Some might say that the problem exists everywhere, but Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s President David Reeves admits that their platform with the emphasis on being Portable is suffering from a lack of games in that region.
Even though there are new functions, such as Go! Explore satellite-navigation application and cross-platform functions with the monolithic PlayStation 3, Sony’s recent Gamer’s Day saw only two games, Echocrome and Buzz! Quiz Master, mentioned during their one and one-half hour presentation.
“Hand on heart, would we like more PSP games? Yes, we would. We really would,” Reeves told GamesIndustry.biz.
PSP-exclusive content seems to be on the downturn, though companies such as Sierra are still developing games for the eight-year old PlayStation 2, with the majority of what’s left being larger licenses such as WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2008 and LEGO Indiana Jones (available for all major gaming platforms).
Things aren’t quite so bleak everywhere, however, as PSP sales in Japan have skyrocketed to the point of 1.6 million units sold, while Sony continues to introduce different colored models into the marketplace. Plus, Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G by Capcom is doing gangbusters there as well.
Of the Japanese performance, Reeves said, “It’s phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal,” adding, “We’ve seen in the last six months that because of the success of the PSP in Japan many Japanese developers have got some absolutely phenomenal games. They’re not Monster Hunter 2G or things like that, but they are in development and we’ll see them over here.”
With Capcom’s success spurring on other developers to follow suit, Reeves promised that locally developed titles are also going to make it to the West.
