While I have great hope for their future potential, I am definitely skeptical. The winds in Sony R&D have definitely changed and I really hope they will be able to deliver something that meets this criteria.
I see this going one of two ways:
Nintendo recaptures the mature market abandoned by Sony for growth, while competing against a siege from Apple.
or
Sony comes back with a strongly integrated platform, that involves PS3/BluRay/PSN/Home integration. They hold their current market and perhaps steal a little growth from Apple.
I see Nintendo doing what they can with the timing of this 3DS to force the issue sooner than later, and back Sony in to a corner (scenario 1)
Oh no quite the opposite! I relish *renewed* competition in the space. In competition (or war in my analogy) Nintendo has obvious interest in putting Sony out of the picture. Their clear rival in the handheld space is Apple currently, as Apple's market share of handheld games has grown 100% while Sony's share is now 50% of what it was since the AppStore opened.
I think Sony made a horrible mistake with PSPGo, and therefore "deserves to pay" in the market. If they don't "pay" they will cease to be competitive in this space by simply not learning from their mistakes.
You mention a lot of ho-hum standard integration. This is not what I'm talking about. As a PSP and PS3 owner I can say first hand, integration is clunky, irregular, and really doesn't add anything to the experience (just like the DS unfortunately)
For instance: Why am I not seeing PSP used as an optional subscreen? IE: current standings in FPS games, maps etc.
@PhilHarrision,Sorry...didn't explain my why...I think NIN can continue to hold its own with limited functionality as he vast majority of their sales are still in the 6-12 age group.
Sony having a target age that is older has to complete against Win7/Xbox and Apple iOS and all its interations (phone/touch/pad and I believe TV by year end). They MUST provide a platform that is open enough to allow for social integration of email/fb/twitter/browsing, music, movies and still function withing closed walls. To me Android answers this.
@zeromous,What exactly is wrong about having competition in the handheld space? I have both and like them for different reasons...I don't get the 'they need to pay' bit?
The PSP integrates with the PS3 through the minis program, remote play of PS1 games, remote play of TV in both EU and JP. Seems like much better integration than what the DS has given us so far. Have the newest bits of news from Apple and Win7 shown us that PSP and DS are now long in the tooth...sure, but I don't see that the DS is 'clearly ahead' technology wise.
BTW...I expect the PSP2 to be Custom Android based with apps being available only through PSN. Thus you'll get all the social and web functions/media functions that Win7 / iOS has with out all the R&D to build it inhouse, be able to take advangtage of a ton of free applications to enhance your product and still provide a SONY experience through vertical store and product integration with PS3 and Bravia and Dash and the like.
Well in the art of war, a moment when your opponent is struggling is the precise time to strike with a decisive blow.
Nintendo has technology clearly ahead of the competition in the portable space. It's time to make Sony pay for the PSP Go and Sony's failure to utilize the PS3 and PSP in an integrated fashion to create their own unique experience.
I think they need to pay and I hope this move will turn out to be a stroke of genius for Nintendo.
@apujanata, Colin Sebastian said he expects Sony to announce "a new PSP handheld device this spring," with Nintendo revealing "an updated console in the coming year." He is speaking about the Wii in the last bit and this statement was in repsonse to seeking his reaction on the 3DS. Is it a PSP2 or the PSP4000 (current 3000 with BT and the GO's OS)?
@apujanata, Well, looks like I was wrong. I don't really understand why Nintendo release 3DS now, instead of 2012 or 2013. I don't think it was caused by iTouch or possible MS portable machine.
3D without special glass should be exciting.
Regarding PSP price, I always thought that it will max out at 70 Million GLS, even before I heard about 3DS. After hearing it, I cashed out small my PSP long :)
I'm thinking the 3DS is going either kill the PSP in Japan OR hasten the PSP2's release...either way I'm seeing the 3DS as being a negative pressure point on PSP growing another 50% from current 60dkp to almost 90DKP. Going short with new price target of 75DKP imo.
@apujanata,You are ignoring the continued growth in gaming on iPod platforms and the expected launch of a MS portable game machine. Nintendo with have a more and more fractured market with 3 competitors.
Mainly though I posted the article because Jesse used to work here no?
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