PSP starting in red...

[MuGen]

New Zealand Herald Interviews Kaz Hirai of SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA about the launch of the PSP,

PlayStation Portable will start in red says Sony

14.05.2004

Sony does not expect to make money on its new PlayStation Portable handheld games console at launch, because of the price of components and initial development costs, says the head of Sony's US games unit.

Kaz Hirai, chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment of America, also said the company would need to have a minimum of six to 10 games available at the PSP's launch, both from its own studios and from third-party publishers.

But, Hirai said, it would not need that many games at launch if it could identify one or two breakout hits, "killer apps" that would drive consumers to buy the hardware just to play those games.

"It could be as little as six titles, maybe with one or two great killer [applications]," Hirai said in an interview on the sidelines of E3.

Sony plans to launch the PSP, its most significant new game hardware in four years, this year in Japan and early next year in North America and Europe.

It has not set a price for the unit, which will also play music and movies, though most in the industry expect a price between $199 to $299.

"So if you're saying, 'Day one, are you going to be profitable on the hardware?' then probably not," Hirai said.

"Hopefully, this will have a 10-year life-cycle, at which point I'll look back and say, 'Yes, definitely profitable'."

I guess.... the price doesn't matter if their already expecting negative numbers because of the cost of development.....lol.....

[Null]

im betting a $199.99 price tag on it.

which i would infact pick it up for that price. that would be huge for them to get a price like that at start.


(note, im betting on that price. but would in no way be surpriced to see a 250 or 300 price on it at launch)

[MuGen]

if it stays under $300 i'm buying it no doubt...

[GameMaster]

I refuse to support anything other than the DS. Sony knows what they're getting themselves into so I don't want to hear any complaining from Sony or Sony fans if this little contraption doesn't do well.

[GiMpY-wAnNaBe]

...sony's not exactly trying something revolutionary, when compared to the DS, this is just a technologically updated handheld introducing no new elements, now the DS on the other had, not only has 2 screens, but..err....no buttons...which may turn out to be interesting

[Null]

Originally Posted by GameMaster

I refuse to support anything other than the DS. Sony knows what they're getting themselves into so I don't want to hear any complaining from Sony or Sony fans if this little contraption doesn't do well.

Well, one the flip side, im sure sony fans wont want to hear any of the nintendo fans complaining if Sony takes away thier strangle hold on the handheld market like they did with the console market.






(all kidding aside, i dont think this will be the almighty in hand hands. but i also dont think the DS will either. i think nintendo is shooting themselves in the foot and going to hurt GBA sales with the DS.... All and all i feel GBA will still be ontop over DS and PSP. but i think sony will do great getting thier foot in the door with the PSP)