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Somewhere along the line, way up there on the highest of high horses, Sony seems to have allowed some of the unrivalled success they have enjoyed over the last decade to go to their heads. This week, it was revealed that their lawyers had issued Cease and Desist orders to UK online retailer ElectricBirdLand, who sell imported American and Japanese PSPs.
Obviously anxious to make European gamers wait until the official September 1st launch (and to safeguard every last penny of profit), Sony have threatened action to anyone they find selling their little bundle of techno-cool. Problem is that it’s their own fault.
European gamers are treated so shabbily that they are forced to import. Non-importing gamers who are patient enough to wait until September will have done so for nearly a year after the Japanese launch. This, unfortunately, is evidence of a trend the Japanese platform holders have always indulged in when it comes to the European market. Nintendo have traditionally been the worst culprits. Think poor PAL releases half a year after release. Think Animal Crossing. Often, you get the feeling that publishers think releasing product in Europe is a chore, not an opportunity.
What’s more shocking is the fact that Sony hasn’t any good reason for this policy. Why not allow a small core of gamers to import the machine? They’re not the handheld’s target audience anyway, and, if nothing else, will help to drum up hype for the machine by showing it off to their friends. If Sony think that thousands will fork out $500 to import the PSP with a few games, thus hitting profits of the machine when it’s officially released, they’re sadly mistaken. It’s always been the techno hardcore who do this. They’re a threat to nobody.
And highlighting the stupidity of Sony’s import crackdown was Dan Morelle, Managing Director of ElectricBirdLand, who suggested Sony’s own staff are importing the machine through them. To their credit, EBL are fighting this all the way. I wish them luck, and a Sony rethink.
This article is taken from The Sunday Supplement, Pro-G’s weekly news roundup. Check back on Sunday for the full article.
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