Topic: Capcom Executive Sees 3DS as Threat to PSP

[NWR_pap64]

Capcom COO believes that Sony needs to release a new PSP in order to compete with NintendoÂ’s 3DS.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=23444

 Capcom Europe COO and former Sony Computer Entertain of Europe president David Reeves told Gamesindustry.biz that Sony needs to respond to NintendoÂ’s 3DS quickly in order to stay in the handheld game, and that the follow up to the PSP needs to happen in the next 12 months for the sake of developers and publishers.    

"It's an exciting time and you could possibly have two handhelds coming out within months or a year of each other," he said.    

"Sony tried to make the transition with PSPgo, I think that changed some consumers' attitudes, but they need to come back with something on PSP pretty quickly to stay in the game because Nintendo are **** hot at getting these things right,” he explained in the interview. “And they always get these things right."

[UncleBob]

The 3DS is a threat to the PSP?

Wha?

[Toruresu]

LOL worthy. He used to work for Sony and now works at Capcom. Hmm, I wonder if he still works for Sony!

[TJ Spyke]

Whose mind was changed by the PSP Go? That has been one of the biggest bombs in the history of video games (so of coarse Sony is now trying to claim that it was just an "experiment") and will go down as one of the stupidest hardware decisions ever.

Also, Nintendo doesn't have anything to worry about. The DS spanked PSP (I think estimates are that even if the DS didn't sell a single more system, it would take PSP over 3 years to catch up), I don't think that the PSP or the rumored PSP 2 will do any better against the incredible 3DS.

[broodwars]

Capcom Executive Sees the 3DS as a Threat to the PSP

Gee, and here I thought it was a threat to the Wonderswan and N-Gage.   

[Arbok]

I would ask why does he care what happens to the PSP line since he works at Capcom... but then it says right there he used to work for Sony. Mystery solved.

[Crimm]

This comment wasn't unprompted.  Someone probably asked him that question explicitly, knowing that he used to work for Sony.

[NeoStar9X]

I would ask why does he care what happens to the PSP line since he works at Capcom... but then it says right there he used to work for Sony. Mystery solved.

*Putting conspiracy hat on*
If I had to guess I'd say he's saying that because he like other publishers would rather develop on Sony consoles and hand helds. If the 3DS is a super hit like the DS was but with no limitations then they'd have no choice but to develop for it with serious effort. If not then serious questions would be asked of them by customers and investors. It would expose their anti-Nintendo stance with no cover up available. As long as their is a Sony alternative they can keep going as usual.
* Taking off conspiracy hat*
Maybe that's not to big of leap though.

[AV]

Sony should just cut and run from PSP brand. It is successful but not enough. iphone and 3ds are better tech and have more features.


 It's over. Give it up.

[TJ Spyke]

If I had to guess I'd say he's saying that because he like other publishers would rather develop on Sony consoles and hand helds.

I don't think that is quite true though, I think many publishers are just technology whores and would rather release their games on the third place system because it has the best graphics rather than the first place system that has weaker graphics (Square Enix is especially guilty of this, they have admitted that they release the mainline Final Fantasy games on the system with the best graphics). The fact that the 3DS looks better than even XBX/GCN/PS2 games should eliminate this problem though.

[ThePerm]

until Sony releases psp2 for 400 dolllars and it looks almost as good as ps3 and third party devlopers flock to it so they can lose money.

[NWR_insanolord]

This comment wasn't unprompted.  Someone probably asked him that question explicitly, knowing that he used to work for Sony.

This is definitely what happened; don't read anything into it.

Sony should just cut and run from PSP brand. It is successful but not enough. iphone and 3ds are better tech and have more features.


 It's over. Give it up.

Actually, I admire Sony for not giving up. You could call it being stupid, or being arrogant, but they're trying. Sony's doing great things with their software, and if they could just get their act together with the hardware they'd be in great shape.

[NWR_Lindy]

I think with the PSPgo Sony realized that had nothing to lose in the U.S.  I actually believe that it was an experiment, since they put virtually no marketing push whatsoever behind the launch.  Most people probably don't even know the system exists.

What Sony failed to do with the PSP was differentiate its gameplay experience from their console products. Playing a game on PSP versus playing it on PS2 was virtually the same experience, so nobody had any burning desire to pick up a PSP.  The Nintendo DS gave people an entirely unique game play experience with its touch screen functionality.  The 3DS has the same "hook" - 3D gameplay in the palm of your hand - so it will be a huge success.  People will buy a 3DS strictly out of curiosity, just to see what the 3D gameplay is like.

PSP2 need a similar hook or people just aren't going to care.  If it's going to be a multipurpose device it needs to be a phone as well, because that would make it something unique.  The DS/3DS have amazing games, but they're only game machines.  The iPhone/iPod Touch is a great multipurpose device, but let's be honest, 98% of the games for the device are garbage.  The market has yet to see a product that is both an amazing gaming device AND a phone.  I think Sony could really get a hold of the market if they had such a device, but whether or not they go that route remains to be seen.

[greybrick]

What Sony failed to do with the PSP was differentiate its gameplay experience from their console products. Playing a game on PSP versus playing it on PS2 was virtually the same experience, so nobody had any burning desire to pick up a PSP.

From what I gathered, the whole point of most PSP marketing is that is is just like playing on a PS2 but to-go. Now, that may not have made it as successful as the DS here in America, but in Japan that is exactly what people want.

[NWR_Lindy]

Yeah, I've never been able to figure out why the heck the PSP is so popular in Japan.  Probably because it's a much more mobile society, so the "console on the go" experience is actually desirable over there because people aren't as keen on sitting in their homes and gaming.

[Kytim89]

I have been saying that the DS and now the 3DS will push the PSP to its doom. Do not get me wrong, the PSP is a very impressive system and has many good games that I would like to play. However, the 3DS is going to deliver the cou de gra not just in America, but possibly in Japan as well. I do not see Sony releasing their PSP 2 soon to counter balance the 3DS. Otherwise it is safe to assume that Sony could lose it place in the hand held market. Until the PSP 2 is revealed and released, Sony might drop the price of the PSP significantly to combat the 3DS.
 
They were just asking for failure with the PSPGo. How can they charge $250 for a machine with no UMD and forcing its loyal patrons to re-buy all of their games and movies.