Sony is well on track to double its sales of the Playstation Portable over this holiday season, reaching a N. American total of 6 million units sold.
The handheld gaming console seems to have developed an unexpected following among movie buffs as well as gamers resulting in better sales than originally predicted. The device however, is not considered to be on the same hotness scale as Apple's iPod, a device expected to top the holiday gift wish list.
Sony's product however, is expected to become an even more appealing prospect to gamers and gadget fans worldwide as time goes by even though many owners complain about various aspects of the device. The first complaints had to do with issues regarding dead pixels on some PSP screens while gamers also found the left thumbstick very difficult to use and the long loading times on many games unacceptable. The issue of firmware updates and the active efforts of the PSP community to create custom (homebrew) software to use with the device has also generated some discontent among PSP users.
Since the handheld's launch in N. America in March 2005, Sony sold 3 million units, which retail at about USD 250, and the company claims to be on track to selling between 2.5 and 3 million additional units during December.
Nintendo's DS, the PSPs closest rival, has sold 2.7 million units in the United States as of the end of November, although it is now entering its second holiday season and retails for USD 130. Nintendo's device however, is clearly targeting a younger and more female audience as opposed to Sony's target which has been described, by the company itself as the, Urban Nomad. If that description is not adequate the wealth of pornographic material released on UMD and the various similarly themed downloads available, offer great insight into the world of that elusive creature, the Urban Nomad.
What is proving to be Sony's strongest weapon this holiday season, is not the 70 games available for the system which have, after all, been criticized as lackluster, nor the wealth of new movies receiving their overpriced UMD release; no Sony's greatest ally this holiday season seems to be Microsoft and the current shortages in XBox 360 consoles which may lead many gamers down the PSP path.
Based on the above information the price cut many industry experts called for... nay demanded, may not come this holiday season and may only be utilised once PS3 becomes a player in the market.
