PSP dev kit cost halved

Sony subsidiary SN Systems slashes cost of dev kits for the PlayStation Portable to encourage more games to be created for the handheld.

Sony Computer Entertainment subsidiary SN Systems has slashed the costs of all its development tools for the PlayStation Portable.

The move follows on from Sony's announcement in November that it would be reducing the cost of development gear for the PlayStation 3 by almost 50 percent, in an attempt to make game creation for the console more affordable for small and independent game developers.

The PSP development tools have been on sale since 2004, and Sony appears to be following a pattern of reducing the prices of the kits after a few years on the market--PlayStation 2 dev kits were reduced just a year after the console went on the market.

The price reduction is effective immediately, and applies to all SN Systems' PSP tools, including full and rental ProDG for PSP, Tuner, Build Tools, and ProView licences ordered through the UK office. Support fees will also be reduced for developers when they renew their annual subscriptions.

69 Comments

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Feb 5, 2008 10:12 am PT

    About time... honestly I don't know why they just don't give them away since they make the money off the games.

  • LordelX

    Posted Feb 5, 2008 9:33 am PT

    When Nintendo was third place at least they always had the leading handheld. Now Sony is in third place, and they aren't doing well in the handheld market enough to make up the difference. Things are getting desparate at Sony.

  • Dav_id83

    Posted Feb 5, 2008 3:58 am PT

    Hopefully thats means games makers will buy there kit and use the full power of the PSP's hardware like graphics some games are just plain awful with loads of motion blur put in.

  • Azhar85

    Posted Feb 5, 2008 2:26 am PT

    that..why..i think psp is gonna dead soon...that why i just bought NDS yesterday...

  • Auricom_Pilot

    Posted Feb 5, 2008 1:14 am PT

    So how much is it exactly?

  • Prime05

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 9:23 pm PT

    It's about time.

  • Vash67

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 8:21 pm PT

    Good move. Now hopefully, we'll see some more PSP exclusives, and not just by first and second party companies. Sony and their boys need companies lke Konami, Capcom, Rockstar/TakeTwo, EA, and Activision to make games especially for the PSP. That's the reason the DS sells so well. Almost all the games are made purposely for the DS.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 8:04 pm PT

    good for sony games i guess

  • smitoraj2008

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 7:13 pm PT

    Maybe 3rd party companies will finally step up and make good games for this system.

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 7:12 pm PT

    More games is rarely a bad thing, but as long as it has Lumines, it's worth what I paid for it.

  • alberto2045

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 7:10 pm PT

    Sony all I ask is get a PSP FFVII bundle edition like you did in Japan with that beautiful pic in the back not with the star wars face you have right now please!

  • fatty5xl

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 6:37 pm PT

    well isnt that special

  • ghost867

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 6:05 pm PT

    @ Hvac0120:

    Unless you're talking about Japan, the PSP didn't come out until March 2005 in the US. Just to clear that up. Also, if you have a PSP sitting around, go pick up a couple of games on my recommendation:

    -Lumines II
    -Socom FIreteam Bravo
    -Syphon Filter Dark Mirror/Logan's Shadow
    -Daxter
    -Medal of Honor Heroes
    -GTA Vice City Stories
    -Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
    -Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters

    I've personally played all of those and loved them all. If you really wanna get some use out of the thing, since I guess you haven't, take your pick.

  • ghost867

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 5:42 pm PT

    Hopefully this means more games like Syphon Filter, GTA, and Daxter will come out. I'm still playing Logan's Shadow, I loved that game. I'm also planning to get Chains of Olympus on release day. GO PSP! Woot.

  • jediknight52501

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 5:38 pm PT

    about time. the PSP needs more games. i don't own a PSP but hearing this makes me want one now.

  • DocGonzo1971

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 3:46 pm PT

    They should have done this at least a year ago.

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 2:37 pm PT

    By the time developers start taking advantage of what the PSP can really offer technically, the next PSP will be ready to ship out. Of course, since the original PSP released in 2004, we can hope that it has a 10 year life expectancy and will get games up until 2014.

    I have a launch PSP and I haven't touched it since I bought GTA:Liberty City Stories when it launched. ... Okay, so I play it every now and then, but I only have bought 4 games and I don't hardly use it. I might when I get a PS3, but that is yet to be determined.

    I need to get out there and get some of the awsome games that have come out over the past couple years. I'm sure there are some great ones that are at discounted prices now.

    All-in-all I think the PSP has done very well compared to Nintendo's past rivals in the handheld market. The PSP2 may do even better. IT's hard to beat Nintendo at it's own game, though.

  • pikachu01

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 2:27 pm PT

    When I was working with EA, dev systems for ps2 were around $20,000 a piece, so I'd say around $10,000 for these now.

  • nemes1s3000

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 2:07 pm PT

    So anyone know how much it really is now?

  • Petri87

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 2:06 pm PT

    I dont see anything changing the course the PSP has taken. Its to bad actually since the PSP is a great handheld but no one seem to take advantage of it.
    Thare are good games on the PSP but they would fitt better on a home console.(whir a few exceptions)

    What the PSP needs is origional handheld friendly games.
    The PSP is as it stands a dumping ground for crappy PSP ports.

    It deserves bettter. All we can hope for is that a indy dev. mekes some awesome games since the big guys sure as h3ll arent doing that.

  • xJackelx

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 1:48 pm PT

    "mariomusicmaker

    so, small people with little experence in games, with no money can now buy this kit and make more crap ( test market ) games for psp? great... i cant wait to play games that where made in 3 monts or less for psp.... you know what i mean. ( points at NES and SNES and GC)"


    It's your choice to buy the the games. Just because a game is created that might be bad, should only cause you a problem if you are dumb enough to buy it.

  • lilmp89

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 1:41 pm PT

    Yay, more games. Hopefully, better quality by smaller devs who have great ideas but little resources to execute them. Can't wait to see what will come from this =)

  • mariomusicmaker

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 1:36 pm PT

    so, small people with little experence in games, with no money can now buy this kit and make more crap ( test market ) games for psp? great... i cant wait to play games that where made in 3 monts or less for psp.... you know what i mean. ( points at NES and SNES and GC)

  • gamenux

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 1:32 pm PT

    What took them so long?

  • svaubel

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 1:16 pm PT

    Hopefully this will help the PSP get more good games. The portable is seriously lacking in quality titles.

  • GodsPoison

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 1:07 pm PT

    About time, so how much will it empty out of my pocket now?

  • Ted_Zanarukando

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 12:47 pm PT

    With this price reduction, the PSP will gain ground on the DS. What about remake the third-party NES games for PSP, as was done with Final Fantasy I and II? I am glad the same will also be done for the PS3 development kit, and it would happen in November (my birth month).

  • sdkingsht

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 12:45 pm PT

    good news. just bought a new white psp. more games can only be good news.

  • darthdominion

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 12:42 pm PT

    This makes it possible for more games to be brought to the PSP.
    Because with development prices going down. It's more possible for major-hit franchises to be made. Such as Gran Turismo PSP.

  • GtheMVP

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 12:23 pm PT

    This is great news, I love my psp! What a comeback this thing is experiencing, bring on the hits baby! I love my 360, cube, ps2, pc etc... but playing vids in bed and on the toilet is priceless

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 12:14 pm PT

    Woot

  • keyboarder20

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 12:11 pm PT

    Good news. The PSP is a great handheld. It has better games than the DS although i wish it had more. I have a DS and i like it. But i prefer to play my PSP. In fact, after my 360 ,the PSP is my favourite console.

  • i-rock-socks

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 11:57 am PT

    cool

  • polkastripe- posted Feb 4, 2008 11:56 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    polkastripe-

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 11:56 am PT (hide)

    lol not good.. rea;;y.

  • Axe_336

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 11:20 am PT

    While this will hopefully bring in more quality titles, I have a feeling it will also introduce a large amount of what is affectionately known as "shovelware".

  • GreenGoblin2099

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 11:03 am PT

    Nice, this is one of the best PSP news so far... keep it up, Sony

  • GrimBee

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 10:55 am PT

    ...something which should of been done YEARS ago!

    A few years ago, I bought a DS (the old one) with Sonic Rush. After playing Sonic, Phoenix Wright.. etc etc. I thought that the DS was fantastic, but I never thought it would rock passed the PSP - what with Grand Thefto Auto on the PSP and the prospect of MGS, Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Gran Turismo...

    Trouble is - when you have complex hardware likened to that of a console, great games take ages to develop. And what with the PSP's flaws (all consoles have flaws, some greater than others) such as battery life, and expensive memorycards - when it comes down to it - the PSP just couldn't speed up next to the onslaught of Nintendo's title after title fight.

    Now, at least we can see some unique developers cutting out some sweet software on the system. Alot of the good DS games look like they took minutes to devise and create (lol, just kidding).
    Seriously though - my fave portable games are just good to play. Patapon is a great PSP title, but it hasn't got the onslaught of variety that the DS has.

    Hopefully this will change it up a bit!

  • xgalacticax

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 10:41 am PT

    Gamespot, maybe next time u can actually include the price of the kit. Just a thought.

  • Franzkill

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 10:34 am PT

    Good news. The PSP is one of my favourite handheld consoles and its a great prospect to see that more developers will be enticed to produce even more games for it.

    Now roll on Crisis Core!

  • diablobasher

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 10:31 am PT

    PostedOval:

    I'm fairly sure that about 300 of them at the very least don't count as games. More of insults to gamers intelligence. (Note that this also applies to all other consoles, there are bad games everywhere. But yeah, theres really not a huge number of games for the PSP that are exclusive or worth playing.)

  • Sokol4ever

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 10:26 am PT

    Good news, this should bring more games to the handhold.

  • feryl06

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 10:23 am PT

    great, that means we'll see the benefits of this 2-4 years from now.

  • PostedOval

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 10:19 am PT

    Undeadmeat: There are currently over 350 PSP games available in N.America... http://www.metacritic.com/games/psp/scores/

  • Star650

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 10:18 am PT

    Thats good.

  • Bgrngod

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 10:18 am PT

    Congratulations developers! You just had .005% of your budget discounted!

    O well. At least it's something. Hopefully this means more start-up and indy developers can get a start on a platform that is a lot cheaper to make games for then the big-boys.

  • UndeadMeat

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 10:17 am PT

    "to encourage more games to be created"

    Wait, you mean there were actually already games created for the PSP. I must have missed all 2 of them. There's so much dust on my PSP that I'm not even sure its still under there.

  • diablobasher

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 10:05 am PT

    Finally... Too little too late.

  • Aentikraist

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 10:02 am PT

    SOWEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!! HAHA COOL THIS MEANS EVEN MORE GAMES COMING TO OUR PORTABLE KING OF HANDHELDS HAAH JUST KIDDING but definetely im watching a prosperous future for the PSP haa COOL!!! the age of PSP is coming damn haha i love my psp

  • adultgamer77

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 9:53 am PT

    Dev kits should of been made available to small & independant developers at a low cost in the beginning...Sony should of eat the cost for them. Small developers seem to make innovative, fun, pick up & go games.

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