Bumpy Start for PSP in Korea
Europeans watch on and wonder if the delayed release isn't actually a good thing.
While Europeans sit seething, patiently awaiting the release of the PSP later this year, Sony has rolled out its new portable in Korea. But according to scattered early reports, things are not going as well as they could be.
The first 500 of the 100,000 PSPs earmarked for Korea hit on April 30th, as hundreds queued to pick up the portable two days before the official May 2nd release date. Just as was the case in Japan, though, the first complaints came soon after, according to reports at Korean tech site Telecoms Korea.
New owners have been vexed by various technical setbacks, including dead pixels on the PSP's capacious LCD screen and problems with the handheld's online-out-the-box features.
The PSP shipped in Korea with a special network disc that would allow online access via the handheld's wireless network connection, but PSP owners have found getting online to be less trouble-free than they hoped. Network providers have apologized for the early issues and promised to boost performance.
Six months after its Japanese debut, the PSP is now officially available in its third territory. Sony has thus far struggled with reliability issues, which is not abnormal for the early stages of a platform's life. The next major challenge for Sony is the launch of the PSP in Europe on September 1st.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games
Satoru Iwata Video Interview - the late Nintendo president spoke with Kikizo in 2004 as 'Nintendo Revolution' loomed.
Kaz Hirai Video Interview - the first of Kikizo's interviews with the man who went on to become global head of Sony.
Ed Fries Video Interview - one of Xbox's founders discusses an epic journey from Excel to Xbox.
Yu Suzuki, the Kikizo Interview - we spend time with one of gaming's most revered creators.
Tetris - The Making of an Icon: Alexey Pajitnov and Henk Rogers reveal the fascinating story behind Tetris
Rare founders, Chris and Tim Stamper - their only interview? Genuinely 'rare' sit down with founders of the legendary studio.
The History of First-Person Shooters - a retrospective, from Maze War to Modern Warfare