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PSP App store in the works - Report

By Matthew Peters, GameSpotPosted Jul 15, 2009 11:49 am PT

Sony tells Develop it will lower development barriers, will open new section of the PlayStation Store for smaller and cheaper titles--not all of which will be traditional gaming.

Since the release of God of War: Chains of Olympus in March 2008, not a single PSP game has cracked the monthly top 10 list of US best-sellers from the NPD Group. In April, competition in the portable space heated up with the release of Nintendo's DSi, which offers low-cost, direct-download games like WarioWare: Snapped. Now, Sony appears to be trying to reverse its fortunes through a new development model that promotes affordable, easily downloadable titles.

The UMD-less PSP Go will have access to the new games via the upcoming section of the PlayStation Store.

Speaking with British magazine Develop, Sony revealed that it hopes to spark a flurry of new games for its portable platform through several new measures. The platform-holder will allow for lower-cost games by releasing cheaper PSP development kits and streamlining the development process. (Previously, Sony announced it would cut the price of its development kit by 80 percent.) Sony also raised the possibility of non-gaming applications coming to the handheld.

"We're introducing new initiatives for the PSP which take it beyond traditional gaming, but still include elements from gaming, and also includes new developers," said the head of developer relations for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Zeno Colaco, to Develop. Sony claims that more than 50 developers are currently working on new creations for the PSP, with a new, specially branded section of the PlayStation Store to market the new games. Many of the developers are from developing countries, like India's Gameshastra, according to Develop.

With the new move, the PlayStation Store may look a bit more like the iPhone App Store, which allows developers to create all manner of gaming and non-gaming applications--some 65,000 to date. However, Sony also mentioned that it wouldn't make its software development kit public like the iPhone's.

"It is still a professional environment, you still need a development kit and you still need to have investment and a team. But it can be a small team," Colaco said.

64 Comments

  • brick_player

    Posted Jul 24, 2009 5:44 pm PT

    who cares if it doesnt take pics its a gaming system used for gameing not photography

  • brotherreese

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 10:20 am PT

    I had wanted one, but it doesn't take pics. Rumor has it the the up comming I-pod touch will have a camera feature just for taking pics and video.

  • PumpkinBoogie

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 10:17 am PT

    @Bodboy466,

    Yeah, I thought that was kind of annoying what GS was trying to do too. It seems as though they're so hung up on this PSPGo that they forget that this thing is merely a standalone unit that compliments the--still perfectly functional--regular line of PSPs (including the original 1000 models, which I still have).

    As for a apps store, I'd be definitely interested to see what they come up with as long as what they offer is of reasonable pricing and good quality.

  • cjasko94

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 10:16 am PT

    I love the Idea. People need to stop. Its only handhelds. God..

  • VenomRitual

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 8:56 am PT

    all phones, cameras, portable gaming devices, and mp3 players are all going to be exactly the same now besides each device focusing as one peripheral quality. its ridiculous. i dont need a camera on my mp3 player and i dont need to listen to Owl City on my DS.

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 8:55 am PT

    I'm hoping this turns out more like XBLA. It will have professionally developed games (to minimize the bs apps) and games that make real use of the hardware, but with small files. A lot of XBLA and small PSN games are around 256-512MB and there is ton's of content in these games. I'd like to see this concept roll over onto portables where DLG's make more sense.

  • nerd_assassin

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 8:06 am PT

    Yeah! If they would sell the SDK as cheap as the iPhone SDK, I'll definitely get one...

    I really am hoping to become successful in the game dev scene, but for now I'll resume gaming.

  • Bodboy466

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 7:59 am PT

    OF COURSE the new section's going to be available to all PSP models! There is no difference in specs between any of the later three models and I truly doubt such small applications are even going to push the boundaries of the 1000 model. In fact, the entire discrepancy seems to be centered around Gamespot's picture and caption rather than anything Sony said.

  • CamiKitten

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 7:01 am PT

    Eh it's a nice idea, but I think when I rebuy a psp it will be the 3000. Most app like games are worthless anyway. Plus this tiny handheld is too costly, lol, it better come with a phone plan

  • skullboy950

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 5:25 am PT

    Apps.............meh.

  • Mikean007

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 5:02 am PT

    I think psp will have better quality apps than Apple. But Apple is better at selling hardwares. p.s. I HATE touch controls. Especially when your fingers sweat and it won't slide. People, play games with buttons.

  • snooker8th

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 4:08 am PT

    The psp Go will be my first psp console I think
    And i look forward to this app store. Good move Sony!

  • flyingteddy

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 1:25 am PT

    id love to have the dev kit made public

  • FinalDuo1886

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 10:29 pm PT

    I'm pretty happy with my PSP 3000, so no thanks . I just hope this app is for all PSP models and not just the Go. If it is a exclusive, then someone creditability of there products is going to be at stake.

  • Icehearted

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 9:38 pm PT

    When I read that"not all of which will be traditional gaming" I suddenly remembered that ridiculous fireplace thing they released for xbox live.

    This is what casual gaming has led us to; pointless doodads on game consoles. Why buy a $250 PSP (they were about that when i got mine... for free ) for latest and greatest games when you can get someone that makes it look like you've got a fireplace n your pocket?!

    My friends, the end is nigh!

  • kmnov21

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 9:34 pm PT

    @lamprey263
    I don't think that will be the case. People like me who have the PSP-2000 and are happy with the current PSP model will still buy regular games. $249 dollars is still about $50 more that you have to kick out. Like me, $50 can buy some games and accessories. The only question is will these apps be compatible with the other PSP models?

  • AyuSora

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 9:30 pm PT

    That is interesting... As long as the apps are released for all PSP's I will be happy. It better not be a Go exclusive.

  • jrabbit99

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 9:05 pm PT

    Good idea!

  • Never3ndingLife

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 8:53 pm PT

    that seems great and a very cool idea

  • SylvanMidget

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 8:42 pm PT

    Great idea

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