Codemasters : PSP is a "bollocking useless waste of space"

Gavin Cheshire, Codemasters Studios vice president, isn't a great believer in the PSP.

"Well, speaking as a person who bought a PSP, the problem was that I always thought - because it was a better screen than iPod's - that I'd be doing more with it. But it was such a bollocking useless waste of space; just getting stuff on it was ridiculous," he told Edge magazine, issue 213.

"That was its downfall. Relatively speaking, [Codemasters] didn't do too badly on F1 PSP. But regarding the future, I think they've got - well... no.

"PSPgo's a lovely device," he added, "really smart - but our senior VP bought one the day it came out and has a great story, because he ended up on some customer support line just trying to do basic stuff. He had to re-download his software, do an immediate firmware update, and that's your user experience.

"Sony just hasn't got it right. Stuff like that will make people leave it alone."

Conversely, Cheshire thinks Apple's new iPad is "brilliant" and believes there's potential despite the App Store being swamped with content.

"The ecosystem's right," he said, "the straight-to-console nature of it."

Some people believe the PSP and iPhone are on a collision course.PopCap's John Vechey told Eurogamerearlier this year that as Apple revised iPhone hardware, graphics would eventually improve and match Sony's machine. What happens then, we'll leave you to speculate.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/cheshire-psp-is-a-bollocking-useless-waste-of-space

The Mobile second place fight begins........

PSP is doomed financially if anything else on the market has similar graphics, because that's pretty much all it had going for it as a handheld

I am frequently amazed by the games on my ipod touch. Every day I think I can't be surprised and they hit me with a streetfighter IV or a chinatown wars. And games are so cheap as well! Mr Driller for just over a quid, on the move, wherever I go. I honestly think the handheld console market is going to die, and soon. Why pay £200 for a console hen you can get the games on your phone, just as good and a lot cheaper? My Touch is a lot more convenient than a PSP or a DS, no cartridges or external mem needed on the move.Nintendo and Sony should stick a phone on their next handheld or there is a decent chance it will bomb. Ngage had the right idea, it's just a pity it came along way too early and was poorly designed.

Nintendo and Sony should stick a phone on their next handheld or there is a decent chance it will bomb.Chemical_Viking

Before a new wave of people start calling the PSP a failure keep in mind that it has soldalmost 57M and has almost 1/3 of the handheld market.

If that's a failure for a companies first attempt at breaching a market then you go on believing that. If anything UMD as a media format is the failure.

[QUOTE="Chemical_Viking"]Nintendo and Sony should stick a phone on their next handheld or there is a decent chance it will bomb.IronBass

The PSP is so disappointing. The 2010 list is like 3 pages on Gamestop (the majority of it being crap and licensed crap).

It is right now. Chemical_Viking

But technology is the hardest industry to keep up with. If they release handhelds on the same formula next gen people will be forced to choose between a console with the emphasis on games only and a phone/MP3 which specialises in just about anything, for the same price. Chemical_Viking

All very well and good if the games are far better but just this year, they're not. The Iphones games are as complex, cheaper, and there are countless games in every genre from five minute wonders to final fantasy. This is only happening right now. If the two companies don't react to this, they will fail. .Chemical_Viking

But technology is the hardest industry to keep up with. If they release handhelds on the same formula next gen people will be forced to choose between a console with the emphasis on games only and a phone/MP3 which specialises in just about anything, for the same price. Chemical_Viking

All very well and good if the games are far better but just this year, they're not. The Iphones games are as complex, cheaper, and there are countless games in every genre from five minute wonders to final fantasy. This is only happening right now. If the two companies don't react to this, they will fail. .Chemical_Viking

I don't think you are listening. Just because something works right now, does not mean it will work indefinitely for the future. I can buy Streetfighter IV for a pittance and it looks better than any DS game.

Why "forced"? People have been buying both for years, why would they be forced to choose now?

iPod Touch/iPhone games are not really comparable in quality to DS and PSP games. The hardcore handheld market has not been affected by them, there has been no sign of that happening anytime soon. Your personal experience does not change that.

I never said my personal experience would change anything, but it is certainly enough for me to suggest if both the major handheld companies stay still, they will fail. And the reason for this is because the point you've just made, "they're not really comparible." Well they are. I'm afraid they very much are. The major selling point of the DS at E32008, chinatown wars, is on IPhone. There are more games added by the day, and they're getting better. I can get a very decent version of sim city for a tiny amount of cash. No game even nears the £24.99 price tag for a DS game but they're in many cases just as good. Like I say, just because it is working now for Nintendo and Sony does not mean it always will. They will need to react to this next gen when people are making decisions on their purchases.

[QUOTE="dog_dirt"]

"PSPgo's a lovely device," he added, "really smart - but our senior VP bought one the day it came out and has a great story, because he ended up on some customer support line just trying to do basic stuff. He had to re-download his software, do an immediate firmware update, and that's your user experience.

Slashkice

This says a lot more about their senior VP than it does the PSP.

I don't think you are listening. Just because something works right now, does not mean it will work indefinitely for the future. I can buy Streetfighter IV for a pittance and it looks better than any DS game.Chemical_Viking

I think you missed my point. The handheld industry is growing. That's a fact.

Facts > your assumptions.

And yes, SFIV on the Touch looks gorgeous, but it plays horribly in comparison to Tekken on the PSP or Bleach on the DS.

I never said my personal experience would change anything, but it is certainly enough for me to suggest if both the major handheld companies stay still, they will fail. And the reason for this is because the point you've just made, "they're not really comparible." Well they are. I'm afraid they very much are. The major selling point of the DS at E32008, chinatown wars, is on IPhone. There are more games added by the day, and they're getting better. I can get a very decent version of sim city for a tiny amount of cash. No game even nears the £24.99 price tag for a DS game but they're in many cases just as good. Like I say, just because it is working now for Nintendo and Sony does not mean it always will. They will need to react to this next gen when people are making decisions on their purchases.Chemical_Viking

It's not when we have actual sales numbers showing the contrary.

Chinatown Wars was, indeed, a huge part of E32008, but is FAR from being one of the DS selling points. Secondly, it plays horribly.

They are nowhere as good, as CW and SFIV show.

Sales say otherwise, and sales > assumptions.

[QUOTE="dog_dirt"] like whatSlashkice

Pushing a button and connecting a cable isn't rocket science. Someone that needs to run to customer service for such simple tasks shouldn't be blaming the device for their own lack of intelligence.

Codemasters as the Harbinger from Mass Effect 2:

[spoiler] PSP, you changednothing. Your games has attracted of those infinitely your greater. That which you know as the Nintendo DS are your salvation through destruction. *turns to PSP GO* You have failed. We Find another away. Releasing Control. [/spoiler]

Before a new wave of people start calling the PSP a failure keep in mind that it has soldalmost 57M and has almost 1/3 of the handheld market.

If that's a failure for a companies first attempt at breaching a market then you go on believing that. If anything UMD as a media format is the failure.

FragTycoon

[QUOTE="Chemical_Viking"]I don't think you are listening. Just because something works right now, does not mean it will work indefinitely for the future. I can buy Streetfighter IV for a pittance and it looks better than any DS game.IronBass

I think you missed my point. The handheld industry is growing. That's a fact.

Facts > your assumptions.

And yes, SFIV on the Touch looks gorgeous, but it plays horribly in comparison to Tekken on the PSP or Bleach on the DS.

I never said my personal experience would change anything, but it is certainly enough for me to suggest if both the major handheld companies stay still, they will fail. And the reason for this is because the point you've just made, "they're not really comparible." Well they are. I'm afraid they very much are. The major selling point of the DS at E32008, chinatown wars, is on IPhone. There are more games added by the day, and they're getting better. I can get a very decent version of sim city for a tiny amount of cash. No game even nears the £24.99 price tag for a DS game but they're in many cases just as good. Like I say, just because it is working now for Nintendo and Sony does not mean it always will. They will need to react to this next gen when people are making decisions on their purchases.Chemical_Viking

It's not when we have actual sales numbers showing the contrary.

Chinatown Wars was, indeed, a huge part of E32008, but is FAR from being one of the DS selling points. Secondly, it plays horribly.

They are nowhere as good, as CW and SFIV show.

Sales say otherwise, and sales > assumptions.

Your disdain for the control interface being accepted as fact for all gamers is the biggest "assumption" I've read in the entire thread. That, and perhaps your "assumption" that the movement by every major publisher and many top developers towards the iDevices aren't indicative of sales...

The iPhone and iTouch are already considered by the industry at large as a legitimate heldheld platform... going as far to give the platform its own presentations, conferences, and floor space alongside Sony and Nintendo and seperate from the "Mobile Gaming" sector at large.

Your Assumptions =/= the current state of the industry. Don't believe Chemical Viking, Apple, their 75 million user install base, or the game making industry? Try asking Nintendo if they view the iPhone as a competitor... :roll:

Cool, but I personally find the PSP to have the best library out of all of the current gen systems (not counting the PC).

That, and perhaps your "assumption" that the movement by every major publisher and many top developers towards the iDevices aren't indicative of sales...santoron

Way to go codemasters (what a name, hard to take seriously) yeah apple never has had launch problems Tisk*

Whatever i love my psp and that is where i'm puttin my money as a consumer, the ipad is silly. only for iheads.

I like my psp, nice and small and built for gaming not flicking though photos, look MA i can use my finger!

Before a new wave of people start calling the PSP a failure keep in mind that it has soldalmost 57M and has almost 1/3 of the handheld market.

If that's a failure for a companies first attempt at breaching a market then you go on believing that. If anything UMD as a media format is the failure.

FragTycoon

Yes but PSP did that in 5 years.

iPhone/iPod Touch sold 75 million and were released in summer 2007. it hasn't been three years full technically. Thats even DS numbers

And its hard to look at titles like Rolando, Wolfenstien RPG, NOVA, Modern Combat, Gangstar, and think they wouldn't be retail DS/PSP titles, but then you realise they are only available on the apps store (technically gangstar 3d is only on apps store)

PSP is doomed financially if anything else on the market has similar graphics, because that's pretty much all it had going for it as a handheld

88mphSlayer

Your disdain for the control interface being accepted as fact for all gamers is the biggest "assumption" I've read in the entire thread. That, and perhaps your "assumption" that the movement by every major publisher and many top developers towards the iDevices aren't indicative of sales...

The iPhone and iTouch are already considered by the industry at large as a legitimate heldheld platform... going as far to give the platform its own presentations, conferences, and floor space alongside Sony and Nintendo and seperate from the "Mobile Gaming" sector at large.

Your Assumptions =/= the current state of the industry. Don't believe Chemical Viking, Apple, their 75 million user install base, or the game making industry? Try asking Nintendo if they view the iPhone as a competitor... :roll:

santoron

I fail to see how your post contradicts anything I said in mine.

I'm a console gamer, so whatevs.

[QUOTE="FragTycoon"]

Before a new wave of people start calling the PSP a failure keep in mind that it has soldalmost 57M and has almost 1/3 of the handheld market.

If that's a failure for a companies first attempt at breaching a market then you go on believing that. If anything UMD as a media format is the failure.

darth-pyschosis

Yes but PSP did that in 5 years.

iPhone/iPod Touch sold 75 million and were released in summer 2007. it hasn't been three years full technically. Thats even DS numbers

And its hard to look at titles like Rolando, Wolfenstien RPG, NOVA, Modern Combat, Gangstar, and think they wouldn't be retail DS/PSP titles, but then you realise they are only available on the apps store (technically gangstar 3d is only on apps store)

I could care less about the death of an RPGless portable. Seriously, why would I play anything but platformers and RPGs on a minuscule screen? Racing, shooters etc... are all done a thousand times better on a console.

Before a new wave of people start calling the PSP a failure keep in mind that it has soldalmost 57M and has almost 1/3 of the handheld market.

If that's a failure for a companies first attempt at breaching a market then you go on believing that. If anything UMD as a media format is the failure.

FragTycoon

ill admit thats impressive but once again the way sony boast and blather their mouths the psp was suppose 2 be the ds killer and all the fanboys went crazy....what happen so in my opinion it didnt meac expectations therefore failure

The PSP is so disappointing. The 2010 list is like 3 pages on Gamestop (the majority of it being crap and licensed crap).

BioShockOwnz

[QUOTE="FragTycoon"]

Before a new wave of people start calling the PSP a failure keep in mind that it has soldalmost 57M and has almost 1/3 of the handheld market.

If that's a failure for a companies first attempt at breaching a market then you go on believing that. If anything UMD as a media format is the failure.

dc337

The PSP is so disappointing. The 2010 list is like 3 pages on Gamestop (the majority of it being crap and licensed crap).

BioShockOwnz

My PSP doesn't seem to have much use anymore.

[QUOTE="BioShockOwnz"]

The PSP is so disappointing. The 2010 list is like 3 pages on Gamestop (the majority of it being crap and licensed crap).

Midnightshade29

He says just before saying the iPad was "brilliant"... >_>IronBass

LOL! good point.