There is a rumour buzzing around the internet today that Sony is planning on getting some media muscle on board to help bolster PSP sales. The rumour goes that this is to arrive in the shape of some big software companies and at least one major ISP such as Yahoo. Swallowing that is the easy part, it’s a rumour, and rumours don’t have to be substantiated, just reported impartially.
Impartial reporting is not the strength however, of the collection of slack jawed ‘industry analysts’ that - due to the high profile business ramifications of the competing console manufacturers - are enjoying their fifteen minutes of fame. This collection of abacus wielding wagtails have developed a bit of a penchant for sound bites and hyperbole of late, so this is just fair warning for you - our esteemed readers - that it might be useful to get a large bucket of salt at the ready. But don’t let me tar them all with the same brush, just read this quote straight from the horses (anonymous) mouth.
Analysts expect the PSP business tie-ups to promote the PSP as a more user-friendly device capable of downloading films, television shows and back-catalogue PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games. The changes could allow users to download games and other content anywhere the PSP can be connected to a WiFi network. Although the PSP is already technically capable of downloading and storing online content, such as games, the services have not appealed to mainstream users. A tie-up with a well-known internet brand or television company, said one Nomura analyst could change that.
Now let’s take that apart shall we? It was all going well until the words, ‘and PS2 games’. Sorry but no, the PSP will not be downloading full PS2 games in this life or any other life for that matter. Next up is this little nugget of insight, ‘Although the PSP is already technically capable of downloading and storing online content, such as games, the services have not appealed to mainstream users.’ Let’s just do the math on this one. Full games (as in PS1 emulation titles) can only be downloaded to the PSP via the PS3. So far Sony has shipped 1.84 million PS3s, the PSP has sold a few more than that (there it is, the understatement of the century); 24 million units worldwide to be exact.
So basically we have 22 million PSP users on our hands that don’t even have access to the downloadable games at present. Now I am no analyst, but I would say that judging by these figures it is perhaps too early to call on whether or not ‘mainstream’ PSP users find the download service appealing; no?
If Sony was to offer movies (something that should be happening soon), PS1 emulation titles and other content to the PSP via WiFi points – or at least without the need for a PS3 – then a ‘tie up with a well-known internet brand’ might be more fruitful.
In any case, the word on the street is that there will be some sort of official SCE announcement regarding all of this speculation sometime in March.
Via Pocketgamer