Sony: Nintendo is losing audience, not expanding it

[wraggster]

Something to wind up all DS fans:

Via Joystiq

In an interview with GameDaily, Sony VP Jack Tretton spoke out about the PSP versus DS market share battle. He believes according to early adoption rates of both the PSP and DS that Nintendo may actually be losing its core gamer audience instead of expanding upon it. From the interview:

"[Nintendo and their DS] are appealing to the same audience that Game Boy has always appealed to. And if you look at the adoption rate of the DS over the first 17 months, not only does it trail the PSP but it also trails their other platforms ... They're potentially losing some of their core audience and they're not really expanding beyond that, and we think we're expanding into a completely new audience as we did with PlayStation ... we'll dip down to the younger consumer eventually, and we'll ultimately appeal to that vastly Earth wide audience we carved out with the original PlayStation."

Is he talking out of his backside or what ?

[souLLy]

I'm glad he doesn't let stupid things like facts cloud his judgement.

[b8a]

The only thing somewhat shady about his statement is the first part, but I honestly don't know what the adoption rate for the GBA, GBC, GB were. He could very well be telling the truth. DS may be selling well, but that doesn't mean that people are snatching it up in the same droves as previous Nintendo handhelds. I completely agree with everything else he says. Nintendo hasn't given themselves anywhere to go but down, while Sony was setup for a gradual incline from the start. I don't see where the facts contradict his statements (other than possibly the adoption rate of the DS, which I just don't know. You do have to admit that the adoption rate of the PSP has been spectacular, especially given that Nintendo's GB line was the only real handheld option for close to fifteen years).

[cloud_952]

FACT: o_o To work for Sony, you have to be totally, utterly, ******* insane.

If you have any touch with reality, better look for a new company.

[Dave the Rave]

What about people who's first handheld console was an NDS? I'm not talking about kids either, I'm 35 and the NDS was my first handheld as I didn't think any of the others were any good. Apparently games like Brain Training are selling well to mature adults, that's an entirely new market that Sony haven't tapped into yet.

[ComixSans]

I feel sorry for Sony.
They have been so popular, being so trendy and cool, but now the losing friends to that nerdy nintendo.
just cos their inovotive and make better games.

[Shadowblind]

Yup, if only Nintendo werent so much better then them at everything but homebrew, and less money-hungry. Oh well.

[ACID]

His talking out his A**. His first words when the sony was unveiled last year where. The best and new generation of hand held Ha till this day if not for homebrew sony PSP would have been dead. Crap i have 4 PSP all 1.50 and i still havent played a true original game. NDS is all original

[SSaxdude]

Sony is losing their audience because most people don't care/want a Blu-Ray player or some resolution that their TV doesn't support. Nintendo went with the practical aproach, and that's why they'll gain more of an audience.

[JKKDARK]

Nintendo ****s sony in the handhelds