PSP needs lower price, and not yet on board PS Network.

Electronic Arts took its sweet time in warming up to Microsoft and its Xbox Live Service, but now they’re one of the biggest profiteers of its online marketplace. You’d imagine they’d be right on board for PlayStation Network, as well, but that doesn’t seem to be the case — yet.

EA CEO Larry Probst spoke at length with Newsweek recently, who said they’re still working out the details. “They have one model in mind, and we have something else in mind,” said Probst. Could Sony and EA be having trouble coming to an agreement? Seems so, but over what? Sony’s emphasized how much control publishers have over content on PlayStation Network, and while we fully expect EA to be on board soon enough, the hold up’s a bit strange.

The publisher has also been consistently critical of PSP, and with Nintendo DS continuing to outperform the platform worldwide month-to-month, Probst predicts (and appears to be hoping for) a new strategy for Sony involving a redesigned machine and lower price point. “I think what moves the needle is a new form factor that’s smaller than the existing unit, at a lower price, and hopefully that price is $100 lower,” he said.

Probst also suggests Sony may release two PSP flavors for consumers, a lower end model and a pricier, flashier version. He claims to not have insider information on the move, but it’s one many have predicted Sony would make sooner rather than later in order to hopefully breath new life into PSP.
Source: gametab.com