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I think it's rather flip to say PSP is failing, and for the reasons you gave. If it is failing, it's because of name brand appeal.
Playstation has less brand recognition than Nintendo? The PSP is losing (IMO) because it's a somewhat impenetrable system. Not only does it have a ridiculously high price, not only does it not have many worthwhile games, not only does it not have much pick-up-and-play appeal, but it isn't really even marketed as a game system so much as a multimedia conglomeration device. What is the average consumer supposed to think of it?
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I can just as easily flip your PSP/DS comparison to the GC/PS2. Everything you state in this paragraphdidn't work for the GC.
I don't think you can flip the argument because GameCube didn't really appeal to newbs. Sure, the large A button was nice... but, apart from that, the controller wasn't much less intimidating than the dualshock, the launch games (pikmin, luigi, ssbm) weren't exactly easy to pick up and play, and the console's uncool design and low-key marketing didn't exactly make people eager to try the system out.
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So what does the lower price mean? Nothing if you already have the majority of gamers? Right. How do you break this trend? By changing your approach. You make the REV a tech heads dream, while making the cost slightly lower than the competitors. Being $100 cheaper than a competitor looks bad to the casual fans...yes casual, you know, like 65% of the market.
I actually agree with you that GameCube's ridiculous price cuts made the console look 'cheap' in comparison to the competition. But, a price differential isn't always a bad thing (actually, a cheaper price is almost always a good thing). While the $99 purple lunch box DID feel cheap, the $150 DS feels high end, even though the PSP is $100 more expensive. The trick is to come up with a product that is so different the average consumer will have a hard time even consciously comparing it to the competition. An eight dollar Stephen King book will sell better than a $30 text book. A $200-250 Revolution gaming system could sell better than a $500 Sony mini-computer.
With a game system, you should serve the hardcore, to what extant you can, but you shouldn't focus on them. You should instead focus on, not even the average gamer, but the average consumer. The lowest common denominator. And they don't care about specific specs. They care about image, and affordability, and playability, and games. The DS created a good image for itself, and is affordable, and is ridiculously playable, and has great games. The Revolution should follow it's lead.
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My point is, no granny will pick up any controller. I don't care if there's one button.
I find your lack of faith disturbing. 70+ can handle the touch screen on the DS. I've seen it. And while the DS isn't the hot new thing in today's nursing homes, the fact that pretty much ANYONE can pick up and play it is a good thing, and undoubtedly contributes to its good sales.
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What's the percentage of PC users vs Mac? 75 to 25%?
I Wish! I think it's around 5-7% right now.
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(just for the record, I adore Mac.) But the fact that the Macs are so much more expensive than the PC helps it's image, doesn't it? They're looked at as high end, even though I could get just as much power and speed in a PC for half the cost. Price has a lot to do with it.
I'm fairly sure their image comes from great marketing/hardware design/software design. I believe the high price of their computers is generally listed as the #1 reason otherwise interested parties don't switch from windows.
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It takes marketing and games, along with the cool factor to catch this demographic, and they'll abandon Sony without a second thought. Is that too much to ask in order to gain a huge spike in market share?
No, I agree with you that that's what Nintendo should have good marketing, and 'cool' games, and an all-around general cool factor, this time around. It's just that Nintendo doesn't need to sacrifice affordability, or broad appeal, to do that.
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