PSP US Price drop on 4/3/07

[diskoboy]

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/02/psp-price-drop-core-pack-down-to-169-99-tomorrow/

Only the core pack is mentioned.

[MegaDrive20XX]

I heard rumors about something happening during the Anniversary, but this comes as a bit of a surprise.

[ShenmueFan]

Too little, too late.

Redesign soon for less than $150 or die completely, Sony portable.

[cyberfluxor]

It's better than nothing. I'm still holding out for it to become $100 core or $150 for a 2gb stick or something.

[Griking]

Your subject is wrong. You mean April 3rd, not March 3rd.

[slip81]

i'll buy it when it's $70 or less.

[GrandAmChandler]

Conversation in the Classic Gaming Forum in 2018

A - "Hey remember when the DS Lite kicked that Sony portable thing's ass?"
B - "HAWHAWHAW THAT was SO lame... It was like Game.com"
A - "Yeah it was."
C - "What's a Game.com?"

[diskoboy]

Your subject is wrong. You mean April 3rd, not March 3rd.

Ah - thanks.

[zektor]

Heck, I'll pick one up for that price. Thanks for the news!

[The_4th_Survivor]

Conversation in the Classic Gaming Forum in 2018

A - "Hey remember when the DS Lite kicked that Sony portable thing's ass?"
B - "HAWHAWHAW THAT was SO lame... It was like Game.com"
A - "Yeah it was."
C - "What's a Game.com?"

Waitasecond.....

What is a Game.com? That's a website, right? :P j/k

[7th lutz]

This is long due. I think this is a short term answer for boosting psp sales. It seems like people are not buying psp games except for a small of psp games. Psp games have more difficult time get to a top 10 list for sales then a ds game.

The price will not help for the long time for the system for people buying games for it.

In 10 to 15 years from now, people will be liking at psp like they do toward a 3do. Both were multimedia systems at time they cost more then the consumer was willing to pay.

[j_factor]

PSP has already sold over 7 million units in Noth America. Yes DS is still outselling it, but that's nothing to sneeze at. That ain't 3DO. It's definitely tanking in Japan, of course, but not here. I don't know about Europe.

In any case, the price drop is indeed overdue, and it should be a bigger drop (down to $149) IMO. But whatever.

[Half Japanese]

Cool, I'm planning on picking one up in the future, but I'll probably sit on my cheap ass and wait for the next drop or two (and hopefully a redesign) before doing so. To be honest, the DS just doesn't interest me anymore (hence trying to sell mine in the B/S forum) but the PSP has a few games I'd like to play.

Also, people getting emotionally attached to any corporation = laffs.

[Trebuken]

I saw one of these preowned the other day for $139.99. I thought that price was a little low, so maybe they were anticipating the price drop.

I am disappointed to see the negativity here toward the PSP. I think it is a fantastic system. It's not the conventional handheld but it can hold it's own against the DS; though the DS is clearly king.

The price has always been reasonable, there is a lack of 'system selling titles' though.

Everyone here should have one just for emulation on the go...

[heybtbm]

You may love Nintendo, and you may hate Sony...but it doesn't change the fact that the PSP has some fantastic games. If you don't have a PSP, you're missing out...plain and simple.

[ShenmueFan]

PSP has already sold over 7 million units in Noth America. Yes DS is still outselling it, but that's nothing to sneeze at. That ain't 3DO. It's definitely tanking in Japan, of course, but not here. I don't know about Europe.

In any case, the price drop is indeed overdue, and it should be a bigger drop (down to $149) IMO. But whatever.

7 million in North America? Really?

I didn't even think the DS had reached that point domestically. In comparison, *I think* the N64 only sold 12 million systems domestically and the Saturn sold 5 or 6 *I think*...you sure you got your #s right?

Because that would mean LOTTTTTSSS of people have PSPs and they'd be pretty common to see.

[NinjaJoey23]

If you don't have a PSP, you're missing out...plain and simple.

eh, not the way I see it. Even with the price drop, the PSP isn't appealing enough for me to spend that much on a handheld. I own two handhelds, and I got both of them for free. Now, if Sony could match THAT price...

[le geek]

Things are looking up when Castlevania Chronicles is released :)

[Leo_A]

Lot more than 6 million PSP's in this country.

http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/data/bizdatapsp_e.html

Even if you assumed that 1 out of every 4 PSP's shipped to this country was still sitting on a store shelf somewhere, its way past 6 million. DS is up to 15 million in the US. N64 sold just over 30 million worldwide, so its safe to assume US sales were somewhere around 10 million for that.

[boatofcar]

I've been on a PSP kick recently--hopefully the price drop will coincide with a bunch of new GH titles.

[Richter]

is this universal, not just GS/EB?

[GrandAmChandler]

Best Buy dropped the price of the Entertainment pack:

http://tinyurl.com/32xmxp

$219.99

[mailman187666]

I bought a PSP on launch day and have loved it ever since. I use it to play great games (the GTAs, the great RPGs *Valkyrie Profile) got an FM transcevier thing to listen to music in my car with it. UMD movies on plane rides. I download demos of the PS website and hook it up to PS3 to play PS1 games on it. I even have the DP rarity guide for systems I collect for so if i go to a flea market, I can check the rarity of certain titles. I may be nerdy with it, but the PSP has so many different functions that its well worth the price. I use my PSP more than my DS, but I also love the DS.

[GrandAmChandler]

Along with that recent price drop, these two PSP games are getting the drop as well:

Daxter & Syphon Filter

http://www.pspfanboy.com/2007/04/03/sony-makes-price-drop-official-adds-daxter-and-syphon-filter-to/

-GAC-

[Xexyz]

I love the PSP's library. As a retro gamer fan, it has plenty of cool compilations as well as some new, quirky titles that interest me. The new $170 price point is low enough for me to go out and pick one up. However, I will not be doing so.

Why do you ask? Well, it's the simple fact that the D-pad is still a piece of unresponsive garbage. That and the square button issue. Because of these two factors, I'm still holding out for a redesign.

[7th lutz]

PSP has already sold over 7 million units in Noth America. Yes DS is still outselling it, but that's nothing to sneeze at. That ain't 3DO. It's definitely tanking in Japan, of course, but not here. I don't know about Europe.

In any case, the price drop is indeed overdue, and it should be a bigger drop (down to $149) IMO. But whatever.

I was comparing the psp and the 3do for a reason: both were multimedia systems. As a game machine, the psp does have good sales for hardware. The psp is a failure as multimedia system. To me when Umd movies became a failure in stores, it meant the psp was a failure as a multimedia system as a result.

When store nolonger sold Umd movies, the psp turned into a game system. The system is does not have many months when a games makes it in a softeware sales top 10, unlike the ds. If this was 15 years ago, it wouldn't be a big deal. It wouldn't be deal due to the fact system games on portables were not suppose to make it in the top 10 or top 5 in sales. Nowdays portable game systems are more likely to have games in the top 10 in games sales then in the early to mid 90's. While gameboy was a hit system back then that time frame, games making it in the top 10 were not on a consistent basis for handheld systems back then also there a less chance of handheld games making it in the top 5 software sales.

[RCM]

Wait for the redesign. PSP has some great games, I just can't stand using that system. Sony better not fuck it up!

[Griking]

is this universal, not just GS/EB?

How is GS/EB able to lower their PSP prices on their own without suffering the wrath of Sony?

[agbulls]

How is GS/EB able to lower their PSP prices on their own without suffering the wrath of Sony?

This was just announced as a universal price drop. GameSlop just had signage first--so that's how it leaked.

Can someone remind me again why I would want a PSP?

[Griking]

Yup, I just read somewhere's else that this is an official Sony price drop.

Link (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=23969)

I may actually pick one up for emulation if I can find one used for under $100

[Leo_A]

"How is GS/EB able to lower their PSP prices on their own without suffering the wrath of Sony?"

Why would Sony be upset even if it was just EB/GS? They get the same amount of money they would've anyways, I bet they'd love it if stores started selling their hardware at a loss to get more consumers to buy one and increase game sales.

[cyberfluxor]

You may love Nintendo, and you may hate Sony...but it doesn't change the fact that the PSP has some fantastic games. If you don't have a PSP, you're missing out...plain and simple.
The problem is the lack of fantastic games. The only reason I got a DS was due to the price and the number multiplayer games, not gameplay or graphics. There's no doubt there are some spectacular games on it and that's why I'll get it one day, just today and tomorrow aren't happening. I'm a budget gamer and DS games can be expensive enough, so if I got a PSP I just can't afford to pitch out that kind of money. I still need an Xbox and waiting for their prices to hit under $50 used! LOL

[RetroYoungen]

Best Buy dropped the price of the Entertainment pack:

http://tinyurl.com/32xmxp

$219.99

Fry's did too, just dropped the prices last night. Entertainment pack at $220 and the core at $170. I'm still happy with my PSP, and I bought it back in October. It actually has some really nice games on it, I'm playing it about as much as I'm playing my DS... and the DS has Clubhouse Games (it's my virtual CRACK).

I was talking all yesterday about how the system was dropping (to co-workers, not customers), and wondering if it was just EB/GS dropping it... then our price changes came up, and voila, we're droppin' the puppy too. I feel kinda sorry for the people that came in and bought it yesterday, or the day before though... ROFL

[Arcade Antics]

Because that would mean LOTTTTTSSS of people have PSPs and they'd be pretty common to see.

PROTIP: You have to actually be out and about to see them.

[Griking]

"How is GS/EB able to lower their PSP prices on their own without suffering the wrath of Sony?"

Why would Sony be upset even if it was just EB/GS? They get the same amount of money they would've anyways, I bet they'd love it if stores started selling their hardware at a loss to get more consumers to buy one and increase game sales.

It makes sense to me but for some reason it's not allowed. all retailers are supposed to sell them at the same price.

[Stone_Protector_101]

That good now i can play the newer psp games. been playin homebrews on the two i have since the release...v.1.50 rules

[atari_overlord]

It makes sense to me but for some reason it's not allowed. all retailers are supposed to sell them at the same price.

If the larger companies Walmart, Gamestop, etc... lower there prices and smaller chains cannot because they cant afford to take such a loss. Those smaller chains will stop stocking Sony products. It just levels the playing field between big chains and mom and pop. In the short term it might be a fine idea but in the long it would probably hurt them (sony).

[rbudrick]

You may love Nintendo, and you may hate Sony...but it doesn't change the fact that the PSP has some fantastic games. If you don't have a PSP, you're missing out...plain and simple.

Totally! There's like, at least 2 good games for the PSP! Now with this KILLER deal you can play all 2 of them! :-(

-Rob

[bangtango]

The problem is the lack of fantastic games. The only reason I got a DS was due to the price and the number multiplayer games, not gameplay or graphics. There's no doubt there are some spectacular games on it and that's why I'll get it one day, just today and tomorrow aren't happening. I'm a budget gamer and DS games can be expensive enough, so if I got a PSP I just can't afford to pitch out that kind of money. I still need an Xbox and waiting for their prices to hit under $50 used! LOL

I agree completely about the PSP. I'd love to get one but even $169.99 is a little much when I only want it for a handful of games. I wouldn't even be buying games for it regularly since I have a short list of about 4-5 I would get, along with a couple of UMD movies.

As for the XBox prices dropping below $50, I don't see it happening at most game stores selling used systems. They are still $80 and above from where I stand. I had to buy my last XBox for below $50 through a local for sale ad from a single mother.

Any other XBox's I have seen below $50 were usually broken or in need of repair, both of which mean the same thing in most cases.