Loose Threads: Does the PSP really need all those accessories?

For almost as long as the PSP has been around, it has been suffering a major personality crisis. See, it just doesn't know what it wants to be.

After the initial launch fanfare died down and criticism started to creak out of the woodwork, the first thing to be blamed was a lack of good games. But the good games came in droves and still the PSP's crisis of identity endured.

Then the consumer cries changed to, "The PSP needs a dedicated online service, like iTunes". The PSP Store duly arrived and still the PSP couldn't seem to find itself.

Now the PSP is playing host to a flurry of accessories that will further bolster its already stacked high feature set. There's Skype functionality, a messenger service, a camera, a GPS unit and most recently an official docking cradle, too. But do these new accessories finally tie the PSP's fragmented feature set into a cohesive whole, or do they only serve to detract attention away from what the PSP is actually good at – gaming?

Last week we put the question over to you, esteemed readers, and from the response it seems that the PSP's accessories still have a bit of convincing to do. That didn't stop the discussion from starting with an obliquely positive opening post from Hidden Away, though:

"I'd actually like to be able to find them first :p. I've struggled to find either the PSP headset/microphone and Go!Cam on sale for use with Go!Messenger."

From this we obviously assume that means that Hidden Away does actually want some of the PSP accessories, obviously. More seriously, though, the fact that they are hard to come by is possible evidence of Sony's faltering confidence in what the demand might be.

From this point on, the discussion took a decidedly negative slant, starting with ConraDargo:

"I for one have no interest in any of those accessories. The camera seems rubbish, GPS is too expensive (and I already know my town well enough to find my ways), and I have no interest whatsoever in using Skype. "If I ever feel the urge to snap a picture, have a (video) conversation with someone, or just wanna know where the hell I currently am, then I just whip out my cell-phone which can do all of that and a lot better."

Karbono soon echoed ConraDargo's sentiments but, worryingly, has actually tried some of the accessories and yet remains unconvinced:

"I'm not sure I'm willing to spend so much money on the camera. I'm trying the headset with Skype, but there isn't a lot of people I can call with it. I have a more flexible GPS system on my PDA. As for the PSP cradle, I'm sure that I wouldn't use it. "When I'm traveling I don't have the opportunity to use such an elaborate set-up. When I'm at home, well, I have a TV, a computer, a nice sound system… Well, you know what I'm talking about."

Indeed we do. In fact, it's pretty much the crux of the argument. Why spend money on expensive PSP add-ons when chances are you already own other devices which do the job much better? Sensing an opportunity to grind an axe, SetsFireToPoshHammer joined the discussion:

"Regular posters are probably getting sick of hearing me say this but all I want for the PSP is more downloadable titles and content! "Why is this relevant? Because I don't think I am alone whereas I am willing to bet that PSP owners who want Skype, GPS, a camera are few and far between. Why is Sony wasting all this time and energy on this? Surely these things could have waited for the PSP2 as inbuilt features. "So I suppose the short answer is, no, the PSP doesn't need all of those accessories. It's already feature packed, why doesn't Sony concentrate on making better use of the features that are available out of the box, i.e. the aforementioned downloadable titles?"

Well judging by the previous posts in this topic, it's a valid point. And if Sony is reading and is still unconvinced, Mandark (tsk, tsk, still no avatar) dropped by to dig his oar in:

"I agree with the other guys that these accessories are unnecessary. I only know a few PSP owners but none of us have more than a case and a Memory Stick. "It's great that the PSP can do a lot but just because it can do certain things doesn't mean it's a great idea."

And finishing matters, Accelorata Jengold capped the discussion with something pleasingly topical:

"What has a camera, the potential to make VoIP calls, phone calls, Google maps (it ain't GPS but it's close enough), messaging capabilities, an MP3 player, video player, internet browser and big name 3D games? "Give up? "The iPhone does, that's what, and I am willing to bet that if the gaming side of that device takes off (and I sincerely hope that it does) the PSP2 will end up looking an awful lot like it in the specs department. Not sure if that would be a good direction for Sony to take (especially based on the posts in this thread) but perhaps that's what all these accessories are pointing towards."

It's a very good point. Although the iPhone is as yet unproven in the gaming space, with all of the rumblings of a Sony Ericsson PSP branded handset, a communications focused gaming device that can do everything out of the box that the current PSP can via accessories isn't such a far fetched prospect for the PSP2.

Which leads us nicely around to next week's topic of discussion:

Will the iPhone cut it as a gaming device?

By now you should all know where to go for full details (hint: it starts with an f).

It's great to see people commenting regularly in Loose Threads and there is some really interesting discussion emerging so if you've been too shy to make yourself heard, do join in, you'll be most welcome.

Who knows, your own sage-like musings on the industry may end up being featured in next week's edition. Click 'Track It!' to be sure not to miss it.