PSP sales will be interesting - money talks, BS walks

[Anthony1]

Looking at all the Sunday advertisements in the paper, it seems that the PSP is getting major pub by all the major advertisers.


It's really going to be quite interesting to see how well the PSP sells. The unit itself is $249.99, but you would have to assume that everybody is going to at least buy one game, and when you do that, and then with the tax included, the price is actually going to cross the $300 threshold.


$300 is an awful lot of pocket change if you ask me. It's not very easy to part with 300 clams without giving it some major thought. It's going to be interesting to see if parents are actually going to shell out that kinda dough for little Jimmy and Tommy.

It will also be interesting to see if the teenagers and early 20 somethings will actually have the necessary $300 burning a hole in their pocket.


I can definitely see gamers in their late 20's and early 30's buying this. They most likely have better paying jobs and more disposable incomes to throw around. But even for them $300 isn't a drop in the bucket. Especially for a portable system. You really have to be a big time portable guy to spend that kinda dough on a portable system, no matter how awesome and sexy it may be. No question the PSP is a very sexy unit, and one of the most kick ass portables we've ever seen.

As for myself personally, as tempting as the PSP is, I'm going to have to sit on the sidelines for this one. I'm not really a big time portable guy, part of the reason is that I haven't really found a portable with a screen that will capture my attention. The PSP definitely does have that kick ass screen, but I'm just not interested in dropping 300 clams on this. When it hit's $199 and it has a kick ass game packed in with it, then I might spring for it.



ON a side note: I wonder how the build quality is going to be with these things. In terms of the screen getting scratched or the thing being dropped on the ground accidently. I mean, this thing isn't exactly a cheap toy. I hope the parents that are parting with $300 next Thursday are aware of that.

[brykasch]

YEha 300 may be alot, but how many are gonna plunk down cash for it, I would say alot of people put it on plastic figuring well I will pay it off a little at a time. Just like on game systems. Me no I won't be buying as I am not interested in the system, but I am sure alot will.

[calthaer]

Most of the 20-somethings I've talked to are going to pass. A) it's too expensive, B) the battery life is quite frankly disappointing, and C) it's probably somewhat fragile - those are their reasons.

[petewhitley]

I think alot of people are underestimating the purchasing power of the general public. Look at the success of the iPod. Apples and oranges maybe, but there are similarities

[Slipdeath]

I'm debating whete to buy one or not, If I do what seems to be the best game on release day?

[suppafly]

I will buy one soon. I bought a Ds last december, and I was so frustrated with it that I sold it a week ago.

I love racing games, and the DS cant beat the PSP´s NFSu games, and ridge racer psp!!


(This is just my personal opinion, before Drexel comes and tells me to stop bashing the DS)

[Drexel923]

I will buy one soon. I bought a Ds last december, and I was so frustrated with it that I sold it a week ago.

I love racing games, and the DS cant beat the PSP´s NFSu games, and ridge racer psp!!


(This is just my personal opinion, before Drexel comes and tells me to stop bashing the DS)

Stop bashing the DS. ;)

Look I have no problem with your opinion...you just seem to pop into almost every DS thread with the sole intent to blast it (while not providing much to the conversation).

As for me, I want the PSP...eventually. Right now the price for the system and games are way too high. And at the moment, I'm not seeing much I really want to play (most games to me are too similar to stuff I've played before). Couple that with the ridiculous move of using the expensive duo memory cards and short battery life, I have not problem waiting.

The general public I'm not so sure about. I've seen plenty of stores around me that have sold out of pre-orders, but then some that haven't sold that many. Sony is very good at marketing their systems and getting people to believe the hype. I did with the PS2 and I feel I wasted so much money buying it at launch.

But I still don't see why we ask these questions over and over again. The system comes out this week. Obviously we'll have our answer then.

[ubersaurus]

I'll get one eventually-it's too pricey for my tastes, and with only three games on the horizon I care about, it's not an altogether good early adopter item for me.

I hear Darkstalkers sucks with the PSP pad.

[evilmess]

I reserved my PSP and it's paid in full (CASH!) except for a game which I will pick up tuesday when RR is available.

I got the impression from my retailer that their pre-orders are filled but not many are paid in full. Originally I was going to be in the second shipment of PSP's but since I'm full paid up I can get mine as soon as the doors open on Thursday! WOOT!

[Sosage]

I hear Darkstalkers sucks with the PSP pad.

Darkstalker's gameplay isn't portable friendly once you try to start doing anything more involved than a 2 hit chain combo. As soon as I started trying to do mid-air dashes, my hands were jiggling the unit just enough so that my eyes couldn't keep up (and forget about having a clear view of the screen when you try to perform a super...damn L button). It is still a bad ass port of the game imo...I just wish i could somehow plug in an external PS2 controller to the unit so I could keep the screen still. =P

Sorry for the side rant. Just one of those "things" I've been wanting to get off my chest. ;)

As for the PSP for 300 bucks...I'll wait for the price to drop. GBA has a strong enough library to keep my portable gaming itch scratched till then.

[Captain Wrong]

Most of the 20-somethings I've talked to are going to pass. A) it's too expensive, B) the battery life is quite frankly disappointing, and C) it's probably somewhat fragile - those are their reasons.

Are you kidding me? All the non-gamers I know are completely buzzing about the PSP. The price is a factor, but I know people willing to spring for it. Battery life seems to be something I've only heard gamers mention and I really haven't heard anyone speculate on it being fragile either.


I think alot of people are underestimating the purchasing power of the general public. Look at the success of the iPod. Apples and oranges maybe, but there are similarities

Hit the nail smack on the head! I was even going to say this is going to be like the next iPod type gadget. The opinions of gamers aren't what to watch, it's the mainstream and non-gamers that will make this a sucess, like it or not. And it seems all those people in the circles I'm around are completely hyped about the PSP.

And it's not kids or teens and early 20s that are the tipping point, it's people my age (late 20s/early 30s) who do have disposable income and love gadgets. Sure, it's going to be on a lot of Christmas wish lists, but it's going to be people in my demographic who will actually buy the thing.

Of course, it all stands to be seen what happens, but personally I think the PSP is gonna be huge.

[Muscelli]

I was going to preorder one at the mall the other day, but i stumbled into sam ash and witnessed the best electric guitar in the world... the ESP EX-50!

I bought the guitar, Though i may just get $$$ out of my paypal account if the psp seems worthwhile

[EnemyZero]

i thought the same thing but alot of stores around my area have filled up pre-orders and are on second shipment pre-orders already

[Dahne]

It will indeed be interesting. From what I've seen, when it comes to price, $300 seems to be the breaking point for consoles. Has a handheld this expensive ever been tried before? Competition is almost always a good thing for the consumer, but I like Nintendo too much to keep from hoping that they keep a firm hold on the market.

[Beefy Hits]

It will indeed be interesting. From what I've seen, when it comes to price, $300 seems to be the breaking point for consoles. Has a handheld this expensive ever been tried before? Competition is almost always a good thing for the consumer, but I like Nintendo too much to keep from hoping that they keep a firm hold on the market.

Yes, it has been done.
3DO
Neo Geo

3DO bombed pretty much and Neo Geo kept going strong in the niche market with 14 years of new releases.

We'll see. The only reason I can afford it is because I live with my parents. I'm also getting it because I have nothing better to do with my time and want to try something new. And I'm late 20s by the way.

[imanerd0011]

Personally I think that $250 is way too much for a portable. I mean, how often do you actually play a portable system??? I have a GBASP and only play it during road trips. It just sits in its case all the rest of the time.

[vincewy]

I have hard time justifying $300 for this thing, another thng to consider is the price of games, $40 to $50 a piece? I can pick up some of the current releases on consoles for $20 to $30. PSP will sell, I'm amazed that some people will plunge this amount of money (especially this thing is not proven operationally and financially) in this economy just ofr the hype.

Another thing, I don't think the hype will be as great as PS2, check eBay, most PSP ends slightly above $250 ($275 for most case), which you're not even making money at all after all the bloody fees. Sony has learned from the past to have enough units at launch to deter resellers.

[DJ_DEEM]

i work at virgin records and we are only selling one per customer and you HAVE to buy 2 games with it, i asked my boss about this and he said sony was making everyone do it, i 100% doubt this is true becasue that is one of the wierdest things i have ever heard, any other stores doing this?

[swlovinist]

this is what I think.....


1. The PSP is marketed to people with "disposable income". This isn't a kiddy machine and it does not try to be one. With that being said, I agree that it is a chunk of change. Sony hardcore fans dont care, the PSP will do ok.

2. I agree the games are too much. While I think the system will do fine, I wonder how the games will sell. Personally I am going to wait and see.

3. Only time will really tell, say after a year or so. By then, the system will have to rely on software to sell the product. The early buyers are mostly the tech savy hardcore crew, common with most system launches. The real question is, "Can a portable system that costs twice as much as its console counterpart thrive? Will customers flock to games that they can easily get versions for the PS2 for less? Only time will tell.......

I personally am going to wait and see, as I would rather finish my Nes and Sega collections with that amount of money :-P

[-hellvin-]

I'm pretty surprised this has so much hype pushing it. I was even schedueled wednesday night to set up a whole table and everything for the psp the night before. I usually am never schedueled on wednesday. I figured we'd get about 30 units in for the release and when I looked it up in the system....250.

I wonder how the whorish best buy bundling will go. Since the thing comes with every damn thing you possibly need, I'm sure I'll have to make a ton of dumbass bundles tomorrow....shrink wrapping all night just to add in an extra case or something to help out the team's accessory number. Ugh.

[Anthony1]

You know, after thinking about it more and more, I'm almost thinking that I was a dumbass to even consider buying this in the first place.


I mean the thing is 300 FREAKING DOLLARS!!!!


Do you know what I can get for $300?


I can get a Neo Geo CD and a Turbo Duo.


Also, this thing is a freaking portable. I've spent $300 before on new systems, that isn't anything new, but I've never bought a portable over $100. I've been tempted in the past. Back in the days of the TurboExpress, I was kinda tempted to get one, but the price was way too high for me. Now with the DS at $150, I still don't have any interest in that.


Now, having said all of that, I still think that for certain individuals this portable unit could be a dream come true. I mean, if you were kinda interested in getting a Pocket PC or some type of advanced Palm Pilot type system or a Tapwave Zodiac or whatever, well this is probably a much better way to go, if you are going to be spending that kind of dough on a little portable.


Another major factor in me not buying this anytime soon, is the prices of the games. Man, paying console game prices is pretty ridiculous. Especially when games on consoles that aren't expected to be major hits, quickly get reduced a few months after release. The same thing better happen with these PSP games. In May or June, if you can't get all of these PSP launch games for $29 or less, then that could be a real problem.

[Push Upstairs]

Aside from it being a "portable" I really have no idea why people are bitching about the price.

I remember when DVD players were $500, I remember when a Super NES was $200, Color TV's were expensive..hell B&W TV's were expensive when they first came out, DVD Burners were expensive when they first hit the market.

Every electronic device that has ever been made was expensive when it first came out. If your desire to be "cutting edge" doesn't agree with your pocketbook then wait for a price drop....you're not going to die if you don't own it *NOW*.

[Captain Wrong]

i work at virgin records and we are only selling one per customer and you HAVE to buy 2 games with it, i asked my boss about this and he said sony was making everyone do it, i 100% doubt this is true becasue that is one of the wierdest things i have ever heard, any other stores doing this?

Sure, everyone is bundling, but I think your manager is full of shit. Why wouldn't Sony package the system with games themselves if that's how they wanted it sold? Stores aren't making much on selling the PSP. It's the accessories and games that they're making the money on. (That's pretty much standard operating procedure, BTW.) So, by forcing people to buy the other stuff to get a PSP, the stores make their money.

[Arcade Antics]

PSP sales will be interesting - money talks, BS walks
So, are you saying that this thread is pointless until the thing is actually in stores and people can vote for it with their dollars? LOL

[Cmosfm]

24th Baby!

I have been counting down the days until release, I have the money, and I am ready to give it to EB.

.....Just........3............more................ days.

Anyways, I'm getting the PSP with 6 games. Unfortunately one of those games were pushed back to 4/5. :(

It's an awesome handheld, It's well worth the asking price.

[NE146]

The unit itself is $249.99

Huh? Man I must be out of it.. the last I left the PSP conversations, people were debating about the price and how it would be pricey in the $250 range. Then a lot of people said that it would be a lot cheaper and that's about the last I saw of it..

Guess it ended up being pricey after all eh? :(

[Drexel923]

The unit itself is $249.99

Huh? Man I must be out of it.. the last I left the PSP conversations, people were debating about the price and how it would be pricey in the $250 range. Then a lot of people said that it would be a lot cheaper and that's about the last I saw of it..

Guess it ended up being pricey after all eh? :(

Well heres the worst part (to me at least)...the system is only $200. Sony is making you buy the value pack at $250 and thats the only way they are putting it out. If I bought it, I wouldn't use half the stuff in it.

And I just want to stress again how dissapointed I am with the Duo sticks. I think some consumers are not educated enough on how much money this thing really costs. Alot of people (mostly mainstream gamers) are loving this because of its mp3, photo, and video features to go along with the games. After the plunking down $250 for the system if you really want to use those other features, you'll most likely be spending another $100-200...and thats without the games. I have a feeling there will be a ton of upset people out there.

I really want to get one, but the memory card situation alone is holding me back.

[Push Upstairs]

Alot of people (mostly mainstream gamers) are loving this because of its mp3, photo, and video features to go along with the games. After the plunking down $250 for the system if you really want to use those other features, you'll most likely be spending another $100-200...and thats without the games.

Thats exactly who Sony is trying to sell this too.



I have a feeling there will be a ton of upset people out there.

And there will be a ton of people who will want to buy it simply because its the "newest" thing.


I really want to get one, but the memory card situation alone is holding me back.

I dont know if this takes the bigger or the smaller memory sticks, but prices drop on those things once newer & bigger sticks arrive.

[evilmess]

Well heres the worst part (to me at least)...the system is only $200. Sony is making you buy the value pack at $250 and thats the only way they are putting it out. If I bought it, I wouldn't use half the stuff in it.

And I just want to stress again how dissapointed I am with the Duo sticks. I think some consumers are not educated enough on how much money this thing really costs. Alot of people (mostly mainstream gamers) are loving this because of its mp3, photo, and video features to go along with the games. After the plunking down $250 for the system if you really want to use those other features, you'll most likely be spending another $100-200...and thats without the games. I have a feeling there will be a ton of upset people out there.

I really want to get one, but the memory card situation alone is holding me back.

I really like that it offers more than games, mainly the movies and mp3 playback that you mention. For another 80 bucks I can buy a 512 mb memory stick and rip my own DVD's for playback or load it up with MP3's. Eventually the price of memory cards will drop and the sizes will go up. Plus there will always be the second hand market for picking up good used games.

I think the the PSP has a lot of potential to be much more than what it is out of the box. By that I mean that the hacker communities are going to be all over this thing. How long till somebody makes an SNES or Genesis emu for this thing? :D

[WanganRunner]

I dunno, I think that things will definitely change when more people in the US have actually SEEN the thing.

I mean, have you all actually played one before? It's THE sexiest piece of electronics I've ever seen, hands down. Nothing has the wow-factor that this thing does, people just aren't used to seeing capabilities like this from a device of this size. It just goes against common sense, your brain tells you that it must be a hoax somewhow....it just feels that..I dunno....advanced.

Once display units are in stores and people can actually go in and play GT4 on the thing or whatever, they'll sell like hotcakes, practicality be damned.

[Sothy]

PSP beats the DS hands down. This is not fanboyism just look at those sexy screens of psp shots. It will fail though.

Ya I know what did I say!?

Remember the old clunky black and white gameboy?
Remember how sexy the Game Gear was?
Remember how bitchin the Atari Lynx was?
Remember how cool the Turbo Express was?
Gameboy whupped their asses.

Dunno why. Maybe the price point.
But when you make a portable you are steppin in Nintendos house and you better have your shit straight. At 250.00 I dont the PSP has its shit straight.

Better system? yeah. Gonna win? No.

[norkusa]

I think the the PSP has a lot of potential to be much more than what it is out of the box. By that I mean that the hacker communities are going to be all over this thing. How long till somebody makes an SNES or Genesis emu for this thing? :D

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing too. Has anything been attempted yet? I'd love to be playing classic emulators on my PSP.

[buttasuperb]

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing too. Has anything been attempted yet? I'd love to be playing classic emulators on my PSP.

Dunno, but I'm sure there will be plenty soon enough. I'm gonna need a 1gb memory stick at some point...

[kainemaxwell]

I'll be intrested to see myself how it sells at my store and others.

[NoahsMyBro]

I expect it to do very well. It looks very, very appealing.

Personally, I have almost no interest, primarily due to the high price. Also, aside from Tetris I hardly ever play anything handheld, and Tetris is fine on my Gameboy pocket.

I have a GBA, and hardly ever take it anywhere because I don't want to scratch the screen. The GB Pocket, otoh, I can just chuck in the front pocket of my laptop bag or an inside coat pocket and it's fine. It's a sturdy brick, with a seemingly thicker and sturdier screen lens. Yes, it's scratched up, but still perfectly playable. My GBA looks too nice, and I don't want to damage it.

All of the above holds true also for my NGPC, only more so.

The PSP looks amazing, but couple the high price with the fact that I wouldn't be comfortable just tossing it in a bag with other things, it has no practicality for me.

NOW, I think most people won't feel the same way. I think this thing will be very successful. Sony is great at exciting the masses, and the unit is very enticing. I also think Nintendo's time to reign has pretty much run it's course. Gameboy and Pokemon carried them for a long time, but I don't think that will hold much longer, and the PSP could very well be the contender to wrest the crown from the Gameboy line.

And hey, if you thought Sony profited handsomely from replacement Playstation units after they died prematurely (but out of warranty), just wait until they reap the profits from PSP's bought to replace those that were tossed wantonly into bookbags!

[petewhitley]

Nintendo would have been wise to have a AAA title, ala Metroid or Zelda, ready for release on the 24th. I'm actually somewhat shocked they don't have anything compelling to battle the release of the PSP (and no, Yoshi/Wario aren't that compelling). I chalk it up to arrogance and overconfidence.

[NintendoMan]

Nintendo would have been wise to have a AAA title, ala Metroid or Zelda, ready for release on the 24th. I'm actually somewhat shocked they don't have anything compelling to battle the release of the PSP (and no, Yoshi/Wario aren't that compelling). I chalk it up to arrogance and overconfidence.

Yeah, at least they had Mario64 DS, otherwise things would have been even worse. Did wish of course though they had one AAA title that was a must have for everyone!! But oh well.

[vincewy]

i work at virgin records and we are only selling one per customer and you HAVE to buy 2 games with it, i asked my boss about this and he said sony was making everyone do it, i 100% doubt this is true becasue that is one of the wierdest things i have ever heard, any other stores doing this?

I fully support the idea of asking people to buy at least one game with the system, whether or not it's enforced by Sony or not, I mean, other than reselling, what would you do with the system without games? Taking it out for decoration or worshipping the damn thing! I managed to get hold of Xbox/PS2 during last Xmas and I ask my buddy to have customer buy at least 2 games with the system, it's not unfair.

Those of you worrying about not able to get a system at launch, don't be, in my town, ShopKo has 10, TRU has 30 units, considering a small town, larger metro areas will definitely have more. This thing will not sell out the minute the store opens on Thur.

[Dahne]

I really like that it offers more than games, mainly the movies and mp3 playback that you mention. For another 80 bucks I can buy a 512 mb memory stick and rip my own DVD's for playback or load it up with MP3's.

Actually, that's one of the things that puts me off. I don't want a bunch of complicated stuff cluttering a system up. I just want to play games.

[mosesshirai]

Finally paid the bloody thing off yesterday. Nuts. 300. HURTS!!!! I am early adopting(just like I did with the DS, which had GBA support going for it ). I wouldn't call it overkill either. I paid 213.00 for my SNES the day it came out and played Super Mario World for like two months. I am hoping Metal Gear Acid and Lumines will do the same.

On a hardware note, I have a friend who is waiting for the next generation of PSP before she buys due to the issues Sony had in Japan at rollout.

Laters.

:)

[spider-man]

I've had my psp for a couple months now and don't regret it at all. At my store, we have a ton of preorders. Whenever I show someone the system and how it works (right now I'm infatuated with devil may cry 3, so I have dmc 3 movies, pics, and music on it right now), there amazed at how far sony has taken handhelds (power-wise), and put money down for a preorder.

[-hellvin-]

Geez...now I'm really amazed by the hype machine. We got the pallette in today with 250 units, and about 15 boxes of various accessories. We also got in the largest shipment of games Ive ever seen. There must be 100 copies of just one of the sports games alone. We're opening two hours early for this damn thing and now they want me to come in 3 hours earlier to help set up crap the night before. We have free magazines to give away, even 300 tickets to presell the "line" if there is going to be one.

It's defenitely the biggest thing I've ever seen in our department since I've started working there. I wonder what Thursday will bring....

[vincewy]

Geez...now I'm really amazed by the hype machine. We got the pallette in today with 250 units, and about 15 boxes of various accessories. We also got in the largest shipment of games Ive ever seen. There must be 100 copies of just one of the sports games alone. We're opening two hours early for this damn thing and now they want me to come in 3 hours earlier to help set up crap the night before. We have free magazines to give away, even 300 tickets to presell the "line" if there is going to be one.

It's defenitely the biggest thing I've ever seen in our department since I've started working there. I wonder what Thursday will bring....

I doubt there'll be a line, it looks like Sony will have US launch cover with plenty of units, one reason they delay Euro launch to make sure one terr has enough units at launch, I have a feeling that PS3 will be the same, lots of units. With my local TRU having 30 units, it'll take a while to sell (I'd say about half day)

In my area, many store managers are also preparing PSP launch Thur morning, Best Buy is opening at 8 am, maybe the high price point at launch is a good thing, those who really want it will get it.

[zektor]

For years and years, every time a new system was about to hit the store shelves I would be very excited and counting down the minutes until I would have it in my hands. I don't know what happened. I just don't feel the same way anymore. I probably won't pick up the PSP for quite awhile....probably months...if not a year or so after release. I own a Tapwave Zodiac 2, and this beast takes up just about any time I have free. I just like being able to play around with homebrew games and applications designed by the average Joe, emulators and so forth. When the PSP gets to that level is probably when I will make my purchase.

[-hellvin-]

Geez...now I'm really amazed by the hype machine. We got the pallette in today with 250 units, and about 15 boxes of various accessories. We also got in the largest shipment of games Ive ever seen. There must be 100 copies of just one of the sports games alone. We're opening two hours early for this damn thing and now they want me to come in 3 hours earlier to help set up crap the night before. We have free magazines to give away, even 300 tickets to presell the "line" if there is going to be one.

It's defenitely the biggest thing I've ever seen in our department since I've started working there. I wonder what Thursday will bring....

I doubt there'll be a line, it looks like Sony will have US launch cover with plenty of units, one reason they delay Euro launch to make sure one terr has enough units at launch, I have a feeling that PS3 will be the same, lots of units. With my local TRU having 30 units, it'll take a while to sell (I'd say about half day)

In my area, many store managers are also preparing PSP launch Thur morning, Best Buy is opening at 8 am, maybe the high price point at launch is a good thing, those who really want it will get it.

Yeah, I just can't see that much of a turnout for such an expensive handheld. Who knows though. It's just really weird comparing the release of this to the DS. So vastly different. Ahh well, I guess we'll be sitting on a stockpile of systems, games and accessories for a while ;D.

[kainemaxwell]

Sorta makes me wish I was working today so I could see how many people ask or buy a PSP at my store.

[Arcade Antics]

Sorta makes me wish I was working today so I could see how many people ask or buy a PSP at my store.


I'll be intrested to see myself how it sells at my store and others.

The thing that I'm wondering is, how will it sell? Both at stores I go to and other stores? I wonder...

[digitalpress]

I'm wondering how it will sell in the stores that Arcade Antics doesn't go to, stores Kaine23 DOES go to, and stores that have the same number of letters in their name when comparing the two lists of stores. After sorting them by ZIP code, I'd like to know how they're selling in the fourth store on that list. Only then will I be satisfied with what I want to know!

And though I didn't think I"d actually do it, I bought one. The thing is just so damn sexy. I don't do a lot of handheld gaming but I see this system as changing all of that for me.

[Raedon]

being left handed, and the DS seeming a little to gimmicky I'd go with the Sony.


BUT, I'll wait until they are $49.99..

[Muscelli]

being left handed, and the DS seeming a little to gimmicky I'd go with the Sony.


BUT, I'll wait until they are $49.99..

whats with the icons under ur name?

anyway.. I think it will still sell well, reguardless of the price... i doubt they will sell as quickly as DS, but i bet once the price drops, then people will flock to it

[GarrettCRW]

being left handed, and the DS seeming a little to gimmicky I'd go with the Sony.


BUT, I'll wait until they are $49.99..

That would be known as the point when Nintendo has already crushed Sony's new toy. ;)

[goatdan]

As I've pointed out before, I actually feel that portables should cost more than consoles because of how much more they pack into them, but Nintendo really set a precedence with the GameBoy's price. Everyone is okay with buying a lower-powered laptop for the same price or more than a higher-powered computer, but that is because laptops have always generally been priced higher. Portables haven't. For that reason alone, while it makes sense that they are priced higher, it will be a hard sell to many I think.

The bundle thing is very strange. Sony is trying to make it look like people really will need to buy everything included at some point anyway, so it is a huge deal... but most of the things included are things that Sony would have to include anyway. "Oh, I get a battery charger! Awesome!" Well, you _have_ to have that in the package or you can't charge the batteries. It seems though that most people have gone, "Wow! Look at this stuff I get" and therefore want it based on the package. I think that Nintendo should seriously consider advertising the fact that DS purchases will get a FREE battery charger too. As goofy as it is, it really seems to be working.

I think that the games are too high priced though. I don't understand why a ton of anticipated console games are coming out for $20.00 now (NARC, for instance) while every portable PSP game is $40 or more. Nintendo's portable systems have never cost so much per game, so who knows.

I think that the PSP will sell well, although I don't think it will ever come close to the numbers the GameBoy puts up. And if the DS actually comes out with the Palm OS stuff it is supposedly getting "soon," I think that the DS may start catering to a whole new market which would really propel it into the future. But I think it will do pretty good. You never know though:

The Lynx came out just a few weeks after the GameBoy and was priced only $40.00 more than the GameBoy. The Lynx was sexier and way, way more powerful, but it lacked two major things -- it didn't have a long battery life and it didn't have Tetris. The long battery life will be another hurdle that the PSP will face. As for a Tetris-like game, Sony (and Nintendo with the DS for this matter) need to come out with more games that you can play for a few minutes here and a few minutes there. I think that the launch lineup looks pretty stellar... but I would want to play them all on my home console, and not on something portable. The truely "portable" games seem to have been disappearing lately... And I do feel that they are what is needed to make any system truly succeed.

[WanganRunner]

In regards to your comment about how you'd generally pay more for a portable system rather than a home one (a la laptops), we've got to remember that this is the first time (aside from PCE-GT) that we've got a portable that can do anything close to what home systems can do.

Game Boy has gotten cheaper and cheaper because it's technology is getting farther and farther behind the cutting edge. PSP doesn't have that problem, so they can charge a bit more for the thing, because it's considerably more advanced technology than the Game Boy, and, to be honest, the DS as well.

[kainemaxwell]

I'm wondering how it will sell in the stores that Arcade Antics doesn't go to, stores Kaine23 DOES go to, and stores that have the same number of letters in their name when comparing the two lists of stores. After sorting them by ZIP code, I'd like to know how they're selling in the fourth store on that list. Only then will I be satisfied with what I want to know!

Joe, you forget I do work at a FYE and we did push for pre-sales, not sure how many total we got in the back or in a shipment. I am working Thursday (5 to closing shift) so if I remember I'll try to get a total for you guys on sold units at the end of the day.

[goatdan]

In regards to your comment about how you'd generally pay more for a portable system rather than a home one (a la laptops), we've got to remember that this is the first time (aside from PCE-GT) that we've got a portable that can do anything close to what home systems can do.

What about the Atari Lynx? It was released in September of 1989. The Genesis was released in January of 1989 in the US, so that's pretty comparable. Looking at the specs, the machines are nearly identical in the way of chip comparison, with the Lynx having faster processors and the Genesis having more in the way of sound. The launch price? Sega Genesis - $199.99, the Lynx - $149.99.

And realistically, Sega wasn't exactly a household name when they launched the Genesis, so we can't say that the Genesis caught on because consumers trusted the Sega name while they fled from the Atari one.


Game Boy has gotten cheaper and cheaper because it's technology is getting farther and farther behind the cutting edge. PSP doesn't have that problem, so they can charge a bit more for the thing, because it's considerably more advanced technology than the Game Boy, and, to be honest, the DS as well.

I don't understand what you mean that the "PSP doesn't have that problem"? What is the problem -- the fact that the GameBoy has gotten cheaper? That's a normal product cycle. I guess that it also depends on how you look at what is "considerably more advanced technology" too. How I see it, nothing except the UMD drive on the PSP is something that I would call more advanced, and I question the inclusion because of the drain on battery life.

And I'll add that I also don't think that the Nintendo DS is doing anything that wasn't technically feasible a while ago either. But you don't *have* to with a portable. That really isn't the point. It is to get something that works well enough to keep a battery life and have people buy it to play games on. Historically, it seems that the higher-powered the hardware, the less interested people are in the system. Obviously, none of those systems had "SONY" attached to them before, but it is interesting to consider.

[mitmoe]

I think in terms of sales that the PSP is gonna blow the DS out of the water even at the higher price. It has been said before, but Sony is targeting the right age group for this machine to do really well. People are also comparing the DS to the PSP in terms of graphics.... which is not fair either. The DS has some fun and interesting games now and coming in the future but I think the PSP is gonna blow up just like the Playstaion and PS2.....until a new Gameboy comes out!! I am not bashing the DS(I own two), but I am one of the many that are excited about this system. I have the Value Pack and 16 games pre ordered and PAID OFF!! 8-)

[le geek]

It will be an interesting Apples and Oranges Horserace. I'm enjoying watching it but have no speculation to offer at this time.

DS: See my sig. Cool device with some "wacky new ideas" affordable, durable, by the dominant "handheld" game maker. But where are the frikkin' games?

PSP: High Price, Low Battery Life, Looks cool as Hell and is being released by the dominant video game maker.


I have the Value Pack and 16 games pre ordered and PAID OFF!! 8-)

D00D don't you have anything better to do with your money? LOL

I mean, I have well over 750 games in my collection (as do many here), but man that's a lot of coin!

[gopro]

Well $300 is a lot for just a handheld, but with tax the psp will be $260 in Hawaii. When I sell my Xbox stuff I will get one, I can get rid of the weakest link. That was lame. Looking at the luch titles of the PSP I will be sure to get one winthin the next month.
Probly be getting Lumines, Twisted Metal, and Untold Legends.

[petewhitley]

I think the big difference with the PSP and the Game Boy competitors of the past is that none of them were ever backed by the dominant leader in home console sales at the time. You can argue that Sega was ahead for a spell, but that was a back-and-forth race. Sony controls the home gaming market. This launch is generating publicity and excitement by both gamers and the mainstream press the likes of which the original Game Boy saw in 1989. Additionally, the widespread success off the iPod has shown us that consumers are willing to pay $300 for the latest and hottest high-tech toy. The PSP is well on it's way to owning the Japanese handheld market (as evidenced by weekly system sales that dwarf any other system), and the smart money should be on it owning the U.S. handheld market as well.

[zmweasel]

I think that the PSP will sell well, although I don't think it will ever come close to the numbers the GameBoy puts up.

Are you referring to the collective 15-year sales of the Game Boy/GB Color/GB Advance, or only the Game Boy Advance, or only the original Game Boy (the most legitimate comparison)?

-- Z.

[goatdan]

I think that the PSP will sell well, although I don't think it will ever come close to the numbers the GameBoy puts up.

Are you referring to the collective 15-year sales of the Game Boy/GB Color/GB Advance, or only the Game Boy Advance, or only the original Game Boy (the most legitimate comparison)?

I meant that as more of an "entire-product-cycle" statement, so if the PSP (and future incarnations) stick around for as long as the Game Boy has, I think that it will sell less consoles than the GameBoy has to date overall.

Now, I could be wrong on that very easily. Gaming has gotten a lot more mainstream every year, and more consoles and games are being sold. It could be that just through sheer quantity of market size, the PSP (and future incarnations) could be twice as big as the GameBoy.

I said that mostly because I don't want to compare the PSP to the DS, because the more that I have seen of the DS and PSP, the less that I think they are actually competing with each other in any way. I think that the DS could sell well in the future if the Palm stuff gets added, but until then I don't think it could ever have the market penetration the PSP can potentially get (although the lead that the DS currently has is HUGE, but seemingly irrelevant), and while it would have a large market penetration thanks to that, I still don't think it would be the same market. I could see and would use a two screened Pocket PC at work, but I have no use for either of them as straight up "only" gaming devices. I don't see many people using them as functional PDAs comparing it to a PSP. The two systems really are apples to oranges (or apples to elephants) in differences.

Hope that clears that up :)

[mitmoe]

D00D don't you have anything better to do with your money? LOL

I mean, I have well over 750 games in my collection (as do many here), but man that's a lot of coin!

@_@ I trraded in my XBOX and games because it was starting to crap out on me. I got over $500 for it and my games @EB durring one of their trade in deals. I have a birthday coming up in a week too.......it's all good now!!! :eek 2:

[vincewy]

Update as a sample of how many units stores are getting

TRU - 30
Best Buy - 120
ShopKo - 10

This area has population of barely over 100,000, other stores get as many as 250 from what I've heard. Even online sources like Amazon.com, Gamestop.com still have units left, ready to ship now so they can arrive on Thur, on eBay it fetches between 250 to 325, anyone who buys or sells on eBay thinking they can make a killing is out of his/her mind.

I'm interested in this thing (movies, possibilities of playing emulated classic games) but the prices of games/movies and how often I'll actually use this thing just don't add up the prices they ask for. Another thing to consider is the cost of memory cards, I absolutely loath memory sticks, they're the most fragile and equally expensive as compact flash (I use this type religiously).

So, until Sony drops price of this sucker and can prove it can last a long time without dying on me and/or serious defects, this thing is no go for me.

[le geek]

D00D don't you have anything better to do with your money? LOL

I mean, I have well over 750 games in my collection (as do many here), but man that's a lot of coin!

@_@ I trraded in my XBOX and games because it was starting to crap out on me. I got over $500 for it and my games @EB durring one of their trade in deals. I have a birthday coming up in a week too.......it's all good now!!! :eek 2:

Cool enjoy your new loot!

[-hellvin-]

Update as a sample of how many units stores are getting

TRU - 30
Best Buy - 120
ShopKo - 10

Damn....I'm surprised my best buy is getting so many. 290. Most in the district I believe. If we sell every single unit, without any games or accessories, that's 72,500 right there. Our budget for Thursday is 50,000. So on top of all the cds, movies, storage, and all other game systems and what not that's potential to make a killing that day. I'll be very surprised if there's actually that much business for the psp and we sell em all, but ya never know...

[NintendoMan]

Update as a sample of how many units stores are getting

TRU - 30
Best Buy - 120


I don't know if every BB is doing it, but mine is opening at like 8:01 for the PSP.

[doomedpeasant]

Im getting mine tommorow at 8:00 a.m. at my local gamestop :D :D :D :D

I dont care if it sucks or not or about the price

[gepeto]

I have seen the psp today and played it. My observations

1 Much to my suprise It looks much better in hand than boxs or pictures could represent.

2 The screen seems to look much bigger and twisted Metal looked and played great.

3 Still overpriced for no packin game. I predict the inital bundles will sell well the hype will roll on but sony will have to lower the price or sells will definately
slow down.

4. the people at the store loved it but I overheard most say they can't afford it. I want it but 250.00 puts it out of my reach for now it even puts it out of my trade in reach which is a real bummer

4. The games a few 39.99 all Ea 49.99

[Iron Draggon]

I'd love to get one, but I have quite a few problems with it that will keep me from doing so anytime soon, if I ever even get one at all in the future:

#1: I really love all the stuff that comes with it, but wouldn't it be far more competitively priced VS the DS if all that extra stuff was OPTIONAL? I think Sony really needs to offer a stripped down bundle that lets you buy just the unit itself for $150... then they could slaughter the DS far more easily. Sell all that extra stuff individually as well, so poor people like me can eventually get around to piecing together a set that's the same as one of those slick new bundles, without having to pay for all those accessories with the unit itself!

#2: The Spiderman 2 movie disc. This thing needs to come with a GAME, dammit! Not some stupid movie! I'm not buying one to play movies, I'm buying one to play games! Of course it's cool that it can play movies too, and I know that Sony wants to push their new format, but WTF? No game at all with the system? Couldn't they have made alot more money by selling it with a kickass game instead of some stupid movie we've all seen before?

#3: Not only can I not afford one right now, but it's nowhere near a time of year when I can talk someone else into buying one for me, or even just ask everyone to give me cash so I can buy one myself! Maybe this Christmas? I think that in the meantime I'd much rather have some more imports for my Saturn or "finish up" some more of my game collections by buying some more of the games on my wishlist for the systems that I already own now. I'm getting really close to "completing" alot of my game collections now, and I'll always pick more Saturn imports over a $300 new system! I can buy tons of cheap imports with that money, or I can get one or two of those triple digit imports that I've been wanting, or I can be only $200 away from that factory sealed Radiant Silvergun that I've been wanting to get for so long!

[vincewy]

Update as a sample of how many units stores are getting

TRU - 30
Best Buy - 120


I don't know if every BB is doing it, but mine is opening at like 8:01 for the PSP.

Yes, my local BB opens at 8 am, so I think this is nationwide, but you can bet the minute you walk into the stores, all the clerks will shove warranties, useless accessories, games down to your throat like your grandma forcing foods into your mouth, be prepared to spend at least $400 there. I had much better experience with TRU, no pressure.

There're also places opening at midnight, such as Gamestop and Walmart, I'm not disputing it's a cool item, just not the price point now, plus all the junk accessories they're shoving down to your throat. The only thing in that value pack I'll ever need is memory stick (I already have battery pack), if they ever feel the need to bundle the system, why not throw in 2 or even 3 screen savers? I've heard the screen scratches so easily, this would've made gamers really happy.

You have to love some fools waiting 40 hours to get PSP, heck the story below, why not just get it from gamestop.com or wait at Walmart

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/23/news_6120975.html

[vincewy]

#3: Not only can I not afford one right now, but it's nowhere near a time of year when I can talk someone else into buying one for me, or even just ask everyone to give me cash so I can buy one myself! Maybe this Christmas? I think that in the meantime I'd much rather have some more imports for my Saturn or "finish up" some more of my game collections by buying some more of the games on my wishlist for the systems that I already own now. I'm getting really close to "completing" alot of my game collections now, and I'll always pick more Saturn imports over a $300 new system! I can buy tons of cheap imports with that money, or I can get one or two of those triple digit imports that I've been wanting, or I can be only $200 away from that factory sealed Radiant Silvergun that I've been wanting to get for so long!


I can easily afford 2 or 3 of those, but given I can't play games at work, traveling only 2-3 times a year/do better things than playing games on the road, playing only console games at home, I have hard time justifying this thing. Plus there're quite a few quality releases on all 3 current consoles, some for as low as $20, doesn't make any sense to pay $50 for a game on PSP.

I was also pleasantly surpirsed to have won a few rarer Xbox games on eBay which I thought I'll be outbid, perhaps people are busy with PSP hype now.

[Iron Draggon]

BTW, I saw about 2 dozen PSP's for sale at Target TODAY! I don't know if they were just empty boxes, or the real deal, but they looked like the real deal! I didn't ask if they were actually for sale today or not, but it sure did look like they were! They were just sitting in the bottom of the glass case, below all the PS2 games, so I assume that they were in stock and for sale! I didn't think anything of it though, because I thought that it was already out!

[zmweasel]

#1: I really love all the stuff that comes with it, but wouldn't it be far more competitively priced VS the DS if all that extra stuff was OPTIONAL? I think Sony really needs to offer a stripped down bundle that lets you buy just the unit itself for $150... then they could slaughter the DS far more easily. Sell all that extra stuff individually as well, so poor people like me can eventually get around to piecing together a set that's the same as one of those slick new bundles, without having to pay for all those accessories with the unit itself!

Sony will easily sell a few million PSP Value Packs at $249 to early adopters and gadget freaks. It doesn't need to sell the PSP solo (at $199, not $149) for quite some time, especially not with the Value Pack's warm reception by retailers and the unwashed masses.


#2: The Spiderman 2 movie disc. This thing needs to come with a GAME, dammit! Not some stupid movie! I'm not buying one to play movies, I'm buying one to play games! Of course it's cool that it can play movies too, and I know that Sony wants to push their new format, but WTF? No game at all with the system? Couldn't they have made alot more money by selling it with a kickass game instead of some stupid movie we've all seen before?

Sony makes more money by selling kick-ass PSP games separately, not giving them away in hardware bundles.

-- Z.

[petewhitley]

BTW, I saw about 2 dozen PSP's for sale at Target TODAY! I don't know if they were just empty boxes, or the real deal, but they looked like the real deal! I didn't ask if they were actually for sale today or not, but it sure did look like they were! They were just sitting in the bottom of the glass case, below all the PS2 games, so I assume that they were in stock and for sale! I didn't think anything of it though, because I thought that it was already out!

I've seen items in stock/on the shelf early at several retailers (Target included), only to be told that they would not sell them until the sale date. Halo 2, Star Wars Battlefront, and more all popped up on shelves for gawking but not purchasing in recent memory.

[-hellvin-]

Update as a sample of how many units stores are getting

TRU - 30
Best Buy - 120


I don't know if every BB is doing it, but mine is opening at like 8:01 for the PSP.

Yes, my local BB opens at 8 am, so I think this is nationwide, but you can bet the minute you walk into the stores, all the clerks will shove warranties, useless accessories, games down to your throat like your grandma forcing foods into your mouth, be prepared to spend at least $400 there. I had much better experience with TRU, no pressure.

There're also places opening at midnight, such as Gamestop and Walmart, I'm not disputing it's a cool item, just not the price point now, plus all the junk accessories they're shoving down to your throat. The only thing in that value pack I'll ever need is memory stick (I already have battery pack), if they ever feel the need to bundle the system, why not throw in 2 or even 3 screen savers? I've heard the screen scratches so easily, this would've made gamers really happy.

You have to love some fools waiting 40 hours to get PSP, heck the story below, why not just get it from gamestop.com or wait at Walmart

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/23/news_6120975.html

LoL, no doubt there, I just spent 7 hours shrink wrapping system bundles. It just makes me sick the kind of stuff that place does. I made a freaking 504 dollar bundle with crap that mostly already comes in the system's bundled items, and the bundle price also includes the prp, no choice. I'm sure there will be some pissed off customers who won't be allowed to buy just the system and a game if they run out of systems and have nothing but bundles left.

Since selling all 300 systems (if that happens) will automatically exceed our revenue by 20,000 bucks, they're putting people's name's in a drawing for whoever can attatch the most BS to a sale. Got my name added in for spending all day at my annoying tedious task ;D. So hopefully, I might be able to win one but I don't really want to throw down that much money for one ATM, even though going through all the games and accessories today as really made me want one now :D. With that much money, I can add a ton of more genesis games to the collection, hehe.