Apple has, in just one year, made a huge impression in the mobile gaming market, eating up market share once held by larger gaming company companies like Nintendo and Sony. More specifically Sony saw approximately half it’s market share drop from 20% to 11% as Apple’s mobile platform, especially with the release of iOS4, saw a rise of 5% to 19% from 2008 to 2009 alone as reported by the AppleInsider.
It appears as if Sony is now charging headlong into the mobile phone industry by creating a hybrid gaming phone based on the design of the current PSP Go. This would support the rumors that Sony was looking to make a move into the mobile phone market, but perhaps the numbers above have forced their hand a little prematurely.
According to AppleInsider, the phone would be based on Android 3.0 (aka Gingerbread) and use “PSP-like” controls instead of the standard QWERTY keyboards. It’s being more specifically described as a combination of the Samsung Captivate and the PSP Go. I’ll let your minds create the product.
Sony would definitely be playing a game of catch up in this space since Apple is already working on creating an iOS4 centralized gaming hub that would contain leader boards, track friends, and build an entire social community around their gamers. Add to that the fact that Apple has been rumored to purchase a Chinese game making company into the mix and there is no doubt that Apple is looking to eat up market share very quickly.
I can see how Sony would be threatened by this considering that the PSP, while nice in style, has not come close to outselling or matching the long time champion of mobile gaming, Nintendo. As for Nintendo, while they are sitting high on the mountain, Apple has proven that they can indeed make a splash in the market. We saw it with mp3 players, we saw it with the iPhone, more recently tablets, and now perhaps a gaming system.
The ultimate game convention is taking place right now in Los Angeles Convention Center and they are ready to introduce us with some significant announcements and gaming news. Here’s a recap.
… well, at least while you are on the flight. Jin Air, subsidiary for Korean Air, is now giving to all passengers the possibility to use a PSP Go while you are on their planes.
This PSP Go rent will have the cost of $3.5 (US dollars) and you’ll get the PSP Go device with 16GB, having several game titles loaded by default (there are no confirmations about this), or even including some movies.
Even though this could mean a great boost for PSP devices, Sony is not currently participating with this strategy together with the airline. Sony’s struggling to maintain the PSP business that in the last couple of years is battling with iPhone apps and games that are almost the same quality but far cheaper.
So, if you were looking for an excuse to get a flight to Korea, this is your chance!
Yes, I know, you probably didn’t even think about a walkman in a long time; and most likely it’s been a real while since you’ve seen one, but Sony’s is -NOT- celebrating the release of their first Walkman 30 years ago.
Sony is still trying to make a revolutionary product release that they didn’t have particulary since the first portable audio player hit the market. They are having a rough year (first annual loss balance in 14 years) and they don’t have so great expectations for next year either. Most of the hopes are placed in PlayStation 3 (mainly based on two things, the release of the slim version and waiting for the blu-ray to become a real home standard), and also the portable new console PSP Go!
Getting back to the walkman’s story, here’s a quick and funny image that a friend of mine sent me today:
In this autumn Sony will be releasing the new PSP version: PSP Go! And again, the gamer community has a lot of expectation with this new toy that will include several improvements from the earlier version.
Some of them:
~ 43% lighter. The previous version didn’t feel like too heavy, but if this one is lighter, even better.
Versions with 8/16 gb internal memory.
3.8-inch screen. It is not a touch-screen if you want to ask. Maybe we can expect that feature on next version.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support.
Games announced so far: Little Big Planet, Jak & Daxter, Gran Turismo and Metal Gear Solid.
Price: So far, Unknown. But it should be around $250 or $300, don’t you think?
Most of this information it is not “official” and we are expecting the response from Sony any moment now. Considering that not only all this data has been revealed (leaked or not), there was also photos of this new model (Eurogamer photo gallery).
And this interview from Sony Qore with John Koller:
They sure will be insisting on having this PSP as the portable PS3. And I love that!
Apple has, in just one year, made a huge impression in the mobile gaming market, eating up market share once held by larger gaming company companies like Nintendo and Sony. More specifically Sony saw approximately half it’s market share drop from 20% to 11% as Apple’s mobile platform, especially with the release of iOS4, saw a rise of 5% to 19% from 2008 to 2009 alone as reported by the AppleInsider.
Metal Gear Solid: Rising
XBOX
Yes, I know, you probably didn’t even think about a walkman in a long time; and most likely it’s been a real while since you’ve seen one, but Sony’s is -NOT- celebrating the release of their first Walkman 30 years ago.
In this autumn Sony will be releasing the new PSP version: PSP Go! And again, the gamer community has a lot of expectation with this new toy that will include several improvements from the earlier version.
