iPad a 'Net Positive for Sony'

While Satoru Iwata chimed in with his dismissive opinion of the iPad , Sony had a different reaction. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal [thanks Kotaku], SCEA's Director of Hardware Marketing John Koller gave what he sees as the upside for Sony.

"Apple's entrance into the portable gaming space has been a net positive for Sony," said Koller. "When people want a deeper, richer console, they start playing on a PSP."

While this sentiment may be hard for some people to buy, the success of the iPhone, iPod Touch and games on the App Store has not surplanted portable game consoles. Right now, the PSP and DS fulfill different niches compared to Apple's product, and until the quality gap is lessened and Apple puts out a device with tactile buttons dedicated for gaming, that situation likely won't change.