PSPgo @#$!!% yourself

Chris Jager writes,

"Howdy, Sony reps and PlayStation fans. Glad we got your attention. As you've probably gleaned from our tongue-in-cheek article headline, we have a few issues with the PSPgo. Big issues, of the deal-breaking, hair-pulling variety.

We're talking, of course, about price - the price of the console, the price of games and the price of Internet broadband. When everything is tallied together, the PSPgo is arguably the most expensive console on the market - even compared to the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim and Xbox 360 Elite. If you already own a regular PSP, you also have to factor in the cost of replacing your game discs. So what exactly are you getting for all your hard-earned cash? In short: a smaller PSP with no disc tray. (Don't all rush to the shops at once, guys.)"

[Bereaver]

If you don't like it, don't buy it?

That's like me going out and complaining about a new car that's too expensive for me, and doesn't have some of the older features. Ohhh noes!!! My old cylinders, valves, and drive shaft won't fit in my new ferrari!!! noooo!!! FERRARI!!!! GO ALKSDFSD YOURSELF!

Things change, get over it.

[BulletToothtony]

the ps3 hate has now been spreaded to even the psp.. how sad that because someone owns a 360 they feel the need to hate sony..

there is less true gamers each day that goes by..

[nbsmatambo]

woa, some1 seems bitter

i personally love my PSPGo :D

[phalanx_mark]

price wise its similar to an ipod touch 16gb so i dont see the big deal. It does not have the touch screens but games wise it knocks out slightly better graphics.

[SupaPlaya]

the author's has his period coming, and woke up on the wrong side of the rock XD

We should be glad there is a choice of another model. Too expensive? You can wait until the price drop.

I think it has to do with the slimmer size of the PS3 and the PSP GO. Some people are just jealous over the nice figure. I mean with a body like that they don't come cheap wink wink ^_^

[Aaron Greenterd]

it's becoming uncool to hate on the ps3, so we are shifting our attacks over to the psp go, even though we touted DD as the future.

it's the kind of double standard only my customers would understand...

[Timesplitter14]

Well it's not that simple. I'm a huge PS3 fan and I hate the PSPgo because it's a huge waste of money for Sony. I don't just "don't like" it. I "hate" it because it's actually being a nuisance to my interrests. This time and money would've been better spent on the PS3.

[darthv72]

I was talking with my best bud about the go and the dsi and the approach both nintendo and sony have taken towards these two "upgraded" versions of their current handhelds. Just to state, he is the electronics dept manager (day shift) for a target store in folsom CA.

He was telling me about how the go was doing sales wise. We both agreed that at the current time it isnt worth it and I think I hit a nerve when I said that the dsi was worth the price of the upgrade as opposed to the go. Let me explain.

Making that statement you need to look at what these units were upgraded from. We will look at the dsi as compared to the lite. There were several improvements nintendo made and really only 1 they took away. The changes were: faster cpu, bigger screens, increased memory, internal storage, SD card support, dual cameras, built in web browser, dsiware store application. What they took away was the GBA slot.

Now some may say the loss of the gba is a big thing but taking a page from sony...if you have gba games then it is most likely you have a "GBA". Sort of like sony's approach to BC in the ps3. Maybe not in so many words sony simply stated, if you have ps2 games you want to play, chances are you have a PS2.

Anyway, back to the dsi. Sure the loss of gba is crushing to some. The true ability of the dsi is still realized in the fact you can play EVERY DS game released or to be released. Not to mention you can download games to the internal storage as well as SD card (they have yet to make SD game launching). This is something you CANT do on the ds lite. The web browser is also a nice touch yet even the original DS had support for a web browser via a special ds card and memory cartridge. That combination in now way as optimized like the built in browser of the dsi. This is thanks to more internal RAM and speedier cpu.

So you see you get quite a bit for the $40 difference in price AND can play any/all ds games to boot.

Now on to the psp go. A great little unit with lots of potential. Potential that practically any other psp can accomplish with a little extra effort. The selling points of the go are simple. 16gb internal storage, bluetooth, smaller design, better battery life thanks in part to the loss of the UMD drive. That last part is the sore thumb for the go but in reality there is more to it.

For less than $100 I can take even an old psp 1001 and make it do 'most' of the go's abilities. All I need to do is add in a big mem stick (8gb is a nice size). I cant make the old psp have bluetooth but...oh well. All go related content is playable on ANY psp. Mini's, full umd digital games, psn games, ps1 games, movies etc...

Not only can a regular psp do what the go can do it can do what the go CANT do. Play real UMD games and movies. The cost difference in the go and a psp is significant when viewed a certain way. I was actually surprised sony didnt take the opportunity to improve on a few of the psp downfalls. Namely, memory and software support. When they released the 2000 series it marked a change to the internal workings of the psp. It doubled the memory from a paltry 32mb to 64mb. Still paltry by today standards but it just would have made sense to double the memory again to 128mb.

So from a technical view the go is the same as a psp 1000/2000/3000. It has the same cpu/gpu and same amount of memory (with the exception being the original psp 1001).

After explaining this to my friend I then realized something. The target demographic this unit was aimed at was not what I was thinking it to be. It dawned on my that obviously sony wasnt looking to existing psp owners to buy it. They were looking at those with a sense of convenience. Those who didnt want to lug around a carry case filled with UMD's. They were going after the truly "on the GO" crowd. So just like I said above, if you have UMD's you want to play, chances are you have a psp to play them.

I will say though that the improvements the go has are really just the bluetooth and internal storage. Scratch that, just the bluetooth. You can adapt a regular psp to have increased storage for all the digital download stuff and make it just as convenient as the go. It wont have the cool smaller/slide screen but will be just as functional.

In closing (finally) both are great upgrades, well...actually...alternatives would be a better term.

[Christopher]

Oh, wait, it's still available and being produced and can play everything the PSPGo can, including downloadable PSP games of all types.

[spectyre]

Guitar hero DS uses the GBA slot for the fret control. Can you still use it on the DSI?

[Syronicus]

That if the price of the PSP Go was too much for him already, then the DLC would be more than he could bare and should have stuck with less expensive items. If you want the goods, you have to pay the price. If you cannot afford it, then quit your complaining.

[sikbeta]

This sucker thinks the PSP Go is a replacement for the Original, NO you a$$! If you don't like it don't buy it, If you talk about PSP you have two choices now

"Ferrari California go @#$!!% yourself, you are too expensive"

[darthv72]

You bring up a good point but it is somewhat moot. There were a few things developed for use with the gba slot in mind. One being the guitar hero attachment. Another is the rumble pack for games like metroid hunters/pinball and magnetica. I think a few others used it but it wasnt a requirement.

Then there was the memory expansion for the web browser. Those are the "official" items but there were also a few unofficial ones. One in particular that I have is the Datel max media dock.

Anyway, back to your point. If you have any of those items then (like stated before) you have the ds capable of playing them. Those are not the mainstream items to which the dsi was designed for. Remember, there are FAR more ds games than there are ds games requiring a gba accessory. The dsi can play 99% of all ds games with the exception of a few that "required" a gba accessory (only the guitar hero games which are a total of 3).

PSP go can't play all the psp games currently because there are so many that have yet to be digitally converted. Not to mention some that may never be because of how they sold.

[SuperM]

Ok this guy is officially retarded. Everyone who buys a PSPGo is ofcourse gonna have internet broadband already. If you dont have internet broadband then you are living in the stoneage and would never even concider buying such a high tech device. The fact that he brought in broadband to make the PSPgo seem even more expensive is utterly pathetic.

And please never give sites like this hits. Just let them die a slowly and miserably.

[Marceles]

PCWorld...(leaves thread)

[poindat]

The PSP-3000 is still around and fully supported; if you don't like the Go, buy the 3K instead. It's an ALTERNATIVE for the people who want to go fully DD (hmmm... wasn't DD the 'big thing' last year anyways, what happened to that, huh?), not a REPLACEMENT for the older PSPs.

[SupaPlaya]

choice is bad. How dare they let us choose. Give me back my fat version and I want that version only. The slim version makes me feel bad about myself!

[aaron5829]

So let me get it straight, not so long ago.. fanboys were like ... physical discs are not needed anymore... DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION IS T3H FUTUR3 !!! Physical discs will die a horrible death !!

Now that PSPGo has got DD, they complain about not able to buy used games.. need broadband and all that bs... ?

Wow !

[meatnormous]

If you don't like it, don't buy it. I have a PSP fat but I never plan on replacing it even if it dies. You can get a 16 gb card for the fat or slim anyways. The only thing I like about the go is the blue tooth capability.

[MGRogue2017]

Lovin' that headline. Very inventive lol

[Nitrowolf2]

lol why are they talking about internet provider?
I mean if people know what the PSPGO is then they will now its the same as 3000, just only DD games.
I mean honestly your going to complain that you have to have internet for it, and if you do then your just leaching off your provider?
wow that is one of the most dumbest thing i ever heard. I mean also if you thing about it, most Broadband provider advertise that stuff. DL movies in minutes, and music in seconds!!! That a pretty lame thing to try to downgrade the pspgo. Why so much hate? i mean you got the GO and youg ot the psp 3000
Another thing i found funny, is that he starts to talk about retailer sales on how it will impact it. I understand the part where it says you can't buy used games for GO, but wat does it matter to them about a multi-million store getting shafted because they can't sell used games? This guy acts like we are going to switch from hard copy to digital in a day or something. The transition will take many many many years for it to happ

[Bathyj]

So dont FKN buy it. You have a choice you know? You even have the choice of another PSP let alone not buying anything at all.

I love how they tally up all the things you can get with it and call it expensive but no one ever called the Xbox the most expensive console once harddrives and Wifi and whatnot were added on.

The games media can go suck my chocholate salt ones.

PS
Which way will the price go from here? Up or down? Deeeer.

[Neo604]

I smell jelousy.
Psp3000 starting at $179 and hackable for all the broke people.

[Kyur4ThePain]

That is the dumbest list ever.

[Gen0ne]

But that's about it.

[sashimi]

get your head out of your #@!$!@ and stfu plz

[SoapShoes]

You need internet? Is that a big complaint when the said person attacking it is USING internet? What a tard. Not only that, but he acts like a whining child. People like the Go, people don't like the Go. It's all opinion.

[KYU2130]

that said that the future was digital download. The only problem with that is that the PSPGo is the First all digital download gaming console. So maybe since Sony did it first they are a little upset or maybe jealous.

Sorry M$ you were just slow. No need to be jealous.

And as everyone else has been saying if its to expensive for you don't buy it.
if you just gotta have UMDs then you don't need it.

[BYAAHHH]

a goddamn second analog stick already Sony!!!

[The Iron Sheik]

Chris Jager is just a Sony hater. Who cares what he thinks. If you don't like the PSP go don't buy it. I'm sticking with my 1st gen PSP and have no plans to buy a Go.

If MS had a handheld and did the exact same thing Sony did with the Go this douche would probably praise how innovative it was. Fanboys posing as journalists like Chris Jager need to be fired.

[ndibu]

...you got this whole ''defend our company'' thing on lockdown.
So no one can say anything negative about a console? They should just not buy it? Lol thats just ridiculous. He's a freaking gaming journalist, what is he supposed to say if he's got issues with the PSPgo? Not write about them because it will hurt your fanboy feelings?
And crying about media hate after every negative SONY article is getting old and annoying.
If you don't like what people have to say about your beloved company, then don't read it, I mean if your solution to everybody's problems with the console is to not buy it then this solution should work for you

[aaron5829]

If he got his points right... then nobody can actually argue..

But his points are just .. oh well you know what i mean.

Dont forget, in his article.. he "challenges" fanboys to counter his "facts" which are in fact his erm, opinion.

:D

[ndibu]

Well I don't see anyone challengin his ''opinions'' just a bunch of fanboys telling him where to get off. No one has mentioned anything about the price, price of games, available games currently, inability to trade, you've all just moaned and told him not to buy it. Ridiculous

[iceman06]

The problem with arguing his "facts" are that they are from the perspective of someone that is looking to UPGRADE from PSP. The problem IS that the PSPgo is NOT an UPGRADE system. It is merely a NEW option. Think of it in terms of cars. You can go and buy a BASE model car. Or you can shell out a bit more and get the SPORTS package, or TRAVEL package, etc. See, both cars drive just the same...one just offers something DIFFERENT. This is like the line of PSP's from 1000 to the GO...each offers something different for a different price. If someone got tinted windows, a spoiler, and an alloy rim package on a car...they would expect to PAY for the package....if you get Bluetooth, 16GB internal flash memory (expandable to 32gb with extra memory stick), slide-screen and form-factor...why complain?!?!?

So...to his points....the PRICE....it is entry level for NEW tech. On par with what iPod touch offers in similar package.

PRICE of games...so...you expect to cut the price for DD...you have seen that on Xbox service...that it is NOT always true...nor is it ALWAYS true on places like STEAM. Prices will go down...but digital launch day ONE...come on...really!?!?!?

AVAILABILITY of games....there are over 100 PSP titles that are available for DL on the PSN...Plus the MINI's collection.

INABILITY to trade...THIS is the one FACT that can't be argued...you cannot trade a DD game....YET...rumors are circulating that Sony will eventually institute a reward system of some sorts for DD games in which you can make them inactive (trade them) for a credit. By the way...how much can you REALLY get for a $40 game???

All in all, the author has issues with the PSPgo BECAUSE HE IS NOT THE TARGET MARKET. The GO is meant for people who are looking for a new future in DD, who don't want to carry UMD's all everywhere, who find the compact form factor appealing, and WHO CAN AFFORD the things to support it...like BROADBAND...and GAMES!!! Plus, there is a great option for someone that doesn't like the GO...and it's STILL a PSP!!!

[dagreylion]

Dude needs to take a valum, PSPGO works for some people as well as Digital Download. People spend tons of money on IPODs without a thought but with PSP its an issue. Sony should drop the price on the software by 5 to 10 dollars just to support DD, and give people a reason to download, but it will hurt retail some.

[dredgewalker]

The media are ganging up on the PSP GO cause they cant make up anymore bad things about the PS3. They cant touch the PS3 anymore without looking like a douche so they're now trying to destroy Sony's new product. Ever wonder why there aren't anymore PS3 DOOM articles lately???

[ndibu]

Yet another media hates SONY crybaby comment

[dredgewalker]

Well its true, it's my opinion and i don't really care what other people think. At least i don't troll and spew nonsense about the other consoles.

[elchamber]

Finally Sony is gathering some speed and they decide to pull this move. I don't ever plan on purchasing a PSP Go for that price. Luckily, with that in the market, a lot of PSP price have gone low.

[Kemicalbeliefs]

I've been a bit of a Sony fanboy over the years and still am to a degree but I don't suffer blind loyalty.
I bought the original PSP on release date and to be honest I hardly play it anymore anyway.

This new version is what, smaller, lighter, better screen, faster, woopeedoo.
There is no real justification for buying a GO if I've already got a PSP. I could get a bloomin PS3 slim for about the same price??? bonkers!!!
All the fanboys that are moaning about people stating the obvious about the PSPgo, get over it. You were suckered, we werent, thats life....

[dragon82]

First of all, I too bought a PSP-1000 at launch for $250. The same price as the PSPgo by the way. I ended up selling it last fall because I never took it with me anywhere. Let's be honest here, it's not portable at all. Since then I have missed it and have wanted to get another one. I purchased a white PSPgo day one and I have to say, it fits my needs perfectly because I want to be able to carry it everywhere I go and I actually hated the UMD format. I know that not everyone fits into the same category as me but there are alot of people that do. This does not in any way make me a fanboy defending my "company". It just means I fit into the target consumer group for the PSPgo.

Edit: I don't ever buy used games so thats not an issue for me either.

[Ninjamonkey]

I find it funny how people here are defending the pspGo and calling thisd guy a sony basher.

I'll be honest I like sony the best out of the 3 console manufacturers BUT Im not a fanboy, I like the ps3 becuase its good, not out of loyalty.

And tbh the pspGo is a rip off. Its over priced, none of my UMD's will ever work on it, its got a smaller screen and it requires the internet for games.

Games which i can never buy second hand, I must just roill over and accept whatever sony says the price should be.

Nobody i know wants this thing, theyre all steering clear away. And rightly so. its a rip off.

[Ninjamonkey]

Also the big issue here is that its also priced the same as an Iphone.

If I had to spoend that money on either of them its always going to be the iphone. Your geting much more apps, loads of games using touch screen with better graphics than a DS.

It looks nicer, its smaller, it comes with a bigger hard drive, its also a mobile and its got tons of cool little helpful apps.

And lets face it. Right now the iphone is cool. Ipods in general are cool. Come to college with a pspGo though and people will think you have no friends...

And no control over your cash.

[iceman06]

So...your ENTIRE argument about the iPhone versus the PSPgo is that the PSP is not as COOL??? Wow! How old are you again...that your self-worth is affected by someones judgment of you? You know...there was a time, in the not so distant past, that video games in general weren't COOL!!! In the value argument...you ALSO forgot to mention that you pay OVER $100 a month to keep that great iPhone functional and the PSP is not designed just for apps...it is a GAMING console with FULL featured games as well as the new MINI's for the bite-sized gaming crowd. Look...not trying to bash YOU (per se) but the argument that you present is a bit weak in merit.

[kraze07]

It seems to me that the reason the media is ganging up on the PSPGo is because it's a rip off. Not only is the price of the Go ridiculous, but most of the games on the PS Store are overpriced too. If people want the Go that badly then they'll buy it, but I bought another PSP-3000 the same day the Go was released after been PSP less for about a year. I personally think anyone who already has a PSP Slim and sells it just to downgrade to a Go isn't too smart though.

[iceman06]

As an owner of the PSP-1000 since launch day...it makes NO SENSE for me to get the PSPgo right now. Too much money will be LOST to gain the GO. That being said...there are some people that don't own 20 UMD's. They might only have 5...and might only REALLY play 2! For them...the extra memory, and portability might be the thing that sways them.
The PSP lineup is now simply about CHOICE...do I go DD and more portable? Do I stick with UMD's and a bit bulkier? Or do I just say no to PSP altogether??? That's it in a nutshell.

[Handhelds_FTW]

@#$!!% yourself.

[Sumadyan]

This thing is marketed for certain people who want more portability and not having to lug a bigger model around.

I have a psp 100 I paid 250 for as well. Some say this is too expensive, well maybe it is since you basically paying 250 for the same technology that cost 250 four/five years ago. But still it don't need this much hate, its for those who want it and can afford it.

[Vortex3D]

Before PSP Go came out, one of the most requested is not to have UMD drive and use flash memory for storage and make the PSP more slim to carry around.

Sony did that as many PSP owners wanted.

For the price of PSP download games, why would anyone ever thought it's going to be cheap? With UMD games licensing, it's not easy for Sony to simply "copy" the UMD games for download version. For trade in UMD games, there are so many business and licensing issues Sony having to deal with and in the end, not every UMD games will be immediately available for download or will be cheap.

Gamers often don't want to think about the games licensing or the business side. They just want to have it for nothing and complain if they can't have it. That is why there are so many pirates out there refusing to pay anything for the games and still want to play all the games.

It's the gaming market. You are dealing with majority of 10 years old and 40 years old consumers and many will behave like 10 years old.

[bakaPX]

No one is telling you to buy it. No one is forcing you. Only 167 out of the 628 games out there? Sony will add more games to the online store. Another hate article at Sony. Why not hate on Microsoft or Nintendo for their stuff? Stupid

[Highwayman]

This is a true testament to the Sony fanboys on N4G, if there ever was one. PSPgo is a rip off, anyone with half of a functional brain can see this. And will choose to buy the regular PSP which is cheaper and more flexible. I too say **** the PSPgo!

Easily one of the more stupid moves by Sony. I love their PS3, but damn, PSPgo is well a terrible product.

I don't own a PSP, but if I ever bought one I would stay away from the PSPgo. You could not get me to touch it with a 10 foot pole.

Now a flood of phantom disagrees will ensue most probably.

[BenderDGreat82]

Why the hell would you buy a mediocre portable gaming system when for $50, you can buy the powerful PS3 instead. It makes no sense! And let's face it, the PSP doesn't exactly have system-buying games to back up that ridiculous price. Now take the DS; THAT'S how you do portable gaming. You get much more bang for your buck and it's about $70 cheaper than the PSP. Seriously Sony, even if the PSP Go was $100, I'd still be hesitant to buy it...it's just not that interesting.

[iceman06]

Mediocre to the tune of 50 million units and counting (no it's NOT DS sales, but for an upstart portable...it HAS given Nintendo something to think about). System selling games...that is OPINION...but I put God Of War Chains of Olympus, Motorstorm Arctic Edge, Gran Turismo, full 3d versions of GTA classics, as well as the GTA Chinatown Wars (which didn't sell well on DS), and a FUTURE with Little Big Planet and Assassins Creed. Let's not forget the ability to play PSONE classics on PSP and you have one hell of a lineup. Look, the DS is a GREAT system with GREAT games. But, it is REALLY one-sided to say that PSP is mediocre. Nintendo has aimed it's generation of hardware at a more casual and younger market...and they captured it. However, the PSP was made for more adult gamers (with an entry point to prove at $250 at launch). It was meant to be an on-the-go media center. For the most part, it delivers brilliantly. With a small investment in a memory stick I have the capacity to carry my favorite music, movies, tv shows, and GAMES on a handheld. THAT is what I was looking for...and THAT is what I got. IF you passed up on a $100 system...YOU would be missing out on a GREAT experience of gaming...but...to each his own!

[BenderDGreat82]

great argument! (no sarcasm, I swear, I even bubbled you). I completely forgot that the PSP was compatible with PSOne games and although it's a great feature, I just don't think it's enough to justify the full purchase price. You named some good games, but after those, I really couldn't think of any more. For the DS, I could think of a plethora of titles (Mario games alone justify a purchase). But like you said, to each his own.

[iceman06]

Bubs right back...and by the way...that was just a list OFF the TOP of my head...I could dig into my back catalog but that would just be OVERKILL...*LOL*

[cleanhealthy12]

Pathetic fanboys.

If he doesnt like it, so what? big deal, his opinion.

And PSPgo is ridiculous, you can buy a PS3 for that price, its just such a dumb idea by sony.

[gumgum99]

"With an official RRP of $449.95, the PSPgo is just $50 cheaper than the Blu-ray equipped Sony PlayStation 3 Slim. "

Pricing is wrong. Is it that easy to get a typo?

[iceman06]

Think those are AUSSIE dollars...not American!!!