June 17, 2009
Sony’s grand failure with the PSP Go
The PSP Go is an odd little system. It’s not a true successor to the PSP, but it’s different enough to garner some attention. That makes it similar to Nintendo’s DSi, but that’s actually an evolution of the current software. The PSP has been a lukewarm success at best, and what does the Go add to that? Less than it takes away, apparently.
It’s been known since E3 that the new system would debut at a $250 price point. That might seem reasonable for a new handheld system until one considers this is not a new system in any real shape or form. Instead, it’s the same old system minus the UMD drive. That drive costs more to manufacture than the 16gb of memory that will be included with the Go. So where’s that extra cost going?
Not to the memory options. Instead of including a Memory Stick Pro Duo slot, same as all other versions of the PSP, Sony has decided to go with the newer M2 sticks. First, isn’t this just asking no current PSP owners to upgrade? Second, why does Sony have to change the Memory Stick every couple of years? This might help to explain why this is one of the few memory card standards to have remained proprietary.
Now we learn that the extra money isn’t going to battery bower either. The Go will feature three to six hours of battery power, or roughly equivalent to the current PSP models. Wait, so it doesn’t have to run and read a constantly spinning disc drive, and yet the thing has no increased battery life? What’s going on here?
Unfortunately the answer is obvious—Sony is making a money grab. They’ve even changed the USB port in order to potentially force consumers into buying a whole new line of accessories than those that work with the current PSP models. Yes, every company wants money, but Sony has had a better track record as of late than others. For instance, the PS3 allows you to easily swap out your hard drive for just about any off the rack. Microsoft, on the other hand, only allows official hard drives at inflated prices.
It’s sad to see Sony go down this road, but when you’re bleeding money maybe you have to do what it takes. Still, I can’t help but believe that many consumers are looking at the PSP Go and figuring it just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, or cents.
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Written by: Justin Young
Filed Under: Games
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Anon
June 17, 2009 at 11:24 am
The PSP Go really has little to offer existing customers. It slides up and down now – that’s about it. The screen is still unprotected making in-pocket travel risky without a proper case or screen cover. Of course the DS has always had the clamshell which has the direct benefit of protecting both screens making the DS a true on the “Go” system.
What about for new customers? Take a look at the absolute dismal games lineup. There’s a few good ones out there like God of War, Final Fantasy: Crisis Core and Patapon but the novelty of a handful of games wears off fast for anyone doing a little research before buying.
Not even a second analog thumb stick? For shame, Sony.
Before anyone blames the usual “high piracy” for lack of sales, just take a look at the PSP. It has not been very successful overall and there’s no incentive or value in the Go model that offers a better gaming experience.
Wait, this is supposed to be a gaming console, right?
Justin Young
June 17, 2009 at 11:33 am
In fairness to Sony, while you are correct the games lineup has been poor for the past year or so, they did show off quite an impressive lineup at E3. They didn’t just abandon development like many had feared.
ryan
June 17, 2009 at 1:45 pm
The reason they didn’t add two thumb sticks is they’re not replacing the psp-3000, which has one thumb stick. So old game wouldn’t be able to use it, then the new games would have to have two sets of controls; one for psp go and one for psp-3000 and below.
I don’t like the slide out pad but the flash memory is a plus, and blue tooth.
Wedge33dr
July 1, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Okay, but if the thing can’t read UMDs then how do you play your old games on it? I assume you have to have some kind of peripheral device to transfer a game from UMD to the Go (admittedly I have no knowledge on the specs so this may be way off). I would actually only be interested in this if it actually had dual thumbsticks since that’s the only thing I really disliked from the original PSP. As for the game library, it’s not any worse than the Wii’s, which isn’t saying much I guess.