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Understanding Tech Issues with Reliable Vision of Innovation

by Jerry Liao, Philippines


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Sony PSPgo goes after Nintendo DS/DSi

Jun 5, 2009 07:49

My 10-year-old daughter came rushing up to me recently, shouting: "Hey Dad, can you buy this for me this Christmas?" She then showed me a YouTube video on her Mac, playing the latest portable gaming console from Sony, the PSPgo.

It's only June and my daughter is already preparing her Christmas wishlist, or should I say, giftlist. I cannot blame her really, and I am sure other kids who get to see this latest offering from Sony will surely ask for one as well from their parents.

The PSPgo is smaller and lighter than previous iterations of the PlayStation Portable. It has a 3.8-inch screen and 16GB of internal flash drive memory. It is available in piano black and pearl white. Other features include:

  • Easy sliding display panel and original applications
  • Game sleep function
  • Bluetooth
  • Peripheral lineup

According to Sony, hot videogame franchises including Gran Turismo, Metal Gear Solid, and Resident Evil are creating new games tailored to go devices.



The question now is whether the PSPgo will be able to give the Nintendo DS/DSi a run for their money? My personal opinion is no. The new console may be appealing to younger gamers like my daugher (you know how kids are, anything new is cool to them). But to serious gamers, the new features of the PSPgo aren't enough for them to consider buying the gadget. The slider will also be a problem with the flexi cable.

Nintendo DS has more titles and this will be more appealing to casual gamers. I have seen parents buying the DS/DSi for their kids due to its educational software. My brother bought two DS for his two daughters.

Let me just tell you an illuminating story. My daughter was with her cousins at a party recently, and her cousins had brought with them their DS while my daughter had taken along her PSP. My daughter went to her cousins and tried their DS, leaving behind her PSP. Her cousins tried playing with the PSP, but ended up playing with the DS in the end. All three of them.

I believe the success of the portable console will depend highly on available game titles plus the device's affordability and availability. It would be an uphill climb for Sony, but knowing the Japanese company, it will keep on innovating to reach its goal. God bless us all!



4 comments   |   Share


 

    Talkback
ShiningStar says...
Isn't the PSP GO the samething without UMD drive? It's nothing like DS to DSi which has something new.

Jun 05, 2009 19:09
 
 
techguy says...
@ShiningStar: You are right. The new features to me are not that appealing. Thanks..

Jun 06, 2009 08:59
 
 
Devlin says...
With the PSP Go I feel that Sony really isn't after the DSi anymore but rather the iPod touch/iPhone pair. Apple stumbled upon a goldmine when they opened the App store, and if you think about it it's been a long time coming. The last mobile gaming console that should have had any sort of swappable media was the GBA-SP. After that Sony should have tried to innovate by developing an ecosystem that allowed gamers to download games instead of stubbornly pushing UMDs. As a result, they're now playing catch-up to the Apple juggernaut. It seems like they never learned from the whole MD fiasco where they should have jumped on digital media (mp3 players) instead of sticking to their proprietary optical media.

Nintendo's consoles have traditionally had a younger target demographic than any of their competitors. This is apparent in thier first-party games, pricing, and product development. That partially explains why the DS has been the runaway success it is. Sony, on the other hand, has focused their products and marketing at a more mature audience and hardcore gamers. With the PSP Go they're trying to broaden their appeal by making it more of a mobile mutimedia powerhouse akin to the iPod touch. At $250 it is priced between the 8- and 16GB iPods and features a remarkably similar feature-set. Make no mistake as to who Sony had their eye set on when they designed the Go.

Jun 06, 2009 16:37
 
 
rgathright says...
The Nintendo DSI is a definite improvement over the older Nintendo DS because it has bigger dual screens and two integrated 640x480 cameras.

You will also like the integrated web browser because the touch screen and dual screens allow you to surf faster than on the Sony PSP.

www.epinions.com...

Jun 10, 2009 23:13
 
 
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About Jerry Liao

Jerry Liao is an IT consultant in the Philippines who conducts seminars on various tech topics. He is a regular columnist of Manila Bulletin, a member of the academe, a system developer and a system analyst. He is a frequent fixture in press conferences and tech launchings, most of which are posted at infochat.com.ph. He loves to tinker with the latest gadgets and gizmos, but his most cherish possession are his children.

 
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