PSPgo: a price drop alone isn’t enough to save it

Play-mag: "The PSPgo has had its price dropped in the US and Japan. But is it too little, too late? What can be done to save the handheld?"

[MultiConsoleGamer]

This is going to shock a lot of people but in many ways the PSPgo is the best version of the PSP. I know the analog nub is not ideal for games like Monster Hunter. (Doin' the claw!) However, the fantastic D-Pad and button layout is perfect for 2D games, fighters, shooters, etc.

Also, its small size and easy portability are an obvious bonus. Battery life is a bit of a downer but that technology always improves over time.

The cradle, TV out function, and the ability to use a PS3 dual shock are the icing on the cake. There is amazing untapped potential in this device. I imagine Sony will use some of the best ideas found in the PSP Go when they make the PSP2.

[Solid Wolf]

And all of ours and Sony's problem will be solved! XD

[Close_Second]

I'd prefer they just release games for the PSP that exploit the controllers it does have.

I dont hear anyone bitching about the lack of any analog controllers on the DS, IPod range, or any other mobile device. Hell, even the 3DS only has one. Why don't people complain---because they release games made from the ground up to exploit the strengths of the device.

[kneon]

That's the only thing that held me back. But I couldn't resist a $149.99 one day deal last week so I finally got one anyway. It should keep me busy until the PSP2 comes out next year.

[bananlol]

Well the ds dont have the power to pull of fps kinda games, the 3 ds have a joystick and a touch schreen so that works. The i devices arent really considered gaming platforms and i know i wouldnt own a iphone if it came with joysticks.

[kasasensei]

The 3004 is the best version. You have the choice. Download or physical. The price is better too, the handling too. The screen is bigger too.

PSP go is a fail. A correct price for it will be around 100€.

[Close_Second]

...and prefer the Go. UMD is a dead format.

Tell me, if you have an IPod or IPhone will you care about not having physical media?

[bananlol]

The problem is that not all psp game are on the store, wtf is up with that?

[Trroy]

Most of the good games ARE in the store, though.

Final Fantasy CC is about the only important one that's not. I'd blame S-E for that -- they should make it happen.

[360nPS3rTheSAME]

the fact that you can't actually own the games you 'buy' for it is a deal breaker for me. Digital download is a ripoff cause you don't physically own the game, especially since the digital version is the same price if not more expensive than the hardcopy. Pspgo just plain sucks. Battery life sucks, it's flimsy...it sucks and there's a reason it failed and should fail. I don't know about you but I like owning the things I buy, so, if I buy a game and want to use it as a frisbee I can cause I own it and it's in my hands. Some may disagree but dlc and digital download will be the fall of gaming cause you get less(which you don't own) while still paying more money. When that happens people will bitch about it but are the same ones who thought it was a 'cool idea' and 'the way of the future'. Maybe kotick should be thanked because he plainly and vocally expresses the greed that the rest of the devs and pubs don't but would love to give you less for more. Pay attention. Don't ever fool yourself into thinking that devs and pubs want what's best for you at the cost of their earnings.

[crillinFLIP337]

Ok so do you even play games? I'll agree digital downloads can be a rip off, but most of them add to the gameplay experience (and no one says you have to buy them anyway) The pspgo is a much better version as it is far more convenient than having to carry around lots of stupid UMDs and trying not to break their flimsy case. The only downside is that not all games are available to download. Maybe you should try using something before you make weak arguments.

[360nPS3rTheSAME]

dude stfu. I said something you don't agree with so that makes me a troll? I don't have to buy a pspgo to know that it only uses digital media and to know I don't like it. Do you buy every single game that comes out to see if you like it? That was very stupid what you said and shows how far a fanboy will go to justify being ripped off. Your opinion is not fact so simply saying the pspgo is better doesn't mean it is. You act like carrying umd cases is hard. Does it hurt your arm? You can buy a case to carry umds too. Fugging lazy new age gamers will ruin the industry because you want to be ripped off. I've never seen a genetation of gamers so full of idiots..........

[crillinFLIP337]

I called you a troll not because you had a different opinion from me, but because your reasons are weak and scream of fanboy/ ignorance, "Pspgo just plain sucks. Battery life sucks, it's flimsy...it sucks and there's a reason it failed and should fail." While this may sound like sound logic in your mind, it doesn't exactly give much credibility to your argument. I am all for diversity in the gaming community and encourage people to be open minded and try new things.

As for your reply, no my opinions are not going to be the same as everyone else but the points I made were valid arguments for the pspgo and it's design choices. Is it a perfect system? Not by a long shot, but show me a system that is perfect. I don't have any trouble with arm strength (thanks for the concern btw) but being forced to carry UMDs ends up making me leave some games at home thus limiting the number of games I can play. You call it lazy, I call it convenient. Why should I have to choose between taking one game but not another? I'm not going to carry a backpack around with me just so I can play whatever game I want or incase a friend shows up who wants to play multiplayer with. That's just silly

[TroyAndAbed]

$50 would be great!

[360nPS3rTheSAME]

honestly I would only pay 5 dollars for it. It's that bad to me. Pretty soon it'll get no support and become an expensive paperweight. I hope they learned to never try to shove digital distribution down our throats again

[maniac76]

no price is good enough when you cant get wot you can on umd. plus its so crampt,ive given up on psp in uk,the psn doesnt got anything good or as big a choice as other regions,will save for 3ds instead

[kenjix]

when did this happen?

[Nicaragua]

Ive got one and i think its great.

If you want the option of disks and dont mind a bulkier unit then get the regular PSP.

If you want a smaller unit and like digital distribution then get a PSP Go.

[Malice-Flare]

however, the timing of this price drop may be in preparation for the announcement of the PSP2. Sony's hoping on the PSP having a nice bump in sales before the storm of the PSP2 announcement...

[0oAngeluso0]

Price drop wont help a long past dead handheld. That thing was dead before it launched, too expensive and most people want to actually own their media. Some digital download content is okay, but personally I want to own everything. Those talking about Ipods or MP3 players and saying we download content for those, true enough but most of those downloads are FREE. If you know what I mean?

[Nicaragua]

Maybe free for someone like you but millions upon millions of pounds are being spent through legal online digital distribution like itunes so clearly digital distribution is a viable business model.

You want to own physical media - fine there is an option for you but digital distribution and handhelds go together like apple pie and ice cream. Do you think Apple would have sold so many games if they came on physical media ?

[Trroy]

People do NOT want to own UMDs. You are hugely mistaken in that regard.

The iPhone proves that digital media is appealing. The Go's only failing was its price.

[SkylineR]

I guess reducing the price is better than burying them in the desert next to those E.T cartridges... :p

[bananlol]

If i ever go to new mexico i will go there and dig one up! Would be fucking awesome adventure!

[bananlol]

The go was probably a experiment for sony, and a experiment never fails.