"Sold!"

[Tails]

The following is an opinion-based article written by me, Tails2258, at Viper Strike (a gaming clan).
www.viperstrike.tk

Four months ago, I purchased a system that Sony claimed would revolutionize portable gaming. I purchased the hyped PSP, which costs a whopping 250 bucks. It's a lot of money to pay, but at the time... it was worth it! Notice I said, "at the time"... heh.

As it turns out, my PSP has gathered dust, my interest in the PSP has diminished, and I decided to make a logical move... and sell my PSP. But before you look at me like I'm some sort of maniac for doing such a thing, let me explain. I sold my PSP for a number of reasons...

First of all, the PSP simply has no games. Don't take that comment literally, because it does have games, just not any that personally spark my interest. The only PSP game I like is Twisted Metal. The other launch titles that were released either got bad reviews or just aren't of a genre that even remotely interests me. At first, I didn't worry. "Big deal," I said. "Only one launch title may look good, but they'll be plently of good games coming out later, right?" How wrong I was. Including the newer PSP games that will hit the shelves soon, as well as the PSP games which were just recently announced (I'm shocked to see that at E3, a severely small number of PSP games were announced.... didn't Sony say the PSP was going to be a big system? Sheesh...), so far there's only one other game I definetly would buy... and maybe two others that I might like to play... but that's it. The game I'd like to own is "Megaman Legends", which was only announced for Japan so far, and is simply a port. The other two games, which I would probably just rent, is Death Jr. (a "mildly decent"-looking platformer) and Viewtiful Joe: VX Battle (a fighting game, also for GCN... meh). I thought the PSP library would have a handful of games that I could enjoy... but it doesn't. So that's where I got the idea... the PSP is not for me.

Secondly, the PSP has a ridiculously high price... and for what? Sure, the system's specs alone answer that question, but what good is the best LCD screen on a portable, along with amazing graphics, if there are no good games for the system? And there's no way I'm spending more money just to buy a USB cord, in which I can download a small video clip or three songs onto my PSP. But I own an iPod mini, I have an abudance of dvd players... I want my PSP to play games, and JUST GAMES! So, since I only use my PSP for games... and since the only good game I've seen that I'd enjoy (whether currently availible or on the horizon) is Twisted Metal and Megaman Legends... that means I just wasted 250 bucks.

Lastly, the PSP isn't becoming what Sony said it would. Sony claimed it would be like the Game Boy... gamers would carry it around with them and play on the go. They claimed people would be playing the system in public. Yea, okay... I haven't seen a single person ever do that. The system has been out for months, and I haven't played multiplayer with many strangers yet. Some revolution. The system is too valuable to take with you to the public, anyway. I know quite a few PSP owners, and all of them only play PSP at home... which is what I ended up doing. But why buy a PSP for 250 bucks, which has a limited library of games, when you could play your Xbox or PS2 or Gamecube at home instead? Those three systems have better graphics, are played on a larger screen, have MUCH more games than the PSP... and you can buy tons of games for those systems for the price of a PSP system! I'm sorry, but if you're going to defeat Sony's initial purpose for the PSP by playing it at home... just play home consoles instead. That seems more logical to me.

And that's why I sold my PSP. The specs are impressive, and Sony did a great job setting up the foundation of the system, but the developers and publishers did a bad job from there. Without any good games (in MY opinion), why own a PSP? It costs too much for too little. Plus, the sooner I sell my PSP, the more credit I'll get in return for it (the PSP's trade-in value drops over time). Hopefully somebody will see some logic in my reasoning.

Here's my final thought. Sony's PSP is an incredible system whos specs can take Nintendo's handhelds any day of the week. But what Sony didn't expect, is how many can't afford a PSP, and some won't cough up 250 bucks just for a small, portable system. Plus, the Gameboy has built an empire for over 10 years now, which is why you'll see many gamers play them in public. A large percentage of portable console gamers are indeed young kids and teenagers, yet Sony's PSP is aimed at adults and young adults... which is why sales for the PSP are beaten by the DS in both America and Japan.

The PSP is a huge technological achievement in the world of gaming, but like the Dreamcast... it's ahead of its time. The Dreamcast dove into the world of online gaming and 128-bit gameplay, and it had quite the hype, but after the launch... most games couldn't perform... and the home console giant Sony took the competition with the PS2. And now, in PSP's case, it seems that although the PSP has the greatest graphics and capabilities a handheld has ever seen, it's hype won't help make up for a lacking variety of good games... and the portable giant Nintendo will take the competition with the Gameboy (and possibly the new DS).

[ShadowFan24]

Hmph. I would NEVER buy a PSP. When I first heard of the system, it SLIGHTLY caught my interest, but I soon lost any hope for it. Plus it wasn't for me. I don't know it didn't seem like something that I would have around with me.

I don't understand what the hype was with this system. It's not needed. I mean, theres tons of other things that have what made the PSP's price jump up. If it was just for games, then the price would be less, and I may have had more of an interest in it.

Other then that the PSP is WORTHLESS in my opinion.

[Lil Ninja]

The PSP doesn't seem like something for me either. Usually, when I'm looking at gaming systems, what I really want is something that's just to play games! I don't want to watch movies on it, I don't want to download songs and listen to it on my system (that's why I have a CD player), I just want to play games and only games. Everything else is unnecessary for me. And when I looked at the PSP games, there didn't seem to be a whole lot that got my attention. Don't get me wrong, maybe if I played some, I would actually like them, but at first glance, ... I'm just not interested. So I'm not sure if I'll ever buy a PSP. I might have to try out someone else's first before I can make any final decision.

[Tails]

PSP is a system that has great specs and all, but Nyiana-Sama is right... if the price was more reasonabale, and if they focused more on the games... the PSP wouldn't be as worthless as it currently is. I mean, who wants to carry around a portable device that is THAT expensive and THAT useless anyway?

The PSP doesn't seem like something for me either. Usually, when I'm looking at gaming systems, what I really want is something that's just to play games! I don't want to watch movies on it, I don't want to download songs and listen to it on my system (that's why I have a CD player), I just want to play games and only games. Everything else is unnecessary for me. And when I looked at the PSP games, there didn't seem to be a whole lot that got my attention.

Wow. I couldn't have said it better myself. That's like... exactly how I feel about the PSP.

[Kit]

Weve had ALOT of people sell their PSPs because of the lack of games. It doesnt need all that other crap, its a game system, make games!

[Marik]

Sony's marketing got to you, that's what they do. That's the ONLY reason they're successful.

People buy it for illegal reasons only. I would only play one PSP game and that's Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Core. I dunno why Square Enix is doing this. No Square fan wants a PSP and then shove us this. They would rather want a DS cause Square develops for it too with Crystal Chronicles DS, Final Fantasy 3, Egg Monster Heroes and World of Mana. And its cheaper and do more stuff on it.

[Tails]

tailsandgrowly said:

Sony's marketing got to you, that's what they do. That's the ONLY reason they're successful.

I admit it!!! They got to me!!! I need help!!!

::checks self into a clinic::

It's 100% true. People buy Sony's hardware for all the wrong reasons. And I know the same will happen with the PS3... despite the fact there's no finished model in the works!

You see, Sony has always been known to "put on a show", so regardless whether the PS3 is up and running or not... they'll have something on display to make the audience go "wow". That's really Sony's marketing strategy. They get gamers excited for a system long before it's prepared for launch. Why do you think the Dreamcast did so poorly? People didn't buy Dreamcasts because they already set money aside for the PS2. Months and months before the PS2 even launched, fans were already amazed by the system's power (which, ironically... was easily outbeaten by Nintendo and Microsoft's consoles... Xbox mostly) and had already decided which console they'd stick with during the "next-generation" of gaming.

Sony tried the same thing with the PSP. The hype was clearly there. I personally heard more "word on the street" prior to the PSP launch than the DS launch (however, it is ironic that the DS outsold the PSP by FAR in Japan, and by, what is becoming a close margin in America). And with the PS3, the scheme... erm, well-played marketing... is there. I already know a handful of casual gamers who have announced that they will solely choose the PS3 when the new batch of systems comes out. I've also already heard, "that new FFVI game for the PS3 is going to be awesome!" and "the PS3 graphics look so sweet!"... yet those tech demos you saw weren't running on a PS3 nor a close-to-PS3 model... they were running from, to the best of my knowledge, a computer.

And although I certaintly believe the PS3 will be one heck of an impressive machine, it upsets me severely how casual gamers have all been fooled. They've announced their "holy matrimony" with the PS3 long before they've seen what the system can do (although nobody truly knows what the system is capable of). And if there's one thing I've learned from Kaz Hirai and Ken Kutaragi, those Sony liars can't be trusted. I HATE SONY'S MANAGEMENT.

...that is all.

[Marik]

It's not mostly that people buy the products for the wrong reasons(it is for the PSP), it starts with developers deciding to develop for them and it was wrong. Sony was successful because Nintendo and Sega made mistakes after the 16 bit war. Square woulda been on the N64 if Nintendo was using CD's(FFVII was shown on a N64 tech demo) and Sega overpriced the Saturn and used it mosty on 2D games.

Then Sony told all developers that the PS2 will have tons of online options for the PS2 vs the Dreamcast's(in the end half of what Sony said was gonna be on it were false and doesn't hold a candle to Xbox Live) and that the PS2 was more powerful than the Dreamcast(in the end the PS2's DVD medium vs the DC's CD's was the only thing that was more powerful, the Dreamcast is more powerful in and if it was still alive, it's games would look better than God of War, but not as much as GCN games like RE4 and Zelda. The Dreamcast also has a better framerate than the PS2, that's why Sonic Heroes sucks on the PS2 but if it was for the DC, the framerate would be smooth, but again not as smooth as the GCN version so don't think the Dreamcast is the ultimate machine). Today in America's gaming world the Xbox and PS2 are neck and neck and Sony is feeling the heat. That why I don't get why the PS3 is what it is.

Out of all 4 console makers(counting Sega), Sony has the weakest first party, they live today from third parties and low blow marketing. Nintendo is def the highest first party(used to have the strongest second party too). Microsoft now has the strongest second party. If Nintendo had Sony's third party support, Nintendo would destroy Sony. Why do you think the Super Nintendo beat the Genesis in the 16 bit war? Combine Nintendo's first party with their old second party(Rare and HAL Labs) and third party support that rivals the PS2's(Square, Namco, Enix, EA etc.)? You had what people still say was the best console ever lived.

[Teepo]

I just bought a PSP, I don't have any problems with it at all, yet If you don't have a DS, PS2, or GCN spend your money on one of them(not XBOX, I hate XBOX). I only bought a PSP for the new Guilty Gear game.

EDIT: Also I bought my PSP refurbished, $250 is way too much.

[Tails X-Treme]

Just look at the PS2, only reason i bought it is that they actually lower the prices of the games to 15$, and they have a ton of games, not many are great, but they have a ton of games.

Also, why do I want the DVD player that comes with it? only reason to have it is to use it with a Gameshark to be able to use those weird region DVD's (Region 2, 3 and 5, 5 may not exist, but i´ve seen region 5 discs) why else if I've got 2 DVD players with a powerful enough amplifier to make my windows vibrate!
Very good example of Sony's marketing, throw in useless things to make the system more expensive.

Then, that easily goes to the PSP, PS3, etc.
And that's why Sony's liars come every year with a bigger lie to make people buy.