PSP Not A Sellout Hit 241
MilenCent writes "We're starting to see our first mainstream media reports on the PSP's (lack of) sales performance, from the Seattle Times: "But while Sony is touting the rollout as a success -- and many retailers did sell their entire stock -- the event might not have been the complete blockbuster that was expected." In summary, the article says that more systems were sold than not, that dedicated gaming stores were more likely to sell out than department stores like Target, and that the biggest reason gamers didn't pick it up is likely its price -- which wasn't helped by some retailers' sale condition that customers also purchase games, which could raise the price to nearly $350. Will demand pick up once the unit is out there and seen by people, or will it take a price cut before the system sells satisfactorily?"
Not surprising... (Score:5, Insightful)
cost? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Not surprising... (Score:4, Insightful)
Sell Out (Score:5, Insightful)
$249 is too much (Score:5, Insightful)
I'll save another $50 and buy an Xbox 3 this Christmas.
$249 is a lot of money to some people.
This is surprising? (Score:5, Insightful)
GameStop and EBGames both told me "Pre-order, or you're not getting one until the 22nd century." If that was the case, then I must still be dreaming.
Truth be told, I think the DS sold out for the reason everyone thought it would. It was different. It came froma company that traditionally gets things right the first time.
The PSP is nothing "new" and comes from a company with a bad track record of first releases. I'm pretty sure most people, myself included, said they'll wait for the bugs to get run out of the first run before investing.
A season for all things (Score:5, Insightful)
But the PSP doesn't really hit that crowd. The target audience, 18-40 males, doesn't have a summer off (or is driving when they do). The PSP might perform better come winter and Christmas, particularly if they drop the price $50.
Maybe the market they target doesn't have the time (Score:5, Insightful)
But you know what? I don't have that kind of time. I can't play my PSP when I'm stuck in traffic (I tried to with my new cell phone, but that was rather risky). I can't play my PSP at work (well, I could try). I can't play my PSP playing basketball, or golf or whatever. And I suspect that other 18-39 year olds that have jobs may not either. And by putting it at a price point so high that you really have to have a lot of 'opportunity' times to play. Unless they market this to kids, but somehow those commercials don't look kiddy to me.
I do have time when I get home however. But then, why would I pay money to look at a small little screen when I can just watch DVD's on any of my TVs. Or play my PS2.
They should really try to market to kids. Hell, when you have no job and people are driving you to places you don't really want to go to, there's opportunity-time galore.
Re:cost? (Score:2, Insightful)
I think word of mouth and impressed friends of owners will continue to increase sales numbers for a while before any price drop happens.
Complaining About Ports? (Score:3, Insightful)
Has anyone really noticed the majority of the DS library? Super Mario 64, Warioware (pretty much a port), Ridge Racer, Tiger Woods, Madden. I mean aside from Yoshi Touch N Go and Ping Pals, Nintendo doesn't exactly have a ton of original non-port stuff either.
While everyone complains about ports, I wonder how many people will run to stores and pick up DS when Ocarina of Time ends up hitting it, or when GTA hits a PSP. Face it people, sure we love original games like Lumines, but really the majority of games you purchase for handhelds are portable versions of your favorite home games. Slightly tweaked, but still great games.
Re:This is surprising? (Score:5, Insightful)
Not only that, but it seems to be the status quo now where a new system's success is measured not by if it sells out in major outlets, but rather how quickly. Even the very day of the PSP launch, the mass media was producing stories saying that by noon, many retailers still had plenty of systems left? Excuse me? Still?
If these units where anything other than a video game system that sold out, most folks would stop to ask themselves why a particular retail chain didn't do their market demand research before placing such a miniscule order. They'd also ask how a company could spend millions or billions preparing for a product launch and then somehow simply forget a few zeros when they told the manufacturer how many to produce.
I tell you why the PSP didn't sell well. People are sick of the artificial scarcity tactic. The last five video game systems to be released all carried the same spiel and nobody's buying it anymore. They know full well that two or three weeks from now, you'll be able to waltz into any Walmart and grab one out of the dozens in stock.
Yet another platform to buy for (Score:1, Insightful)
Yes the bundle pack makes it more expensive.
I think that the game prices are right along the prices for other platforms. I don't see why people would complain about that.
The problem I have with it is that there is no compatibility with anything. If you get one of these, you can't play games from other platforms.
My PS2 plays PS1 and PS2 games, and has the eyeToy accessory. My Gamecube plays GC, GBA and GBC games. The Gameboy Advance SP plays GBA, GBC, GB, and e-reader games. Heck even the DS plays GBA games too.
I'm not saying that I don't want one, just pointing out it is a system that does not really have any compatibility with anything else. Kind of like the xBox. It's hard to justify purchasing a system that only does one thing, especially at that price.
Re:For $350... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:My Checklist Before I'll Buy It (Score:3, Insightful)
So you're never going to buy a laptop? It's also worth noting that my GBA SP has a dead pixel, but I just sorta accept that...
Re:Maybe the market they target doesn't have the t (Score:2, Insightful)
Magic numbers and bad timing (Score:2, Insightful)
There is a psychological barrier that transcends economic conditions, a point at which something simply feels too expensive for the majority of consumers. For handheld videogames, that number is $100. And for game consoles, it is $200. Below these price points, there is mass market appeal.
The DS, thanks to years of Gameboy momentum, has surprised many of us by having an impressive launch despite the $150 price tag. People could look at recently $100 GBA-SP, then at a DS, and see a lot of hardware added to a system that keeps on delivering great entertainment. It made the price point acceptable, if still a bit high.
Then along comes the PSP, priced much higher than a full blown PS2 and yet clearly not as powerful as one, and the mass market chokes. Clearly it is a beautiful, even elegant machine, but $250?!? Holy crap!
But we shouldn't ignore timing. Nintendo rolled out there new baby in time for the Christmas holidays. When many people are not only running about in a frantic orgy of consumer spending, but are also contemplating the long winter months of indoor confinement. Sony, on the other hand, launched the PSP when many people are preoccupied with their tax bills, and those with extra cash are looking forward to fun in the sun during the impending spring and summer months ahead. If anything, I'd say the Easter launch window was just as bad an idea as the $250 price point.
Re:Problem of perception (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Complaining About Ports? (Score:2, Insightful)
Maybe you do; I don't have that kind of money. And I'm not that easy to please. If I'm going to spend money on entertainment, it will be for an experience I've never had before. Something to give me new insight. And further, something that's actually designed for the platform in question.
What ports are you talking about? I don't even see them on the DS. I'm not paying attention. What I see are Another Code and Meteos. Even the games that come from an established series will be diffrent, beause of the nature of the DS. Animal Crossing with a stylus, wifi, and a second screen? Hell yes. That's just perfect. And have you seen how gorgeous the new Castlevania is?
The PSP cannot, by nature, offer me an experience I could not find elsewhere.
Re:Most impressive gadget in some time (Score:1, Insightful)
The ability to play movies is a much more USELESS gimic than the touch screen on the DS..
I mean seriously who is going to pay full price for a movie that can only be watched on a PSP..
You can get a good portable DVD player and MP3 player for cheaper than a PSP + memory stick and still have money over to buy a GBA.
Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:For $350... (Score:3, Insightful)
Sure there are your standard plane trips and waiting at the DMV, but really, do you spend so much time at the DMV that you'd spend $350 for the PSP and 2 games?
I can't play at work, and when I'm not at work, I'm at home or out socializing. I'm not going to be playing the PSP in a bar.
Sony's target market has very little need for the PSP.. which is why it isn't selling well.