ESPN you can't hear from all the noise and I wouldn't watch anyhow.  Lots of people ask me about it, but 90% of the people who do are generally mothers looking for something their kids might like, or asians who seem to be technically minded. Not being racist.  Just reporting what I have seen. The other 10% are "normal" folks or gamers.  I have seen maybe 5 other people use portable gaming systems at work, generally GBA SPs.  Now if we want to get into cellphones it seems most of the workforce has one permanently planted on either their belt or on their ear.  Usually causing no end of trouble since they in fact can't walk and talk at the same time because they have to blab that much.  I work a swing shift so it really blows my mind how many discussions they can have from 8PM till the morning time, but so be it.

And I sometimes get a bit of a snicker for playing my portables as is, and jokingly asked when I plan on growing up.  (The answer is  I was pretty much grown up by 12.  I don't bother others with my game system, have never opened clean glass doors playing it and hit other people in the back because I was more interested in a phone conversation, don't drink much, don't gamble, don't smoke, obey those funny traffic signs, and nobody knows so and so be fucking whomever while that other dude be her baby's daddy.)

How these basic realities will affect the PSP is unknown, but I doubt in the long run it will be a blockbuster success.  Seems like it will do nicely for itself however.  But portables sell to kids, not adults.  And music players are socially acceptable and cool.  Videogame systems are not.

[Trippy]

Some pictures of a naked PSP:

http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=380915&rl=1

[eldaec]

I'm not convinced that the 'not going to spend $250 to not further my career' thing is entirely valid. But it is valid to say that people who travel a lot on business have laptops which already play music and movies, access the internet, and play games. Also, we already have too much hand luggage thankyouverymuch.

People bought ipods becuase of better marketing and because it gives you a personal stereo you can use while doing other things. The 'while doing other things' is what is special about music. You can't watch movies or play games while doing other things.