700,000 Reasons Why the PSP Isn't a Failure

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700,000 Reasons Why the PSP Isn’t a Failure

Submitted by James Munn on February 28, 2007 – 9:00 am6 Comments

In the console wars, we’re all way too eager to jump onto the #2 console and blast it as a failure. The PSP has been getting this treatment ever since it’s impressive launch and the PS3, after it’s lackluster launch, is just now feeling the heat. Can I call the PS3 a failure? I’d consider it’s initial launch a failure but the console still has legs. Can I consider the PSP a failure? Absolutely not.

How can a console that has just broken a personal record in software sales be considered a failure? Japanese media site Mainichi Interactive reports that Monster Hunter Portable 2nd has sold 700,000 copies in it’s first week on sale. The only failure related to the PSP is Sony’s inability to reconnect with the gaming community. Selling millions of consoles even with the unreasonably high price-point, no matter what happens from here on in, I have to consider the PSP a successful first venture into handheld gaming

Via IGN tip by PSPfanboy

Subnet6

The reason people are calling the PSP a failure is because of Sony, which is sad for the PSP. They presented the PSP as the “walkman of the 21st century”. They said it would “bring portable gaming out of the ghetto”. They said they would take the handheld crown. Well, guess what, it has FAILED to meet any of those expectations. Sure, it’s life isn’t over, but based on the goals Sony set forth it IS failing to meet them. So to call it a failure certainly isn’t inaccurate. However, success and failure are so subjective because you can say it was a financial success, or it was a success “considering it was a first try” or whatever. I don’t think the PS3 is a failure but Sony created such high expectations that now it’s failing to meet them so what are people supposed to do? Are we supposed to make excuses for Sony, like, “It’s their first try”, or “But Nintendo has always dominated handhelds” bla bla bla. I say No. Sony are big boys. They set the bar too high. Now they need to deal with that. If they had come out saying they wanted to use the PSP to simply to get a foothold in the handheld market and to enrich the potential of the PS3 with crossplatform compatibility and downloadable content, well the PSP is certainly doing that. IF those were their stated goals we would have no choice but to call it a success. But no, they came out far too smug and now people are holding them to account. Failure is a harsh word but it’s a word that Sony made possible with their absolutely ludicrous claims. So while I personally don’t think the PSP is a failure I understand the term is accurate if you are holding its actual performance up to the projections that were made for it by its creators.
Stephen

While I agree that the PSP is not a failure, I don’t think the sales numbers of MHP indicate anything but the success of MHP. One could just as easily argue that there’s nothing else the Japanese want to play on the system and call that an argument for the platform’s failure.
John H.

The PSP is a failure, in many people’s minds, because so many people thought it would be no contest. So many people ASSUMED that, with its power, its ability to play music and movies, its ability to browse the internet, and the sheer power of its brand, it would naturally wash the DS away.

So many people assumed this that, when it did not happen, they considered it had to have been because Sony dropped the ball. At the very least, it is the system that demonstrated that the Playstation brand was not as all-powerful as people thought.
Kyle

I don’t think the PSP is bad, otherwise I wouldn’t own one. The fact is, most people just think the DS is better, because of its much better selection of games. I agree with the latter.
Nathan

One game. Xbox was a failure too you know. Just because Halo was a big sell, it was still the only thing selling an Xbox. That didn’t necessarily make Xbox a success. It’s getting people to continuously play a system that makes it a success. PSP is a failure. Mostly because it lacks games. PSP could be great but there is no way I could ever love my PSP more than my DS. The only reason most hope PSP isn’t a failure is because you bought one expecting more. Thing is, any system this game was put on would have sold big.

The Japanese are nothing if not predictable. You put Gundam, Monster Hunter, and Final Fantasy on anything and they suddenly love it. They are a country of follow the leader fanboys. Their determination to love those games is insane. In no other country will you see people in line for gundam and monster hunter toys and games.

PSP could be nice and good but there just isn’t anything to support it and graphics will never top features. DS has so much more going for it. DS will always be more fun than PSP because it’s more involved. It’s the same reason Wii is beating the PS3.
Brian Elford

I agree. Simply put, Nintendo has proven unbeatable in the portable market. Seriously, nobody can match them in that area of market, not Microsoft, not Sony (Sega failed, so did the Turbo-Duo), not nobody. THEY have the best games, the innovative controls, and a long history of legendary games that are still good after twenty years. The DS (and Wii) have proven slammers wrong, and will continue to do so. Can Sony match Children of Mana, FFIII, New Super Mario Bros, the impending Pokemon Pearl and Diamond giants to come, etc,etc. No they can’t. People just rat them for stupid reasons, and this time Sony’s cockyness has caught up with them. Time to be dethroned!