Could PSP Minis revive Sony’s fortunes?

In today’s published blog, Develop’s executive editor Owain Bennallack has suggested that despite its failings, the PSP and its approach to digital distribution may be a fundamental force in forging a future template for the rise of download platforms.

"PSP is the most successful hardware ‘failure’ that the games industry has ever known," said Bennallack, before arguing that a ‘less is more’ model means that developing PSP Minis model offers studios a number of advantages.

"What’s immediately attractive to iPhone developers is the lack of rival titles," argued Bennallack, later adding: "The relatively high cost of a PSP development kit compared to cheap or free equivalents for Xbox Live or iPhone should deter the riff-raff.

"Sony is also said to be promising a more transparent approval process than the murky yea-or-nay-ing on iPhone, where it sometimes seems a product is listed or barred depending on whether the backroom boys have a hangover."

To read the full blog, in which Bennallack addresses key issues relating to the emerging trends as bite-sized, digitally distributed games gather momentum, click here.