Is the PSP Go too expensive??

[duffmanth]

I've been debating this issue ever since the $250 price tag was revealed at E3. On the one hand a 16GB ipod touch is $300, so when comparing $250 for the PSP Go to that, it seems like a bargain. But on the other hand you'd think that no UMD drive would cut down manufacturing costs and the savings would be passed along to the consumer?

The original PSP was $250 at launch and I think was hampered for a long time by that price, along with no decent games for the first year of the original PSP's existence. If Sony is smart, they'll price the PSP Go at $200, and limit the price of games to $40.

[JunkTheMagicDragon]

in a word, yes.

maybe sony's just trying to maximize profits from people who'd buy it anyway. that way they can cut the price to reasonable levels later and have a higher perceived value. matching price with the psp3000 would've been a better choice, especially if they're serious about pushing their dl-store. so far the pspgo is more expensive up front and you don't get physical copies of your games. other than not carrying games with you i'm failing to see the upside to this model.

all that said, i don't think any handheld should be over $150 (i myself am still waiting on decent used psps to hit the $80 mark).

[ProgrammingAce]

Remember though, the PSP was originally $250 because it came with a bunch of extra stuff, including a movie, the soft case, headphones, the wrist strap, etc.Now they've changed the system around so none of the current accesories work, you're going to have to buy all new ones.

The PSP GO is nothing but a giant money grab for sony. As much as i hatee the iPod, the $300 touch is a much better deal then the PSP GO for $250.

[tofu]

I can't imagine the PSP Go even being successful with that kind of price.

[Sonicwolf]

That price tag rubs salt in the wound of the lack of a UMD drive. Sucks to the 50 million people who own regular PSP's and still like the UMD's they already purchased. Knowing Sony, they will find some great games to release as PSP Go exclusives and say the UMD's couldnt hold the game, data storage wise.

God I hate download services.

[heybtbm]

I'm waiting for Sony's plan for UMD transfer. If I can possibly rip all my current PSP games onto this device, I'll buy it. If my UMD PSP games aren't going to be playable on the PSP Go, I won't buy it. The price is somewhat irrelevant. I bought my launch day PSP for the same price...so complaining is a bit hypocritical.

[GrandAmChandler]

I'm waiting for Sony's plan for UMD transfer. If I can possibly rip all my current PSP games onto this device, I'll buy it. If my UMD PSP games aren't going to be playable on the PSP Go, I won't buy it. The price is somewhat irrelevant. I bought my launch day PSP for the same price...so complaining is a bit hypocritical.

Try ripping as many games as you can to 16GB and see how many you get on your system, considering a UMD can hold a maximum of 1.8GB of data.....

Yes. It's way overpriced and is doomed to failure.

[megasdkirby]

Yes. It's way overpriced and is doomed to failure.

Agreed.

And I bet there will never be any "official" method to transfer UMD games. I think this is because it is easy to pirate the games and install it on several units. Not something Sony wants, I bet.

[Snapple]

I was completely dumbfounded when I heard the pricetag. There are perfectly good brand new PSPs on the shelf for $80 less. Nobody is going to buy a Go except for collectors and parents who don't know any better. Yes, the PSP was originally $250, but that was years ago. An SNES used to cost that much too. That doesn't mean Nintendo can box a redesigned SNES and sell it for $250.

When you couple the Go pricetag with the lack of a PS3 price drop at E3, I don't think Sony really gets it when it comes to pricing, especially in this economy. I love my PS3, but... they don't get it.

[Sonicwolf]

they don't get it.

Lets see their screw-ups so far.

- Making the PlayStation 3 with PSone compatability but no PS2 Compatability
- Coming up with a totally new controller and not releasing it
- Covering the prerelease PS3 with tons of ports that dont exist on the release model
- Released the same old tired controller design... without rumble
- Release a wireless controller without removable batteries
- Remove card readers from PS3's
- FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY-NINE US DOLLARS!
- No PS2 controller backwards use
- Rerelease PSP countless times and ignore the publics one request of a second analog stick
- Make a UMDless psp compliment that costs 250 bucks
- UMDless psp compliment also lacks a second analog stick.

HMMMM.. Sony pooped the bed this time. How could the screw up so bad.

[Tupin]

Yes. Yes it is.

If I wanted to pay $250 for a PSP without a functioning UMD drive, I'd buy one on Craigslist in three years. LOL

I sold my PSP like five months after it came out because all I had to play was Ape Escape, and I haven't regretted it. Oh, and the one analog stick. Who ever thought of that?

[megasdkirby]

HMMMM.. Sony pooped the bed this time. How could the screw up so bad.

I'm guessing they still think people follow the "Playstation" brand blindly.

Well, some still do, but it's definitely not like before. This is why I think they priced it at $250: because they hope people will but it because "Hey, it's from Sony, it's a Playstation, so it must be good" or "Hey, it's from Sony, it's a Playstation, so I am getting it!"

Doesn't work that way anymore, IMO.

[Press_Start]

According to Sony Europe (http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2009/06/12/pspgo-your-questions-answered/), the PSPgo....

-Has the same battery life as previous models (3 to 6 hours) :bullshit:
-Current PSP peripherals won't work on it. :bullshit:
-With new features including:
Game sleep function. -_-
Bluetooth @_@
Clock and calender function. YAY!...Not :bullshit:

The high price point seems redundant when DS cost half as much with a godzilla-size library to boot. The DSi practically offers what both PSP models offer plus a built-in camera and touch screen for 80 Georges less. Those DLC games better be $10 or less cause Sony "Do not pass Go, Don't collect $250".

[otaku]

IF I were them I'd try to get that price as close as I could to the DSi's 170 I think an iphone or similar ipod with gaming abilities is the best way to go. I actually like ipods I have the new 120gig model and am loving it. Not sure if I can game on it (screen is small and I don't know how you get games if you can for it) if I were sony I'd just give in and let nintendo have the portable market. and maybe apple could compete a bit

[heybtbm]

Lets see their screw-ups so far.

- Making the PlayStation 3 with PSone compatability but no PS2 Compatability
- Remove card readers from PS3's
- FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY-NINE US DOLLARS!
- No PS2 controller backwards use

In fairness the $599 PS3 was fully b/c....so those two points should cancel each other out. Also, PS2 controllers, and memory card readers work just fine with an adapter.

[heybtbm]

Try ripping as many games as you can to 16GB and see how many you get on your system, considering a UMD can hold a maximum of 1.8GB of data.

Yeah, I guess that's not going to work. Christ...even my 2 year old iPod is 120 GB. WTF is this 16 GB BS?

What about a Memory Card Pro Duo slot? They go up to 32GB nowdays. (checks price on Amazon). It's still a rip-off.

[ProgrammingAce]

Yeah, I guess that's not going to work. Christ...even my 2 year old iPod is 120 GB. WTF is this 16 GB BS?

What about a Memory Card Pro Duo slot? They go up to 32GB nowdays. (checks price on Amazon). It's still a rip-off.

But the PSP Go doesn't support a memory card pro duo remember? It only does the Memory Card Micro (M2). That only goes up to 16 GB at the moment, and for a cool $90 off of amazon ($130 MSRP)

Come on, you didn't think sony was going to let you use the memory cards you already bought, did you?

[SegaAges]

I am still waiting on a brand new star wars edition psp to go under $100.

The only games I can think of that I would put any time into would be the battlefront games.

[Bojay1997]

According to Sony Europe (http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2009/06/12/pspgo-your-questions-answered/), the PSPgo....

-Has the same battery life as previous models (3 to 6 hours) :bullshit:
-Current PSP peripherals won't work on it. :bullshit:
-With new features including:
Game sleep function. -_-
Bluetooth @_@
Clock and calender function. YAY!...Not :bullshit:

The high price point seems redundant when DS cost half as much with a godzilla-size library to boot. The DSi practically offers what both PSP models offer plus a built-in camera and touch screen for 80 Georges less. Those DLC games better be $10 or less cause Sony "Do not pass Go, Don't collect $250".

But let's be honest here, the DSi and DS for that matter are aimed at younger gamers. The game library on the PSP is firmly aimed at the PS3/360 crowd and larger library or not, most of us can't find more than a handful of games we are interested in on the DS. I agree that the PSP Go seems overpriced in this economy and given it's lack of a UMD drive. Having said that, I don't think that Sony's expectation is for the PSP Go to lead the PSP line. It's a very specialized device for gamers who need something very, very small and who prefer to download rather than own physical media. Personally, even at half the price I wouldn't buy one because my PSP is perfectly good and it can play everything the PSP Go can. Of course, I'm not the PSP Go's target market, so it doesn't really matter if I think it's overpriced or not.

[BHvrd]

If Sony is smart, they'll price the PSP Go at $189.99, and limit the price of games to $29.99.

There I fixed it for you. :p

Honestly i'm amused at the people who go on about Umd's. I absolutely loathe the things. I like the PSP GO and instead of bashing on it i'll be sensible and say that other than the price it's a great little gadget.

Seriously i'm really confused why so many people are mad that UMD isn't included, just use your old psp! What's the problems? This product is targeted towards a different type user, one that doesn't want to fondle with carrying around discs.

[Press_Start]

Seriously i'm really confused why so many people are mad that UMD isn't included, just use your old psp! What's the problems? This product is targeted towards a different type user, one that doesn't want to fondle with carrying around discs.

We're not mad. Just don't believe Sony's justification for a price hike rivaling of it's opponent console's price for a tiny clone of a device that does everything it's predecessor does only without UMDs.


But let's be honest here, the DSi and DS for that matter are aimed at younger gamers. The game library on the PSP is firmly aimed at the PS3/360 crowd and larger library or not, I can't find more than a handful of games I'm interested in on the DS.

All DS Castlevania games
All DS Phoenix Wright games
Contra 4
New Super Mario Bros.
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 1 & 2
Super Princess Peach
Mario Kart DS
The World Ends with You
Advance Wars
Fire Emblem
Metal Slug 7
Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ
Mario & Luigi Partners In Time
Dragon Quest 4 & 5
Professor Layton
Sonic Rush
Sonic Rush Adventure
Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Infinite Frontier
Front Mission
Izuna 1&2

You were saying. :wink 2:

(BTW, I fixed your comment.)

[duffmanth]

Yeah I remember the original PSP being $250 with all of the extras. That was a pretty good deal. I just think the PSP Go being $250 with only 16GB, no UMD drive, and still no facking second analog stick is a bit too pricey. Personally I think handheld gaming systems should be $200 at the most.

The two biggest reasons why the PSP is still trailing the DS/DSI after all of these years is because it's always been considerably more expensive and the AAA quality games seem to come out in short bursts on the PSP...I mean Gran Turismo is just coming out this fall, WTF!!!! It took a good year after launch for the PSP to have any great original games. And even since then a few really great PSP games will come along, followed by months of nothing but shit, then a few more great games, and so on...

[The 1 2 P]

I'm guessing they still think people follow the "Playstation" brand blindly.

Good point but the fanboys will always make excuses for Sony's faults. Because you know that out there right now are sony fanboys that are saying that not only is the PspGo a better value than the iphone, but it's also a better value than current gen consoles:?

But to answer the question about rather it's too expensive, in a word: hell to the f'ing yeah. Ok, that was more like four words and a made up acro-verb. But you get the point.

[Bojay1997]

We're not mad. Just don't believe Sony's justification for a price hike rivaling of it's opponent console's price for a tiny clone of a device that does everything it's predecessor does only without UMDs.



All DS Castlevania games
All DS Phoenix Wright games
Contra 4
New Super Mario Bros.
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 1 & 2
Super Princess Peach
Mario Kart DS
The World Ends with You
Advance Wars
Fire Emblem
Metal Slug 7
Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ
Mario & Luigi Partners In Time
Dragon Quest 4 & 5
Professor Layton
Sonic Rush
Sonic Rush Adventure
Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Infinite Frontier
Front Mission
Izuna 1&2

You were saying. :wink 2:

(BTW, I fixed your comment.)

Most of the games on that list are for children and pre-teens. I realize that there are some adults who buy games designed for kids (I'll admit to owning and playing my share of them), but the sales figures and survey data speaks for itself. The overwhelming number of PSP owners are older gamers while the overwhelming number of DS owners are under 18 years old. The games sales figures support this further with games like GTA Chinatown Wars barely breaking 200K units since being put on sale a few months ago. Sony is trying to go after younger gamers with the new Hannah Montana game and custom PSP, but frankly, there is not a whole lot in their catalog that appeals to this group at present.

[Nebagram]

But the PSP Go doesn't support a memory card pro duo remember? It only does the Memory Card Micro (M2). That only goes up to 16 GB at the moment, and for a cool $90 off of amazon ($130 MSRP)

Come on, you didn't think sony was going to let you use the memory cards you already bought, did you?

Oh Christ what? I would say that would be a deal breaker but let's be honest here the deal was broken a long time before. I've just stuck 4GB of memory pro duo into my psp for all of £20, and that's about as much as I'm prepared to spend right now.

I mean seriously now, does no one at Sony remember the PS3 launch? Unsold units cluttering retail shelves, their 11-year lead literally evaporating overnight, long-time exclusive publishers defecting left right and centre- a trend that if anything has only accelerated- and only recovering after more than a few backpedals over hardware (the cheaper 40GB model, dropping b/c, and the dual shock 3). Finally the PS3 started to get somewhere, and suddenly they redesign the PSP to be as utterly useless as possible. Pretty much anyone who's going to get a PSP has already got one. And anyone who's going to get a PSP after the Go's launch is going to take a look at the gimped $250 model and the second-hand fully functional $125 model and make the obvious choice. How can no one at Sony recognise this?

[kupomogli]

-Has the same battery life as previous models (3 to 6 hours) :bullshit:

The PSP2000 has 4-6 hours. Closer to 4 hours when the UMD is in use while 6 hours when not using UMD(and not emulating games at 333mhz.)

-

Anyways, I wouldn't pick the PSP Go up regardless and I'm a Sony fan. I'm not interested in downloading data when I could have a physical copy in my hand instead. Sure it might not get as much battery life when playing a physical copy of "psp game," but it's also a physical copy and I actually own it. If I want digital versions of these games I can download them or rip them from the UMD. 250 is also too much.

The PSP Go is certain to drop price after the Christmas holidays, basically when all the suckers pay the 250 for it. The fact that the system is so much cheaper to make than any of the previous PSP systems makes me wonder why the 250 price tag and not 199.99, but it's obvious Sony is being a bit greedy. Also cutting down on piracy, cutting out the third party, etc. They're making out on the deal and even if they have to drop price because no one buys the PSP Go, they're still making out on the product.

There's the fact that the PSP Go is too expensive like mentioned by me and all throughout this thread. Buy a PSP3000 and stop bitching about the ripoff price of the Go. Sony is in the business to make money regardless of whether it's a ripoff or not, as they know that people are going to buy it and then they can drop price later. At the same time of making a ton of money on each system, they're also making money on each digital copy without the need to go through a third party(Gamestop/Walmart/etc,) yet at the same time saving the customer a couple dollars(usually three dollars) on the digital copy and also taxes I think(digital copies aren't taxed are they?)

Oh yeah.

http://www.juegos.es/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/gameboy-micro.jpg

Even Nintendo has done the same thing. Cheaper system at an outrageous price. Atleast the PSP Go has the same features(more, just no UMD.) The GBA Micro can't play GB or GBC games and it was originally priced at $100. This was also released near the time Nintendo stopped supporting the GBA systems.

[Poofta!]

Yeah, I guess that's not going to work. Christ...even my 2 year old iPod is 120 GB. WTF is this 16 GB BS?

What about a Memory Card Pro Duo slot? They go up to 32GB nowdays. (checks price on Amazon). It's still a rip-off.

dont let that guy lead you on. while a umd can ideally hold 1.8gb. the largest game i have ever encountered, before compression is 1.3gb or so. and there are honestly less than 10 of those. compression makes it 2/3 the size without any draw backs (in fact it loads faster). if the psp GO can read umd iso and cso files, i'll get it. since i can already rip UMDs with my psp 1000 & 2000.

btw, most games are in the 300-600mb range. uncompressed.





All DS Castlevania games
All DS Phoenix Wright games
Contra 4
New Super Mario Bros.
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 1 & 2
Super Princess Peach
Mario Kart DS
The World Ends with You
Advance Wars
Fire Emblem
Metal Slug 7
Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ
Mario & Luigi Partners In Time
Dragon Quest 4 & 5
Professor Layton
Sonic Rush
Sonic Rush Adventure
Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Infinite Frontier
Front Mission
Izuna 1&2

You were saying. :wink 2:

dude almost all of those games are for young kids. and a good portion of them are downright bad (princess peach? izuna? sonic rush? are you kidding me?) you may enjoy these and that is fine, but if youre really trying to compare these to games created for [more or less] more mature audience like God of War, Syphon Filter, Killzone and the NIS library... youve already lost your argument. even compare the Final Fantasy games for each console to see what is targeted at who. Have i played new super mario bros? yes. was it fun? kinda. would i trade it for castlevania x or even Jak? never.

the ds is a good system with some fun games, but its simply for kids.

and why would you bring the ds into this thread to begin with? if you think the ds is superior to any iteration of the psp, youre obviously not going to be buying the psp regardless if its 150, 200 or 250. youre not the person sony is crafting this for and quite frankly, your opinion is meaningless.

if i can rip my umds to the psp go, i will buy it without a second thought (well maybe once it hits 200 =P ). i for one am glad to see the umds take a hike, an awful format and a waste of weight/space on my console.

[kupomogli]

Crisis Core is 1.7GB, Dissidia is 1.6GB, and God of War is 1.6GB. The sizes are rounded up. Of course this is all uncompressed. If Sony isn't stupid, the PSP Go might have also been created to not be able to get hacked and play .iso and .cso files.

[Poofta!]

Crisis Core is 1.7GB, Dissidia is 1.6GB, and God of War is 1.6GB. The sizes are rounded up. Of course this is all uncompressed. If Sony isn't stupid, the PSP Go might have also been created to not be able to get hacked and play .iso and .cso files.

for some reason my CC was 1.5. but anyway, fine. there are like 3 games that big. i have an 8gb stick in my psp and i never felt like i didnt have enough room for everything i wanted to take on the go with me.

[Press_Start]

The PSP2000 has 4-6 hours. Closer to 4 hours when the UMD is in use while 6 hours when not using UMD(and not emulating games at 333mhz.)


I know. It's the biggest dilemma I have with it. Wish they rectified the issue with the Go. Constantly recharging it every few plays is getting a bit redundant.



There's the fact that the PSP Go is too expensive like mentioned by me and all throughout this thread. Buy a PSP3000 and stop bitching about the ripoff price of the Go. Sony is in the business to make money regardless of whether it's a ripoff or not, as they know that people are going to buy it and then they can drop price later. At the same time of making a ton of money on each system, they're also making money on each digital copy without the need to go through a third party(Gamestop/Walmart/etc,) yet at the same time saving the customer a couple dollars(usually three dollars) on the digital copy and also taxes I think(digital copies aren't taxed are they?)


That's funny! From the inception of the PS3, Sony's taken pages out of the Bizzaro school of smart business. They've already incinerated all their gains in one big 3-year bonfire and now feeling the deep burning hole in their pockets.

Right now, for every 1 PSP user, there's 2 DS users. Market penetration is key to staying on par with Nintendo's portable moneymaker. $250 only hinders than helps. A lowered price point makes an excellent selling point, possibly cheaper than the DSi and enough to sway current PSP owners.

[Press_Start]

and why would you bring the ds into this thread to begin with? if you think the ds is superior to any iteration of the psp, youre obviously not going to be buying the psp regardless if its 150, 200 or 250. youre not the person sony is crafting this for and quite frankly, your opinion is meaningless.

First off, I was replying to a remark someone else made about the DS. Go back to the first page and you'll see.

Second, I have both DS and PSP while each have their own unique charm (i.e. DS touch screen and stylus capabilities and PSP's vast RPG library), I like them BOTH.



dude almost all of those games are for young kids. and a good portion of them are downright bad (princess peach? izuna? sonic rush? are you kidding me?) you may enjoy these and that is fine, but if youre really trying to compare these to games created for [more or less] more mature audience like God of War, Syphon Filter, Killzone and the NIS library... youve already lost your argument. even compare the Final Fantasy games for each console to see what is targeted at who. Have i played new super mario bros? yes. was it fun? kinda. would i trade it for castlevania x or even Jak? never.

the ds is a good system with some fun games, but its simply for kids.

I can make an entire blog (or a rather large post) for this topic alone but this is not the place for it. But I'll say this, the usual suspects separating M-games are sex, blood, gore, and swearing. Take those out and all you got is a T-rated game, at best. I'm okay with continuing this conversation elsewhere. :)

[Zing]

I read an article recently which seemed spot-on. The gist of the article is that the price of the PSP Go is artificially high to boost profit margins for the retailers. This is because the PSP Go ultimately makes the retailers obsolete. Think about it. The retailers are selling a system that is 100% digital download, never requiring the purchaser to ever return to the store to buy a game. The retailers need an incentive to sell their own murder weapon.

[Sonicwolf]

I read an article recently which seemed spot-on. The gist of the article is that the price of the PSP Go is artificially high to boost profit margins for the retailers. This is because the PSP Go ultimately makes the retailers obsolete. Think about it. The retailers are selling a system that is 100% digital download, never requiring the purchaser to ever return to the store to buy a game. The retailers need an incentive to sell their own murder weapon.

Good point. I really hope this PSP Go doesnt take off. I dont think its right to cut out retailers of game sales like this...

[Zing]

Wait, you actually prefer that there is a middle-man? You want an entity artificially inserted into the product chain, forcing you to pay more for your games?

[kupomogli]

It won't kill retail sales as they're still going to be selling UMDs because of the PSP3000.

[Kuros]

Wait, you actually prefer that there is a middle-man? You want an entity artificially inserted into the product chain, forcing you to pay more for your games?

You do have to consider the fact that with only one point of purchase, there's no incentive to lower prices.

[c0ldb33r]

You do have to consider the fact that with only one point of purchase, there's no incentive to lower prices.
and no used-game market :(

[Fuzzball24]

and no used-game market :(

Which means no rare games...

[Hep038]

Good point but the fanboys will always make excuses for Sony's faults. Because you know that out there right now are sony fanboys that are saying that not only is the PspGo a better value than the iphone, but it's also a better value than current gen consoles:?

But to answer the question about rather it's too expensive, in a word: hell to the f'ing yeah. Ok, that was more like four words and a made up acro-verb. But you get the point.



Yup because only Sony fan boys are irrational.

[Snapple]

I was nodding along with everyone in this thread until we started making fun of the DS library. There are plenty of games for the DS that should appeal to all ages, and to me it is a superior library to the PSP, and I don't think it's even close really. That's just my opinion obviously, but the DS shouldn't even be a part of this thread. We don't need to attack it.

Let's get back to talking about the Go, though. Boy it sure is expensive.

[Rob2600]

Who cares if games will be UMD or download-only? The real question is, can the PSP Go launch missiles and will people want to work more hours just to afford one?

[Sonicwolf]

Yup because only Sony fan boys are irrational.

They are irrational because they are in total denial that the PlayStation age is over.

But you have to admit, it was a pretty good age.

[norkusa]

I really don't care if there's no UMD on the Go since I haven't even touched a UMD in the 3 years I've had CF installed on my 1001.

Still, $250 is too much for me and the only way I'd even consider buying a Go is if/when it becomes hacked since I have more fun playing emulators and homebrew apps than actual PSP games.

[Damaramu]

Ditto. I own a modest stack of UMD games, but I use my PSP mainly for emulation on the go.

[Sonicwolf]

Ditto. I own a modest stack of UMD games, but I use my PSP mainly for emulation on the go.

I finally got my PSP working with CF a few months ago.. This thread reminded me I did that. Seriously, I totally forgot I got all that emulation crap to work with it.

*zooms off to psp and charger*

[c0ldb33r]

Can someone please explain the good-faith solution I keep hearing about to transfer UMD games to the PSP Go?

[heybtbm]

Can someone please explain the good-faith solution I keep hearing about to transfer UMD games to the PSP Go?

Sony said they would have more information sometime soon. Who knows, we could be waiting and waiting and in the end, they just announce it's not happening.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Which means no rare games...

I don't know about that. In the future, when DL service is discontinued, the only viable options are; to obtain the UMDs and have a functioning unit with the drive or find a PSP Go with all the games you want already on it. Sounds like a case of possible increased rarity to me.

Maybe that is how they make the PSP Go price tag easier to swallow... Transfer all the rental UMDs you can fit in 16GB for $250. LOL

They have to have considered that though... Interesting to see the solution if/when UMD transfers actually do happen.

[kupomogli]

All DS games are for kids

The DS is an amazing system. The fact that the games may be aimed towards kids with how the art direction went(Castlevania which went from its dark style to emo looking anime based, etc) doesn't matter as it only matters how the games themselves play.

Though the PSP is still the better system. Minus all the emulation and everything, even without the insane amount of releases the DS has weekly, the PSP has more must own titles than the DS does(it's not by a huge number, but it's a decent amount.)

[megasdkirby]

Sony said they would have more information sometime soon. Who knows, we could be waiting and waiting and in the end, they just announce it's not happening.

Although it would be a great idea, I don't see it happening, since piracy would be rampant.

It would be too easy to simply take a game and copy it for everyone who wanted a copy. For instance, anyone can go rent a PSP game, copy it, and repeat the cycle.

I don't think Sony wants that.

Well, piracy will be all too common once digital only media is the norm...if it ever happens. Heck, it's already happening now!

[chicnstu]

The DS is an amazing system. The fact that the games may be aimed towards kids with how the art direction went(Castlevania which went from its dark style to emo looking anime based, etc) doesn't matter as it only matters how the games themselves play.

It amazes me that there are STILL people that say Nintendo's games and the games from other developers on their systems are for people under 15.

I've tried so many times on DP to tell people that the games aren't styled to be sold to "kids". They are made to be for everyone, the family. Yes the kids will like the colorful looks more than adults, but both the adults and their kids will have the same amount of fun with the game, unless those adults are too insecure to play something colorful.

It's like Disney, most adults enjoy almost all of the movies they make. The writing in their movies is made just right so that both adults and their kids will enjoy the movie and they are colorful to help keep the kids watching when they don't understand what's going on.

Kupomogli, didn't mean this toward your post, I meant it toward the people you quoted.

[heybtbm]

It amazes me that there are STILL people that say Nintendo's games and the games from other developers on their systems are for people under 15.

You're right. It's not fair to label Nintendo's games as "just for kids". Soccer Moms and Grandparents can enjoy them as well.

[kupomogli]

Sony could always do this(something I myself would hate, but I'm certain that alot of people might do that.)

Send your UMDs to Sony along with your PSN id. Sony will send you a voucher to unlock the game from your PSN. Since Sony would also keep the UMD to stop from used games being sold and bought up, add a 5.00 credit to the PSN account and then sell that same UMD used themselves.

This would benefit Sony and the customer since the customer is keeping the same game and getting a 5.00 credit, while Sony is still making something off this as they're doing nothing but switching sortof buying back, and then selling.

So yeah. Just basically throwing out something that could be used but most likely won't.

[Koa Zo]

Good point. I really hope this PSP Go doesnt take off. I dont think its right to cut out retailers of game sales like this...
It is only fair. For years Gamestop and EB have been effectively cutting the profits of publishers and developers by pushing used games sales in thier stores.

[Chemdawg]

all i know is my PSP works great, so i see no need to spend 250 on something does the same damn thing pretty much.

[Sonicwolf]

all i know is my PSP works great, so i see no need to spend 250 on something does the same damn thing pretty much.

Same way I feel about my DS,DS lite vs the DSi.

[Icarus Moonsight]

...both the adults and their kids will have the same amount of fun with the game, unless those adults are too insecure...

Careful, the insecure can be extremely touchy about being called out like that. Goes with the territory. I'm sure they'd rather stroke their egos and call it 'maturity'. I'm guilty myself from time to time. Pokemon for example. I refuse to play a Pokemon game, half because I'm not 'secure' enough and I think I'd feel dirty and the rest because I don't want Pikachu and Co. to have a pure monopoly of my gaming time. So I say, "Man, I'm too grown up to play Pokemon games!" to justify it. Hell, it's human nature to lie to yourself when you don't like your own reasons and motives for doing/not doing something.

Sending UMD's to Sony... I don't know, logistically, it sounds like more trouble than it's worth for the customer and Sony. Sony has a hard enough time selling new software... All I know is, I'll be in the market for scratched up and damaged UMDs if that happens.

[Nature Boy]

Although it would be a great idea, I don't see it happening, since piracy would be rampant.

Question: since MS introduced the ability to download games to your HD with the NXE (in order to improve load speeds), has piracy run rampant over the 360?

Anybody?

If I was smart enough to figure out how to do it I wouldn't be sitting here typing on a message board. But I'd guess (a) you connect your existing PSP with UMD to the net, upload some kind of verification, and then (b) download the game, with license, to your PSPgo. Since you obviously can't use the same memory stick.

[megasdkirby]

Question: since MS introduced the ability to download games to your HD with the NXE (in order to improve load speeds), has piracy run rampant over the 360?

Anybody?

I believe it's because it's in it's infancy. People still have the choice of physical media and digital media. However, I trully believe the moment that everything, absolutely everything, goes digital, is the day people will start pirating games ever so often. In fact, the PSP is one console where it's evident people use it for hacking purposes. I have had tons of customers come to be asking for the "highest memory card possible" so they can "copy their friends game". I've even had customers try to return PSP on failed CFW attempts. I've also had customers purchasing Twilight Princess with the intention of doing the Homebrew Channel, and later having the balls of returning the game because "it's not what they expected" (no returns are accepted due to this).

Sure, you can say that those pirating games are still in the minority, but it does grow ever so slowly. And the moment everything goes digital, forcing people to download games for almost the same price, you will see piracy increase tenfold.

It's easy to click a button and download a game illegally than legally purchase the same game at the same price a physical media game would be priced at.


If I was smart enough to figure out how to do it I wouldn't be sitting here typing on a message board. But I'd guess (a) you connect your existing PSP with UMD to the net, upload some kind of verification, and then (b) download the game, with license, to your PSPgo. Since you obviously can't use the same memory stick.

Think about it. It's a great idea, but there is one problem: UMDs don't have an identifier differentiating them from other UMDs, even from the same title. This is the same as CDROMs. This means that anyone who has a copy of "Metal Gear Acid!" can get a digital copy, as all MGA copies in existence have the same identifier (since it comes from the master or original). In order for the scheme you mention to be a success, each UMD game has to have a unique identifier, seperating one from another...like a built in serial code. Or new games have a serial code in the documentation when you purchase a new game. And in both cases, this would not be the case for the already millions (if not billions) of PSP games already out in the market.

In conclusion, it's a great idea for new games...those that come out after the implementation of the idea. But it's a terrible thing for games already in the market, as there is no way to differentiate one from another.

[Sonicwolf]

In most likelyhood, Sony would require you to hand in your UMD to get the digital copy. They would not want to give people free copies of games they could easily charge for so its either UMD or PSP go digital data.

[megasdkirby]

In most likelyhood, Sony would require you to hand in your UMD to get the digital copy. They would not want to give people free copies of games they could easily charge for so its either UMD or PSP go digital data.

Yes, but I don't think people would like that.

For example, if I were to get a PSP Go and would give in my game for a digital copy, I would think of it as a ripoff since I am not getting anything "physical" in return. Plus, if something should happen to my PSP Go and I have to transfer my saves to a new system, there will be hurdles to pass in order to convince Sony of the new console change, something not many people would like to do.

Also, some people like selling their games, either to corporations or friends/families, because that way they get some of their money back, which can be used to get another game. Not quite so with digital media.

Unless, of course, people focus their efforts on piracy, which would most likely happen.

[Sonicwolf]

I cant stand the idea of having all digital anything. Flash memory fails, hard drives crash. I have books from the 17th century that are still readable. Try and read some digital crap from a hard drive after being stored for 400 years.

[PapaStu]

Question: since MS introduced the ability to download games to your HD with the NXE (in order to improve load speeds), has piracy run rampant over the 360?

Anybody?



Piracy has been going on for the XBox 360 people for a number of years. People that want to play burns arn't going to really care all that much about the HD loading. Their systems have been opened already, so if they RRoD or have a drive failure they'll just fix it or ship it to someone who does that.

I'm under the impression that you need to have the disc in the tray to play stuff thats on your HD. The system does a quick spin up of the disc to make sure you've got it before it'll let you play w/o the disc. If you try to pop the disc after the check it'll pull the game out and go back to the dashboard. I'm sure that if they didn't have something like that, MS would have never been able to get the publishers agree to that addition to the NXE. Otherwise piracy would be increased as people rented more games, installed them and returned them, or go to GameStop, buy a used one, import and return it and get their $$ back as long as it was within 7 days.


Back on the PSPGo subject.
I'd assume that the kiosk units will require you to have a PSN login/handle and thats how you'd be able to re-aquire your transfered games because it would be tied to your handle and or PSPGo serial number. I don't know how they are going to control the download for media swap unless the kiosk machines either didn't return the discs, or they marked them in some manner to let other machines know that the disc has been imported already to a PSPGo system.

[megasdkirby]

I don't know how they are going to control the download for media swap unless the kiosk machines either didn't return the discs, or they marked them in some manner to let other machines know that the disc has been imported already to a PSPGo system.

The only way I can think of is physically doing something to the disc/UMD itself, like damaging it.

But that would be a terrible thing to do. :(

[Bojay1997]

It amazes me that there are STILL people that say Nintendo's games and the games from other developers on their systems are for people under 15.

I've tried so many times on DP to tell people that the games aren't styled to be sold to "kids". They are made to be for everyone, the family. Yes the kids will like the colorful looks more than adults, but both the adults and their kids will have the same amount of fun with the game, unless those adults are too insecure to play something colorful.

It's like Disney, most adults enjoy almost all of the movies they make. The writing in their movies is made just right so that both adults and their kids will enjoy the movie and they are colorful to help keep the kids watching when they don't understand what's going on.

Kupomogli, didn't mean this toward your post, I meant it toward the people you quoted.

As has been pointed out several times already, the DS and its library has nothing to do with the analysis of whether the PSP Go is too expensive. Having said that, we are in a somewhat unique time in our culture in that many adults are involved in activities that were previously considered only for kids. The fact that adults dress up and go to comic conventions or watch cartoons and anime or buy comic books and video games designed for much younger children is a relatively new phenomenon which really didn't exist 20 years ago. I think the trend is much more prevalent among classic gamers than the general gaming population simply because by our very nature we are always trying to recapture that feeling of what it was like to play really fun games as a kid.

Whether you like it or not or want to admit it or not, Nintendo Wii and most DS games are designed for kids. The fact that some adults enjoy them as well is a bonus for Nintendo, but it's not the market they are aiming at. Casual games and exercise games are a whole different story, but if you're talking about mainstream Nintendo character product, it's aimed squarely at kids 6-14 years old.

Disney movies are a terrible example by the way. It's not like there is some complicated subtext or hidden meaning in their movies. They are designed to be simple to understand and while adults might enjoy the animation or story as well, it's not because they are getting something different out of it than their kids.

[chicnstu]

Whether you like it or not or want to admit it or not, Nintendo Wii and most DS games are designed for kids. The fact that some adults enjoy them as well is a bonus for Nintendo, but it's not the market they are aiming at. Casual games and exercise games are a whole different story, but if you're talking about mainstream Nintendo character product, it's aimed squarely at kids 6-14 years old.

I strongly disagree. During the NES/SNES/Genesis generation, most games (on any console) had to be marketed towards kids because that was the largest group playing games. But now (within the last 6 years) things are different, both genders and so many different ages play games. Mario, Zelda, and Pikmin are designed (and advertised) for ALL people, the family.

Mario Galaxy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TWzRfQZKzk)

Super Paper Mario (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2hIJq8vnCU)

New Super Mario Bros. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUnFmf4yhvY)

Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jW61Q6H-vU&feature=PlayList&p=B28FA5FBA2F1DAF1&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=23)

Metroid Prime 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejC-E71NDa0)

Animal Crossing: City Folk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pia7KkuFAE)

[Bojay1997]

I strongly disagree. During the NES/SNES/Genesis generation, most games (on any console) had to be marketed towards kids because that was the largest group playing games. But now (within the last 6 years) things are different, both genders and so many different ages play games. Mario, Zelda, and Pikmin are designed (and advertised) for ALL people, the family.

Mario Galaxy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TWzRfQZKzk)

Super Paper Mario (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2hIJq8vnCU)

New Super Mario Bros. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUnFmf4yhvY)

Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jW61Q6H-vU&feature=PlayList&p=B28FA5FBA2F1DAF1&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=23)

Metroid Prime 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejC-E71NDa0)

Animal Crossing: City Folk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pia7KkuFAE)

You're kidding, right? You're confusing Nintendo's marketing campaigns with actual use statistics. Has the Wii exposed different groups of people to video games than the traditional groups who used to play them? Absolutely. Has it changed the fact that the vast majority of people playing SMG, Metroid Prime 3, Zelda, etc... are 6-14 year old kids? Absolutely not.

Adults are attracted to the Wii for very different reasons than their kids are. I'm not talking about the hip, cool thirty-something parent who grew up on video games and now plays games with their kids. I'm talking about the 40-70 year old population that is soon going to be the largest group in our society. They use it for Wii Fit or Wii Sports. Middle aged and elderly people are not buying Wiis to play platform games and RPGs. Nintendo knows this and it's why they are really pushing for more practical experiences or sales angles on things like health and fitness that can get the Wii into as many homes as possible. Ultimately, those are the households where the low attach rates and minimal use is being picked up on the surveys that keep coming out showing Wii is by far the best hardware seller, but not something non-gamer buyers actually use very much.

[chicnstu]

You're kidding, right? You're confusing Nintendo's marketing campaigns with actual use statistics. Has the Wii exposed different groups of people to video games than the traditional groups who used to play them? Absolutely. Has it changed the fact that the vast majority of people playing SMG, Metroid Prime 3, Zelda, etc... are 6-14 year old kids? Absolutely not.

You must be the one kidding, re-read what I quoted from you. Sure it's mostly younger people playing, that's obvious, but we both were talking about marketing and design, not who ultimately plays the games that Nintendo designs for the family.


Whether you like it or not or want to admit it or not, Nintendo Wii and most DS games are designed for kids. The fact that some adults enjoy them as well is a bonus for Nintendo, but it's not the market they are aiming at. Casual games and exercise games are a whole different story, but if you're talking about mainstream Nintendo character product, it's aimed squarely at kids 6-14 years old.

[c0ldb33r]

uhhh... I thought this thread was about the price of the new PSP. What the hell are you guys on about?

[Bojay1997]

You must be the one kidding, re-read what I quoted from you. Sure it's mostly younger people playing, that's obvious, but we both were talking about marketing and design, not who ultimately plays the games that Nintendo designs for the family.

Again, I think you are confusing the market Nintendo is trying to create with the one that actually exists. I was talking about who plays the games and who they are designed for. You're right that Nintendo's marketing is designed to take that base and expand it by showing happy families playing games together. Heck, advertising like that convinced my mom to buy Wii Fit and use it a total of two times before she realized that she has absolutely no interest in video games and never did. She got caught up in the false imagery that a video game console can somehow make you fit and bring your family together.

Obviously, Nintendo has been successful in convincing lots of non-traditional game buyers to buy the Wii console. What they haven't done is convince adults and older people to actually buy games for the Wii or buy the DS hardware or games. Nintendo knows 6-14 year old kids are their market and they know they can snag middle age people into buying the Wii for Wii Fit and similar health and lifestyle games. It's not a bad strategy, in fact it has made Nintendo wildly rich and successful.

Nintendo is certainly doing everything they can to try and snare more non-gamers and families, but ultimately, Zelda is never going to have gameplay that appeals to most adults and even the easiest platform game in the world which can play itself through tough areas is not going to get your mom or grandma to take up playing Super Mario games. I'm sure there are families that play four player Mario Kart together every once in a while or Wii Sports, but I'm sure a lot of those same families played together on the Gamecube and the N64.

The PSP and PSP Go are systems designed for people old enough to want a more difficult and grittier gaming experience. Yes, it means a lot of FPS and fighting games and hack and slash games and more difficult RPGs. Nintendo abandoned that market and apparently it has paid off for them. As a collector and a gamer, I love that there is such a diversity of handheld options. I do, however, recognize the absurdity of trying to argue that the DS and Wii are universal systems designed to appeal to everyone in society or even everyone in a family. They just aren't.

[chicnstu]

Another wall of filler text

I think you're wrong.

The End.

[PapaStu]

chicnstu and Bojay1997 this is a PSPGo thread, not a who are Nintendo's games marketed towards thread. You both have your points, you're not going to agree. Call it a day.

Back on topic!

[Rob2600]

the vast majority of people playing SMG, Metroid Prime 3, Zelda, etc. are 6-14 year old kids

I think we have an entire message board full of members - and dozens of professional video game reviewers - who'd disagree.


Regarding the PSP Go, it's like the DSi. Sony and Nintendo are trying to tap into a new market. When you sell 50-100 million of any gadget, you need to figure out ways to sell it to people who haven't already bought one.

[Tron 2.0]

uhhh... I thought this thread was about the price of the new PSP. What the hell are you guys on about?
That's what i'm woundering about i thought this thread was about the pros and cons of the psp go damn!

[Nature Boy]

However, I trully believe the moment that everything, absolutely everything, goes digital, is the day people will start pirating games ever so often.

I see what you're saying but I'm not totally convinced. It depends *heavily* on how much effort is involved.

The first PSP models (1.5) didn't even need to be hacked - they just played whatever. The barrier to piracy was set *really* low, and Sony paid the price I'm sure (lots of units sold, not so much software).

If the PSPgo requires a hard mod in order to play pirated stuff on it, I'm not sure digital distribution is a huge deal. If it's as easy to hack as the original PSP was then they're in *huge* trouble - but I'd be *stunned* if they haven't already thought about all of this.



Think about it. It's a great idea, but there is one problem: UMDs don't have an identifier differentiating them from other UMDs, even from the same title.

In hindsight, the NXE thing does require me to have the disc sitting in the drive to validate itself, and I know for a fact that it doesn't have to be the same disc you used to create the rip (I've had friends with faulty discs go out, rent it, copy it to the HD, and then continue to play the game since it doesn't need the faulty disc after spin-up).

I guarantee you I will *not* be giving up the dozen or so UMDs I've purchased should I decide to purchase a PSPgo. I'd still love to hear what the process is!