Trend analysis of PSP publisher support

August 6th, 2008, 18:54 Posted By: wraggster

Square Enix seems like one of the strong PSP supporters with the recent announcement of the 3rd Birthday and Final Fantasy Agito XIII shifting from mobile phones to the PSP. However, just a few weeks ago at E3 there weren’t many PSP titles shown. Resistance: Retribution was the most notable announcement from the show and the title Sony Computer Entertainment America seemed most excited about. The reminder of this year’s PSP forecast looks light on the games and this isn’t limited to North America. Even in Japan where the PSP remains immensely popular, thanks in part to Monster Hunter, it feels like retail releases are dwindling.

For further examination I put together a set of graphs with the number of released retail games by a handful of publishers throughout the PSP’s life to date. Before we get to the data, please note most of this data is based on games published in Japan. The exceptions to this rule are Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) which use data based on the number of games published in North America. Pre-merger data for Namco and Bandai were added together to create the Namco Bandai number. Also the 2008 figure has been marked with an asterisk since it is only representative of games announced for a 2008 release to date. For example Dissida: Final Fantasy, Garnet Chronicle, and Patapon 2 were counted in the 2008 figure. Yuusha no Kuse ni Namaikida Or 2 was not since Sony has not announced a release date or window to the public. The 2008 number may, and probably will, change.

While giants like Electronic Arts seem to be looking elsewhere niche publishers like Irem are sticking with the PSP. This year Irem, the developers of R-Type Command, will publish three games for Sony’s handheld. This is not an insignificant number considering Irem sometimes only releases three games in a single year. Global A (not shown on the graph) is also continuing to support the PSP with simulation/RPG hybrids like Chuumon Shiyouze! Oretachi no Sekai and Acquire just published Ken to Mahou to Gakuen Mono.

The well of games has not run dry, but the downward slope seen in 2007 is notable. In 2008 development seems to be sloping upwards, a good sign considering we're only partially through the year. However, seeing the lack of first party releases from Sony Computer Entertainment Japan is alarming.

http://www.siliconera.com/2008/08/05...isher-support/

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