14 DAY TRIAL // Sony has already stated that it is aiming to make the launch of the NGP handheld, also known as the PlayStation Portable 2, one of the biggest in the gaming world, with the goal of selling more systems than it did for the original PSP.
And at least one analyst believes that the company has learned from the failures of its previous handheld platform and has the potential to create a blockbuster with the NGP.
Jesse Divnich, who is an analyst specializing on the video games industry at EEDAR, has stated, “In Japan the PSP currently has the second largest active install base and is on track to become the fifth bestselling home or portable console of all time in that country. The key to the NGP’s success, however, will come down to the adoption rates in the much larger North American and European markets.”
He went on to list the problems with the original PSP, saying “Sony’s digital strategy, lack of publisher incentive and piracy, ultimately resulted in a decreasing support from third-party publishers and a reduction in retail shelf space,” pointing out that these issues seem solved with the NGP.
Sony has already said that it has a lot of publisher support from publishers for the PSP 2 and developers have gotten hands on time with the device since late 2010.
The NGP will have dual analog sticks, a multi touch OLED screen and will be powered by a four-core CPU.
The big rival for the Sony made device will be the Nintendo 3DS, which will be out worldwide before the end of March 31, allowing gamers to experience full three-dimensional gaming without using the specialized glasses needed on home consoles.
Nintendo has the advantage of at least six to eight months on the market before the PSP 2 arrives, but from late 2011 the battle between the two new devices will be one to watch.