Nintendo's Reggie: PSPgo Has A "Fundamental Concept Problem"

[John Funk]

Nintendo's Reggie: PSPgo Has A "Fundamental Concept Problem"

Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime took a shot at the shiny new redesigned PSP, asking "Who's it for?" and "What's the benefit" to the consumer?

Despite what Sony spokespeople say about expecting "more negativity" for the PSPgo [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/95114-Sony-Expected-More-Negativity-For-PSPgo], you have to figure that the top brass might not be entirely excited about how the device has been performing - except in how it makes the current PSP3000 seem like a much better bargain.

Speaking with the Washington Post [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/09/AR2009100904719_2.html], NoA president Reggie Fils-Aime said that he thought there was a "fundamental concept problem" with the digital distribution-only machine, in that it didn't really have a marketable identity as a device that will help consumers.

[blockquote]The executive offered that he thinks the device may have a "fundamental concept problem in terms of 'Who's it for?' and 'What's the benefit?' "

"I have the utmost respect for all our competitors," he said, "but it's interesting to try and answer the consumer question of 'What's in it for me?' in that product." [/blockquote]

Fils-Aime pooh-poohed the idea of the company's other primary competitor in the handheld space - Apple - as a serious threat, pointing to titles like Mario Kart DS, Nintendogs and New Super Mario Bros., the likes of which gamers "cannot find on their App Store."

(Via Edge [http://www.edge-online.com/news/fils-aime-pspgo-has-a-%E2%80%9Cfundamental-concept-problem%E2%80%9D])

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[PixelKing]

But.What is in it for you?

 

[HaloHappy]

The price alone automatically makes it fail

 

[Textbook Bobcat]

The PSPGo is ahead of its time, it's trying to jump the wave early to cash in early.

Many technologies are fantastic in concept (DreamCast for one), but if they are unleashed too early they will alienate consumers.

Make no bones about it, we are heading for digital distribution only. For convenience of the consumer, and profitability of the industry.

Now; just isn't the right time.

 

[Eric the Orange]

OK, off topic, but was this guys senior yearbook photo really the best you could find. I must say it's not a very flattering picture.

But, anyways, I've been against the PSPgo from the start, mainly due to the fact that I'm against download games, I like having a hard copy. But to answer the question "who's it for?", I would assume it's for people that don't have a PSP, want a PSP, and would prefer download over hard copies. I don't know how many of these people there are, I'd guess not a lot, but I'd say that is the target audience.

 

[theultimateend]

its for people who want a psp

Who would instead buy a PSP 1000 or 2000 because they can mod it to play their entire PS1 collection on top of PSP games giving it one of the best handheld selections in known history.

Or they could go with the PSPGO and get far less for a larger price tag.

I see your point.

The PSPGo is ahead of its time, it's trying to jump the wave early to cash in early.

Many technologies are fantastic in concept (DreamCast for one), but if they are unleashed too early they will alienate consumers.

Make no bones about it, we are heading for digital distribution only. For convenience of the consumer, and profitability of the industry.

Now; just isn't the right time.

If DRM doesn't calm the fuck down I won't be buying games once that happens.

 

[Aardvark Soup]

The PSPGo is ahead of its time, it's trying to jump the wave early to cash in early.

Many technologies are fantastic in concept (DreamCast for one), but if they are unleashed too early they will alienate consumers.

Make no bones about it, we are heading for digital distribution only. For convenience of the consumer, and profitability of the industry.

Now; just isn't the right time.

Wheter that is true or not (I personally don't believe so) I completely agree that it is too soon to make your system solely rely on digital downloads. The majority of the people just doesn't how to or is afraid of downloading paid content or simply prefer owning a physical copy.

 

[theultimateend]

The PSPGo is ahead of its time, it's trying to jump the wave early to cash in early.

Many technologies are fantastic in concept (DreamCast for one), but if they are unleashed too early they will alienate consumers.

Make no bones about it, we are heading for digital distribution only. For convenience of the consumer, and profitability of the industry.

Now; just isn't the right time.

Wheter that is true or not (I personally don't believe so) I completely agree that it is too soon to make your system solely rely on digital downloads. The majority of the people just doesn't how to or is afraid of downloading paid content or simply prefer owning a physical copy.

Something nice about buying something that can't be, at whim, stolen from you. At least in my retro sounding opinion .

I realize hard copies can...but how many times in history have companies gone into homes and stolen a bunch of copies of people's stuff?

DRM has already done the digital equivelant across the board in various fields, even the Kindle .

 

[Vierran]

There is talk that the PspGo is simply a marketing device aimed at selling more Psp-3000s, i hope that's not true but it would be interesting to see how many people have either bought a Psp-3000 recently or bought a PspGo then traded it in for a Psp-3000.

On a side note, that picture is creepier then those horror photos earlier.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Make no bones about it, we are heading for digital distribution only. For convenience of the consumer, and profitability of the industry.

Actually, I doubt that will happen, or rather I doubt tha it will happen and last.

Digital media is turning out to degrade and corrupt much faster than analogue media, hdds in particular have a very short shelf life next to even a videotape.

Whislt manufacurers are going to want to drive an all digital environment so they can screw everyone for more profit, eventually they are going to be left in a situation where their product either fails or they make it obsolete, leaving their customers in the shit.

We've already seen it with Microsoft's DRM music and Itunes. There will quite rapidly reach a point where customers refuse to pay repeatedly for the same product, or to pay for the permission to ask to use said product. Coupled with the fact that digital products are all but impossible to police properly and digital distribution will fall out of favour quite rapidly.

At least that's what I think...

 

[Textbook Bobcat]

The PSPGo is ahead of its time, it's trying to jump the wave early to cash in early.

Many technologies are fantastic in concept (DreamCast for one), but if they are unleashed too early they will alienate consumers.

Make no bones about it, we are heading for digital distribution only. For convenience of the consumer, and profitability of the industry.

Now; just isn't the right time.

Wheter that is true or not (I personally don't believe so) I completely agree that it is too soon to make your system solely rely on digital downloads. The majority of the people just doesn't how to or is afraid of downloading paid content or simply prefer owning a physical copy.

Something nice about buying something that can't be, at whim, stolen from you. At least in my retro sounding opinion .

I realize hard copies can...but how many times in history have companies gone into homes and stolen a bunch of copies of people's stuff?

DRM has already done the digital equivelant across the board in various fields, even the Kindle .

Every new invention has its teething problems. With piracy rampant (or so you would be lead to believe) some companies feel they must exhibit a solutions.

Mistakes will be made until it is fixed. Which it won't. It's existed since floppy disk gaming (although they had codes embedded in game that could be solved with store issued cardboard wheels and so forth. The internet boom burned this failsafe to the ground)

Looking how "dependant" developed civilization has become on digital items, not just in games but everywhere; it really is just a matter of time before it slips entirely to the "dark side".

Interesting point about it being a ploy to sell 3000s, bit of an expensive one and may have just been a lucky side effect.

 

[theultimateend]

The PSPGo is ahead of its time, it's trying to jump the wave early to cash in early.

Many technologies are fantastic in concept (DreamCast for one), but if they are unleashed too early they will alienate consumers.

Make no bones about it, we are heading for digital distribution only. For convenience of the consumer, and profitability of the industry.

Now; just isn't the right time.

Wheter that is true or not (I personally don't believe so) I completely agree that it is too soon to make your system solely rely on digital downloads. The majority of the people just doesn't how to or is afraid of downloading paid content or simply prefer owning a physical copy.

Something nice about buying something that can't be, at whim, stolen from you. At least in my retro sounding opinion .

I realize hard copies can...but how many times in history have companies gone into homes and stolen a bunch of copies of people's stuff?

DRM has already done the digital equivelant across the board in various fields, even the Kindle .

Every new invention has its teething problems. With piracy rampant (or so you would be lead to believe) some companies feel they must exhibit a solutions.

Mistakes will be made until it is fixed. Which it won't. It's existed since floppy disk gaming (although they had codes embedded in game that could be solved with store issued cardboard wheels and so forth. The internet boom burned this failsafe to the ground)

Looking how "dependant" developed civilization has become on digital items, not just in games but everywhere; it really is just a matter of time before it slips entirely to the "dark side".

Interesting point about it being a ploy to sell 3000s, bit of an expensive one and may have just been a lucky side effect.

I have found as DRM gets worse and games provide less entertainment (mostly because of cost+drm versus quality of play) I have begun reading far more and even writing. So in the end there is at least one or two major positives for me .

 

[KissofKetchup]

It's kinda sad how Sony has gone downhill so quickly after the phenomenal PS2...

 

[Textbook Bobcat]

Actually, I doubt that will happen, or rather I doubt tha it will happen and last.

Digital media is turning out to degrade and corrupt much faster than analogue media, hdds in particular have a very short shelf life next to even a videotape.

A limitation that is easily remedied. My Amiga hard drive runs perfect after 10+ years. For the most part, this is beyond the use for a game. I'm talking mass market, not the exceptions that like having older generations of games.

Whislt manufacurers are going to want to drive an all digital environment so they can screw everyone for more profit, eventually they are going to be left in a situation where their product either fails or they make it obsolete, leaving their customers in the shit.

Many good businesses exist solely on the formula of obsoleting their own items after time. Wilkinson Sword and their razors for example.

We've already seen it with Microsoft's DRM music and Itunes. There will quite rapidly reach a point where customers refuse to pay repeatedly for the same product, or to pay for the permission to ask to use said product. Coupled with the fact that digital products are all but impossible to police properly and digital distribution will fall out of favour quite rapidly.

At least that's what I think...

Lines are always met by going too far and then stepping back, there is less uproar if you give nothing and slowly give nmore; as opposed to giving everything and slowly taking it away.

People's reactions to DRM will spark further investigation and a slightly less "harsh" version will arrive.

Once they've met one the mass market approve of, brick and mortar will slowly be phased out. It doesn't apply to every market, but computer entertainment (as well as work) I definitely see the future in cyberspace

 

[Textbook Bobcat]

EDIT: Butchered the snip...

I have found as DRM gets worse and games provide less entertainment (mostly because of cost+drm versus quality of play) I have begun reading far more and even writing. So in the end there is at least one or two major positives for me.

Aye. Like fashions, the new age can sometimes be completely done over by previous installations. Probably why we have "read a book, but on a screen for 25x the price" being marketed.

 

[El Poncho]

Aha regi-filo-pastry. When it comes to handheld i'm a nintendo man myself , I don't own or want an iphone/isomething and the PSP had me forget about it a week after getting it.

 

[Dannie]

I think he is only jealous. ^^

 

[Poopie McGhee]

Well, the PSPgo wasn't too great a concept, but that's coming from a Nintendo handheld man myself...
I like owning my stuff...

 

[KDR_11k]

But to answer the question "who's it for?", I would assume it's for people that don't have a PSP, want a PSP, and would prefer download over hard copies.

The problem is that the previous PSP already has access to all the same downloads that the Go can access plus all the UMD games (many of which are in bargain bins).