All Systems Go: Does Anyone Honestly Care

DualShockers writes,

"With most of this week's focus on the PSP Go release, I have read the reviews and weighed out the pros and cons. Although the Go is sleek and ergonomically superior to the PSP 3000, there are many detrimental features as well, such as the dropping of UMD and lack of an improved battery which cause many to be apprehensive to the switch. It makes me wonder if Sony is putting too much faith into the new iteration of the PSP."

[taz8080]

PSP Gp may be interesting but I doubt anyone will flock to by it. Especially anyone who already has a PSP

[UNCyrus]

And I'm very interested. But not until a price drop

[Chris399]

It's a brilliant little machine. Much better than the other versions. The increase in speed/ loading and the non-interlaced yet still wide color screen makes it worthy of a look.

Yes, it's expensive. Much like the PS3 when it first launched. And, like the PS3, it is currently targetted at tech-enthusiasts with money to burn, not little Joe looking to upgrade his PSP from the one his parents bought him for Christmas.

Oh, and I don't think people understand how slick, small and sexy the machine is till they hold it in their hands. The damn thing is about the same size as my blackberry and arguably lighter.

I'm sure that the price of entry will drop over the coming months, right now, they're probably just recouping losses from the past couple years.

Edit: There's also the sheer convenience of it, which others have touched on below. I currently have 12 games, a full series of Louie: Rune Soldier (anime) and a bunch of music with like 5 gigs to spare. And NO UMDs, just a tiny case (the "official" cases actually don't look fugly this time, they're really nice like a svelte camera pouch). I'm a professional who likes to play games, now I can look like an adult without some lame "game case" rattling with UMDs.

[Maddens Raiders]

if anything else, the stir of a new PSP iteration will cause some to reassess their PSPness. Let me explain: yesterday while at BB to pick up GT:PSP, I started checking out a PSPGO. It was really cool, but I have too many UMD's at the time to justify re-d'loading all my games for a $250.00 price tag.

Like UNCyrus, I will be getting one once the price drops. What happened yesterday was that I traded in my PSP 1000 toward a 3000 (a long overdue upgrade). So, with the recent GO activity coupled with my excitement for the release of GT:PSP it compelled me to go ahead and upgrade my PSP position overall. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who made this move or similar moves, since the GO launch.

I will most likely keep the 3000 with me when hanging around the house and friend's with time to kill, but if I have to hop a plane or train, then I'll use the GO and leave my UMD's in the case at home, since the GO is so much more portable/storage friendly.

edit:
=======

look @ above, the GO launch stirred up activity amongst PSP owners overall. It will be interesting to see how the GO launch has impacted aggregate PSP sales when the dust settles...

[Ju]

Same here. I want one. I had the budget planed on release, but something else came up and I'm a bit broke right now. But ASAP my wallet recovers and/or the price drops, I'm in.

I like to have that thing on the plane, but the big PSP is just to clumsy with all the UMDs and such (I got a 16G mem card, though). Can't wait for the Go.

[Enate]

I love the look of the system an I'm sure it feels great. An I was all excited to get one until I saw that price but even that I was considering to wave. It was when I thought hey I have all these umd games an I won't be able to play them on my new PSP go unless I buy them all over again. Not only that but I won't be able to rent games for it or trade them in. So if I buy a game an don't like it I'm stuck with it. My biggest turn off to the whole thing is Sony basically controlling my downloading of psp titles. I'm already having an issue with them deactivating my accounts on my PS3 that yellow lighted. I'd hate to have to deal with a similar problem with my content for PSP go.

[darthv72]

12 games...any of them ones you may have had on UMD (provided you previously had/have a psp)? I was browsing the pricing of the available dl psp games and they just seem a bit high for older titles. Sure sony wants to make $$ but they really need to evaluate the current market value of games that came out when the 1000 was first released. None of those games should be more the $5 at the most.

My current concern is the rebuying of titles I altready own. Sony was mumbling about some type of dl validation system for those who are migrating from a regular psp to the go. I came up with an idea of tying the titles to your psn profile first via some key on the original UMD. This would let you be able to dl the game on the go.

Anyway, I like the unit and think the advancements are being overshadowed by the whole UMD thing. Design, bluetooth and 16gb internal storage are the selling points for me. Everything else a regular psp from 1000 and up can do.

I do find it odd that sony would opt for the M2 mem stick instead of the current duo but then again you can't really play any games from the mem stick on another psp. I think the games are tied to the unit that downloaded them. I tried to use my 2gb stick in my son's 2000 and it wouldnt play the games. Music and vids no prob but games was a no go.

I am hoping sony bites the bullet and half the storage to 8gb and release a cheaper unit for $199 or less. No sense why they shouldnt offer a choice as Ipod's come in various sizes but they are all still the same ipod.

[Chris399]

About 8 were ones that I had downloaded before - I've been playing digital as much as possible. As far as new stuff, I picked up 4 NIS titles, which were all on sale for $14.99 or less to round out the list. Just to give you an example, Mana Khemina, which runs like an epileptic mess on a 3000 or under is WONDERFULLY playable, no skipping, just a flicker of a loading screen and buttery smooth animation.

Picked it up for $15. Guess how much I noticed that the UMD version was when I went into EB to pick up my PSPGo? $29.99. There are definite advantages to flash media and going digital, let me tell you. And the price argument - for software - goes both ways.

Some of the stuff is markedly cheaper, by a wide margin, the only game that I saw on PSN that would be on par with a current release was Persona. But I guarantee, that given a couple months that will drop. And I don't have to dig for it in a store, just log in d/l and play.

Oh, and I totally get your point about the M2 stick. I was hoping that they would have at least kept the old memory sticks, but alas if I want to expand, I'll have to purchase another proprietary one.

[taz8080]

Sony is trying to take a page form the NIntendo playbook and do what they do with their Gameboy franchise, but I don't think it will work the same.

[DelbertGrady]

How do you mean? Nintendo added features to their new iterations. Sony takes them away.

[OhReginald]

so removing the GBA slot from the DS lite is a new added feature...?

[Chadness]

I think you're right in that Sony has their numbers skewed. Are people who already have a PSP with UMD games going to trade it in for a PSP Go and make all their games worthless? I highly doubt it.

[gamingisnotacrime]

and trade in all my PSP 3000 equipment, and the 360 (because im sick and tired of buying games and not be able to play online because i refuse to pay for gold shaft)

It comes down to personal taste

[Chadness]

No PSP Go for me unless Sony personally brings one to my house and gives it to me.

[BROOKLYN N-M-E]

Why should just disregard this giant pile of UMD's in my room!

[Ju]

Why would you ? I would think you have a PSP already, no ?

[BROOKLYN N-M-E]

it's correct on all fronts!

[I_LOVE_MYSELF]

... i dont care

im waiting on microsoft to release a handheld

[Major_Tom]

That'll go over well.

[thor]

Oh for God's sake stop complaining about the lack of UMD!! It's not meant to have UMD, and it certainly isn't aimed at people who already have a PSP. If you already have a PSP, think of it as though they haven't brought out anything. If you don't, yes the price point is a little high, but there is a HUGE selection of games available, and it's more portable, more ergonomic, and has the same battery life, which is hardly a disadvantage.

I'm just waiting for someone to come in saying "BUBUBUBU where's the SECOND ANALOGUE WAAAAAAAH". That doesn't matter either. How many games would use the second analogue? Zero. Nor would any new games be released that supported it, because they'd have to be backwards compatible with the earlier models.

[Keith Olbermann]

I bought mine yesterday and I love it. I sold my old psp fat and the four games I had with it. I prefer to download games on a portable.

[butterfinger]

but this isn't necessarily true: "How many games would use the second analogue? Zero. Nor would any new games be released that supported it, because they'd have to be backwards compatible with the earlier models."

Nintendo is using the camera functionality on the DSi to develop exclusive titles for it like WarioWare: Photograph. The second analog stick wouldn't have to be backwards compatible with all titles, but I still doubt that Sony would have a lot of developers excited to use the second analog since it would alienate a vast amount of PSP gamers. It seems that a lot of DS owners were excited to upgrade to the DSi. That's not the case with the PSP Go.

[Joni-Ice]

@ taz808 I care and also still currently have a PSP 3000. I was admit, its very frustrating carrying all my UMDs around. Im glad they released the PSPgo. As for BROOKLYN N-M-E Sony did not diregard your UMDs. They are still supporting your PSP slim, so no need to worry. Look at it like this people, If you dont have a PSP, now you can choose between two. I perfer the PSPgo cause I hate carrying UMDs.

[gamingisnotacrime]

but that will cvhange with the Go
Its go for me

[Ju]

..the second thing is the Playstation store within Media Go! Didn't even know half of the games out for the PSP. Now being easily available for download, I might try out the one or another. I never bothered to go though release lists or check all the games in the stores.

What I miss, though, is a game preview (either a demo or just a video). I'd like to see what I'm buying.

[Maddens Raiders]

well Ju I'm sure you know you can preview the games from the PSStore on the PS3, unless you're talking about trying to do it from the GO itself.

[Ju]

Some you can, but most of them you can't. Now, with the PSP Go and the now fully supported DD support through the PSN (and the amount of games), almost none of the games come with a preview. I'd really like to see what I'm buying.

[Sir Ken_Kutaragi]

...what the internet sites + 99% of you lot say in the World??? Erm NOPE!!! ;-D

[Jamescagney]

So why should we care what you say?

[iiprotocolii]

The amount they're charging for the PSPgo is, sorry to say fanboys, ridiculous. $249.99 for a peripheral that *doesn't* include a UMD and only does one extra thing - tether. To pay that price for a handheld - which is $50.00 cheaper than the PS3 - is just absurd. Sony really needs to be realistic and stop being a bunch of douches when it comes to their hardware. That, and their overly priced Minis games. Ugh.

[TheBand1t]

It's an option....some people will get it, others will just get a PSP-3000.

Me, I'm sticking to my PSP-1000....

[butterfinger]

you are not.

[devilmaycry2020]

I like my fat handheld and I can do alot of stuff with it (homebrew). the lack of UMD on the Go maybe less appealing, but for the right price I am willing to go digital with it.
I need a second PSP to make it up-to-date and play some mini's and stuff.

[Surfman]

i just bought a PSPgo (didnt have any before) and i happy of my purchase, but its kinda expensive. I really like it, but my hands hurts after playing game like Dissidia Final Fantasy. For people who has big hands, you'll probably be like me and hurt yourself because of the L-R buttons.

[kraze07]

The PSPgo is cool and all, but it's too expensive for what it's offering and I still think it's a downgrade switching from one of the earlier models to the Go, but that's just me. Everyone has their own opinion I guess.

[b777conehead]

ok most people complained about umd. sony removes it. now people complain, i just bought one im going to go down load some games.