Xbox chief on PSP: "cautionary tales to learn from it"
- June 13, 2008 13:55 PM PST
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Microsoft executive offers critical look at PSP and looks forward to the company's future endeavors in portable gaming.
Caution: Contents extremely hot.
In an interview with technology blog VentureBeat, Microsoft's Robbie Bach proclaimed the PSP "a reasonably successful product." The head of the company's Entertainment & Devices Group followed up with criticism of the handheld, stating that while PSP has enjoyed limited success "there are cautionary tales to learn from it."
Bach reasons that Sony's portable is designed with games first and foremost in mind, making it ill-suited for multimedia use. Music and video don't play well with PSP, he argues, citing the inability to store music on the handheld and underwhelming performance of UMD. Of UMD, Bach concludes, "[it] hasn't been successful."
The few kind words had for the portable were unsurprisingly laced with a bit of venom. Bach acknowledged the success enjoyed by PSP only to descry the types of games coming to the system. "There isn't much original content," Bach asserts. Instead of original titles, the executive believes much of the success has been a result of PlayStation 2 ports. To his point, nearly all of the best-selling PSP games have been spin-offs of popular PlayStation 2 franchises including God of War, Monster Hunter, and Grand Theft Auto.
When asked whether Microsoft is preparing to take on PSP, Bach confirmed that the company is exploring its options with regards to Zune. While he assures that "it is technically possible," Microsoft will be taking careful steps toward portable gaming and launching the moment they "have it figured out."
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- Jun 13 2008 at 01:57:59:PM PST
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Oh great..... They have 1 console making money..... Wonder what they would put on the Xbox handheld...All original content...rrrrriiiiiggggghhhhhtttt
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I would like to see what kind of portable Microsoft would come out with but its improtant that they take all the time they need to get it right. The last thing we need is a little mini RROD. LOL.
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SURFFISH Posted at: 06/13/08 at 1:57 PM PST He's a fanboy.More like an assclown.
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Great, I have a ds. But, im a hardcore gamer and I want a good hardcore portabgle system. Microsoft is the answer.
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salrang2002 Posted at: 06/13/08 at 2:08 PM PSTXDSURFFISH Posted at: 06/13/08 at 1:57 PM PST He's a fanboy.More like an assclown.
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Actually he does make sense a bit, I have a psp and all I see it for is games, occasionally music or a movie but very rare, by the way psp kicks ass, im almost finished with crisis core.
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I'd pick up somking before playing a Microsoft handheld.... probably less dangerous. I can totally picture a bunch of 13 year olds swearing on the bus playing Halo
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