14 DAY TRIAL // It seems that the only place in the world where the PlayStation Portable is enjoying clear cut success is in Japan. For the last few months, the Sony created handheld gaming console has been selling in better numbers than its direct counterpart, the Nintendo DS, thanks largely to the release of Monster Hunter 2nd G, a game that is exclusive to the Sony device and that has also been launched with a very attractive bundle offer.
However, in Europe and the United States, the PlayStation Portable is suffering, being easily outsold by the Nintendo handheld gaming console. And Rob Cooper, who is managing director for the United Kingdom at Ubisoft, believes that the main reason for the state of the PSP is the lack of vision from Sony.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Cooper has said that the developers are not convinced that Sony has clear future goals regarding its product, so they are not using it as a platform when developing games. As Cooper puts it, "Sony needs to show us a bit more about what its plans are to convince the publisher to invest lots more money into it." The hardcore gamer focus of the PSP might also be working against it as the audience of such a device is drawn to more casual games, like those that have found success on the Nintendo DS.
Ubisoft is now currently developing games for the PlayStation Portable, but it is surely not counting it out when it comes to the future. Cooper thinks that if Sony can get its act together and lay out specific plans regarding the platform, then videogame developers will see this as a signal and embrace the PSP which is still "absolutely beautiful."
Recently, Sony representatives have presented a few initiatives designed to make their handheld console more attractive, including a GPS add-on and a keyboard that should add a more social dimension to the PlayStation Portable.