PSP still a "vibrant platform" - Harrison

By Johnny Minkley Published 8 December, 2008

Atari planning downloadable games.

Atari didn't make a single PSP game announcement at its global showcase last week, but president Phil Harrison has dismissed concerns over support for the handheld, praising Sony's device as a "vibrant platform" and promising more titles for the future.

"We have published on PSP and I'm sure we will continue to publish on PSP; we didn't have any announcements to make today," the Atari president told Eurogamer at the London event.

In contrast, Atari showed two platform-exclusives for Nintendo's wildly successful DS during the presentation, Dragon Ball: Origins and quirky love-'em-up The Chase: Felix Meets Felicity.

However, Harrison, a key figure behind the launch of PSP in his previous role, insisted that Atari was planning more games for Sony's portable - with a fresh focus on downloadable offerings.

"There is no doubt that PSP is a very vibrant platform from a hardware perspective and I think Sony has recently made some good moves into opening up online distribution for software on PSP, so I'm looking to explore that."

Now he doesn't have to hate everything that isn't made by Sony, Big Phil also revealed that he's a big fan of iPhone. He called Apple's device a "game changer" and described the popularity of the App Store as "a phenomenon that I think is going to change the way that certain kinds of devices consume content forever". Blimey.

So far Atari has released retro titles Missile Command and Super Breakout for iPhone and iPod Touch. "We've got more to come, but standby for some more announcements," he added.

Picture of Johnny.

About Johnny Minkley

Eurogamer TV's Johnny Minkley is a veteran journalist with a lifelong passion for games and the games industry. He uses Twitter more than most people use air.

Read more articles from Johnny by visiting the Johnny Minkley archive page.

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Comments (19) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • JohnnyWashnGo #1 3 years ago

    Games on iPhone - pah !

  • CaptainScarlet #2 3 years ago

    I wonder if there was some kind of contract extension before he left Sony that said " you shall not slag of any of our products and shall instead big them up for 1 full year after you have moved to Atari!". Phil seems to spend more time doing PR for Sony than he does for Atari at the moment

    o_0

  • bad09 #3 3 years ago

    I wouldn't call the PSP a "vibrant platform" and I love my PSP!

  • Aretak #4 3 years ago

    The PSP is a fantastic piece of kit, but not really through any of Sony's doing. I mostly use mine for emulation purposes. Without custom firmware it wouldn't be worth owning.

    "I wonder if there was some kind of contract extension before he left Sony that said " you shall not slag of any of our products and shall instead big them up for 1 full year after you have moved to Atari!". Phil seems to spend more time doing PR for Sony than he does for Atari at the moment"

    Yes, it's a mystery as to why he might still have some kind words for the company he worked for and helped shape for 16 years. I was expecting him to say "Ha ha, I always thought Sony were shit, viva la Xbox 360!" as soon as he walked out the door.

  • dr_faulk #5 3 years ago

    @ bad09 ad Aretak

    I couldn't have put it better myself. Although I don't even have custom firmware. I should really get into that.

  • jebus #6 3 years ago

    Jesus, Atari must be annoyed with him. He's sounding like he wished he never left Sony. Life must be good at Atari eh?

  • CaptainScarlet #7 3 years ago

    @Aretak cause he missed my point.

    It was mostly a joke at the fact he only gets press coverage for his Sony comments instead of Atari. As Phil doesn't actually write the news stories it was more a comment on the "Press" rather than Phil.

    Hope thats cleared things up for you :)


  • dominalien #8 3 years ago

    I wish this were true :-(

  • Aretak #9 3 years ago

    "@Aretak cause he missed my point. "

    I didn't, but it's nice that you took time out of your busy schedule to re-work your point and make it seem like I did. :)

  • schnide #10 3 years ago

    PHIL HARRISON IN FURTHER PLATFORM AGNOSTIC FENCE SITTING SHOCKER!

  • Goffee #11 3 years ago

    I think he's just leaked the major function of the PSP-4000 - vibrant feedback technology

  • insincere_dave #12 3 years ago

    Remember that recent GI.biz editorial about incompetent management... I think we've found another one.

  • darc #13 3 years ago

    A dubious publisher propping up a doomed platform. And I think I'm being kind.
    Edited by 1 at 08/12/08 @ 14:55

  • T4RG4 #14 3 years ago

    EuroHarrison.

  • MDL199 #15 3 years ago

    I believe the PSP is the best selling hardware in Japan in 2008 and there are 3 PSP games in the current top 10 so hardly a doomed platform.

    Sales in West are pretty good too nowhere near as big as the DS I know but still good.

    In my opinion the top 10 PSP games totally destroy the top 10 DS games but as with the Wii Nintendo really have battered Sony in the marketing dept.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #16 3 years ago

    MDL199
    "In my opinion the top 10 PSP games totally destroy the top 10 DS games "

    Your drunken opinion?
    A quick cut n paste from Metacritic, IMO it's horses for courses.

    PSP
    1 Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
    2 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
    3 Grand Theft Auto III
    4 Resident Evil 4
    5 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
    6 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
    7 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
    8 Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec
    9 Madden NFL 2003
    10 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4

    DS
    1 Chrono Trigger
    2 Mario Kart DS
    3 Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
    4 Advance Wars: Dual Strike
    5 Jump Ultimate Stars
    6 Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
    7 New Super Mario Bros.
    8 World Ends With You
    9 Meteos
    10 Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan

  • Roddy100 #17 3 years ago

    Um... who's drunk?

    You've copied and pasted the top 10 PS2 games into that list.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #18 3 years ago

    Hehe, same thing isn't it?

    Oh go on then

    1 God of War: Chains of Olympus
    2 Lumines
    3 WipEout Pure
    4 Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of The Lions
    5 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
    6 Tekken: Dark Resurrection
    7 Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
    8 Ridge Racer
    9 Jeanne d'Arc
    10 Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror

  • Pacman8MyGhostkart #19 3 years ago

    If you didn't mean Crisis Core for The FF VII game mate then you've added a UMD movie to your top 10 games list :).

    Otherwise I love my PSP! At the moment I'm playing 100% Cotton, Resi 2, Parasite Eve and doing a replay of Final Fantasy 8. All on the go ;)