Yeah, And the iPod Wasn't a Threat to the Walkman, Either…

“I think the iPhone and iPod touch may emerge as really viable devices in the mobile games market.”

– Apple CEO Steve Jobs, November 2008

Sony doesn’t consider Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone a serious rival to its PlayStation Portable. This according to Sony Computer Entertainment’s Ray Maguire, who says a converged device like the iPhone will always be inferior to a dedicated gaming platform like the PSP.

“The iPhone has the advantage of being a single device and is growing a reasonable installed base, but it doesn’t have the production power that a PSP has,” he told MCV. “As a specific games machine, the PSP is always going to win out.”

Not that Sony (SNE) is ignoring the fast-developing market for time-waster, or snacking, games that has arisen around the iPhone. Said Maguire, “We’re in a great position to take on the interest in these snacking games and produce them at better quality, lower prices, with lower cost of development–that’s a great business model.”

Original post

Comments

[Wasabinator:]

As a gamer, I would have to say that something without dedicated buttons isn't going to be able to handle most types of games I want to play. To contrast this with your analogy, the iPod indeed could do everything the Walkman could, so what we are discussing here isn't just a different delivery mechanism. Also, why are we only talking about the PSP here and not the other traditional handhelds like the DS?

The iPhone/iPod will be great for certain types of game, but there will be bases that the DS and PSP cover which the Apple devices simply won't reach.

Mar 06 09:54 AM

[Patvano:]

I think this author makes a great point. The problem seems to me not to be losing the dedicated gamers: that won't happen. The problem is going to be losing the casual gamers to something like the iPhone. Devices like the PSP will have a harder time achieving the kind of scale necessary to make developing games for their platforms worthwhile.

Mar 06 05:13 PM

[Dor Kalev:]

It seems sometimes that either everyone is waiting to see what Apple is doing and then to copy them or that Apple is copying so well from everyone that it seems like they invented the wheel.

I am an Apple addict but I have to say it's getting boring without real competition (I am passionately waiting to the new Palm Pre).

Sony, it is time to pull a rabbit from a hat.

Mar 07 08:17 AM

[mollytjm:]

dedicated buttons? do you really think Apple coudln't do this? Sony was asleep at the wheel when the iPod came out. Tech companies need to keep innovating like mad, or they're going to be left in the dust. The iTouch, in larger size, could handle just about anything,including games that require a lot of action combined with complexity. If i've thought of this, I'm sure Apple has. It'll be fun watching the products emerge... and though Sony talks calm, i'll be they're not.

Mar 07 09:18 AM

[HTHTFH:]

Some of you Apple people are becoming positively insufferable. The author (and Steve Jobs) suggested that the iPhone can handle games the same as whatever device Sony throws at it. The current iPod/Touch devices do not have suitable interfaces for anything but the most boring games.

Sure, Apple could come out with more buttons. Alas, adding buttons = new device = not the iPhone. So it's open season until we see what they can actually generate.

Mar 07 01:44 PM

[brewer:]

IPod touch has incredible games and the most flexible controls available including the accelerometer, and the PSP simply can't compete on features OR PRICE.

"Dedicated" buttons are a hindrance, actually, something that can't be changed, and "dedicated gamer" is an oxymoron.

Mar 08 06:36 PM