Top of the list is direct PSP access to the PlayStation Store via the handheld's web browser. To celebrate this much-demanded feature, Sony will make Mainichi Issyo Portable freely available on the Store at launch.
Even more impressively, Sony Japan plans to let PSP owners play Ad Hoc multiplayer online via a PSP-to-PS3 connection. The manufacturer has confirmed that the hugely popular Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G will be among the first games to support this new service.
In an interview, Sony exec John Koller revealed that the battery life of the new PSP model will be decreased by about 20 to 30 minutes because of "a larger power draw with the brighter screen." PSP-3000 model will have the same compatibility with the Slim accessories. It's also been confirmed that production of the PSP-2000 will cease by September.
The PlayStation Portable has sold over 10 million units in Japan alone, reports Kotaku. Looking over the list of top-selling games, it's not hard to see what's been driving the charge. RPGs dominate the list at all five spots, and the Monster Hunter series occupies three of them. Altogether, the sales of Monster Hunter games reach nearly 5 million units, half the number of systems sold in the country. Sony of Japan needs to send Capcom a nice gift basket for giving them this many sales.
I think the market for a certain game (Monster Hunter) doesn't exist for the PSP outside of Japan. Also, pushing the PSP in the last year was 1Seg which is not available outside of Japan as well.
As far as NA and EU go the biggest hope I see for it is if they do a PS3/PSP bundle pack (to play off the Remote Play capabilities). I figure SONY is making approx $80/PSP on hardware (I figured it out once...) so if they could bundle it into a PS3 package it might extend the life of the PSP in NA and EU. I just don't see it having the legs to get to 80 million.
Personally I have this theory that they will launch a PSP2 with dual analog at the same time that they launch PS2 BC through software on the PS3. Make the PS2 games downloadable on the PSN and have them playable on the PSP2 and PS3. I see that day within 2 years imo. I refuse to believe that SONY is not going to find a way to milk the PS2 software catalog in the PS3 era.
@kspraydad, What is your opinion on possible "delayed Japan effect", like what happened to DS & DSL ? I remember that DS enjoyed very good sales in Japan, even before DSL launch. DS in US didn't enjoy good sales UNTIL DSL launch, which is about half a year (give or take a few month) AFTER Japan increased sales.
What make you think that it (delayed Japan effect) couldn't happen to PSP ?
Asking this question does not mean that I believe your analysis is wrong, especially since I don't have position in this stock. It is just that I am not sure whether you considered that above mentioned factor, since that was not explained/mentioned in your post.
We currently are targeting LT sales of PSP to 80 million and Nintendo DS at 155 million. This would project that the PSP as a percentage of total handheld sales would be 80/235 = 34.04%
PSP currently represents 32.2% of handheld sales lifetime to date (according to VG which adjusts itself on long term sales and should be 'fairly' accurate).
YTD, even accounting for the resurgance of the PSP in Japan, handheld WW sales are 21662781 and PSP sales YTD are 6982116 or 6982116/21662781= 32.2% of sales.
The resurgance in Japan is not translating elsewhere, it is actually masking a DECREASING percentage of sales in all other territories.
When news of the PSP-3000 redesign broke at GC in Leipzig, Germany last week, our initial response was that of mild intrigue. The new iteration, it was announced, would feature a built-in microphone, enhanced LCD screen, and a revised plastic casing to reduce reflectivity. Exciting, right? Well, as it turns out, the revisions made for the PSP-3000 are actually kind of remarkable.
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has announced a partnership with the world's largest global WiFi community FON - to create a new service, PSPĂ—FON.
Under the partnership the two companies plan to roll out FON access points in the region for a free internet browser via the Sony PlayStation Portable.
Sony announced today that two of its upcoming Japanese games will be available both through standard retail channels and via digital download.
Yuusha no Kuse ni Namaikida or2 and Bleach Soul Carnival will be following the route taken by PS3 titles like Gran Turismo Prologue. Sony will offer a download version of the games date in with the retail versions, and will even give players who go the download route a discount.
According to a report by Engadget Japan, the screen is more colorful, has a stronger contrast ratio, and to the praise of gamers everywhere, has a faster response time. The official stats? Color gamut is twice as wide. The contrast ratio is improved 5 times. The response time has doubled. For gamers that have complained about the PSP-1000 and 2000's slow response time (which creates a ghosting effect in certain games), this is certainly good news.
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