Sony bins PSP social networking

No room at the inn. Sadface.

Sony has dropped plans to build a social notworking service for the PSP.

The tech giant issued a short statement in Japanese that said it was cancelling the proposed website. I am sure your Japanese is better than that of Microsoft's Word, which tells us, "Decided the discontinuance of development and the end of project PSP portable for in regard to community service Room for PlayStation Portable with 2010 April 15^th."

Sony originally intended to develop a service for PSP users, like its PlayStation Home social networking site for PS3 fanbois. It was announced by Sony's Japanese division in 2009 at the Tokyo Game Show but Sony didn't say anything about its development thereafter,

No specific reason was given for dropping the service, which might mean it bombed in beta.

Sony's PlayStation Home is an online service that hooks up gamers with chat rooms, avatars and virtual worlds. It wouldn't be too hard to translate an existing package for the PSP but it hasn't exactly been selling in big numbers.

Maybe Sony did the maths and realised it wasn't economically viable.

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16 Comments

Mademan Apr 20, 2010 11:32 AM	I think the PSP is largely dead in the water, particularly the 'Go' model, and this was reflected in Sony's decision, a year on from its announcement. The only thing that keeps the PSP alive is homebrew, given the lack of anything legitimate to play, not to mention the death of the much heralded UMD movies.
somemadcaaant Apr 20, 2010 12:52 PM	Was the only reason why I bought a PSP at launch, I knew the homebrew would be big on it, have since bought 2 others cos of ware and tare. If only Sony promoted homebrew on the PSP, it wouldn't have had the adverse reaction it did, although who knows… though there is only about 20 or so games worth playing on it, just like any other platform to date really IMHO. PSP2 may bring it back or people might be waiting for that now… SMC.
somemadcaaant Apr 20, 2010 12:55 PM	Love that chick licking image tho lol
Karmicfloss Apr 20, 2010 1:01 PM	^^^ What this gentleman said :O
Goonit Apr 20, 2010 1:46 PM	Wish I was a PSP.
SceptreCore Apr 20, 2010 3:25 PM	Changing the words in that acronym she can lick my PSP anytime. I should point out I don't have a PSP (in the meaning of it's original acronym of course). :P
Sparky Apr 20, 2010 3:25 PM	It's okay. She's getting it ready to play with. ;)
Déta88 Apr 20, 2010 3:58 PM	When i saw that pic i just laugh That Jessica Chobot shes a on-camera & staff writer for IGN & another thing that pic of her licking that PSP is how she got the job :D http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Chobot
Trazeur Apr 20, 2010 6:50 PM	Hey Sceptre, I know what the first two letters of your acronym are. Pretty Small. We'll leave that last letter to imaginationing, eh?
Periander Apr 20, 2010 7:31 PM	For all its failings, I still like the PSP, (the Go a little less though). Not to buy new titles mind you, (again, they all seem to suck a little); I like being able to play old school games on the run with a decent screen and controller. Sony should have just made it a phone and they would've sold millions.
Antraman Apr 20, 2010 11:34 PM	they are worried about fallout from cyber bullying...no way for them to police it.
SceptreCore Apr 21, 2010 12:30 AM	Trazeur I appreciate your input however it just wouldn't make sense. As I of course was talking about my Precision Spectral Pyranometer. What were thinking about? :P
somemadcaaant Apr 21, 2010 9:50 AM	Lol nice one Sceptre, better stop while your ahead, no pun intended. Hmmm damn that editorial photo, nicely distracting in a bad de-motivational way at work mind you... I think Atomic should host a PSP licking contest, every month, any female takers in the crowd?! …and that’s my chauvinistic comment for the day, out of the way.
Mademan Apr 21, 2010 10:56 AM	I could post a pic of me shoving one in my butt? Any takers? No? Yeah, I was really tempted by the PSP at first, the idea of "all that power" in a pocketable size. But everyones worst fears really did come true - it did just become a platform for lazy tie-ins to major console releases, with very few original IPs, or games made specifically for the PSP audience. The proliferation of homebrew is the only thing that has propped up the PSP in the last few years imo.
SquallStrife Apr 21, 2010 12:47 PM	Do people even use Home on their PS3s? Seemed like a ridiculous waste of time, effort and money to me.
somemadcaaant Apr 21, 2010 3:16 PM	Mademan, reminds me of a WOW vid on youtube some1 once sent me... "shutters", that poor remote.

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