SCEE: ‘The competition is irrelevant’

[Smoke]

In six days’ time Europe will experience the biggest hardware launch since PlayStation 2 in 2000, with Sony insisting that any competition with Nintendo is ‘irrelevant’.

And after a hard year for the High Street, PSP brings with it what the trade hopes will be a long-awaited turning point in the fortunes of the market and the promise of a bumper Q4.

Despite shortages, Sony’s handheld has already launched to great success in Japan and the US. And while delays have pushed back the release of the system in PAL territories until September 1st, the £179.99 unit is expected to prove a sell-out.

With the final part of the global launch jigsaw almost in place, backed with a massive £10m cross-media marketing campaign, SCEE expects its dominance in the home console arena to drive its debut handheld system to success, dismissing the challenge of sector leader Nintendo.

“The idea of a handheld rivalry with Nintendo is an irrelevance,” VP of studios Phil Harrison insisted to MCV. “Those formats don’t appear in our planning. It’s not a fair comparison; not fair on them, I should stress. That sounds arrogant, maybe, but it’s the truth.

“Nintendo knows its target audience, because it has really narrowed that down; and it’s pretty much defined by a boy or girl’s ability to admire Pokémon.

“With the DS, it’s fair to say that Nintendo stepped out of the technical race and went for a feature differentiation with the touch screen,” Harrison continued. “But I fear that it won’t have a lasting impact beyond that of a gimmick – so the long-lasting appeal of the platform is at peril as a direct result of that.”

But Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter believes there is enough room for both systems in the market: “Longterm, I see DS expanding Nintendo's demographic upward to the high teens,” he told MCV. “I see Sony’s PSP expanding the ‘mobile’ demographic to the 30s. Both will expand the overall market by providing an outlet for gameplay beyond the home or office.”



The face of the enemy

Sony may be dominant in the home console field, but it has a long way to go to match Nintendo’s handheld achievements...

Game Boy Range
Total global hardware sales (as of 9/04): 176.8m
GBA
Total global sales: 67.7m (inc. SP)
Total PAL sales: 15 million (inc. SP)
Nintendo DS
Total global sales: 6.65m
Total PAL sales: 1.3m (inc. 300k in UK)



Big hitters at launch

While its movie and music playback features will prove a draw, PSP’s ultimate success is dependent on its game content. MCV highlights a trio of titles carrying great expectations...

GTA: Liberty City Stories (Rockstar)
A dream title for SCEE to have in the launch window, retail has been briefed to expect Rockstar’s original, fully 3D adventure to release in October. And with early reactions bordering on the hysterically positive, this has ‘system seller’ written all over it.
Ridge Racer (SCEE)
An integral part of the PlayStation story, Namco’s latest Ridge Racer offers the definitive arcade petrol-fuelled experience.
WipEout Pure (SCEE)
Another title synonymous with Brand PlayStation, Sony Liverpool has conjured another fast and furious, future perfect racing thriller.

MCV

[Great Rumbler]

Obviously they haven't been paying much attention to the sales charts from Japan.

But I fear that it won’t have a lasting impact beyond that of a gimmick

I might have been willing to believe that back when the DS first launched, but looking ahead to the new games that are about to come out, no way.

and it’s pretty much defined by a boy or girl’s ability to admire Pokémon.

Haha, what a moron.

[A Black Falcon]

It's PR, of course they're going to exaggerate/lie in order to promote their point of view... but yeah, that's clearly not true. And DS is clearly ahead of PSP and I doubt this launch will change that. :)

[Dark Jaguar]

THREAD REGENERATION!

Hindsight is 20/20, and hilarious.

[Great Rumbler]

Hindsight is 20/20, and hilarious.

They could have just asked us.

[A Black Falcon]

A lot of people thought that the PSP would win, though, or at least do well, including some people here... I thought Nintendo would win, but not in the way they did. :)

[EdenMaster]

Pwned by DS. Nintendo FTW.

[Great Rumbler]

I really need to dig up those old DS/PSP threads were OB1 thought the PSP was going to crush the DS.

[Sacred Jellybean]

It's so weird to see people play the DS in the computer lab. If I had one, I could have put off whatever responsibility to play with them.

Nintendo's full of surprises. Makes you smile like a father when his autistic kid gets the honor roll.

[Dark Jaguar]

OB1 never thought the PSP would win, just do exactly whatever it is doing now, making him right. Never you mind DIRECT QUOTES saying the PSP would dethrone Nintendo just like the PS1, OB1 never SAID those.

[A Black Falcon]

I really need to dig up those old DS/PSP threads were OB1 thought the PSP was going to crush the DS.

Exactly what I was thinking about. :D

[lazyfatbum]

OB1 never thought the PSP would win, just do exactly whatever it is doing now, making him right. Never you mind DIRECT QUOTES saying the PSP would dethrone Nintendo just like the PS1, OB1 never SAID those.

No, I never said that, if you listened you would understand that I was talking about the dynamics involved, moron, with the market share in all territories, percentages and other things you dont know about, idiot. But no, go ahead and pretend you were right, I know you need that DJ.

Exactly what I was thinking about.

Go ahead Brian, I took debating classes.

*wipes tear*

Oh shit, did I just get N_A and OB1 confused?