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Sony suddenly remembers the PSP and announces upcoming AAA titles
It wasn't so much an announcement as it was a sudden start, like when someone sleeping wakes with the realization that he overslept on the morning of an important meeting. That's the mental image I get from Sony's torrent of revelations about upcoming PSP titles. The neglected handheld system is getting its own versions of Assassin's Creed, Rock Band, Little Big Planet, and MotorStorm (pictured, although that's a shot from a trailer, not the actual game).
Sony also appears to have noticed the girl-friendly Nintendo DS for the first time, which would explain the announcement of a Hannah Montana and a Petz game for the PSP, not to mention the new lilac model. And I'm not being a smart alec. There's literally a lilac PSP on the way. Not pink, not purple, not mauve. Lilac. Don't believe me? Check it out:
So precious.
While it's easy to be cynical, I really like the PSP. It's a sexy piece of hardware -- in any color! -- that hasn't gotten its due from Sony, especially over the past year. Sony all but threw the PSP under a bus for the 2008 holidays. Now they're doing what they should have been doing all along: stressing its appeal to hardcore gamers with titles that rely on hardcore graphics. As much as I love Patapon, LocoRoco, and Space Invaders Extreme, all of which are getting plenty of time on my PSP these days, they're the kinds of games folks get a Nintendo DS to play: quirky, 2D, and niche. I'm glad to see Sony finally getting serious about supporting the system and even expanding its appeal beyond guys like me.
By Switchbreak at 9:26 AM ON 02/25/09
Yeah, I love my PSP, but I pretty much only have my backlog of games to play on it because there's almost never anything new. Still, if it were just a Lumines, WH40K and Jeanne D'arc machine, it would still be worth it to me.
By CaptBogBot at 8:10 PM ON 02/25/09
Now if only they would release the PSP camera in the US...
By Brinstar at 11:38 AM ON 02/27/09
I'm all for expanding the gaming market to non-gamers, but I do think that Sony need to do more than just release a PSP with a new coat of paint and some Hana Montana games.
Nintendo's marketing to non-traditional gamer demographics seem to be much more well-thought out than just releasing more DS Lite or Wii colours. Whilst a lot of Nintendo's marketing to women was unfortunately rife with stereotypical portrayals of women and the types of games women apparently like, they did make that effort to actually sell to women, and they didn't treat women like a different species in their marketing materials. It wasn't as superficial as a new colour.
I think the Western arms of Sony should take a cue from Sony Japan in their marketing to women and non-gamers. The marketing there is, from what I have seen, similar to Nintendo's marketing, but targeting a slightly more upscale, trend-aware clientele. Regardless, Sony Japan's marketing of the PSP shows a lot more thought, consideration, and research of non-traditional gamer audiences.
By Tom Chick at 5:01 PM ON 02/27/09
Brinstar, I think you're missing an important point about the Sony announcements. They aren't targeting women. They're targeting pre-teen girls. A lilac colored PSP, a Hannah Montana game, and a Petz game obviously aren't going to bring in the soccer moms! :)
By warcraft gold at 9:56 AM ON 03/09/09
It's really a good news, they should focus and follow the success of DS.
warcraft gold:
It's really a good news, they should focus and follow the success of DS....More »