Nintendo: PSP Go has a Fundamental Concept Problem

Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime lands a blow on Sony's latest handheld.

Posted 12 Oct 2009
"Hey, I'm juuust sayin'."
Follow us on... Facebook Twitter iGoogle RSS
Share on... Twitter N4G digg Facebook Slashdot
The industry beatdown on the PSP Go continues, as over the weekend Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime added his two cents. Speaking to the Washington Post, the exec mused as to whether the new Sony model has a "fundamental concept problem".

"Who's it for? What's the benefit?" Reggie asks, suggesting that a lot of people aren't going to be too interested in a download-only handheld, when the PSP 3000 already offers value with an added UMD drive.

Of course, we can already see where the benefits lie for the PSP Go, and that's with software developers and publishers. With the PSP console rife with bedroom coders hacking the firmware and pirating games, and the recent trend of supermarket price-cutting, digital distribution seems a nice way of continuing business on the platform.

That's not to say that every consumer looking for an upgrade to their PSP 1000s will be impressed with the new model, as Reggie clarifies; "I have the utmost respect for all our competitors, but it's interesting to try and answer the consumer question of 'What's in it for me?' in that product."

The Nintendo top gun also touched on the ever-growing threat of Apple with its iPhone platform, rejecting any possibility of competing directly in that market. "We don't have a desire to get into the phone space... We think the game business is competitive enough."

Comments

Spammer? All posted links are "nofollow", every spam post is edited or nuked.

Humans Rule OK

1/8
sc posted on 12 Oct 2009 10:40
Piracy is also rife on the DS. Nintendo should worry about that.
2/8
Jonathan posted on 12 Oct 2009 11:57
piracy hummm anyone else noticed that the only console that cant be hacked (the PS3) is the one selling poorly? 360 and wii all have downloadable games.

like it or not piracy can seriously effect sales and i personally think sony shot themselfs in the foot with the ps3
more comments below our sponsor's message
3/8
Anthony posted on 12 Oct 2009 12:38
lol @ jonathan

show how much you know. the PS3 is continuing to outsell xbox and wii at the moment as ps3 sales increas xbox is falling off the map. just because your to cheap to pay for games doesnt mean the ps3 is rubbish. btw ps3 has downloadable games too you moron.
4/8
Anthony posted on 12 Oct 2009 12:40
lol @ jonathan

show how much you know. the PS3 is continuing to outsell xbox and wii at the moment as ps3 sales increas xbox is falling off the map. just because your to cheap to pay for games doesnt mean the ps3 is rubbish. btw ps3 has downloadable games too you moron.
5/8
Thongslapper posted on 12 Oct 2009 13:19
@Anthony pffft... Fanboy!
6/8
Thongslapper posted on 12 Oct 2009 13:21
@Anthony
So ps3 has outsold 360 for how many seconds...
How many years has the 360 been outselling the ps3...
Any takers :-)
7/8
Svend Joscelyne posted on 12 Oct 2009 13:24
Jonathan wrote:
piracy hummm anyone else noticed that the only console that cant be hacked (the PS3) is the one selling poorly? 360 and wii all have downloadable games.

like it or not piracy can seriously effect sales and i personally think sony shot themselfs in the foot with the ps3

That can be the case with consoles, but consider that PSP has been considered somewhat of a dead platform to consumers for the last year or so and that argument falls apart a little. Piracy can help console sales, yes, but it won't do anything good for the platform.
8/8
Greg posted on 12 Oct 2009 13:38
So let me get this straight. Nintendo are talking down the PSP Go, and this is somehow news?

Polls

Online Multiplayer or Not for you?


Results | All Polls

. . .