Should Sony Team With Google On a PlayStation Phone? 182
donniebaseball23 writes "The PSP2 is already in the hands of developers, but will Sony take the right direction in the portable sector? Following a recent op-ed on fixing the PSP business, leading game industry analysts came to the consensus that the best avenue for Sony to take is to offer a PlayStation Phone, and a strong partner like Google would do just the trick. 'Sony has the opportunity to redefine the portable games category. I think the best move would be to get out in front of Microsoft's inevitable Xbox LIVE Arcade Mobile and take on the App Store and carrier deck portals. ... They could put out a proper PlayStation Phone (and a PlayStation Pad) but these should compete with smartphones and tablets, not dedicated gaming devices. To do this quickly, Sony could partner with Google and take advantage of Android's considerable momentum,' said Billy Pidgeon of M2 Research."
No. (Score:2)
Sony wants nothing more than control. Google wants open phones. The two clash in many ways.
Re: (Score:2)
Must why SE is focusing on Android now.
Re: (Score:2)
"Sony wants nothing more than control. Google wants open phones. The two clash in many ways."
However, SonyEricsson has one of the largest teams of people dedicated to both Android platform and tool development. This team openly contributes a significant amount of work back to the Android Open Source Project.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I agree that Sony in the past has been obsessed with control of its platforms, but things are changing under Stringer.
I'm sorry but I don't see any change. For one, they disabled the OtherOS feature an out of the box feature for another they disabled third party controllers. Yes. Sony doesn't even want you to have your choice of controllers. For another they've been completely against the homebrew community and are trying their hardest to break rooted PS3s. All these things have happened within the past year.
Look, if I was referencing the rootkits from a few years ago, it would be easy to rationalize as that was Sony
No fixing needed! (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes add more features surely playing movies music and games was not enough!!! They needed more features so they could outsell the DS!!!
The DS didn't win because it had features..... it didn't win because it had better graphics.... it won because it had more fun games to play and a bigger variety of games to pick from. Pesky consumers and there desire for choices!!!!
Sony just does not have the developer support for 2 systems, I suspect they would be better served by focusing on one or the other.
Re: (Score:2)
Sony doesn't have the developer support?
Rewind back to the launch of the DS - Nintendo had the gamecube, Sony had the PS2 - which of those do you think had more developer support? The PS2 had hundreds more developers releasing titles on it than the Gamecube ever had.
Sure, that has pretty much reversed itself these days when you compare the PS3 to the Wii and DSi/3DS, but what's to say that with a successful product launch, the same couldn't happen again?
Re: (Score:2)
Sony just does not have the developer support for 2 systems, I suspect they would be better served by focusing on one or the other.
It's not necessary to split the developers. A PSPhone could just be android with a PSP2 app. Sure, it would need to have somewhat higher specs to run the background phone processes while gaming, but the subsidies from 2 year contracts could hide those costs (much in the same way the iPhone does).
Since Sony has a cell phone devision, already produces several android devices, and from a CPU/GPU standpoint the PSP2 is probably comparable to a high end android phone, I think Sony would be, frankly, foolish not
Battery (Score:3, Insightful)
Extra battery (Score:2)
On the other hand, it seems to me that a phone with a spare battery in your pocket is still smaller than a phone + a Gameboy or PSP.
Re: (Score:2)
Except I just use SkypeOut and SkypeIn on the PSP as my phone.
"Should Sony team w/ Google?" No. (Score:4, Insightful)
Sony frankly doesn't have a good track record with hardware in general. The hardware tends to be quirky, and after-sales support poor -- my friend had a Sony DVD player that *specifically* advertised firmware upgradeability on the box, it was very buggy.. no firmware updates ever came out for it, Sony's solution was to just buy the next model. They've done the same thing with other products.
Sony also LOVES closed systems, the antithesis of Android. They've done stuff like take a generic off-the-shelf DVD or CD drive, and put their own firmware in it, actually introducing bugs compared to the stock firmware while adding no features; some Vaios have fingerprint readers that WOULD be standard and work with generic Linux drivers, except Sony put custom firmware in so it ONLY works with Sony's (Windows-based) software. This also is something they've done again and again.
Would I buy a Sony phone? Hell no.
Re: (Score:2)
Sony frankly doesn't have a good track record with hardware in general. The hardware tends to be quirky, and after-sales support poor
Wait, what? I'd say the best thing Sony's got going for them is the reliability of their hardware, and their no-fuss attitude to after-sales support, but maybe that's my experience (in 3 countries outside the US). Hell, my PS1 still does duty as a solid CD player in a friend's den, and my dad's Sony music system from 1993 only crapped out earlier this year. Hardware they can do, software not so much.
Re: (Score:2)
I notice your anecdotal evidence lacks more recent examples of Sony hardware.
Re: (Score:2)
I'll see your anecdotal evidence of Sony's reliability, and raise you my anecdotal evidence!
I no longer have any working Sony hardware. Every Sony product I have owned has died on me (long enough to last through warranties, but not by a lot...)
I also used to work in retail management for a video game store chain that dealt quite a bit with used games and systems during the last generation of consoles. I'd estimate that of the number of systems that people who brought in their used systems to trade in, I'd
Re: (Score:2)
To add to this evidence, I own a Sony CyberShot digital camera. Worst purchase I ever made, never worked very good (and it doesnt even have an Optical Zoom).
Replaced it with a Canon Ixus and am much happier.
It's perfect! (Score:2)
Google can skirt around their "Don't Be Evil" motto, by taking on an evil partner like Sony that can do the dirty work while letting Google keep their hands clean! ;-)
Re: (Score:2)
What the hell are you talking about? Sony has never had as many problems with hardware as (for example), Microsoft. Sony is a hardware company, and as such has always done a great job of slowly improving their hardware processes (look at the over 10 generations of PS2). Sony also tends toward open standards, like USB (without locks), Firewire, HDMI, etc. The PS3 uses no proprietary external connectors, and the original (which I own) has memory card support for CompactFlash not just Memory Stick.
The PS3
Yes! Plz serious horsepower processors for Flash (Score:4, Funny)
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
If there's one thing I love about this site, it's that between all the Microsoft, Apple, Google, and Linux bashing, the one company we can largely come to despise is Adobe, and the one product we can all hate on is Flash. The only dissenting opinion you ever see here is by Adobe-suite 'developers' grown indulgent by Adobe's motherly coddling and embrace.
Re: (Score:2)
The only dissenting opinion you ever see here is by Adobe-suite 'developers' grown indulgent by Adobe's motherly coddling and embrace.
---- and the developers who know who to use Flash and Adobe's development tools effectively:
Machinarium [machinarium.net]
Re: (Score:2)
... and people who just want to watch some video from CBC on their iPad, who don't give a shit about format and only care that it "doesn't work."
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Yea program it in a REAL LANGUAGE like java so it can run at a blistering 3 fps.
Re: (Score:2)
The Java hating kinda has to end when Minecraft is doing so well.
But some people never update their memes.
Sony, Partner With Google? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Sony wants absolute control of the eco system, but they don't get it like Apple
Say what?! Say what you like about Sony, but don't claim that Apple doesn't want or already exercise a great degree of control.
Until Sony 1.) merges the PSP into a smartphone platform; 2.) loosens their control or at least modifies it in regards to applications and monetizing their platform, and 3.) opens up to partnering with companies that understand how to work with user's needs and wants, they're dead in the water.
Uh, isn't that exactly what is being suggested here? Merging with Android, and partnering with Google (who I presume you view as more in touch with advertis-- user needs and wants)?
Re: (Score:2)
The Sony/Google thing is pretty much moot because Sony Ericsson already make Android phones.
The real question is, can Sony Ericsson (a joint venture) work with Sony Computer Entertainment (a separate Sony department) in order to make such a product work? I seriously doubt it. It involves merging the work of two completely separate streams of product development and discarding a lot of work where the two overlap, and everybody involved is going to get their knickers in a twist about it.
Re: (Score:2)
Sony already makes Android devices. Get over it.
Name me another game company that offered a Linux option on two of its consoles so far at all?
Thanks. End story.
Short answer: No (Score:5, Interesting)
Sony's instinct is to use proprietary formats and lock stuff down. I bought a PS3, but psbuntu on it and intended programming it. Couldn't do anything could since Sony locked me out. I learned my lesson not to use their stuff.
Google on the other hand are the opposite. They are pretty open with their technologies and using them is a joy in comparison. While there are restrictions on some stuff (Map API) the rest of it can pretty much be used as you wish and for no cost.
These two collaborating would probably work as well as a marriage between a neurotic, secretive but immaculately coiffured woman and a hippy.
Re: (Score:2)
You do know Sony's doing the first Google TV, right?
Re: (Score:2)
No. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Wait, where do Google & Sony compete at the moment, exactly?
Sony's already got an Android handset or two, by the way.
Re: (Score:2)
# That's a dumb product idea that doesn't sufficiently account for the present market.
Yes, this is very correct. I've talked about the PSP with a lot of people (I have one, I like it). Not one of them said "well, if there were a phone in there, I'd buy it". People who want gaming machines, want gaming machines, not phones. There is a market for games on the iPhone, but that's not why people buy them.
What matters with games is having a strong library to pick from, and feeling like you're getting a good v
Why would they? (Score:2)
Google would make Android part of the deal, and it's apparent that Sony wants nothing to do with Linux.
Re: (Score:2)
Sounds like the perfect failed product (Score:4, Insightful)
Google phone: Failure
Sony PSP: Marketshare loser
But what if we combined them?!
Why, we'd have a Nokia N-Gage gaming phone. Brilliant.
Hey clueless analysts, 2003 called and they want their shitty ideas back.
Re: (Score:2)
I hate the attitude that the Nexus One was a failure. They made a phone for Google employees that they also made available to the public. They didn't want to sell millions of them. If they wanted to they would have sold it just about everywhere, but they didn't. They sold it only on a special web site where you'd have to know about it to even find it. They don't want to support a millions of high end cell phones in the hands of the idiot masses. That they leave to their cell phone partners.
If anything the N
Re: (Score:2)
Google phone: Failure
Sony PSP: Marketshare loser
But what if we combined them?!
Why, we'd have a Nokia N-Gage gaming phone. Brilliant.
Hey clueless analysts, 2003 called and they want their shitty ideas back.
The N-Gage failed because it was designed by fools (sorry Nokia fans, but this device was a real turd). You can't have a gaming platform that requires you to remove the battery to change games. You also can't have a cell phone that makes you look like an idiot if you make calls. It was a failure of design that would be hard to reproduce without trying.
A PSP Go is already superior in almost every way. It already can make calls through Skype, it already has wireless game downloads so you don't even have to us
WTF? "strong partner like Google" (Score:4, Insightful)
What's this? Would you call Microsoft a strong PC maker? Google just provide the OS, they are a NON-PLAYER in the mobile market, both in terms of name brand recognition and manufacturing/distribution capability. Partnering with HTC or Nokia (while still not have much sense) would make more sense than picking Google.
This is pure Google fanboy wishful thinking.
An Android that plays PSP Games? It need to be so locked down for Sony to accept, that you would not be able to run any non-Sony approved Android apps, that it make no sense to buy one.
With Google's lack of emphasis on user experience, Sony will need to make major changes to the UI that you would not recognize it is an Android device anyway.
This whole idea makes no sense at all.
Re: (Score:2)
Eh? I think the implication is that Google provides the OS layer, not the hardware layer. Sony's got the hardware side fairly well covered, I'd say. In that instance, HTC and Nokia make no sense.
Re: (Score:2)
No (Score:2)
It might be a good idea for them, but Google should clearly say no. Sony are a bunch of closed sourced bastards who have no idea of how to please the market (and to those who say they are making a mint - sure - but they could make even more if they opened their minds)
Sony doesn't get online (Score:2)
They never have, and I don't think they ever will. True collaboration with google/android is therefore not possible.
Look at the PS3. Could one imagine a sorrier excuse for an online store or game community? They never took online gaming seriously. Whereas msft built in standardized online/community functionality, Sony left it to each developer. Integration with the online store is an after thought and is truly crude.
With their phones and android they trashed most of what was inherent to the os and replaced
PSP Droid (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
But later PSPs are now pretty tightly locked. After all, what ever happened to that PSP Go hack? It's completely useless right now, but have CFW and it could be a great way to play PSP games in a smaller formfactor.
Anyhow, Sony would either put out a locked down Android that's bacially only connected to the PSN store only, and attempts to root it would be met with firm
Yes (Score:3, Informative)
Yes, and everything should be programmed to run on the Dalvik jvm so it can achieve a blistering 5 fps.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Devs have been able to directly address the graphics hardware for some time now. You've seen Google Earth running on Android, no?
Re: (Score:2)
I haven't actually, is it in the Market?
They are already at it (Score:2)
Gonna be hard not to do evil (Score:2)
Always with the negative waves, Moriarty (Score:2)
No company should release anything, ever.
Nor should they try anything new, ever.
Nor should they be allowed to learn from their mistakes.
Nor should they spot a weakness in their DNA and get another company on-board to help address it.
Oh, and everything, every company has ever done has also been shit!
Cheers commenters one and all (apologies to anyone who made a positive contribution here). My PSP has provided years of fun on trains,
Absolutely brilliant (Score:2)
So if I want to game on a platform, I have to buy a specific phone for an asston of money only for an inferior product? Excellent job removing 30% of your potential customers. There's a reason all printers aren't all-in-ones and shampoo and conditioner still beat 2-in-1s: they suck.
I wonder what world these marketoids live on, this crap reminds me of hollywood.
Re:Yeah, not going to happen. (Score:5, Informative)
Well, sony already make phones and some of them run android [sonyericsson.com].
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
...and all seem to be stuck at 1.6 so far. Sony Ericsson is even close to the introduction of SE Liveview - small (watch-sized, and also carried on a wrist) display for showing some basic info and performing basic actions, requiring an Android 2.0 device. Well, at least it means they should be close to pushing upgrades.
Re: (Score:2)
...and all seem to be stuck at 1.6 so far.
I'm not so sure this is a bad thing. I've updated my iPhone 3G like a good Apple fanboi from 3.0 to 4.1, and now I'm left with a sluggish phone, where it can take ten seconds to display my agenda or shoot a photo. I've heard similar things about the HTC Hero. I've come to the conclusion that if you like a phone, you just leave the factory firmware as-is. If you want the latest and greatest firmware, be prepared to upgrade your phone hardware too.
Re: (Score:2)
Unless the point of some updates was specifically to greatly improve performance; and specs of SE phones surely aren't subpar.
(yes, to 3.0 will be most likely a bad idea; but latest 2.x line seems to mostly make things snappier for semi-recent devices)
Re:Yeah, not going to happen. (Score:5, Informative)
an inferior standard to HD-DVD,
Um, what? HD-DVD allowed for 30 GB dual layer at the same read speed as Blu-Ray while Blu-Ray allows for 50 GB dual layer.
While it could be argued that Blu-Ray has been more proprietary than HD-DVD was, I wouldn't call the practical specifications inferior.
Re: (Score:2)
an inferior standard to HD-DVD,
Um, what? HD-DVD allowed for 30 GB dual layer at the same read speed as Blu-Ray while Blu-Ray allows for 50 GB dual layer. While it could be argued that Blu-Ray has been more proprietary than HD-DVD was, I wouldn't call the practical specifications inferior.
Yeah but HD-DVD used tech much closer to the industry standard DVD; most notably a red laser. Had the format war not occurred, there is good reason to believe adoption rate and prices would of been much better.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Err, where do you get the red laser thing from?
You could (AFAICT) use HD-DVD formatting on a dual layer DVD to get 9.4 GB of HD format data on it, that's about it. HD-DVD proper used a blue laser to achieve higher data density.
The format war was a fix anyway, with a lot of companies in both camps and the end of the war negotiated in the boardroom, not fought out in the open market.
Re: (Score:2)
Had the format war not happened I'd most certainly have worse business, as due to that the price of 420nm and 460nm diodes dropped like a rock.
Re: (Score:2)
HD-DVD and Bluray both used blue lasers to read smaller pits and therefore store more data.
The feature of HD-DVD that was more like DVDs was the physical formatting -- there was a thicker layer of plastic, much like DVDs have, whereas Blu-ray discs have a much thinner layer, which I understand allows for the extreme cases of 100, 200, and 300GB discs.
HD-DVD lacked upward mobility in data sizes due to a physical compatibility with old mastering hardware.
Re:Yeah, not going to happen. (Score:4, Insightful)
In terms of user experience, HD DVD is still better than Blu-ray simply because Blu-ray still takes so long to start a disc even on a modern machine. Picture and sound identical, interactivity definitely goes to HD DVD. Yes, I have a modern Blu-ray player which is profile 2.0 and yet it is still inferior to an HD DVD player from four years back. In fact I would give the win to HD DVD on the basis of it being region free.
Re: (Score:2)
BD is region free too.
As in, it's not forced on the production.
most of the content providers doesn't region lock their BD releases.
It's not required by the BD specs to be region locked, but the feature exists.
Re: (Score:2)
What, you buy a crappy standalone instead of a PS3?
Re: (Score:2)
A lot of discs are being mastered with a warning or loading image that stays on the screen for up to 30 seconds before the disc starts playing, usually saying things like "if you have an old player not all features may function as designed" and such.
I've found in most cases that it can be removed by hitting next-chapter (skip), but if you didn't know this, you'd think it was a natural delay in the format.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The DRM stuff that we love to hate so much is actually a feature from the POV of the content producers.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I think Sony learned it's lesson about technical superiority with the MASSIVE market failure of Betamax vs VHS. Technical superiority will not defeat marketing. (and strong-arming and bribery, too!) They do seem to still have a problem of ethics. I mean, come on, it's FUCKING SONY! If they can't infect you with a rootkit, and cut your nuts off for trying to program on their platform without paying them a pound of flesh, you think that they'll willingly hook up with a company that has the motto of "Do No Evi
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
What lesson did they learn with CD, S/PDIF, HDV, Playstation (that one was to be a cooperation with Nintendo, guess who walked out) or 3.5" FDD? Generally, with a company so vast and diverse it's a bit pointless to generalize like that - many parts of them are quite open; often essentially fighting with other divisions (rootkits/DRM stuff pushed by music publishing division - bought into Sony not too long ago, BTW - while their audio players and SE music phones are decent - the latter also already have Andr
Re: (Score:2)
Inferior?
Higher capacity and higher transfer speed do not an inferior product make. The geek world preferred HDDVD because it had no region coding and no BD+. These are good reasons but do not mean an inferior format.
Sony were not the only ones pushing at and it probably won out as much because of its stronger DRM provisions as anything else.
I agree that it's not very sony-like to team up with anyone. Besides which they already have a successful (though not major market share) phone division. And somewhere
Re: (Score:2)
Bluray was indeed a collaborative effort; sure, with Sony one of the big guns, but...
They do that more often than people think - probably it's just how such products, once popular and widely used, often aren't perceived as ones from (also) Sony (whereas failures are very noticeably almost only from them, obviously). From memory - together with only Philips: CD, S/PDIF (what do you think "S" and "P" stand for?), SACD, one of two progenitor formats to DVD. MSX computer standard. HDV. Playstation was born out
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
A combination PSP and telephone is a "great idea"? Why not a combination toaster and hedge trimmer?
I'm probably in the minority here, but I really don't see playing some online game and having a phone call come in on the same device as the road to great entertainment.
Maybe it makes me a curmudgeon, but I don't see how this is going to improve things for those of us who are serious about gaming. But then I also hate third-person shooters and what they've done to the gaming landscape. I guess peo
Re: (Score:2)
A combination PSP and telephone is a "great idea"? Why not a combination toaster and hedge trimmer?
I'm probably in the minority here, but I really don't see playing some online game and having a phone call come in on the same device as the road to great entertainment.
Maybe it makes me a curmudgeon, but I don't see how this is going to improve things for those of us who are serious about gaming. But then I also hate third-person shooters and what they've done to the gaming landscape. I guess people will buy anything.
Portable gaming could be great, but the social gaming/advertising platform that Sony is envisioning doesn't do anything for me. Nor will it do a whole lot for those who rely on wireless networks to get work done. Maybe with Sony going all out with the Sony Store purchase/download requirement just to play a game some other company will use the opportunity to make a portable platform for real gaming. I'd like to see a couple more companies competing with the tired Playstation/XBox/Wii cartel.. With the iPad being locked down, maybe something to play on the multitude of cheap and decent new tablets that are being made over in China?
Years ago when the hardware was all shitty making combination multi-function media devices was a BAD idea. Turned out they were shitty.
But we have really good components these days and most of our gadgets have the same basic parts. It actually makes sense to combine them into a single device. A gaming gizmo needs a good screen, good speakers, a microphone helps, an array of buttons, a womping big battery, and at least 802.11G, 3G or better is a bonus. A phone needs that same list. A portable music player ne
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Modern gaming uses almost every digit on your hand. Two analogue controls, a D-Pad, 4 thumb buttons, two shoulder buttons, tw
Re: (Score:2)
"Modern gaming" requires a keyboard and mouse.
Re: (Score:2)
"Modern gaming" requires a keyboard and mouse.
For you perhaps. I've enjoyed Gameloft's Modern Combat: Sandstorm [gameloft.com] tremendously on my iPad. Played it in the back of the car, in the train, at my girlfriend's place, etc.
Sure, I've played Call of Duty with keyboard and mouse, but for me gaming is no longer strictly limited to my study at home.
Re: (Score:2)
FWIW, I don't own a console. I solely game on a PC. I'm just being realistic.
Re: (Score:2)
Oh wait.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm not sure why the author of the article thought Sony needed Google. Of the five analysts they spoke with only 2 mentioned Google and in each case it was only 1 sentence.
Sony has been making cellphones since 2001 [wikipedia.org] so they know what they're doing there, and Sony already has the PSP and successful PS3. I don't think Sony and Google would see eye-to-eye, Google released Droid to anyone that wants to
Re:Lack of support (Score:4, Informative)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
By this age it's way too much to carry around mobile phone, gaming device and everything else. Mobile devices are a lot more powerful now and you can fit everything in your phone.
Speaking as a gamer... no, this is not true. If there's one lesson we've learned over 30 years of home gaming it's that the controllers really matter in ways that the processors don't.
Re: (Score:2)
Amen to this. I'm 6' 5", and the "huge" Xbox controllers were perfect for me.
Re: (Score:2)
Eh... ordinarily I would agree with that but Apple seems to be doing fine with games on the iPhone. There's a difference between upgrading the RAM and using a radically different architecture.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
At most you only need to rewrite the graphics and maybe some game logic,
Wait, what? If you're rewriting the graphics and the game logic, you're still rewriting the game in the large, no?
I mean, what else is there? Sound, input perhaps. Not much else other than artwork (which would not be rewritten even in the case of a rewrite)
Re: (Score:2)
I think he means small amounts of logic - think of menus, save game storage, network play - the underlying structural logic may not gave to be altered, but smaller logic yes.
And on graphics, again it comes to menus, load screens: raster images in general, but if your game renders through a common API in-game, you're fine (I assume, IANGBFBMS (I Am Not Getting Butt Fucked By Micro$oft), but I digress)
Small tweaks across a similarish platform are nothing compared to complete rewrites/most of the code rewrites
Re: (Score:2)
Let's just tackle network play. So the latest greed first idea is to expose children to hours at a time, microwave radiation, whilst playing online games on their mobile phone. No problem, why not add junk food, cigarette and alcohol adds with the claims that as only adults can initiate mobile phone contracts that only adults use mobile phone game platforms.
Sometimes bad ideas are truly horrendous ideas driven by corporate executives who can see nothing but profits and completely ignore consequences.
Re: (Score:2)
Games that work on n platforms generally suck on n-1 platforms.
Good developer support is important. More important is a large customer base willing to spend money on applications and games. Apple's iPhone is doing well in this regard. Even though the iPhone market is smaller than Android, it is more profitable for game developers. I have a hard time believing Microsoft's platform is going to do much to change this. They may carve out a profitable audience, but I wouldn't expect much more than that.
The XBox
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
You mean like the Xperia X10? [gizmodo.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Being Sony, they will just allow you to play psp1 games on the first batch. Then they will release psp2 slim, a bit cheaper and without the option to run psp1 games.
Happened before, more than once.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Sony may like its systems closed, but Nintendo has as long a history of locked-down, anti-piracy measures and closed systems. The Wii does not play DVDs. Homebrew (slash piracy...) cartridges for DS are banned. Online is a joke. As far back as the NES and as recently as the DSi (no transferring downloadable games between systems), Nintendo is all about proprietary.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Last I checked, the DS and the Wii aren't cellphones. Nor is their respective OS at all qualified to run a cellphone, even if Nintendo made one. Which is why Google with Android would be an excellent partner.
Re: (Score:2)
it failed because it was a phone company going after a games market, which is the wrong way because you have to build up the belief that you will have a good games library.
If it was say the GameBoyPhone made by Nintendo rather than the Nokia NGage, it would have worked, because people inherently believe that Nintendo will get a good library of games. Similar for PSP.
Re: (Score:2)
The N-Gage was beset by compromises. As a gaming device, it was underpowered and overcomplicated (twelve button controller anyone?). The screen was too small and the memory card slot on the first revision was underneath the battery. As a phone... well, it invented a new verb, 'to sidetalk'. And it was chasing a non-existent market. Java games existed on phones but they certainly weren't a selling point.
Today, the biggest selling category on Apple's App Store is the Games section. The only thing holdin
Re: (Score:2)