EA boss urges redesign of PSP

PSP News | Smaller version and price drop the way forward.

Electronic Arts supremo Larry Probst has advised Sony to redesign its PlayStation Portable, suggesting a smaller version of the handheld would give sales of the machine a much-needed boost. "I think what moves the needle is a new form factor that's smaller than the existing unit," said Probst in an interview with Newsweek. The EA boss also recommended that Sony should reduce the price of any new PSP model to "around $100" ($130AU / £52 / €76), a price which sounds as likely to us as a Paul Collingwood double-century. Oh.

"I think the price point needs to be lower, and I think you're going to see that next year, along with a different form factor," speculated Probst, who also revealed that fresh, original EA content would be more likely to appear on the PS3, Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii than on Sony's handheld. "Our strategy on PSP has typically been to take the franchises that we build on other platforms and exploit them on the PSP," he explained.

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13 Comments

Marka

5 years ago

What is really needs is to shake the image of a device that plays watered down ps2 games.

Echo

5 years ago

a price which sounds as likely to us as a Paul Collingwood double-century. Oh.

It was a great double centuary, but we got him eventually.
And I dont think that price will happen, or at least not in the next couple of years...
However a smaller version would be a nice addition.

admeister

5 years ago

Heh, a smaller version eh? *coughDScough*

ZNMS

5 years ago

Quote

Our strategy on PSP has typically been to take the franchises that we build on other platforms and exploit them on the PSP.

Exploit.

What a fine choice of words.

admeister

5 years ago

ZNMS wrote

Quote

Our strategy on PSP has typically been to take the franchises that we build on other platforms and exploit them on the PSP.

Exploit.

What a fine choice of words.

Exploit meaning port in this case.

Matt3

5 years ago

well you could tell it was chris doing this report when the "paul collingwood double-centurary" came in

i will be buying it if it does go to $100, that would be a bonus but i think itll be a while.

Emuaust

5 years ago

Well I suggest that EA stop releasing there games in australia at $89.95,
maybe if EA look at a lower price they will sell more games, not battin for Sony
or anything but FFS it pisses me off when the release there games $10
dearer and bitch to me they arent selling.

iorkara

5 years ago

Smaller PSP? Maybe.
But i would love a PSP 2. With all that great hardware we want: list goes on forever.

Once PSP2 is out. PSPone price be lowered.

I think thats the only way Sony wold go on about it.

InvivnI

5 years ago

Is Sony losing money on the PSP at its current price-point?

Lion-face

5 years ago

^^ I doubt it, its been out for 2 years now at its current price point, they must have been able to make a profit from from it now. MS are making a profit of about 75buckies a machine, up from a loss of close to 200dollars just a year ago. Although I do think its due for a price drop but those comments from EA are just stupid. They make crap games anywho.

Smaller would be nice, but the only way they can make it smaller is reducing the screen size and i dont know if i, personally, could handle that lol, its a great screen! A second analog nub would go a long way for the PSP, and analog buttons, but other than that there isnt much wrong with it. The problem is developers have been making current gen games for the past 4-5 years and then Sony release a system with Last generation controls, and thats why alot of games have trouble with controls.

Although in saying that if you look over the past year, just this year, the PSP has had one of the stronger list of games releases contrary to many reports. And i think thats what alot of people don't get. We're all expecting top notch games from the getgo, 360 is a prime example, and i imagine PS3 will take a while to get a few good games on the machine.

My 2cents

renegadesx

5 years ago

I think the price is rediculous, $399 for the full pack, its twice the price of the DS and for what?

If the base pack was at least the same price as a DS, maybe some sales will come out of it, then the only challenge they have fighting against the momentum that the DS has.

The PSP is nice enough but it is not worth what they are asking for. Also we need more games, only justification I would see is its port of Katamari Damacy and Sonic Rivals.

EA needs to shut their mouth though considering they do not know how to make handheld games, the raise the price thinking that they can make em better than anyone else and wonder why nobody's buying them.

this next section is directed at the quote above. The Xbox 360 will barley get good games as their content is too narrow (or stuff you can get on current gen), the PS3 will get some good content but their price is absolutely ridiculous

ugh the boot

5 years ago

EA are crap so no biggie! I just think handheld games need to come down in price....they should be 1/2 what console games cost....because that's about where I rate them in importance (imo). I know I would have a lot more Psp games if they were cheaper (I don't really get to play them much so it's more of a collector's thing....so I guess they would be worth it if I played them).

Also isn't every EA game on the Psp a port and is actually more expensive than other Psp games? And EA are grumbling because obviously their sales haven't been as great...are they dumb? No seriously?

Ellegarden

5 years ago

renegadesx wrote

I think the price is rediculous, $399 for the full pack, its twice the price of the DS and for what?

this next section is directed at the quote above. The Xbox 360 will barley get good games as their content is too narrow (or stuff you can get on current gen), the PS3 will get some good content but their price is absolutely ridiculous

You do realise the PSP is better technically, than DS so you would assume it to cost more.

Well I think your jumping conclusion about 360 games like lost planet and blue dragon are far from narrow content and good games doesnt make sense especially compared to Wii or PS3. Talking about pricing sure ps3 is expensive but someways its justifible compared to Wii it totally is not.

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