Battle of the PSP and DS consoles

During the times of our Grandpa and Grandma, Godzilla, Lost World and other Titans are literally the “big” thing; now, small means better, and more often than not, the smaller they are, the more cash they rake.

In perhaps the best battle in liliputian proportions, Sony’s PlayStation Portable and Nintendo’s DS are squaring off in equal grounds about a year after both unit’s release. Which one is faring better? It’s like answering which you prefer more, sushi or burgers? Indeed, the battle can be best gauge by two of the largest gaming market in the world — US and Japan.

In Japan, distributors are very accurate on the number of hardware sales, and it’s apparent which console they prefer to finger (no pun intended) more. As of March 12, 385,193 DS systems have been sold. Sony, on the other hand, has only managed to move 3,135,588 units of the PSP. Knowing the Japanese market’s knack for being loyal to the first product they have embraced (wonder no more why they prefer raw food, even after fire was discovered), that gap is bound to widen.

In the US, both consoles have reported to have sold around 4 million units, with PSP slightly ahead by 300,000. Figures are hard to gather but it is easy to tell that the PSP seems like the most attractive prospect right now for Western developers making more “mature” games. In a time that games developed are as important as the consoles themselves, that is vital for future sales.

Which one won? Like I said, it is hard to tell, come back a year later and maybe by then I’ll have an answer. For now, let’s just dig on to those sushi and burgers.
During the times of our Grandpa and Grandma, Godzilla, Lost World and other Titans are literally the “big” thing; now, small means better, and more often than not, the smaller they are, the more cash they rake.

In perhaps the best battle in liliputian proportions, Sony’s PlayStation Portable and Nintendo’s DS are squaring off in equal grounds about a year after both unit’s release. Which one is faring better? It’s like answering which you prefer more, sushi or burgers? Indeed, the battle can be best gauge by two of the largest gaming market in the world — US and Japan.

In Japan, distributors are very accurate on the number of hardware sales, and it’s apparent which console they prefer to finger (no pun intended) more. As of March 12, 385,193 DS systems have been sold. Sony, on the other hand, has only managed to move 3,135,588 units of the PSP. Knowing the Japanese market’s knack for being loyal to the first product they have embraced (wonder no more why they prefer raw food, even after fire was discovered), that gap is bound to widen.

In the US, both consoles have reported to have sold around 4 million units, with PSP slightly ahead by 300,000. Figures are hard to gather but it is easy to tell that the PSP seems like the most attractive prospect right now for Western developers making more “mature” games. In a time that games developed are as important as the consoles themselves, that is vital for future sales.

Which one won? Like I said, it is hard to tell, come back a year later and maybe by then I’ll have an answer. For now, let’s just dig on to those sushi and burgers.