PSP vs. DS

[odhranus]

Originally Posted by QJ.net

Gamasutra talks with Brian O'Rourke, Senior Analyst for the Converging Markets and Technologies Group at market analyst group In-Stat, about the duopoly of the aforementioned consoles in the handheld market and what has allowed them to stay on top. Attempts of the Nokia N-Gage, Tapwave Zodiac, and Gizmondo has proved to be futile and O'Rourke predicts that the DS and PSP will continue to sell well into 2010.

According to O'Rourke, the DS will continue to outship the PSP because of the former's success in the Japanese market. But he believes that Sony will try to win not only Japan but also all major regions by the fourth quarter of this year by cutting down the price of the PSP. Whether the PSP entertainment bundle will be effective in "keeping up" with DS sales remains unclear.

O'Rourke's report/forecast on handheld shipments and revenues up to 2010 was based on in-depth interviews with manufacturers and software publishers. In the interview, O'Rourke shares with Gamasutra his findings and what it would mean for the PSP and DS in the years to come. Let us run by the topics discussed:

Why the DS has outsold the PSP: O'Rourke says that the DS's shipment advantage has been overstated, because by the end of 2005, the PSP outshipped the DS on a worldwide basis. However in 2006, the DS outshipped the PSP for two reasons: 1) DS is selling better than the PSP in Japan and 2) Nintendo has been more successful with game software for their handheld than Sony has been with theirs. Case in point: the Nintendogs and Brain Games franchises. O'Rourke says that the success of these franchises helped sell more DS units.

On other companies' failure in the handheld market: O'Rourke says that the reason why most companies fail to stay on the handheld market is that they focus too much on graphics and see it as the most important aspect of their consoles. He gives the Atari and NEC as examples of Nintendo's competitors that had superior graphic performance but did not succeed. According to him, what's more important is strong software support and recognizable characters that appeal to the pre-teen and early teen market. O'Rourke further adds that this is where Nintendo has been successful in tapping into.

Where Sony went wrong: O'Rourke sees two particular reasons why the DS seems to be more successful than the PSP: 1) the PSP costs more than the DS, with a 70-dollar price difference. 2) Nintendo has created more breakout titles for the DS than Sony has with their PSP. However, he makes it clear that he is not bringing down the PSP in any way and that we should keep in mind that the PSP has been a successful product and will continue to be. He also says that publishers will continue to stand by the PSP in the years to come.

Now that's what he thinks. How about you, which do you prefer - a DS or a PSP? Us? We have both!

So true, but it seems better games are planned for PSP in future, though the New super mario bros. is a game that I would love, only reason I would buy a DS. I think both handhelds are just aimed at different audiences.

[Mr Hankey]

oh no not this debate again please :?

both systems have their advantages, but we
like the psp better, thats why we´re on this forum

end of story ?

[odhranus]

wasnt trying to start anything, just it was on qj thought it was interesting to post up here.

[Mr Hankey]

phew

I really thought you were trying to start something

well its fine with me, even a little interesting

[dirtbikr6288]

Well...I think everyone here knows how I feel about this whole subject.

But odhranus is right...they were made for two different audiences. The PSP just suits me ALOT better. I am a graphics and movie and neat things type of guy...which the DS seriously lacks. I have nothing against Nintendo or DS...All of my systems up to Playstation One were all Nintendo, and I loved them ALL.

[VAMP]

I'm actually think of buying a DS tomorrow (coincidence). What do you guys think. I love all video games (even "kiddie" games like Mario). Do you think it's a waste of $$$?

[bamhm182]

I don't think it is, I love my DS, I hardly ever play it though. I think if I were you I'd get the newer one, DS lite I think it is, because it's better and not to much more expensive.

[Beodude123]

I think Nintendo has a bit of an advantage too. They've been in the handheld market for how long? They've had a good chance to figure out what really works in a handheld.

Sony just got in, and they are doing pretty well.

I'm happy with my PSP.

[dirtbikr6288]

Originally Posted by Beodude123

They've had a good chance to figure out what really works in a handheld.

That's a good point. But, SONY has been in the electronic buisness WAY longer.

[Beodude123]

Right, but making electronics, and making a sucessful handheld are two different things.