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PSP vs iPhone: SCEA says no competition, iPhone games "largely diversionary"

Posted Mar 19, 2009 at 7:28AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: PSP, iPhone Tags: John Koller, Peter Dille, Ray Maguire, Sony

Analyst: iPod Touch to kill off PSP - Image 1

The iPhone vs. PSP debate has been around for some time now. Some people just can't seem to understand that comparing the iPhone to the PSP (and vice-versa) isn't as empirical as it sounds. They're two different devices, each with its pros and cons, apples and oranges, cows and sheep.

Despite this, some people seem to insist on pitting the iPhone against the PSP though, with some claiming that the iPhone (or in some cases, even just the iPod Touch) will so pwn the PSP. Meanwhile, Sony isn't all that worried, with Ray Maguire more recently stating that the PSP will always win as a dedicated games machine.

Taking a cue from that and echoing Maguire's words, Sony's Peter Dille has added his own two cents into the boiling pot by saying that there's no competition at all.

I think it's a separate business. The iPhone is a phone and the PSP is a dedicated gaming device that does a lot more than play games. Consumers that want to carry a PSP are primarily gamers and I think there's a big difference in the types of games you can play on a PSP versus an iPhone. The iPhone games and apps are largely diversionary, whereas we're a gaming company and we make games for people who want to carry a gaming device and play a game that offers a satisfying 20+ hours of gameplay. So it's really coming at the market with different perspectives... a phone vs. a gaming machine.

"Diversionary," huh? Ouch. Does that make MGS Touch diversionary too? Hmm. For some odd reason, when he says there's no competition, I sense this slight "there's no competition because we've pretty much already won the competition" tone underlying his words. But anyways, moving on...

Dille continues on to talk about Apple's whole push towards digital distribution. After all, for the past couple weeks, we've been having all those UMD-less PSP rumors. Dille comments on the matter of digital media on devices by saying:

I think it's definitely a popular consumer trend and it's something that Apple consumers are enjoying. That could present itself as a growth opportunity to us in the future, but the fact is today, the PSP is a wi-fi device, not an always connected device. So there's going to be limitations based on the current technology in the PSP... but you never say never, and as we roll out new products in the future we'll keep an eye on consumer trends as we always do.

Which is, quite frankly, something John Koller already said before: that digital distribution will indeed be a very strong key factor in the future.

PSP vs iPhone: PSP will always win as a dedicated games machine

Via GameDaily

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If you judging the winner by which makes the most money then i think the Iphone could take it, a lot of the Iphone owners are the sort who would happily call a premium phone line and pay £4 for a ringtone or £8 for a game, so i guess they would also pay for Iphone apps, where Psp owners can get their homebrew for free

# Missing the point. — rawhead 2009-03-19 09:50

The point is, and SCEA knows this (or, they're delusional), a PSP will never take away a potential iPhone customer, while plenty of iPhone owners will decide it is "good enough" of a diversion for them to not buy a PSP (DS, etc). That makes the iPhone a threat and a competitor for PSP. I own both and I'll be the first to admit, since I've gotten the iPhone, I use my PSP less and less.

# Not just iPhones. — Demonsweat 2009-03-19 10:01

The same could be said of Windows Mobile phones.

You don't see Microsoft touting WM as a PSP killer, though, as that would be just as asinine as the drivel Apple has spewed over this issue.

# blech — NathanDrake 2009-03-19 10:09

I've used a friends iPhone before and I still can't find a single reason why I'd want to buy one whereas I use my PSP nearly daily for pretty much the kind of games that the iPhone could never do. I like my phone and my handheld games console seperate cheers... and I loathe touchscreens. Proper buttons that I know for sure I pressed down are what I prefer, cheers.

Also... I'm tempted to go into the local Apple store with buckets of different colored paint and just fling them everywhere so the place doesn't look so damn dull and sterile.

# Agrees 1000% with Rawhead — muffinhead 2009-03-19 10:09

The deluded Sony cannot deny the obvious. The iphone is indeed 'diversionary' enough to cut directly into their market share AND their targeted demographic. That coupled with the iphone having a far superior form factor, it would seem like they want the psp to fail.

Summer is coming. Which would you rather carry around in your shorts pocket?

A. Sleek, slim, and light Iphone

B. The elongated, wider, and slightly cumbersome and even embarrassing in your front pocket, PSP

# You "touch" yourself at night. — RocSqualie 2009-03-19 10:59

Only an idiot like you would embarrass yourself by putting a PSP in your front pocket. Come up with better answers that actually make sense.

# Iphone vs DS? — hush404 2009-03-19 12:48

I'm surprised people keep attacking the PSP - when the Iphone seems to be in bigger competition with the DS.

The DS caters to the casual market who have the "Eh, it's fine, I'll just this for gaming" ideals, is flooded with "Oh look! Touchscreen!" simplistic games and is pumping out about the same visual and complexity quality as Iphone games.

Where as the PSP has always been more of a "Hardcore" gamer system.

# some understand....some sadly don't — LeXiO 2009-03-19 15:36

Seriously, it's just as Peter Dille states. The PSP isn't a phone like the iPhone. PEOPLE like to STOP comparing the two. You can compare the iPhone to other phones like the blackberry storm, or the G1, but not with the PSP, because they're in placed in different categories. When one says, I want a phone, will the PSP come up to mind, definitely not, same when one says they want a portable gaming device, the iPhone doesn't come to mind. The iPhone isn't a portable gaming device, it's a damn PHONE, get that through your think heads.

Secondly, it's not about profits between the two, because the PSP isn't a phone like I already stated. You compare profits between the DS and the PSP, and sure, that works, but not with the DS. Seriously, why don't people compare the iPhone with the DS? Think about that. That's the same reason people shouldn't be comparing it with the PSP.

Now, regarding rawhead...think about it will you. What do people carry in their pockets/bag/purse/etc...a cellphone right...so obviously one is gooing to carry an iPhone with them. It's not because it's better than the PSP, and vice-versa, it's only because it's a cellphone. You use it less because it's a phone. Who sends texts with a PSP, now who sends texts with a CELLPHONE? Get the picture now. It's not that you're using it less, it's that you're using your cellphone more. If you still don't get it, think your head is really raw.

Last but not least, the PSP WILL ALWAYS beat the iPhone when it comes to portable gaming, because that's what it is, a portable gaming device, whereas the iPhone isn't. I'll leave with this question. I want a new handheld gaming system? Which systems come to mind?

# a GAMEFAQS poll — LeXiO 2009-03-19 15:56

http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll+3427

Gamefaqs, being one of the best gaming sites on the internet, had a poll about the iphone/touch/pod/nano.

As one can tell, when it comes to gaming, not many people care about the iPhone like I stated. The apple handhelds aren't competitors in the handheld gaming industry.

# yep.. completely agree with you — TriXtR 2009-03-19 22:42

@LeXiO yep.. completely agree with you. the iPhones a phone and can NEVER be compared to a PSP which is a hard core gaming system.

# winner — NakedFaerie 2009-03-19 23:07

If you want to see who is the winner lets compare games.

Metal Gear Solid Touch vs Splinter Cell Essentials

First in SCE you are a person running around and doing things. In MGST you are a crosshair. WTF? Thats not a real game, its a lame app that looks like a game.

Now, MGST is a gimmic compared to SCE.

MGST is a phone game. its not a real game. IF you ran around like in SCE and MGS4 then maybe the iphone might have a chance but I highly doubt the iphone will ever come close to being in the same league as the PSP.

Whoever thinks the iPhone will beat the PSP as the top portable gaming console doesnt own a PSP and they dont know what they are talking about.

I bet Steve Jobs started to spread that stupid rumor.

# this is why — frolix 2009-03-19 23:21

apple know they can't beat the DS. that's why they are trying to pick on a weaker (they wish) console, to make them look strong.

# .wh — Kellicros 2009-03-20 01:04

why are you comparing it to splinter cell and not portable ops?

# No competition — kei0520 2009-03-20 03:10

It seems to me that iPhone fanboys have nothing else to hold on to except MGS...

We'll discuss this again when iPhones have more than one real game to bring to the table

# agree — dswforce 2009-03-20 05:54

As a happy owner of both gizmo's, I can just say that the iphone will never be able to compete in the gaming industry as long as they stick to the touch screen (only!)

This is the biggest problem for the product IMHO. I've tried so many games on the iphone3g and still they all suck. Well OK, there's a few nice small boardgames etc.. but not any games that makes you wanna start the game up as soon as you got some time to kill.

I would love to see more strategy games on my iphone, like Civ1, Risk and others built on the TurnBased gaming.

Rant off :)

# disagree 1000000000% — dswforce 2009-03-20 05:59

Usually summer time I wear a rucksack, with loads of shizz. Phone, psp, book, laptop, tshirt, beachtowel, flipflops, wdmypocket 120gb and beer ofc ;)

my psp1000 is too big for my front pocket!

# We have (btw im not a fanboy i have a psp slim to which i love) — Guest 2009-03-21 04:58

Bioshock (coming soon)

Prey (coming soon)

Payback

Rolando

Tap Tap

Tap Tap 2

Guitar Rock Tour

i Love Katarmari

Brother In Arms Hour of Heroes

Crash Nitro Kart

Bugdom

Quake 3

Armado

Raging Thunder

Touchgrind

Iron Man

Real Football 2009

Crazy Snowboard

Super Monkey Ball

Time Crisis

Watchmen Online

All 4 Xplane Games

Sim City

Hero of Sparta

Kroll

Asphalt 4

ExZeus

Bomberman

Motochaser

Even though MGST sucks doesnt mean that we do not have good games

# psp — Guest 2010-04-20 09:49

psp is a way beter than i phone for gaming i love psp

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