Sony Says the DSi is For Kids

[Evil Avatar]

Engadget has posted a Press Release from Sony's PR team, Statement from Sony PlaySation on PSP and Competitive Landscape (http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/04/sony-says-the-dsi-is-for-kids-the-psp-is-for-winners/). I'll let the PR speak for itself,

If Nintendo is really committed to reaching a broader, more diverse audience of gamers beyond the "kids" market that they've always engaged, there isn't much new with the DSi to support that. Significant gamer demographic groups are being ignored, and there continues to be limited opportunities for games from external publishers to do well on the DSi. Compare that with the PSP platform, where we have many blockbuster franchises from our publishing partners launching this year, representing a wide variety of genres and targeting diverse demographics. Games such as Rock Band Unplugged from MTV Games, Assassin's Creed from Ubisoft, Dissidia Final Fantasy from Square Enix, and Hannah Montana from Disney demonstrate the commitment that publishers have to the PSP. From our own first-party studios, we're launching unique versions of LittleBigPlanet and MotorStorm, and we're also planning a steady stream of downloadable games -- both new titles and PSone classics -- to add to the content that PSP owners can already purchase wirelessly through PlayStation Store.I do love my PSP. Moreso now that the new Silent Hill is going to be heading to the PSP.

[lockwoodx]

These dag gum nerf toys are for kids. back in my day if you wanted to go play outside there were bear traps, and land mines!

[Darkholmme]

If I recall correctly, most of the commentary on this story circulates around how the publishers and franchises listed as examples of third-party commitment for the PSP are all already supporting the DS or have games forthcoming.

Oh, Sony.

[lockwoodx]

Dangit I always forget about the no edit button :(

Anyways....

On a more serious note. Sony invests in the future by providing difficult to develop and expensive hardware.

Nintendo invests in future generations and solidifies itself as a house hold brand.

[Greeble]

For me psp+customfirmware > DS > normal psp. The ability to 8 or so games of my choosing on the memory stick is great, you can't lose them, and get fast loading and great battery life. (And no I don't pirate, I make iso images of the games I buy, all my psp games are safe in their original case on my shelf)

I just hope Nintendo puts out more than just budget and indie games on the DSi shop. I'd like to have a bunch of great DS games available to me without having to switch cartridges.

Yes I know about R4, I used to have one, but lost it when I switched it out for another cartridge. (The shitty part about R4 is you have pirate the roms since you can't make your own from games you bought. I hadn't had a chance to grab Layton yet, and so I lost the R4, when I had the layton in my DS.)

[Johan]

The DS line has sold twice as many units as the PSP. I hear jealousy calling...

The PSP is great for pirates, however. :D The DSi, not so much. Yet.

[PacerDawn]

"Significant gamer demographic groups are being ignored". They are? Which ones? I'm glad publishers are committed to the PSP. It's a shame the DS doesn't have Assassin's Creed, Final Fantasy, Hannah Montana, or any of those other adult titles like Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto or...

oh wait...

Add a touch screen to the PSP and you have me. However, right now, the DS is simply more stable (faster loads, more stable gaming medium) and more compact, a true portable gaming system that you don't have to move a joystick around to select keys from a keyboard on.

I will agree the DSi is more gimmick than substance. IMHO, the only reason for that system was because they apparently have no reliable way to update the original DS and add new features like D/L content, WPA encryption, or piracy fighting measures. So release a new system they can do all that stuff on, oh, and throw in a camera and slightly bigger screens to make it seem "new and improved", and phase out the old one by forcing game makers to only support the new system (even though it's pretty much identical to the current one).

[Johan]

I think a bigger reason for the DSi is an attempt to kill R4 piracy, frankly. How long they will succeed in holding the pirates off, I have no idea. Not long, if history is any guide.

[T-Rex Commando]

With mature content like Hannah Montana and Dissidia Final Fantasy all over the PSP, I guess I'd better drop Order of Ecclesia and GTA Chinatown Wars right away. That kiddy shit does not appeal to me at ALL.

[Darkholmme]

I think a bigger reason for the DSi is an attempt to kill R4 piracy, frankly. How long they will succeed in holding the pirates off, I have no idea. Not long, if history is any guide.

There are already flash cards out for the DSi, so not long at all.

[Earth Djinn]

I like that their examples of broad content are all available in some way on the DS.

Now I'm not a DS fanboy, but I just love this incredible streak of poor PR work that Sony has going this past year or two.

[LilAbner]

For me psp+customfirmware > DS > normal psp. The ability to 8 or so games of my choosing on the memory stick is great, you can't lose them, and get fast loading and great battery life. (And no I don't pirate, I make iso images of the games I buy, all my psp games are safe in their original case on my shelf)

Do you really think anyone is going to believe you? :rolleyes:

Anyway, if GTA CW is for kids, then I'm pretty damn worried.

[AversionFX]

DS(i) is for kids? There must be a fucking ton of kids, then, cause Sony is getting their ass handed to them in a big way.

[Venkman]

Silly Sony. The DS is for people who like to buy games for their systems.

[Johan]

There are already flash cards out for the DSi, so not long at all.

Well, there goes that plan, then!

Nintendo will still sell a ton of hardware, DSi-ware, and carts to legit customers. They'll do fine, as they have been for several years now.

[Kamalot]

Sony is completely and totally out of touch with reality.

[baz]

The DS is my favourite console ever I think. I do really enjoy my PSP as well, and feel ridiculously spoilt for choice for games between the two of them.

Company PR people should be told to stop trying to be negative about their opponents and focus on telling people why their platform is awesome.

[NuK]

Company PR people should be told to stop trying to be negative about their opponents and focus on telling people why their platform is awesome.


That there is just crazy talk.

[Zecon]

well my daughter just broke my DS and I'll probably buy a new one(dsi, maybe). The PSP is too bulky, with a slow and noisy umd drive. I was going to mod my PSP, but I was afraid of bricking it, and instead sold it. Sony may just be a tad upset that they lost GTA to the DS.

[dr_qwandry]

i dont know why you guy's would want a DS considering UMD movies and now (finally) an affordable price considering they now sit in the bottom of bargain bins everywhere.

Seriously though the PSP tried it's hand at something new (the mentioned movies) and it failed. The DS has a touch screen and it has been having nothing but pure win. That and it's the only Nintendo console that has any sort of games for hardcore gamers.

[Earth Djinn]

The Wii has hardcore gamers, they are just the minority.

They're there though. Who do you think games like MadWorld are being made for?

[TeeCakes]

Sony may just be a tad upset that they lost GTA to the DS.

With all the negative press that Nintendo Power issue got for promoting GTA:CW, I see this as a strategic move from Sony to pigeonhole the DS as the Trix Cereal of the gaming industry.

Kinda like how people like to paint the 360 as the console "with nothing but FPS games".

:shrug: Business tactics often work in mysterious ways.

[lost]

Asshole comments from an asshole marketing speech.

I really hate stuff like this from any and all parties. It bugs me when Microsoft do it, it bugs me when Nintendo do it and it bugs me when Sony does it. It's like shouting out at the top of your voice that you have a big dick. Nobody is going to believe you.

[ElPresidente]

I HAVE A BIG...

Wait. What?

[AversionFX]

I see this as a strategic move from Sony to pigeonhole the DS as the Trix Cereal of the gaming industry.


Considering Trix is an awesome cereal, I say pick another analogy.

[Greeble]

I was going to mod my PSP, but I was afraid of bricking it, and instead sold it.

You fool. Pandora battery is basically an unbricking tool. As long as you have a pandora battery its unbrickable. (You can either buy a pandora or make one from a regular psp battery, just need to cut one trace)

Anyway both consoles are handhelds are good for kids. (Though psp is only good if you throw an emulator on there. My 3 year old loves playing the Thomas the tank Engine genesis game.)

[TeeCakes]

Considering Trix is an awesome cereal, I say pick another analogy.

It's the perfect analogy as, clearly, the majority of Sony's customers are silly rabbits (http://www.uncoveror.com/trix.jpg) with big wallets!

[blackzc]

This should read: The PSP is for wannabe 13 year old nerds that like to eat hookers and kill nuns, the DSi is for everyone else.

[see colon]

I'm seriously starting to worry about Sony. This "We are the hardcore" mantra is the same that was coming from Sega durring the Saturn years, and they still haven't recovered from those days.

[AversionFX]

I'm seriously starting to worry about Sony. This "We are the hardcore" mantra is the same that was coming from Sega durring the Saturn years, and they still haven't recovered from those days.

I wouldn't worry. Sony's got much deeper pockets than Sega ever did. Which means you can look forward to many years of Sony PR bullshit.

[Evil Avatar]

This should read: The PSP is for wannabe 13 year old nerds that like to eat hookers and kill nuns, the DSi is for everyone else.

Hurm. Zombies or Hookers? Zombies or Hookers???

[dr_qwandry]

The Wii has hardcore gamers, they are just the minority.

They're there though. Who do you think games like MadWorld are being made for?


I'm not saying that they don't have any hardcore game (I actually own MadWorld) but obviously that's not what Nintendo seems to be going for with it's recent activity. (Wii fit and the like)

But in truth i wanted to believe in the console when they came out with twilight princess and what not, it just seems that as a whole they want to try to get the most of the population that may not be into games, then the core gamers who have been with them for years.

[Furious Wang]

I'm going to make a bold statement here: The Nintendo DS is the greatest video game system ever. I honestly have fifty fucking titles for the system and each one is great. Puzzlers, platformers, RPGs, casual, adventures, rhythm, classic ports, strategy, every genre is grossly covered. I love my DS.

[RMan]

But in truth i wanted to believe in the console when they came out with twilight princess and what not, it just seems that as a whole they want to try to get the most of the population that may not be into games, then the core gamers who have been with them for years.
I think they just killed two birds with one stone. In the end, the 'core' gamers are on-board because it's an interesting new gaming thing, decent support from these gamers was guaranteed. I'm just not sure anything would really make the 'hardcore' happy, as a whole, if Nintendo made another high-tech graphics machine like Sony/MS, then some people would hate and love them for some other reason. I don't think Sony/MS style chest-beating would help, so beyond that, it seems their 'failure' is more about being too inclusive, rather than real short-comings of products satisfying the entrenched gamer. They seem to be releasing great games like they always have, and the same types they always had, just that they're releasing newer types of games as well, I don't see the problem.

Personally, I don't think we needed three consoles doing the same thing, and/or approaching people the same way.

Regarding the Sony/DSi comments, it's pretty funny. I think both are fine systems, but I just wonder who they think they're convincing with this. "Significant gaming groups being ignored", what kind of nonsense is that? Clearly that's designed to appeal to that gamer that feels ignored, and wants to be told he's significant, because it's entirely non-specific (can't be, the DS is loaded with all kinds of games). He's preaching to the choir, complaining that Nintendo isn't trying to attract a wider audience. Pretty funny, that is.

I also like the part about "and there continues to be limited opportunities for games from external publishers to do well"... Translation: "The DS has alot of kick-ass games creating tough competition".

Seriously, I'd love to know who Sony thinks their comments are influencing, at least positively.

[HALO 32]

I hear jealousy calling...

I was thinking the same thing...

I picked up my DSi on Sunday and I can't get enough of it, and the people at work can't get enough of the voice recorder. ;)

[Greeble]

I'm going to make a bold statement here: The Nintendo DS is the greatest video game system ever. I honestly have fifty fucking titles for the system and each one is great. Puzzlers, platformers, RPGs, casual, adventures, rhythm, classic ports, strategy, every genre is grossly covered. I love my DS.

I agree with you, the DS is the greatest video game system ever if you don't care about good graphics. Remember when Nintendo actually gave a shit about pushing hardware. God what a step up Nintendo was to atari, intellivision and coleco vision. Even the SNES had more power than the genesis. But now Nintendo throws in 4-5 year old tech in their consoles. Do I think the DS sucks? No. I just wish it wasn't so weak hardware wise. And unfortunately the DSi does little to change this. (it didn't stop me from buying one, but I'm still disappointed)

My ideal console would be psp Graphics, cpu and ram and screen in a DS form factor with a touch screen. (And no fucking UMD)

[Sensei-X]

Nintendo whould be upset, but those walls of cold hard cash keep all the noise out.

Oh, and Rock Band Unplugged? On PSP? How the fuck is that going to work.... /shudder

[Greeble]

Oh, and Rock Band Unplugged? On PSP? How the fuck is that going to work.... /shudder

Its going to play much like Frequency and Amplitude for the ps2. (Harmonix made one or both of them I don't remember.)

[Phades]

This 31 year old kid is completely enjoying his DSi so far. Worth every penny.

[LimaBravo]

34 year old kid here and a techy kid at that and even Im not nerdy enough for a PSP, the DS is simple small and with its R4 card which Nintendo shoulda built in to the damn thing IMHO it plays movies, TV shows, reads comic books, plays music, read books (God bless gutternberg.com) for 8 hours with TWO screens and one of ems touch screen :D

The emulators are fantastic and Im looking forward to mebbe seeing some GBA games possibly on the store (Desert strike with a touch screen squeee)

The only difference is intent Sony try to push this hardcore gamer attitude and it doesnt work gamers are everyone from everywalk of life. If your an insecure 14 year old boy sure PSP more than compensates in cool points but so does a black DS ;D Cause then at least girls will talk to you. :p

Sony really need to screw their head on, with this recession and their infuriating and yet hysterically funny emu like approach to business, they are going to cause themselves an injury.

[donkeydrop]

Sony left out one word "DSi is for rich kids". Who else buys their third version of the same machine in less than 5 years?

[TeeCakes]

Its going to play much like Frequency and Amplitude for the ps2. (Harmonix made one or both of them I don't remember.)

That sounds really awesome. And to be on topic, a game like this is probably harder to pull off on the DSi due to the limitations of the tech. They already gimped the Guitar Hero peripheral by eliminating the GBA slot, as it is.

[Johan]

Sony left out one word "DSi is for rich kids". Who else buys their third version of the same machine in less than 5 years?

Rich adults? :D

I have four DS's, and will be getting a DSi when the color range grows beyond its current limitations in the States.