Game Stooge

Fix PSP Sales Or Get Out Of Our Store!

• Scribbled on March 14th, 2007 by Derrick Schommer
• Filed in Mobile Gaming, Sony PSP, WTF

A few big named retailers are telling Sony to fix their PSP price structure or somehow increase sales because they’re sick of the hand-held consuming valuable shelf space.

It’s no big news PSP sales are slow and cannot hold water against the Nintendo DS sales. If the product isn’t going to sell well, retailers do not see a reason to carry it. The device and all of its games take up a good deal of retail space which could be used for products that move and produce revenue.

Coming up on the second anniversary of the PSP (March 24th), a price drop seems possible — after all, the price was lowered by $50 two days before its first anniversary last year. But according to Sony, that’s not yet in the cards. Speaking with John Koller, the Senior Marketing Manager for the PSP, at the Game Developers Conference last week, 1UP learned that a price drop was not announced to retailers at Sony’s Destination Playstation retailer event last week.

So, what’s in store for a system if it doesn’t sell?

Apparently something put a smile on the retailers faces…

According to Koller, Sony did share plans that got retailers excited. Of course, what these plans were exactly, he wouldn’t say.

There are a few ideas floating around, color PSP devices, cheaper PSP devices, the 8GB PSP rumor or maybe some video download service? Something must be done to kick up sales a few notches else the product will become an “internet only” product line for sure.

Can Sony pull an “Apple” and color their PSP hand-helds to produce higher sales? Apple has always had success with re-designs without price reductions because they’re known for style and grace in their products. But, that’s Apple… this is Sony.

We’re comparing Apples to oranges between the two… hehe.

(Thanks, 1up)