PSP price drop?

[Rev. Link]

What with the announcement of the Rondo of Blood remake for PSP, you think there might be some chance Sony will drop the price anytime soon? There are a number of decent looking PSP games I wouldn't mind having, but I could never bring myself to spend $200 on a handheld, especially a Sony handheld that is prone to hardware issues.

[Steve W]

If they drop it down to around $149, I would consider picking one up. It's more likely that if there's a price drop, it'll only be small.... they'd probably only drop it to $179.

[bangtango]

I'd be interested in getting one to play Sid Meier's Pirates. Until that game was announced, there wasn't a single game I was interested in playing on PSP. I suppose I could just buy it on XBox but I keep on reading reviews (on forums and official game sites) that claim the PSP version is a little better. Hard to believe, though.

[Rev. Link]

That actually is hard to believe. I haven't played the PSP version, but I have the Xbox game and it was a complete blast!

[neuropolitique]

I really wish the price would drop. I'm tired of that screen taunting me.

[Joker T]

I never found the price to be that big an issue myself.

As for hardware problems the PSP has very few, you may get a dead pixel but you can get them on a majority of electronics these days.

[Rev. Link]

I'm sorry, but $200 for a handheld is ridiculous. Plus, aside from the dead pixels, doesn't the PSP often suffer from problems with the square button and issues with the disc drive?

[Three-P]

I'm sorry, but $200 for a handheld is ridiculous. Plus, aside from the dead pixels, doesn't the PSP often suffer from problems with the square button and issues with the disc drive?

I don't know about you, but my PSP still works like new, and I've had it damn near a year. No problems with dead pixels or anything. Guess I was lucky.

[petewhitley]

I'm sorry, but $200 for a handheld is ridiculous. Plus, aside from the dead pixels, doesn't the PSP often suffer from problems with the square button and issues with the disc drive?

I've never even heard of UMD drive problems. Dead pixels really aren't any more of an issue for the PSP than they are for the DS, your computer monitor, etc. They're inherent in the manufacturing of LCD screens and if it's an issue for you, buy your system somewhere with a liberal return policy (WalMart, Costco, etc.). The square button problem was pretty much overblown hype that affected virtually no-one.

[GrandAmChandler]

I am also in the group where it is not worth picking up at $200.

[DEBRO]

I've never even heard of UMD drive problems. Dead pixels really aren't any more of an issue for the PSP than they are for the DS, your computer monitor, etc. They're inherent in the manufacturing of LCD screens and if it's an issue for you, buy your system somewhere with a liberal return policy (WalMart, Costco, etc.). The square button problem was pretty much overblown hype that affected virtually no-one.
I heard a problem with the drive popping out when playing an intense game and a problem with the square button because of it's placement but AFAIK these have been resolved.

I would like to see a price drop too. I would consider getting one then. The only reason I would want a PSP (for right now) is the ability to play my PSX games on the go.

[playgeneration]

The main problem with the PSP for me is the battery life, it only lasts a few hours at a time. Also I use my DS loads but have only had to charge it a couple of times, but it seemed every time i wanted to use my PSP it needed charging - and yes i did switch it off properly. And to make it worse so many of the PSP games are geared towards long playing sessions rather than quick pick up and play for a short blast games that are more prevaliant on DS.

The PSP is a very sexy bit of kit - but i think they tried too hard to make it console-like so its not really a great portable. Its too expensive to risk taking out and about, and the majority of games arent suited for quick playing. It reminds me of previous handhelds that tried to be technically superior but failed to match Nintendos cheaper and low-tech handhelds - Gamegear and Lynx

[Trebuken]

The PSP is worth $200, but you should be able to find one preowned for somewhat less. They are very well built, and I think I've drowned one of mine (I have two) enough times to confirm that.

It offers a different sort of handheld gaming than the DS by it's being more powerful and feature rich. If your going to use it for mp3/video/sterero/ps3 connectivity/web surfing...it's price becomes more worthwhile. Simply for games, it is expensive.

[DeputyMoniker]

I don't know about you, but my PSP still works like new, and I've had it damn near a year. No problems with dead pixels or anything. Guess I was lucky.

I think that's very old info. If you *twisted* the PSP the UMD would pop out. Strangely, I've never found myself "twisting" it.
As for the square button, that was a Japanese launch problem. Never been an issue in the USA.
It's unfortunate a system earns its reputation in such a short period of time.

[bangtango]

The same people who gripe about the $199 price tag of the PSP are some of the same people who are still confused as to why the similarly priced Game Gear and Turbo Express failed to outsell the Game Boy 15 years ago.

[Three-P]

It's unfortunate a system earns its reputation in such a short period of time.

Too true. I know a few people who said they were never buying one. They saw me playing it, and changed their mind, just like that. *snaps fingers.*

I guess if I were asked to find one downside to the PSP, I'd have to say that the battery life pales in comparison to the DS.

[swlovinist]

I am a value gamer, and like the PSP. I will get one eventually, but will wait for sony to either drop the price or make a redesign. It is a good system, but it needs to reinvent itself with a healthy marketing image and killer apps. There are killer games are on it, but Sony is not promoting it right.

[Anthony1]

The PSP has some pretty major faults, but so far, I haven't heard them discussed too much in this thread so far. The biggest fault is it's horrible ergonomics. Playing on it for more than 15 to 20 minutes will make your hands cramp and go numb. When Sony designed the PSP, they were more concerned with making it appear to be sexy and streamlined. More concerned with the aesthetics of the unit than it's actual functionality as a handheld game machine. The fact that the D-pad is recessed, and the buttons are recessed, everything was made for style and appearances, but comfort and practicality of use was thrown completely out the window with it's design.

The tiny analog nub was actually a pretty good idea, but only including one was a horrible mistake. This makes all FPS type games virtually unplayable on the PSP. Personally, I wish that there was a handheld that felt as comfortable to hold in my hand as the Xbox 360 controller. (although I think the Xbox 360 controllers buttons are horrible). I wish they would just chop the Xbox 360 controller in half, put a 3 inch widescreen LCD in there, and that would make me so happy. Two full sized analog sticks, and something that would be super comfortable in my hands for long gaming sessions. Of course, even though this would be wonderful from a fuctionality and comfort standpoint, it would never happen, because the end result would be too large and bulky for most peoples tastes. You can't exactly slide a Xbox 360 controller into your pockets, now can you? But I really would sacrifice a bit of the portability quotient for comfort. Unfortunately, comfort doesn't get these things purchased. People don't think about the comfort part of the equation until after they've played the thing for a half hour and had their hands start tingling and going numb on them.


Having said all that bullshit above, I still love my PSP very much, primarily because with the hacked firmware, it's now turned into a portable PSone for me.

[Poofta!]

i dont think 200 is a high price for the psp at all. with everything it can do, its a good price id say, and if you say you only care about the games and not the rest of the features, well thats your problem. i bought it almost a year ago and enjoyed oh so very much every since.

[EricDeLee]

I've had mine since launch and it is my MOST played system. I love the thing and have not had a problem with it. I think the advantages outweigh any of the disadvantages.

I don't care about the dual analog... that's fine... I can adjust. This IS a handheld system afterall. I can still play my favorite PS1 games on it... so it seems to be fine for me!

[Daltone]

The tiny analog nub was actually a pretty good idea, but only including one was a horrible mistake.


Winner.

For a console that deals in 3D and has a load of games that started out life on the PS2 having only one analogue nipple seems a bizzare choice. Ok, not every game suffers, but at that price I tend to get a little fussy.

Were it not for this and some concerns over battery life, I'd get a PSP over a DS in a heartbeat. The DS has been something of a dissapointment for me, to say the least. Were the PSP to have a significant price drop I may consider getting one - some of the games do look fairly nice. Audio and video playback, web browsing and PS3 connectivity are perks, but they're not enough to sell the thing to me.

[Bronty-2]

the battery life thing is huge. I love that I don't even really need to think about charging my ds. I don't have a psp (thought about getting one for ghosts n goblins until I saw the review scores) so I'm not sure how much it would piss me off to have recharge much more frequently, but I suspect it would get pretty irritating. I like the freedom of a long life battery.

[jajaja]

How many games uses a 2nd analogue stick activly?

[RegSNES]

I am also in the group where it is not worth picking up at $200.

I'm also in that camp. I do want to play Mega Man Powered Up, Gradius Collection and a wealth of other games on the PSP, but $200 is too rich for a handheld. I have no problems continuing to wait.

[Rev. Link]

I already have an MP3 player, and I don't care about being able to bring videos or movies with me on the go, or about being able to access the net on the go. When I buy game systems, I buy them to play games on. That's why Sony pisses me off so much. They cram all this extra stuff into their systems (*cough**Blu-Ray**cough*) that people who strictly want games don't need, thus jacking up the price!

[PapaStu]

How many games uses a 2nd analogue stick activly?

Lots.

Most games that are those 'ports' from the PS2 use one stick to move the character, and the other to move the camera.

Dynasty Warriors, Samurai Warriors, Syphon Filter, Ape Escape, SOCOM, GTA and Armored Core (all games I own) are all games that used the 2nd stick in their PS2 counterparts and would greatly benefit from a second stick if the PSP had one instead of the faux D-pad controls or the R/L stick movement.

[BocoDragon]

$200 is not ridiculous for THIS handheld... it's like a little portable HDTV.

[jajaja]

Lots.

Most games that are those 'ports' from the PS2 use one stick to move the character, and the other to move the camera.

Dynasty Warriors, Samurai Warriors, Syphon Filter, Ape Escape, SOCOM, GTA and Armored Core (all games I own) are all games that used the 2nd stick in their PS2 counterparts and would greatly benefit from a second stick if the PSP had one instead of the faux D-pad controls or the R/L stick movement.

I know many games let you move the camera with the right stick, but i was thinking more of where you use the right stick for gameplay. I know moving the camera can be very handy sometimes, but its not mandatory to play the game. The only game i can think of where you use both sticks activly for gameplay (not moving the camera) is Katamari. I know some other games like God of War also uses both, but i hardly used the right analog stick so it was pretty useless imo.

[cyberfluxor]

There's a place around here that sells used PSPs for $150, but don't know about the memory stick, or if one even comes with it. I'm waiting to see it brand new for $100 because I'm a cheap bastard, but I waited for the $130 silver PS2 so I can wait quite some time for this as well.

[PallarAndersVisa]

the psp simply isnt worth the money. I got one for Xmas one year, played it for a semester and finally got fed up with the rushed, 1st gen PSX feel of the games. I sold it on ebay with the intentions of getting a DS but never got around to it with so many bills to keep up with.

I WILL be buying the Rondo remake when it comes out with the hopes of playing it on someone else's system (did the same for Portrait of Ruin) and for the satisfaction of having it in my collection.

Castlevania forever.

[Griking]

Honestly, I may pick up a PSP when I can find one for about $100 but I won't pay $200. I''d probably only use it for emulation though and wouldn't buy any of the ports being released for it.

[BocoDragon]

PSP is a great value in 2007. I feel sorry for people who bought it in the first couple years... it was a long draught. But it's not great to make assumptions about its success based on that early period: the thing has taken off now. We have Silent Hill Origins coming soon, Dracula X Chronicles, Metal Gear PO and Acid games... This console has reached maturity. Remember, the PS1 didn't really take off until 2 years after launch!

Also: homebrew alone is worth the price of admission. CPS1, CPS2, MVS, NES, SNES, PS1, MSX, Genesis on the go? Internet radio? Game music player? Music and movie streaming from your PC? Full video resolution uncapped? It's so much more than a PSP right out of the box. Most of the PSPs on store shelves right now can be hacked with no special software... just a PC. Only later firmwares require the special version of GTA:LCS that opens up homebrew.

I'm done with "DS vs. PSP wars" personally. They're both mature now, and they both have their strengths. I have both of them. If you've never experienced PSP, or you experienced it during the overpriced draught, I hope you wouldn't wish for its demise. It's an excellent system that fills a niche right now: deluxe audiovisual experiences on the go. I love non-games/touch screens and all that, but there is nothing like playing games with headphones, great sound, and a bright high res screen......

[Iron Draggon]

Sony isn't gonna drop the price of the PSP as long as their $600 PS3's are mostly just gathering dust on store shelves... think about it... dropping the price of the PSP now would be like hammering another nail in their own coffin