Why are software sales so low in the US?

***wraggster*** · January 16th, 2007, 00:42

Via PSPfanboy

Looking at data provided by VGCharts.org reveals an unnerving trend: the distressingly low sales of PSP software. One only has to look at Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, which sold 136,500 copies during its first month of sales in the US. While this certainly isn't a low amount, it nearly equals the number of copies sold in Japan ... in its first day of sales. Considering how the PSP has far more systems in distribution in America than Japan, shouldn't this game have sold better?

The PSP system sold pretty well in December, reaching approximately a million units sold. However, the amount of software sold is dwarved by the Nintendo DS. Nintendo's portable sold through more than 5 million software sales. The PSP failed to break 1 million. The five-fold difference in sales doesn't accurately represent the hardware discrepancy: the PSP isn't trailing so drastically, in terms of hardware numbers.

So, why such low PSP software sales during the holiday season? Do you blame homebrew? Or, do you blame PSP's ability to do much more than gaming: certainly, there are people that are buying the system for its other capabilities, such as its video and music playback. Did you buy a PSP game in December?

**shedeus** · January 16th, 2007, 00:46

isos?? piracy??

i bought hot shots golf and wipeout

$18.99 a piece! woohoo

**g00gy** · January 16th, 2007, 01:01

i would have to agree due to the amount of piracy performed on the psp by the thousands psp sales are increasing and game sales decreasing.

i guess i could say homebrew had a part to play in the low sales. becuase for example when a full working PS1 emulator was released on psp some people would rather play classic ps1 games eg:final fantasy VII. then go out and buy a new PSP game.

**ryanMWolfe** · January 16th, 2007, 01:10

One Word ISO

**punkypine** · January 16th, 2007, 01:16

lol

**Vega** · January 16th, 2007, 01:16

it cant ALL be blamed on piracy.... surely not. remember, fresh hardware buys over the holiday period would not be downgradable, so all new purchases cant be directly linked to homebrew.

Its a bad time of year, People have just bught PSPs for christmas for their kids or themselves... along with much more seasonal spending, people are usually broke around january.

just my opinion.

**gunntims0103** · January 16th, 2007, 01:21

only roughly 30% of all gamers actually know about homebrew and maybe only 70%-80% of that 30% actually know and are capable of creating iso's and or ripping content from discs.

Having that said, yes piracy does somewhat have a effect on commercial gaming and hardware sales, but i disagree thats its the main problem.

**shedeus** · January 16th, 2007, 01:23

bricks lol!

more than their fair share are winding up with those after the holidays. new psp owners without much knowledge installing downgraders and whatnot.

sadest post was of a kid who got a psp for xmas, immediately installed hend on 2.71, was so excitied about warez and isos, devhooked to 1.5 and proceeded to 3.03oeb update

BRICK!!