Pachter says Sony is 'ripping off' consumers with PSP Go

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter hates the PSP Go. Alright, alright, he doesn't quite hate it, but he does despise its price point. On a recent episode of Bonus Round, Pachter matter of factly states, "$249 is too much. Period." He goes on to say that while the handheld is priced to compete with Apple's $229 8GB iPod Touch, it doesn't deliver the iTunes App Store or downloadable music from iTunes (as conveniently, at least, as the iPod Touch).

Hit the link for the full story.

[DasBunker]

its too damn pricey i agree, its basically a smaller PSP... shouldnt it be actually cheaper? its like if sony started selling PS3 slims at a higher price than the older models WTF?!..

"Pachter says Sony is 'ripping off' IGNORANT consumers with PSP Go"

fixed

[Blaze929]

There's really no excuse for why the PSP Go! was priced as it is. And good example, if Sony made a slimmer PS3 and they charged it at $400/$500, everyone would look at them like something was truly wrong with them. So what's different with the PSP Go!?

PSP 3000 Black Retail - 169.99
Remove UMD mechanism, lets say -20?
Smaller LCD, lets say -10
139.99

Now add 16GB flash, $33.99 for a 16GB USB flash

Comes to: $173.98

[Cajun Chicken]

I also agree.

[Megaton]

Think this is the first time Pachter has ever been right. PSP Go should be $200.

[Elven6]

I kind of agree with him on this one but Sony needs to recoup a lot of money (see 2 billion loss), this is one of the ways for them to make it more bearable.

[mephman]

$250 isn't even the start of it, it's also €250 and £250. Europeans are getting much more shafted than Americans, as per usual.

[The Master Chief]

$ony FTW

[rockleex]

A relaunching of the PSP. It still doesn't make sense for them to charge that much.

Unless they are packing in some hardware features we don't know of? 3G maybe? *dreams*

But if that dream came true, I'd definitely buy a PSP Go.

[XGRaViSmOrSX]

i think pachter needs to just go away. he is a useless person in the industry and i take anything he says w/ an absolute grain of salt.

durrr i can predict things that never actually turn out that way....i hope people dont actually pay this man for anything.

[zodiac909]

does anyone consider the technology in this thing?

[Tony P]

Been avoiding it like the plague so far.

I didn't think the Go was marketed towards core gamers really. I mean it's a more expensive version of the PSP with UMD functionality sacrificed in the name of DD. Add to that the 80% reduction in PSP dev kits and I assume Sony wants smaller games by smaller devs to support its Go ala the iPhone. Could be off, but we'll see what unfolds. The quality of games will speak for themselves.

[BattleAxe]

The PSP GO will be a novelty item when it comes out, so they can get away with it. If you don't want to spend that kind of money, then buy a PSP 3000.......whats the big deal. Sony needs to make money, thats why they're in business.

Michael Pachter is an idiot, a Microsoft fanboy and is almost always wrong.

[The Lazy One]

They fixed RROD for free and paying less than $4 a month for an online service isn't that bad considering the number of features they're using the money for.

[All Time Greatness]

Xbox Live is the cost of a Mcdonalds meal a month(probably less). Your only complaining because you do use it....you don't get the features XBL has.

[njr]

Patcher is resorting to obvious statements since his recent predictions have been wrong

[Lifendz]

Nintendo ripped off consumers by selling them a gamecube for 250 because of it's motion controller.

MS ripped off consumers by charging you to get online and selling a console with the highest failure rate ever.

Just like an MS fanboy or Wii fanboy would say, you don't have to buy it. I'm not buying a PSP Go. It's overpriced and I already have a PSP. In fact, I'm just waiting on a pro duo 16gb to go for under 30 on Ebay to pick one up so I can be ready to start downloading games.

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

What does MS has to do with this? Why does every article has to be MS vs. Sony?

Pachter is talking about how PSP Go cost about the same as the current PSP to manufacture, yet Sony hiked the price $80. I kind of agree here, as far as I know the PSP Go has less features (unable to take UMD), but cost almost 50% more. Has a smaller screen, unable to play homebrew and is a more profitable business model for Sony.

On the other hand, if you don't like it don't buy it. Vote with your wallet.

[Time_Is_On_My_Side]

There is one reason why Sony did it, maybe it's for profit. If someone owns a clothing store and once they get the clothes depending on the quality of the product will determine how over priced it is. Why would a company sell a product for the price they bought it at or the exact price to make it?

Patcher obviously doesn't understand the concept and is why XBOX 360's add-ons are so expensive, $199.99 for a 120GB while I can get one for $99.99 with 500GB or better yet for around $200.00 get one terabit (1,000GB). All products are overpriced, what really matters is if the competition touts better value?

[Narutone66]

is high, but I don't expect it to be that price when they start selling it. It'll probably be lower than the $250 price point as I believe it is MSRP. Expect street price to be lower.

[TapiocaMilkTea]

Just wait a month or two, the price will drop dramatically if there's no demand. I believe it will be $200 in no time.

[DelbertGrady]

$249 isn't that much, if you get a third job lol!

[All Time Greatness]

lol @ Soda popinsky's avatar.

I should get one that says "599 US Dollars"

[Traveler]

I love my PSP and was considering getting the PSP Go, but honestly I was shocked at the price and the lack of true improvements. It has a smaller screen, can't play UMD movies or games and yet they expect us to pay more for it. The only thing I like better about it is the built in 16GB of flash memory. Sorry, I'll stick with my fat PSP that can play homebrew and can still play the good games coming out.

[Sarcasm]

The only people really getting ripped off this generation are people who have to buy $100 Wifi adapters and overpriced HDD's.

Although I agree, the PSP Go should have been $200.

[ChrisGTR1]

:D there you go sarcasm , you said it like a true hypocrit fanboy.i bet sony is so proud of you right now.

"The only people really getting ripped off this generation are people who have to buy $100 Wifi adapters and overpriced HDD's.

Although I agree, the PSP Go should have been $200."

[FamilyGuy]

Where was this guy when online retailers (because they didn't sell them in stores) were selling 2Gb Pro Duo cards for $250?

It's a terrible price no doubt (wii cost $250) but i wish this guy would just STFU.

The only addition i remember being added to the Go! is the blu-tooth support (and of course the 16Gb internal flash memory). It DEFINITELY should be lower than this.

[SuperM]

There is an excuse. Its simply a hotter piece of tech. People want a smaller version that they can fit in their pocket without a problem. And it has 16gb internal memory which makes it ideal for an on the go media player. if you need more it supports memory sticks. Basically Sony is ripping of the consumer because they want to earn money on their gadgets. I guess since the PS3 has been sold for under the production cost for almost 3 years now it would truly be ripping of the consumer to sell something that actually cost more to buy then it cost to produce. As long as people think its worth the price then its not ripping people off. I mean look at the ipod touch/iphone. Overpriced? probably. But ripping the consumer off? Well it doesnt seem like the consumer thinks so, because they're buying it.

[Foxgod]

You people are forgetting the development costs.
You cant just dissect the psp go and say, oh, it got no umd drive so it should be cheaper, it got a smaller lcd so it should be cheaper.

Its a new product, and it cost sony quite an amount of cash to develop the psp go.
Research and development is a very expensive process, and they first have to earn that money back, before they can lower the price to match the production costs.

So in this case, Pachter is wrong.

[SaiyanFury]

Normally, I'd not consider getting another PSP as I'm happy with my 2 1001s. Under normal circumstances, I'd never consider getting another one. Except that I have over 40 PSP games and UMDs can become somewhat bulky to lug around when I'm traveling. A digital only device might help alleviate that as it's only got an internal flash card that's expandable through memory cards. I don't approve of the higher price point, but the convenience afforded to internal memory could be very convenient for us PSP gamers who have a lot of games. The PSP Go, might be a decent alternative for those of us with more games than space. Again, I don't like the price, but the space afforded might be worth it.

[callahan09]

I agree with FoxGod. They're going to need to charge more for launch to recoup a lot of development costs. I predict that shortly after launch they'll drop the price to match actual production costs, having recouped R&D expenses.

[Syronicus]

The most vocal vote of them all is the one vote heard through your wallet. If they do not sell well then it must mean the price is not right. I suspect though that with Pachters record of being wrong more often than not, the PSP Go will sell like frigging hot cakes in Japan and sell very well in every other region. I'm even considering one just for the size and Blue Tooth compatibility. Heck, you can use your Dual SHock now without the cord!

[cryymoar]

Anyone up for starting a petition?

[AAACE5]

When I gad a PSP, I found that I rarely played it. Alot of the games didn't stand out too much. And even though my Psp costed $200 when purchased, I was only offered $50 for it as trade in!

Now, with the Psp go, they want someone to pay $250, and not be able to buy any of the cheap used games or movies, but will instead have to buy everything as a download.... I don't think this is a good idea!

But maybe Sony knows their customers better than I do...

[Sharingan_no_Kakashi]

Considering all the specs that the psp GO has that the 3000 model doesnt i'd say the price is fair. I havent owned a psp yet but i'm considering the GO now. 16 gigs, blutooth, and an now you can get into the psn store from it.

[Rainstorm81]

What about the Iphone - 500$ - 600$ (and the PS3 was overpriced yea right)
Blu Ray players - 800 - 1000$
Wii - 250$ (gamecube with motion what a rip)
Wii + best accessories 400$+
Xbox accessories - 100$ wifi 299$ HDD

I remember when PS2 released and people said 350$!!!! thats too much for a console! yet DVD players were like 300 - 500 dollars.

The PSP GO! attacts those who are just joining handhelds (like me) but as for movies and music (as patcher said when he compared the iphone to the psp on GTTV Bonus round) One thing about the PSP i can download music and movies and put them on PSP just like i do with my PS3. All i ask is PSP DIVX support although it wont happen because of the PSN movie store

250 is a bit much but i feel better paying 250 for the PSP Go than paying 250 for the PSP 1000

[Tiberium]

This coming from the ONLY company that charged $600 for a console, doesn't surprise me.

[callahan09]

@Tiberium: The Panasonic 3DO was 700 at launch, and the Philips CD-i was 1000 at launch. Sony isn't the first to have a hefty price tag on their gaming console, they're just the first to be successful.

[GavLam88]

This is fundamental business pricing. Whenever a new product is launched onto the market, a company will take advantage of the consumers that want the 'latest' gadget and will pay the full price. I reckon, this is Sony's opportunity to recover some profit (if they are still making a loss on the PS3). Trust me, the price of the PSP Go will drop fast after the initial launch of the product once they realise that consumers would rather pay for a UMD PSP that is cheaper rather then the PSP Go. Once that is clearly indicated in sales, i bet it will drop below the ordinary PSP.

[Anon1974]

Is that "ripping off" the consumer as well?

Obviously the interviewer pushed Pachter to provide that lovely quote and he fell for it. Is it wrong for Sony to want to make money off their product?

[HoofHearted]

...because the PSP Go is not a necessity. No one NEEDS to buy a PSP Go. Everything is right out in front. I don't like the price either, but I will buy one DAY ONE and so will plenty of other people.

As a matter of fact I went into a local Gamestop AND Game Crazy and while neither had the preorder yet, they said I had better get in fast once the preorder goes up because the amount of people asking about it has been astounding. Like most other hardware, if you don't preorder, you aren't getting one for a few months after release.

So there IS demand even at the 250 dollar price point and there has always been a famous phrase that people who talk about rip offs should remember. Something is always worth as much as people are willing to pay for it.

You may not like it. I certainly don't like it (I thought it would be about 200 bucks). Pachter may not like it (when was the last time he was right about anything though). With all that being said, no one is being ripped off. That's nonsense.

[f789790]

Something is horribly wrong for me to actually agree with one of them. How do you even become an analyst?

[thesummerofgeorge]

It's too expensive, that's a given.... The only good reason to make the PSP Go would be to have a cheaper version of the PSP.

[cherrypie]

Sony is ripping off it's PS3 and PSP Go buyer. This is clear.

[Pika-pie]

God, here we go again. If you feel its too expensive then DONT BUY IT! Jeeez.

No one is making you buy it. It will come down in price once Sony has skimmed the market enough.

[All-3]

Hasn't Sony in fact removed features both in hardware and software in later revisions of the PS3, and charged the same prices after the 'clearance' sale during the phase out of the 20GB and 60GB PS3 models?

The current 80GB and 160GB PS3s lack the PS2 Emotion Engine hardware or any PS2 software emulation, as well as the 2 extra USB ports, flashcard readers, SACD support once found in previous models.

With the PSP GO... Factor in the cost of all new accessories. The Go lacks a standard mini USB port on top, meaning things like PSP keyboards and Sony's GPS accessory are useless, and current A/V cables and chargers won't work because of a new multifunction port on the base. So how much with all the extras included?

[V0LT]

Pachter is ripping off the people who pay him for the ridiculous amount of money he makes to be wrong.

[PLAYSTATIONGENRATION]

I agree with patcher....the psp go is way over priced...just like another sony system...i know what it does but i want to play games on my console is that too much to expect from a game console

[HDgamer]

pachter doesn't get paid for being an analyst.

[sarshelyam]

...because he'd be wasting their money!

[SuperM]

You think the PS3 is overpriced? You cant overprice something when it cost less to buy then it cost to produce. Sony needs the PSP to stay profitable. Infact its the profit from the PSP that might allow them to cut the price on the PS3

[Droid Smasha]

sony would never rip off there customers

/sarcasm

[PeptoBismol]

you're not even a gamer. you spend more time trolling sony articles than actually playing your 360

[user3915800]

Sony its an anarchy for idiots and followers. True be told, almost all sony products are: overpriced, low quality/unreliable garbage, the king of marketing lies, customer service suck, they love to rip the consumers, sony executives are a bunch of morons, PS3 lost E3 again, PS3 BBQ Grill its a yellow light of death- blu crap player- a great dust magnet and and the gaming division inferior to the competition.

Stick to the facts people, finalizing the story of Ps3 fanboys are hiring from the market, seen holding their legs out of shame, grieving over substantial hypocrisity and would like to comvert to the 360, but they wont, because they are a bunch of fruitcakes.

[theKiller]

he finally got something right!! 250 for psp Go is not acceptable!!! they should have made it max 200!!! anyway the other option is available too!!

[TheBand1t]

For once I actually agree with Pachter.

200 dollars would've probably been more reasonable.

[n4gn4gn4gn4g]

Is he an analyst or a consumer advocate. STFU and analyse. While your at it you can call out NIN for adding $5 worth of cameras and bumping the dSi price by $60.

How much is a 16GB Zune or iPod?

[Darkfocus]

I don't know how he keeps his job hes the one that predicted sony would take the bluray drive out of the ps3 to cut cost /facepalm XP
Plus I don't here him complaining about Xbox's overpriced accessories,Hard drive,wi-fi,controller chargers,live ,etc

[sarshelyam]

...I remember him predicting a PS3 without a Blu-Ray drive. Does this guy even know what technology is?

[Chubear]

The Damned Wii is still at $250 price point. No cuts what so ever, charging ridiculous amounts for 25yr old games on Vcon when they should essentially be free unlocks after beating Nintendo wii games and not once I saw Patcher talk about that one. It's as if there's no other choice than a $250 PSP.

If you think the PSP GO is too expensive at $250 then get the 3000 @ $169 or the 2000 @ $149. People acting like Sony PERSONALLY slapped their mother cause they choose to put THEIR own price tag on THEIR own product are being daft. Hey, I would have liked it to be cheaper, hell, it'd be brilliant if I got that and the PS3 for free too but this is business is it not?

It is obvious Sony got the pricing right for their business when you see the amount of people that have already pre-ordered this puppy

MS still charging it's fanbase $50 per year for something that should be free, does Patcher talk about that? Does he talk about how insane it is that MS is selling their DVD based games at the same price as Sony's PS3 Blu-ray? Hell naw!

[ChrisGTR1]

well if you think about it, whats to stop sony from allowing third partys to print their games on a dvd disk? the ps3 plays dvds so whats the problem? all multiplats fit on a dvd cause of the 360 so why not release the ps3 version also on dvd. the only problem is if the new ps3s dont play bluerays then they cant play old games.

[thebudgetgamer]

i could buy a 360 and like three games.

:)

[Chubear]

I'd love to see you on the bus or in a park with that one.

[gintoki777]

well micrsoft can lower the price of the 360 because they are getting so much money from just repairing consoles
.................every minutes somewhere a 360 gets rrod

[Foxgod]

They are getting money from repairing?
The repairing costs them money, they dont earn a single dime with it.
Remember the 2 billion in repair funds they freed back when the RROD came in the media for the first time ?

The reason why the 360 is cheaper now, is because MS has earned it R&D money back, that it took to design the 360, so they lowered the price to match the production cost.
Something they cant do for the psp go, cause its just out, and it will take a year at least for them to earn back the R&D costs.

[gintoki777]

joking 0.0 man

[MajesticBeast]

never heard him talk about xboxlive or the overpriced wifi adaptor the overpriced battery charger the overpriced hdd want me to continue.

[sarshelyam]

Love hate relationship going on there. He loves to hate them because these stories are the only ones that get him any coverage these days. If you can't be accurate you might as well be a sensationalist...it's working for Pachter, so why not?

[mirroredderorrim]

Patcher does not understand the system's business model, let alone the industry.

Now that he says something about Sony, we get fanboys slamming disagrees in his honor as well as the double standard of hating him one moment, and loving him in this one.

Edited^

[The Master Chief]

lol Do you seriously not here what hes saying? They arent ripping you off 20$ per person which is would be horrible enough.... try almost 100$ a person. Thats ridiculous.

$ony is trying to recoup from PS3's losses.

[facelike]

But you're not getting ripped off if there is a cheaper model that reads UMD games and has all the same features minus a sliding screen avail. No one is forcing anyone to buy one of these PSPs. Matter a fact, the alternative is more affordable and does more.

People who own a PSP and buy this one is doing it for vain reasons or cause they have to have the newest thing. People that are price and game conscious will go with a PSP-3000. Sony priced up the PSP Go! like that on purpose, and gamers shouldn't be complaining because we're not the target demographic. As cheaper and smaller games get released near launch, expect commercials on regular TV, possibly where girls and hight school students in general watch TV. Expect to see them in the next Columbia films release. They see the sliding screen, then boom, Sony has a very profitable sale.

[mcgrawgamer]

but you won't hear sony loyalist complain about it's price. instead they'd rather sit back and cry foul about valve and left 4 dead 2. but as a true gamer i can't say I blame sony. nintendo has been getting away with this for years. gba, gba advance, gba sp. ds, ds lite, dsi.... only difference is nintendo knows how to mask their price increases. psp got off to a slow start due to price and sadly it still looks like sony hasn't learned their lesson.

[Narutone66]

so is the xbox 360 and xbla.

[36T]

What an intelligent comment! Don't worry, one of these day's you will find a decent job. Do you get wi-fi for you're PSP from that park bench you're living on?

[mirroredderorrim]

Then don't buy it.

[food86]

i'm a bit put off by the price but I may just sell my psp 3000 and credit that towards a psp go, but will the pro duo work with the psp go? i have a 1gb and a 8gb and would like to add that to the 16gb flash. I don't like the price at all and should probably just stick to my 3000

[mcgrawgamer]

i don't plan on buying it as i'm not a handheld gamer; and based on the disagree from you I'd assume you didn't get what I was trying to say either. so let me break it down for you.

the pspGo is a rip off, but sony comes under fire for doing something nintendo has been doing for years. As a whole if we are gonna give 1 company a pass we need to give the other a pass.

My last sentence in my comment above "psp got off to a slow start due to price and sadly it still looks like sony hasn't learned their lesson."

simply means that sony needs to play the game exactly like nintendo imo. the pspGo should have been priced at 199.99 imo; I know many would say that 50 bucks is not a whole lot of difference but 199.99 is a lot easier on the eyes than 249.99

-Edit; I agreed with you buy the way, because I for one think we can have a decent discussion on this site without the need to mindlessly hit the disagree button anytime somone doesn't share our opinion.

[36T]

"Then don't buy it"

To be honest, i don't think many people will. Atleast not for a while.

[Stryfeno2]

Sony always was ripping off customers...A $600 console? GET REAL!!!

[PeptoBismol]

it's not 2006 anymore

[skatezero246]

600? this isn't 2007 .... I would rather pay 400 then buy a defective console that was slightly cheaper (360) idk about you but I wouldn't want to buy something that I would have to pack up and send back every year or two so it can be fixed .... (RROD and E 74)

[helrazor343]

that fact that as a game platform it far outperforms the ipod touch. I think the pricing is fine, and if I didn't already have a psp I'd get this one. As it stands, I'll hold out for the actual psp 2.

[DNAgent]

Microsoft is ripping off consumers with the Xbox 360 as they knew it was a faulty system when they launched it and now they charge you for it when it breaks. They don't even ship you a box anymore so you have to pay for that too and then their way of saying "sorry" is by giving you a few months free of XBL Gold which you probably already had in the first place.

[badbond1]

Apple and Microsoft are the ones cheating customers! Can the Ipod Touch give you great games like GOW chains of Olympus or Gran Turismo? The answer is a big HELL NOOOO!!! The Ipod touch should be around 179.99 -199.99! Their Macbook is way over price! Sony is about right and I will be getting it soon!

[Etseix]

shh dont tell them,:p

Sony was kind enough to put an enourmous advice white those things still people (fanboys) thought they were jealous and they didnt want to listen =/

[Nemesis54]

Sony always makes overpriced products with features than you don't need. and the features you do want they screw that up. PS3 everyone wanted great gaming but no one needed bluray and they chagred $600 launch price just for blu ray, psp go everyone wants touchscreen and dual analog sticks but instead they find 16gb of internal memory now u cant share games lol rofl sony fails...nice try tho

[sarshelyam]

And so does Pachter. Perhaps somebody should point him to Amazon's preorder counts so he can reevaluate his stance one what an overpriced title lacking value is...because apparently the masses don't see the same picture as he.

[mcgrawgamer]

they haven't always made over priced products friend. the original playstation and the ps2 were both priced fairly imo. they took a chance on the ps3 with bluray and things didn't go so well in the beginning but they are starting to see the fruits of their labor. pspGo is the only device they've made in recent memory that is overpriced imo.

[sarshelyam]

Pachter is ignorant. He's placing more value in downloadable music and the app store which contains nothing more than bite-sized game experiences. Let's completely overlook the fact that the PSN Store is a fully functional one that supports hundreds of movies, television shows, FULL PSP game experiences and PSone titles. I'm not sure what the hell this guy is analyzing because I'd gladly by the 250 for what Sony is offering me AND have the ability to upgrade the memory options on the fly. People these days are so glazed by the aesthetic of Apple products that they, often, can do no harm. Too bad he hasn't pulled his head out of his Apple!

[xman06]

you don't have to buy the psp go... it's not replacing the original, 2000, or 3000 psp models.

[LiL T]

but im pretty sure I heard them say it also has bluetooth along with the wifi. Which is probably not that important to most people. On another note- Is this guy a contortionist because every time you hear from him he has got his foot in his mouth and head up his ass.

[Homicide]

It looks like Sony hasn't learned their lesson. I expect it to have a nice launch, but sales will be quite low after a while for the PSP Go.

[mcm]

I am split on this one. On one hand it is too expensive compared to the price drops of the PS2 to the PS2 slim model. Just because you change the container doesnt mean you jack up the price. Also that UMD drive had to cost more than the storage they are using now.
They also reduced the screen size.

Then you realize they added bluetooth and created that new case, but I still feel that the internal parts should be cheaper after 3-4 years.

[jams_shop]

I don't think SONY is ripping anybody off. We still have choices(yeah, that's right more than one) to pick from.

*It's up to the consumer to buy the PSP go for its current price. SONY doesn't have your wallet nor your checks. There is NOT way SONY can force anyone to buy their products.

*We can still buy the PSP 1000, 2000 and 3000. All three of them play PSP games(Disc based copies and PSN games) just as the PSP go and all three are less expensive than the PSP go.

*We can wait for a price drop. You do NOT have to have one at launch.

[JD_Shadow]

Just so you know, the iPod touch 16GB (which I have) is currently around 300 bucks, which is 50 bucks MORE than the proposed Go price.

Just something to think about when arguing this.

[sarshelyam]

...supports less file formats natively than the PSP. Strange one would look at that as more of a value.

[skatezero246]

lol if yo say so Pachter, there's a saying that goes something like this "you get what you pay for" and I'll be buying a Psp Go day one since I have yet to buy a Psp ... yea I know it sucks been wanting one for awhile now ....
Edit: in a way Sony is saving there consumers money and here's how ... GAS, instead of wasting gas to go to a store to pick a game up, you simply d/l it no gas wasted means more gas in the tank = more money in your pocket

[Shadowstar]

Well... if people are willing to pay that much, they're buying what they want. It's not like Sony's selling them a cardboard box pretending to be an exclusive Metal Gear PSP...

Though... I might even have bought that at the height of my fancrazy for MGS and not felt ripped off...

[CharlesDCI]

I was at the Sony Conference when they announced the Go. Kaz Harai said that the PSP Go is an alternative to the PSP slim. Which means that you don't have to have it, only if you want a media centered version of the PSP.

I will agree that the price is way to high. Should be around $199.99

[thehitman]

ya it is pretty overpriced but to be all fair no one has to buy this or being forced to. They still running the regular psp at 170 dollars.

[silverchode]

100$ wifi

[All Time Greatness]

Free online.......

.....too bad it sucks arse.

[DelbertGrady]

Sony wants to print money just like Nintendo.

[Durffen]

It is over priced. And you all know people are going to take that $250 and spend it on a different console that has been ranking in the cash. So in a way this is almost helping Nintendo.

[onanie]

As it has been made clear, the "go!" is not a replacement for the 3000. It should be thought of as an online only alternative, selling alongside the classic PSP. The choice is clearly still there, and a lot of the concerns about the Go! are directly solved by the PSP-3000. They complement each other very well on the retail shelf. I don't think Sony is too concerned if the PSP-3000 remains the more popular unit for some time to come.

In my opinion, Pachter really only understood the role of the PSP-go! superficially, for a supposed analyst.

[Rhezin]

Having poker chip-style currency to spend, a separate $100 network adaptor, and having to constantly repair/replace you console because they constantly RROD, isn't ripping people off? YEAH STFU YOU BOT MORONS TAKE YOUR DUMBSH!T COMMENTS AND STUFF THEM RIGHT BACK DOWN YOUR THROATS. I HATE YOU ALL.

[XDF]

I agreed with Pachter...$250 with a puny 16g of memory..GTFOH.

[devilhunterx]

and xb2 owners were harping for DD over Bluray. See the future.

[Cmoney]

Sony has lost 6 billion dollars on the ps3...so they have to make that money back somehow.

It's common sense. Sony lost 1 billion dollars last year and are forecasting another billion dollar loss this year. PSP GO might help them avoid bankruptcy

[onanie]

I don't think spreading FUD will get u anywhere here.

[OGharryjoysticks]

The Wii sells at 250. I saw some screenshots for the Motorstorm game on PSP and they actually looked better than the Wii so who knows...maybe it's not that crazy.

[SpartanGR]

Maybe we should stop being fanboys from now on. Does any of u actually think that Sony-MS-Nintento actually care about us? Yes they Like our wallets.

SCrew them. I love u all except them corporates sniff sniff.

[BYE]

To be fair he could have mentioned that on the other hand, the PS3 is more expensive to make than what they get for it. Sony lost a lot of money this console generation. So there is a balance.

[psycho360]

People should work double time to buy PSP GO. We will sell 5 million units w/o games on it.

There summed SONY's stance once and for all.

[xg-ei8ht]

I'm wondering if they are trying to offset the loss with PS3 atm with the PSPGO.

You have to remember SONY is trying to make alot of money back again.

Is it overpriced, tbh i don't have an iphone or psp.

But i do agree, SONY should maybe try the route of being cheaper then everyone else for a change. It worked for Nintendo.

[Bengoshi-San]

A lot of what Sony has done in the last 2 years has to do with offsetting costs/profit-losses associated with the PS3.

1 - They removed backwards compatibility on the ps3
2 - The newer 40/80gb models have more issues (bluray drive failures, bluetooth transmitter problems, overheating, hanging, etc, google it)
3 - They are pushing ps2 sales, because the system is cheap for them to manufacture and makes them the most profit at this point.

From a business point of view, what they are doing is smart, but from a consumer point of view, it's shady. As much as I like Sony, I also am well aware of why they make the choices they do.

[OmarJA]

It's still a better value then the 360.

[Captain Tuttle]

No price cut for the PS3 if/when the slim model is released.

[MaximusPrime]

true sony are ripping customers off but it doesnt put me off.

im still getting it. i have plenty of money.

[Bengoshi-San]

Pachter is 100% right.

[shysun]

Patcher is NEVER 100% right...EVER!

[skilzkilz]

If Sony is ripping off the consumer I wonder what you call what Microsoft is doing to its costumer.

$100-$120 to upgrade to a 120GB hard drive
$80-90 for a wifi adapter
$38-$50 just to play online with your friend
(their network is better than sony's but you pay to access it and then pay again for the content)

sony is ripping the consumer off then moneysoft is robbing them at gun point and then asking for more money for them being robbed by Microsoft.

[DuneBuggy]

Im a little nervous as I paid over $200 for my PSP a few years ago.
Im worried they will no longer support it in the future.Or force me to download whatever new games I want for it.

Next portable will prob be a DSi anyway. My 5 year old could get somthing out of it then...and I might even be able to find a few games for it (among all the Care Bear/Pokemon titles) that I like.

[mistajeff]

It's true, it is a ripoff, but they're obviously trying to use it to make up some ground on the PS3 since they're losing money on it.

Meh, I already have a PSP, so I'm perfectly fine with the clusterf@ck of incredible-looking games coming out this fall and next year.

[lewis]

http://www.apple.com/iphone...

[Pintheshadows]

I was going to buy one anyway. And i'm in England £250 is even more in dollars. But I spend that on ciggys in a month easily. I think GT portable will last a little longer. The fact is if you want one and think its expensive (it is) wait a little while. Everything comes down. Look at the iPhone, Macs, TVs, DVDs, Mp3 players, Blu Ray players and Cameras.

[Kyur4ThePain]

What's certain though is that Patcher is ripping off his employers.

[shysun]

I wonder what he thinks of the Wii's price point? Oh I forgot you can't do a negative article on Nintendo/and or the Wii.
I can use I tunes(lime wire ectect) to put music on my PSP, what the hell is he talking about?!

[blackbeld]

"noooo
sony would never rip off there customers

/sarcasm"

PAYING FOR XBOX LIVE THAT IS RIPPING OFF !!!!!!!!!!

Stupid Microsoft

[bjornbear]

It is WAY too pricey, but as sony said, its aimed at the tech guys tht are willing to pay 250€ at launch...it'll go down before end of year i assure thee!!!

[CypH]

Sony made the price higher so people can buy more psp. and by the time the psp gets more and more sales, psp go end up cheaper.

[smurfie4]

Sony's electronics are always over-priced. Digital Cameras, Tv's, Camcorders. Quality stuff, but too expensive.

[skatezero246]

you get what you pay for dude

[LevDog]

I dont see the big deal with apps.. I mean You have a coin flip app? a leveling app? I mean endless pointless apps.. Who cares.. PSP go is a portable GAME SYSTEM.. Not a app machine.. As far as music.. Bit torrent anyone? NOT A BUCK A SONG.. Does the Itouch have Skype? Can you connect with your gaming system and Turn on your camera and see who is in your room? 250 is a lil expensive but for all the upgrades your getting its fine by my book.. Especially since UMDs are out

[DoucheVader]

Well you get double the storage (16GB) on top of BlueTooth.

Also the regular PSP isn't going anywhere it will still be the value proposition in the product line.

If the VidZone goes global, PSP Go could have something better then ITunes. If all songs have videos included, all your ADD kids will love it.

[xg-ei8ht]

Hey patcher, if the new PSP is too pricey, then wtf is the 360.

[Jihaad_cpt]

If it's to much then buy a regular PSP, what the hell is wrong with you people. Have you thought that maybe the production line is not cheap to get up and running, Bluetooth and the new flash drive probably add to the expense. Once production yields increase the price will probably start to decline. It's basic economics. America equals cheap apparently and to make it worse they can't seem to understand that they could buy a regular PSP

[skatezero246]

yea not to mention how much gas you could save with this thing no need to drive to a store ..... saved gas = more money in your pocket instead of having to refill your tank

[skatezero246]

people still fail to notice how much money/gas you could save with this thing I think the 250 is a good price for it. It's not like Sony dropped the old psp. Yea it is a bit pricey but i'll also be saving alot of money in the long run by saving gas.

[E74]

id have to agree with pachter this time, why the fuc would i pay that much for something LESS than what i have, sony is treating this like a major new console announcement when its really a psp that cant play umd
and anyway, old psps can download games too.

[Coolrah]

Seriously Pachter? This guy is the lowest of the low. I mean the Bs he spouts is sometimes unimaginable. Secondly the nor the ps3 or psp go are overpriced machines. If you consider all the things you can do with them then you'll realize there a steal. Secondly No one....I MEAN NO ONE is forcing you to buy it. Considering that they have other models on the market there giving you another choice with better features but abit more expensive. Thirdly I love how he never speaks of how Microsoft makes a killing off of Xbox live when its basically the same as PSN with more or less features and things that people like and thats solely based on the customer as peoples opinion differ. And seriously Sony has been really leanent with their prices considering other corporations charge you an arm and a leg or try to nickel and dime you. This article is Bs and so is Pachter...

[DrWan]

compare to 170 of the current model that's 80 dollar more.

This is actually a smart strategy, but I would not have announced the price at E3. I would have announce it closer to launch.

Think about it, there will be tech head that will get the best and the latest.

If they are able to shift 1 million units of the Go! (which I am sure they will), and if their production cost is 170 (over estimating them actually).

They are pocketing an extra 80 Million dollar of profit. That is ALOT of money, and they can buy like 2 more studio with that much money to develop games for the PSP. If you think about, they are very smart. and after the Xmas season, they will drop the price to 199, and continue the push until next year's Fall and then drop it to 149 and capitalize on it.

This is a money making scheme for them, since they lost so much on the PS3, they have to find some way to balance their account and I think Sony actually is quite smart about this.

PS2 and PSP is keeping the PS3 alive while the manufacturing cost of the PS3 is being reduced down to a level that they can break even or become profitable again.

Without the PSP and the PS2, the PS3 would have probably bled dry already.

You guys complain now, but if Sony is no longer around, there won't be any good Sony first party games to play, I have a PSP already, so you know what ever coporate decision they make to stay live this generation. More power to them. I just want them to keep on making games and keep on buying more studios.

This year they should buy another studio, last studio they bought was an online card game company (Pox Nova) which doesn't count. They should buy some more this year if they become profitable and that means more exclusive for PS owners. Exclusve = good stuff (almost gurantee)

[Ps_alm3k]

of their hardware, ...........It's because of this man
He keeps telling people that their is a prices cut this or next month.
So then sony keep on having less sales on hardware and choose to cut it later.
Damm you patcher!!!