Sony Reminds Us That The DSi Is Still Just For “Kids”
There’s a part of me that has always thought it would be fun to work in some sort of public relations position where I did nothing more than twist random facts to sell a product. I deal with quite a few PR people, and most of them are actually really cool, and don’t try to feed me lines of bullshit. However, Sony doesn’t seem to employ these sorts of people. Check out their response to the US launch of the Nintendo DSi launch.
If Nintendo is really committed to reaching a broader, more diverse audience of gamers beyond the “kids” market that they’ve always engaged, there isn’t much new with the DSi to support that. Significant gamer demographic groups are being ignored, and there continues to be limited opportunities for games from external publishers to do well on the DSi. Compare that with the PSP platform, where we have many blockbuster franchises from our publishing partners launching this year, representing a wide variety of genres and targeting diverse demographics. Games such as Rock Band Unplugged from MTV Games, Assassin’s Creed from Ubisoft, Dissidia Final Fantasy from Square Enix, and Hannah Montana from Disney demonstrate the commitment that publishers have to the PSP. From our own first-party studios, we’re launching unique versions of LittleBigPlanet and MotorStorm, and we’re also planning a steady stream of downloadable games — both new titles and PSone classics — to add to the content that PSP owners can already purchase wirelessly through PlayStation Store.
– John Koller, Director of Hardware Marketing for Sony Computer Entertainment America
I’ve got both a DS and a PSP, so I’m more than aware of the features and drawbacks related to each device. Honestly, I think that the DSi is in some ways trying to catch up to the PSP in relation to downloadable games and being able to play other media. However, I think that the above statement from Koller just comes across as childish, like the kid on the playground trying to tell everyone why the popular kid is stupid in the attempt to make himself look better.
When it comes down to it Sony, your consumers already know what kinds of games are available on each console, and telling us that the DS is just for “kids” only makes you look like a child. These sorts of statements don’t sell consoles, your features and the available titles are what do.
