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http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ubisoft-urges-sony-to-act-on-directionless-psp

Ubisoft has called on Sony to act quickly to stop publishers abandoning the PSP as a viable format.

Speaking exclusively to GamesIndustry.biz, UK managing director Rob Cooper has said that the format lacks direction, with Sony unsure of how to market a machine he sees as over-priced and too technical for the mainstream consumer.

"I think that Sony is disappointed with sales and it's unsure as to which way to take it," said Cooper in an interview published today.

"Sony needs to show us a bit more about what its plans are to convince the publisher to invest lots more money into it. Especially when you've got the DS selling at such a tremendous pace.

"I suppose it's almost too technical for the casual person, those that are buying the DS at the moment, who want a few buttons and not a lot more. It's so simple what [Nintendo] has done. That's where I think Sony has gone a little bit too complicated, they've over-specced it, the price is too high and they need to go back to the drawing board and start again," he added.

Cooper doesn't think it's an issue with software pricing, rather Sony hasn't communicated to publishers clearly what direction the machine is going to take in the future.

"I don't think it's a pricing issue," he admitted. "As a publisher I'll always say pricing is not the first point of call. I don't think dropping the price of games is going to sell more product or hardware.

"It's direction, a real strategic decision by Sony as to what it wants to do with that product. It's a great shame that sales are at the level they are, because you've got a hardware system that is absolutely beautiful."

Ubisoft has no games planned for the PSP this year, but Cooper insists the format still has potential, so long as Sony can properly identify its audience and move the system out of "no man's land".

"There are ongoing discussions with Sony about what its decisions and strategies are, how they are going to go forward.

"Certainly, we still see it as a viable format. But we're not developing too many games on it until we get some direction. They've got to decide what they want to do with it, and come out clearly and say, 'this is our strategy, this is our process and this is how publishers can get behind it'."

"At the moment they are in no man's land, they're not sure quite how to tackle the DS competition and who is the PSP consumer. They've got to sort that out first," he said.

The comments come a month after Sony's European president David Reeves admitted to GamesIndustry.biz that the system was suffering from a lack of games.

Although support for the handheld is slowing in Europe and the US, sales of the PSP in Japan continue to rocket. The continued introduction of new colours in the Blume series has boosted sales, with the hardware regularly outselling the Wii in the market.

 

[GrotesqueBeauty]

I'm sure a few Babiez games would broaden its appeal.

 

[Tailzo]

"I suppose it's almost too technical for the casual person, those that are buying the DS at the moment, who want a few buttons and not a lot more. It's so simple what [Nintendo] has done. That's where I think Sony has gone a little bit too complicated, they've over-specced it, the price is too high and they need to go back to the drawing board and start again," he added.

This almost sounds like they're asking for a redesigned psp.

 

[M3wThr33]

The direction is fine. The issue is that Ubisoft only gave it half-hearted ports like the ABYSMAL Splinter Cell Essentials and Prince of Persia downgrades.

Given the huge amount of sales of the hardware, it's hardly a techincal reason for the lack of software sales, it's a lack of quality titles that are little more than chopped-up PS2 titles. That, and hesitant people too afraid to actually buy a PSP, but rather just reiterate "Oh, that's one title I'd buy a PSP for" everytime there's a good release.

 

[YYZ]

Makes me wonder about PSP's successor, touch screen for sure otherwise they're retarded. No discs, otherwise they're retarded. I'm not really sure if there's anything that they can do with PSP other than to continue pushing forward.

Just copy the DS, but make it bigger and better and with dual analog. I know this new story isn't about that, but I really don't think there's much that Sony can do at this point. People are buying the PSP at a rate that should make any hardware company happy, but they actually have no reason to be happy.

PSP is totally awesome, but only people with custom firmware can really say that. I hope Sony realizes this and offers some compelling features out of the box.

 

[Spank_Magnet]

If it's direction the PSP needs then I'd simply use the Go!Explore GPS unit. Arf, arf!
(except it's not released in the UK yet despite being available in the rest of Europe and extra maps are on the PSN store!!!)

 

[bjork]

Why is ubisoft being all super twatty lately?

Why didn't we want EA to eat up this company again?

 

[Divvy]

The direction is fine. The issue is that Ubisoft only gave it half-hearted ports like the ABYSMAL Splinter Cell Essentials and Prince of Persia downgrades.

Given the huge amount of sales of the hardware, it's hardly a techincal reason for the lack of software sales, it's a lack of quality titles that are little more than chopped-up PS2 titles. That, and hesitant people too afraid to actually buy a PSP, but rather just reiterate "Oh, that's one title I'd buy a PSP for" everytime there's a good release.

Hmmm... this sounds familiar.

 

[HK-47]

Why is ubisoft being all super twatty lately?

Why didn't we want EA to eat up this company again?

Contracting industry...just so you can remind yourself of why people put up with Ubi's continued existence

 

[gbovo]

I guess Imagine:Babiez didn't port over well

 

[legend166]

Doesn't the DS have the same amount of buttons as the PSP?

 

[gbovo]

Hmmm... this sounds familiar.

.

 

[Tailzo]

hesitant people too afraid to actually buy a PSP, but rather just reiterate "Oh, that's one title I'd buy a PSP for" everytime there's a good release.

I was one of those a long time, but patapon, God of War, FF CC & Monster Hunter made it impossible to wait any longer. Good & exclusive games are essential to sell hardware.

 

[dfyb]

sorry ubisoft, PSP doesn't want to have your babyz

 

[dfyb]

Doesn't the DS have the same amount of buttons as the PSP?

gameplay buttons yes (i guess you can say touch screen = analog stick). PSP has stuff like brightness, volume, home, and wifi buttons though.

 

[Suburban Cowboy]

is this article from 3 years ago?

 

[Mefisutoferesu]

So... I don't understand, he calls PSP a viable format, won't make games for it, and then demands that Sony spur interest by redefining the product... what? The problem is there aren't any games for PSP, we've seen numerous time if you put a real effort product (the small remakes, el-cheapo ports, seem to fall victim to piracy on the PSP, while solid efforts can shirk the damage to an extent) on the PSP it will sell well, but no one does such, and then they complain that Sony needs to step up and lead the pack? They do have limited resources, you know, and they've released a lot of pretty big games for it already... oo... oo, oo, oo... SLY COOPER PSP SLY COOPER PSP SLY COOPER PSP... make it happen.

... Anyway, it's a strange comment from ubi, frankly considered they aren't investing any money into the platform, I can't even understand why it was made in the first place.

 

[legend166]

gameplay buttons yes (i guess you can say touch screen = analog stick). PSP has stuff like brightness, volume, home, and wifi buttons though.

Well yeah, but they don't count.

The idea that the complexity of the games you develop for a system is tied to the amount of buttons it has is retarded.

There's nothing stopping Ubisoft making simple games for the PSP.

 

[dfyb]

Well yeah, but they don't count.

The idea that the complexity of the games you develop for a system is tied to the amount of buttons it has is retarded.

There's nothing stopping Ubisoft making simple games for the PSP.

must be the reflective gloss finish on the PSP confusing gamers with all that extra sensory input. DS's inside is matte after all. :lol

 

[sprsk]

Ubisoft: We need a place to port our shitty Wii games, please give us a viable option.

 

[kuYuri]

Anyone else confused by Rob Cooper's logic?

 

[Phife Dawg]

The direction is fine. The issue is that Ubisoft only gave it half-hearted ports like the ABYSMAL Splinter Cell Essentials and Prince of Persia downgrades.

Given the huge amount of sales of the hardware, it's hardly a techincal reason for the lack of software sales, it's a lack of quality titles that are little more than chopped-up PS2 titles. That, and hesitant people too afraid to actually buy a PSP, but rather just reiterate "Oh, that's one title I'd buy a PSP for" everytime there's a good release.

As opposed to the quality titles the DS has seen? Anno is the only good game in Ubi's DS lineup. Coincidentially Anno is also one of the few good games coming out of Ubi period. Ubi's handheld support is crap and we shouldn't give a rat's ass about what Ubi thinks about the handheld space.

 

[SiegfriedFM]

I don't buy the custom firmware point. It's just a bad excuse for pirating, and that's what 99% of firmware modders do.

With my shiny slim PSP with original firmware, I can play multiple forms of media, I can play loads of PSone games at a seriously cheap price (since mine is connected to my JP account rather than US or EU), I can play awesome exclusive games, I can play loads and loads of classics from Capcom, Sega, Konami, SNK, Midway, Activision and even EA through one of a plethora of collection discs. There's NOT a shortage of good gaming to be had on this thing, even if you stay legit.

Maybe that's what Sony needs to do, focus even more on classics...

 

[titiklabingapat]

What gave ubi the ammo to suddenly tell hardware makers what to do again?

They are not even the biggest 3rd party software maker.

 

[trinest]

What gave ubi the ammo to suddenly tell hardware makers what to do again?

They are not even the biggest 3rd party software maker.

There not no more?
I always thought they were in the big 3 - EA, Ubi and Activision.
Then another company then Square then THQ a few more paces down.

 

[titiklabingapat]

It's my point. Activision and EA are fithing for the top spot while Ubi is stuck in distant third.

 

[Dot50Cal]

They need to court 3rd party devs to get their big franchises on the system. Where the hell is my Resident Evil for PSP? Come on Sony, get on the ball!

 

[PantherLotus]

Gamers Urge Ubisoft to Act on "Directionless" Lineup

 

[SolidSnakex]

They need to court 3rd party devs to get their big franchises on the system. Where the hell is my Resident Evil for PSP? Come on Sony, get on the ball!

I'm actually surprised that Capcom hasn't done an Outbreak style game on the PSP.

 

[trinest]

I see the PSP games as different to what people originally wanted and worth while to buy a PSP. Putting things like Resi will just make it another PS3. The PSP has become something different to everything just like the DS.

 

[Vinci]

I find the notion of Ubisoft, of all companies, giving Sony business advice to be nightmarishly funny. Maybe that's just me.

 

[trinest]

I find the notion of Ubisoft, of all companies, giving Sony business advice to be nightmarishly funny. Maybe that's just me.

They are two different compaines both with the idea everyone should be like them. I think Ubi has been quite cocky and annoying since it took this casual path.

 

[Vinci]

They are two different compaines both with the idea everyone should be like them. I think Ubi has been quite cocky and annoying since it took this casual path.

And the Wii install base seems to agree with you.

 

[Miburou]

I just bought my 2nd PSP (GoWCoO pack) and there are a dozen of PSP must haves, but honestly aside from Kingdom Hearts, I can't think of any upcoming games that interest me. And it's weird that even with 40 million units shipped, there aren't that many million sellers on the system, which doesn't bode well for future software support.

 

[fresquito]

Ubisoft: We need a place to port our shitty Wii games, please give us a viable option.

I came to say this, thanks for easing my job.

 

[trinest]

And the Wii install base seems to agree with you.

Their only worth while Wii 'casual' game is the Rabbids series because its something everyone can enjoy just because of the random whity and stupid things they do. But other then that Ubi is gone down hill since the bomb (which I enjoyed) of Red Steel.

 

[makingmusic476]

Hmmm... this sounds familiar.

Exactly what I was thinking.

It's my point. Activision and EA are fithing for the top spot while Ubi is stuck in distant third.

I thought the top three publishers went EA, Ubisoft, then Sony? That would make Activision at best third out of the third party publishers, and fourth overall.

Though I may be thinking in terms of employed developers rather than overall publishing.

 

[Vinci]

Their only worth while Wii 'casual' game is the Rabbids series because its something everyone can enjoy just because of the random whity and stupid things they do. But other then that Ubi is gone down hill since the bomb (which I enjoyed) of Red Steel.

Rabbids is all right for family / group play, but useless otherwise. I agree with Red Steel, though it certainly wasn't a good game. I'd blame that more on rushing it for launch though than anything else. After MP3 and MoH, it should be easy enough to blatantly rip off one or the other's control scheme and make a sequel far better.

Not that they show any signs of doing that, but hell, it'd make 10x the sense of what they're doing nowadays.

I thought the top three publishers went EA, Ubisoft, then Sony? That would make Activision at best third out of the third party publishers, and fourth overall.

Does not compute.

 

[d[-_-]b]

Exactly what I was thinking.



I thought the top three publishers went EA, Ubisoft, then Sony? That would make Activision at best third out of the third party publishers, and fourth overall.

Though I may be thinking in terms of employed developers rather than overall publishing.

Sony a third party publisher, news to me?
Sony going third party confirmed news heard here first guys.

 

[navanman]

That article reads like an excuse by UBI:
The high price of our games on PSP is not the reason its we are not selling too many games.
Sony need to make it cheaper and simplier and games like the DS (cheaper) and then it will be fine.

 

[norinrad21]

heh UBI trying to direct attention from angry Nintendo fan boys towards the company

 

[trinest]

I thought the top three publishers went EA, Ubisoft, then Sony? That would make Activision at best third out of the third party publishers, and fourth overall.

Sony's ICO games have pushed it up to a nice conftable spot regardless if they are in the top 3 or not.

Rabbids is all right for family / group play, but useless otherwise. I agree with Red Steel, though it certainly wasn't a good game. I'd blame that more on rushing it for launch though than anything else. After MP3 and MoH, it should be easy enough to blatantly rip off one or the other's control scheme and make a sequel far better.

Not that they show any signs of doing that, but hell, it'd make 10x the sense of what they're doing nowadays.

Another problem which Ubisoft is doing with the Wii, and possibly every console is that they launch their games when a big name is coming out.

 

[HK-47]

Exactly what I was thinking.



I thought the top three publishers went EA, Ubisoft, then Sony? That would make Activision at best third out of the third party publishers, and fourth overall.

Though I may be thinking in terms of employed developers rather than overall publishing.

Activision is the biggest.

 

[Vinci]

Guys: First of all, Sony isn't a third-party so it's not included in that list of the Top Publishers. The reason it isn't is because the third-parties don't want to include 1st parties. And why is that?

Nintendo.

 

[CTLance]

Hmmm... this sounds familiar.

:lol

...

 

[trinest]

Guys: First of all, Sony isn't a third-party so it's not included in that list of the Top Publishers. The reason it isn't is because the third-parties don't want to include 1st parties. And why is that?

Nintendo.

Yeah Nintendo is even like the richest company in Japan now or close to it. Nothing can stop it.

 

[Vinci]

Yeah Nintendo is even like the richest company in Japan now or close to it. Nothing can stop it.

Not quite. But it's moving up the list.

 

[Grayman]

Sony isn't selling too well lately. Awesome games but they are probably third in first party sales. Last generation they were probably the biggest of first parties on consoles.

Did Ubi ever put out R6V on psp? Their screenshots sure looked amazing

Spoiler

ly fake

 

[Vinci]

Sony isn't selling too well lately. Awesome games but they are probably third in first party sales. Last generation they were probably the biggest of first parties on consoles.

You may be right, but I highly doubt it.

 

[JeremyR]

Aside from the obvious piracy problem, I think there is a lot of apathy towards the PSP as a gaming platform.

Look at the recent thread about upcoming PSP games. Very few people posted in it, even to just comment on the lack of them. Even the views wasn't very high. It did worse than the thread about the RPGMaker game.

You can't really blame third parties. Besides lack of sales, even when they try (look at Silent Hill, for instance), Sony themselves isn't exactly leading the way. Postponing GT Mobile for years; not having PSP versions of PS3 titles (obviously not the same, but tie ins in the same universe are possible, and generally a smart marketing idea - Resistance, Uncharter, Motorstorm, Heavenly Sword, even Lair would have been interesting tries - they also could have ressurected more PS1 properties instead of just Syphon Filter and a port of Parappa); And leaving lots of Sony published games in Japan to just sit and stay in Japan - some eventually trickle out through 3rd parties; lackluster sports titles (MLB The Show still can't manage to have umpires or a proper franchise mode after what, 3-4 years)