Why the PSP App Store is a Good Idea
by Christopher ParkSony has an uphill battle with the PSP Go. There is already backlash at the “premium” $249 price tag, the possible lack of old accessory compatibility, and the similar battery life for a smaller portable. I believe that the PSP Go is not a contender against Microsoft in any way. It’s not being produced to pull more profits from the Xbox 360 or Xbox Live. The PSP Go is a catch-up to the iPhone and iPod Touch. I don’t even believe that the PSP Go is being placed as a opponent to the Nintendo DS or DSi.
When the rumors started that Sony was planning or thinking of an application store, I thought two things.
1. Sony is attempting to catch part of the casual market.
2. Sony is going to cater to independent developers.
A good indication is the PlayStation Network. Smaller titles are being released on the system with great success. These titles, like Flower, don’t fall into many the standard categories for mainstream titles, and with the lower price points, more gamers are willing to take a chance. The PSP’s offerings of digital downloads is still small. Most releases are PSOne titles, mainly due to the ease of porting the titles and size. Looking at the iTunes App Store, most applications for release aren’t huge. Also the gameplay style fits the PSP perfectly. Since the PSP was designed for quick play, most iTunes apps are pickup-and-play, and the success of the iTunes App Store shows Sony that there is tons of money to be made.
If Sony is serious about the success of their own form of an application store, they need to start working on it now. With the October release of the PSP Go, a Sony App Store needs to go live that morning of release and not overlap entirely with the PlayStation Network. Obviously there should be some solidarity between an apps store and PSN, but for the most part Sony’s store needs to be independent. Sony should also be working to release development tools as freeware so independent developers can start working on titles. Day one there has to be a good amount of content. What’s the reason for this? Simply because the gamers who buy the PSP Go on release day will want to fill their sixteen gigs of storage with as much content as possible. At that early stage, it doesn’t really matter how good the content is, though Sony needs a good quality assurance system for developed titles.
Why should Sony work so diligently on this? Profit. Sony stands to make a lot of money if it releases a form of application store. iTunes has already shown that users are willing to store large amounts of data on their PCs or Macs. Sony will need to release a Mac-friendly version of all software it releases. Digital downloads cut costs. Without physical media, physical storage, shipping, and retail margins; Sony and developers can stand to have a wider profit margin. Also with this larger margin, more risks can be made. It’s a win-win situation for Sony, mainly because they would have the ability to see the talents of development teams and possibly hire them as exclusive developers. Not only would that solidify relationships with more independent developers, it would secure more titles for the Sony App Store.
The rumors of the PS3 Slim are also cause for notice. Sony is working on bringing their games division back into the black. Most gamers know that for the first few years, consoles lose money and game titles are how most console makers recoup costs. When Sony released the PS2 Slim, it sold like crazy. A PS3 Slim along with a price cut will help advertise that Sony is going to help gamers save money. The other rumor that Sony is going to cut the price of the PS3 only helps as well. The announcement of the price cut will probably be attached that the PS3 will be phased out in favor of the PS3 Slim.
Sony is working on recreating their brand. It appears like the PS2/PSP was a test drive in two forms of consoles. With the PS3 and the PSP Go, Sony could possibly create something similar to Nintendo’s Wii/DS/DSi connection, though Sony needs to stop acting arrogant and just release games that more people are interested in.
The only concern that I have with the PSP Go and the apps is that when you look at the iPod touch and iPhone, their hardware is much more capable of being the app powerhouse that they are, based on the touch screen and accelerometer in particular. The PSP Go has the built-in mic, yes, but considering that this thing will be using button controls only, can the PSP Go really be an app machine like what the iPhone does, and what the DSi has the potential to do? It DEFINITELY has the potential to be an indie gaming showcase if Sony is up for it, as Nintendo and Microsoft don't want to jump into that arena.
I'm gonna \”go\” ahead and say yes it can, Carter. The Accelerometer and touchscreens are really just other input systems, and for many games, the button/touchscreen/stylus/accelerometer systems seem fairly interchangeable. As with anything, it's all about developer support, and good apps. DSiWare, so far = no good apps. Great device, great system, crappy software. iPhone = TONS of good apps (and KRAPPS, of course). Great device, great software. Can the PSP Go do that? Of course it can, but I'm gonna say that it's gonna take a little while. The PSP is only JUST becoming a gaming device to own, and it came out in '04, you whippersnappers.
I think that on a gaming standpoint, the PSP would be fine for an App Store. But for actual 'productivity' apps, the system would suffer due to the input mechanisms not making it as useful for those purposes. A Twitter client wouldn't be anywhere as good on the PSP as it would be on, well, anything else.
Technically the PSP already had an app store. The Playstation Network is already available from the device and with some tweaks to make things easier to navigate Sony is already 99% there.
A price drop in the dev kits and easier certification would be a huge boost to the store as well. Sadly I doubt Sony will do this. The Net Yarroze (sp!?) was a great start, but a tiny niche that Sony abandoned.
I have high hopes for the PSP Go!, but a lack of a second Analog stick and it's too high price point wreaks of the same old Sony form the last few years. They sadly still don't seem to get it.. I hope they'll wake up soon :)
I'm just wondering, still, what happened with the Sony of the PS2 days versus the one we have now that seems fraught with poor decisions instead of the one we have now, which just makes confusing decisions left and right.
Why do people still complain about there not being a second analog stick? There isn't one there, and until Sony decides to have one (PSP2?), we're left with what we have. Why not worry about that, rather than what we don't have…?
I agree with the general comments above about the PSP not being a good "productivity" device, but the ability to do Audible or at least be a portable document viewer would be nice. I would rather have those than a second damn analog stick. Furthermore, we shouldn't be looking for the PSP to run ALL the different types of APPS that the iPhone/Touch can do, it just isn't going to be able to. The PSP, first and foremost, is a handheld gaming device. That should take precedent, and the extras come later (even the ones above I would love to have).
Well said, Barry. I don't get the constant second analog whining, either. :)