PSP is Go!
185,000 sold in the first three days as UK finally gets its PlayStation Portable
Ten months after it debuted in Japan and six months on from its US release, on midnight 1 September 2005, UK and European gamers finally got their hands over their very own PSPs. And after picking it up for the first time, they promptly pulled up their t-shirts to wipe the fingerprints off the screen. Doh!
But it was enthusiasm that ruled the launch evening down in GAME’s Oxford Street store as those who had pre-ordered their PSPs months ago and those who just turned up on the night, queued up for hours. The store opened at 10.30 pm with free champagne provided as well as entertainment including the Nuts girls, who turned up to give away free magazines and t-shirts. Somewhat confusingly about a hour later the Page 3 girls from the Sun turned up, creating a welcome confusion of small blonde girls wearing tight white t-shirts.
It was games that were the main focus of excitement though with Ridge Racer , WipEout Pure and Lumines high on the buylist for those at the front of the queue. Members of Activision UK were also on hand to big up Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 while EA had people demoing Need For Speed. Even Sony turned up to check out the action with lanky development headhoncho Phil Harrison towering over the crowd as he viewed the success.
And despite (or even because of) the launch delay, a success it certainly was. According to official figures, over 185,000 units sold in three days making PSP the biggest games console launch in the UK ever. The previous record was held by Nintendo DS which sold 87,000 units when it was launched in March 2005.
Software has sold well too with twenty of the launch titles in the all formats top 40 with nine PSP games making it into the top 10. The best seller was Ridge Racer which was snapped up by over 37,000 hungry drivers. It was closely followed sales-wise by WipEout Pure, Virtua Tennis: World Tour, Metal Gear Ac!D and Need For Speed Underground: Rivals. The rest of the top ten was filled out by Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition, TOCA Race Driver 2, Tony Hawk's Underground 2: Remix and Spider-Man 2.
