PSP to have strong summer and 'remains an important focus', says Sony Europe
We're not entirely convinced, alas
Although it's topping the hardware charts in Japan, the PSP is having a very different time in Europe (and the west in general), suffering from an evident loss of momentum after a strong start to 2008, which included excellent releases such as God of War and Patapon.
Sure, Everybody's Golf 2 has very recently got many a Sony handheld back into the hand of pocket gamers – and if it hasn't, it ought to – but it's the bigger picture that concerns us. Namely, what have players got to look forward to between now and Christmas, and beyond?
Speaking to trade magazine MCV this week, product manager for Sony Computer Entertainment UK Claire Backhouse was keen to reassure the readers (publishers and retail sector, mostly) that there's plenty to expect from PSP.
"The key software titles we have coming out this year for PSP include echochrome, Buzz! The Master Quiz, Secret Agent Clank and LocoRoco 2," she said. We already know from our echochrome review that it's ace, and the other three titles have the potential to be portable gems, too.
But it's hardly a torrent of titles, is it? Normally you'd get away with it given the support provided by third-party releases, but the obvious issue with the format is that publishers continue to view PSP with caution.
Part of that reaction is arguably due to Sony's insistence on pushing PSP's multimedia capabilities. It's a strategy the publisher doesn't seem keen to let go – in fact, it's marching forward, citing findings from its own research that awareness of the PSP's non-gaming functionality has increased, and promising additional campaigning to promote things like the Go!Range.
Still, there are positives, with Backhouse saying that PSP online multiplayer gaming is on the increase and PS3 connectivity a key part of future plans (though how much of that is gaming related remains to be seen). More important, though, is the reassurance that Sony's commitment to the platform continues.
"PSP remains an important focus for SCEE [Sony Computer Entertainment Europe], and with a strong selection of triple-A titles, peripherals and services, we believe it will continue to be a very attractive proposition to new and existing customers, for a very long time to come," she said.
Well, for as long as there are games for it, certainly. So let's hope they keep coming, eh? Because that's the one thing that can guarantee the format's long-term success.
