Thursday, September 13, 2007

All I Want for Christmas Is A PlayStation Phone


As you have seen by now, there is a large body evidence that supports the existence of the much rumored and highly debated, PlayStation Phone. (PSP) And it is my purpose here to cover every element within the media that supports the positions I already believe to be true. Whether through my own investigations or by my astute observation of the industries I cover.

Simply put, I plan to cite as many possible sources to support my positions. For most intelligent people tend to have a "show me" attitude. And well they should in this age of deception.

But wonder no more. The question has been answer. That which we already know to be true has now been officially confirmed. The PlayStation has become a reality.

Chris James from the web site PocketGamer.Co.UK scored this amazing exclusive interview with Sony Ericsson's "gaming guru," Peter Ahnegard.

Chris James: "Okay, on to the direct questions. Is there a dedicated category of gaming phones within Sony Ericsson?"

Peter Ahnegard: "We won't be marketing them specifically as gaming phones, but games will be factored in the consideration of more devices going forward."

(ed note: This is the same approach Sony took with their struggling PSP portable It was sold more as a multi-media device rather than a portable video game system.)

Chris James: "So when is the PlayStation phone coming?"

Peter Ahnegard: "I've been waiting for that one! To explain our position I need to look at the brands we've developed so far.... We're not launching a brand of handset simply because we can, but because we can lead up to the expectations of the consumer."

"Up until today we haven't felt we could launch a PlayStation phone because it wouldn't be recognised as a true continuation of that brand of products.

Chris James: "Up until today? So does that mean we can look forward to a PlayStation branded handset soon, say before Christmas?"

Peter Ahnegard: "It's obviously something that we're looking at but right now I can't really comment. Before Christmas, certainly... but exactly which Christmas I can't confirm!"

So there it is folks. Mr Ahnegard has basically confirmed the PlayStation Phone! However if you've been following this blog then you already knew that it was coming. The only question is when? Obviously Mr Ahnegard was playing coy with our intrepid reporter. But being a little more brazen that either men, I'm willing to guess exactly when Sony plans to reveal the PSP Phone.

Sometime before Christmas 2008

Next Time...

We examine the launch of the redesigned PSP Slim...

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Secrets of the PlayStation Phone: Part Five

A Fork in the Road?

The PlayStation Phone gets its own development team. But how will it effect the current PlayStation Portable? Is this an example of diversifying the brand, or is Sony getting ready to jump ship?

Lets see what the folks at PocketGamer.co.uk have to say about this subject.

Sony planning to launch mobile games in Europe

SCEE to bring first-party PS3 games to phones?

"Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) is planning to move into mobile games, according to the new issue of Mobile Entertainment magazine.

What does that mean? Potentially a bunch of its first-party PS2 and PS3 games getting mobile conversions – the mag cites This Is Football, The Getaway and Primal as three examples, along with the frankly less-likely SingStar and EyeToy brands.

SCEE has apparently appointed former THQ Wireless executive Balbir Blugan as its head of mobile business development, to figure out how it should move into mobile.

It's possible that SCEE will develop and publish its own games, although the examples of Codemasters, Konami and Sega hint that partnering with a mobile publisher may be an easier way in, at least in the short-term.

...it does show how seriously console firms are taking the mobile market – and also that Sony clearly thinks mobile versions of its top titles won't negatively affect sales on PSP. "

Could Sony honestly be foolish enough to believe this last statement? In essence this means thier PlayStation phone would be competing directly with the current PlayStation Portable. All of the company's mega hit software on two different platforms.

When the Nintendo Co. launched their highly successful "Nintendo DS," their GameBoy Advance portable was selling almost a half million units a month. And this was in the United States alone.

Nintendo claimed they were taking a "third pillar" approach to the market. Meaning they would support two hand helds and a video game console all at the same time. Most people saw this as a bluff, feeling that Nintendo had no confidence in their new dual screen portable, and that it was merely a hold over to fend off Sony's advancement into the portable market.

Two years later the Nintendo DS rules the portable market and the GameBoy franchise is dead. The 3rd pillar strategy only wound up breaking one of the 3 pillars.

So this raises an interesting point. The original PSP has never done as well as either the Nintendo DS or the GBA. What does this mean for the future of Sony's floundering portable?

Friday, August 31, 2007

Secrets of the PlayStation Phone: Part Four



"Its all a game for some..."

Months before the leaked patents hit the web, rumors had been circulating claiming that Sony was going to redesign its moderately successful PlayStation Portable.


On the Top: The Newly Redesigned PSP "Slim" (aka PSP 2000)
On the Bottom: The Original Model

The hand held gaming device struggled in the market from the day of its launch. Although sales had been good for a time, the system has always performed well below the expectations of the Industry Analysts and of Sony themselves.

Allegedly the redesign would either be Sony's way of re-launching the product or it could also be the company's way of squeezing the last bit of profit out of a dying brand.

So when rumors of a PSP Redesign hit the web, at a time when the sales of the current model were floundering, it was up to Sony's John Koller to save the day. After all, the new model would not see the light of day for months. If word spread quickly enough it might dissuade consumers from buying the current model, which was already struggling, and news of the redesign would only makes things worse.

Luckily Mr Koller stepped in quickly to extinguish the public relations brush fire. Or did he?

MythBusters: PSP Edition
Posted by John Koller // Sr. Marketing Manager, PSP

"The rumor mill is flowing about new PSP hardware and a PSP phone, and I just wanted to take the time to clear the air...."

"We haven’t announced anything about a new PSP, much less one that would have any phone capabilities. As SCEA’s resident PSP guru, I’m thrilled to hear that there’s so much interest in the platform, but sorry folks, these reports floating around fall into the rumors/speculation category."

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2007/06/12/mythbusters-psp-edition/

"We haven't announced anything." That's all he really had to say. Most Sony loyalists took this bit of verbal manipulation to be an outright denial of the PSP redesign rumors. Ironically, just two weeks later, a redesigned PSP was revealed to a lukewarm public reception.

Next Up...

A Fork in the Road

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Secrets of the PlayStation Phone: Part Three

Sony-Ericsson's Video Game Cell Phone takes one step closer to reality. But will it be crowned with the "PlayStation" family name?

This article from Pocket Gamer.Co.Uk provides a glimpse into Sony's plans.

"New Sony Ericsson patent may be the real PSP phone"

"A recently-unearthed patent however seems to indicate that Sony Ericsson has at the very least been thinking about releasing a more gaming centric phone."

"It's unlikely that this device is directly compatible with PSP software, as even though it has clearly been designed with a focus on making mobile games easier to control, it certainly doesn't have the sort of set-up that would accommodate PSP games."

"Having said that, the rotating screen does bear a remarkable resemblance to the PSP's..."

"...and if the device ever does see the light of day it is conceivable that it will be branded with the PSP logo."


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Its seems obvious that a video game cell phone produced by Sony might bear the PlayStation name. However its this next bit of information that is truly explosive.

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"We're going out on a limb here, but we're thinking that a PSP branded mobile would likely command a development platform of its own. With Sony announcing just yesterday that it's setting up a first-party development initiative for mobile games, we smell a coincidence. Then again, perhaps that's just because we want it so badly. More on this story as soon as we have it."

Coincidence indeed.

Next Time...

Denials, Denials, Denials; Or A bad player always shows his hand.

Secrets of the PlayStation Phone: Part Two

PlayStation Phone: Coming Soon?

Our story begins with a leaked patent. This image first appeared on the tech web site known as Unwiredview.com.

http://www.unwiredview.com/2007/06/01/psp-phone-from-sony-ericsson/

Soon after these pics hit the web, a torrent of media coverage followed. This article from PSPfanboy.com explores the features described in this patent.

"Sony Ericsson files PSP-esque gaming phone patent"

"Sony Ericsson has recently filed a patent for a gaming phone that looks more than a little inspired by the PSP. The ability to play games is a central focus of the device, as indicated by the need to suspend games for phone calls (pictured, above).

Sony has hinted time and time again at the possibility of a PlayStation phone ... it looks like this is taking the idea one step closer to reality."

http://www.pspfanboy.com/2007/06/01/sony-ericsson-files-psp-esque-gaming-phone-patent/

Next Time...

Further confirmation...

Secrets of the PlayStation Phone


Is Sony-Ericsson developing a video game/cell phone hybrid? It seems that way as this newly discovered patent image suggests. The image describes a cell phone with a strong emphasis on portable gaming and multi-media applications. The intent of the device is to make cellular based gaming easier to control.

Now a greater question has arisen. Will the new phone bear the famous "PlayStation" brand name? And will it ultimately compete with, and possibly replace, the current PlayStation Portable?

A curious sequence of events coupled with the release of this newly filed patent has raised suspicion on the part of many. Lets explore this sequence of events and the media coverage that followed.

Our next feature:

In the begining...

"Sony Ericsson files PSP-esque gaming phone patent."