230°

What PSPgo’s Failure Means

The PSPgo has been discontinued in most of the world because it was a digital-only handheld. Thus proving that a digital distribution future is far off.

skynidas4753d ago

It was a nice idea but i think it was too late in the PSP life cycle. Also they should have released some software that let you get your UMD games into the PSP Go.

xer04753d ago (Edited 4753d ago )

Personally, I have always been tempted by the device. I just like the compact design.

I guess it didn't make much sense to release that and then the NGP. One of them had to go; and the PSP Go did not gain enough popularity.

When you think about it, Sony could not maintain production of 3 different portable gaming units. It would just lead to confusion and sales canabalism.

I_find_it_funny4753d ago

I loved the design but digital distribution only is a big No-thank-you for me

gaffyh4753d ago

I remember a few years ago everyone was saying that DD is the future, then the PSPgo released, and everyone had a problem with it. PSPgo proves that console gamers will always want to buy their major games on a physical copy.

ProjectVulcan4753d ago

DD only still has a fair few kinks to be worked out for console platforms. Namely, the idea that people would prefer to buy at full price on DD services games they could buy cheaper at retail or trade in after they have played them. That is a fairly big factor in many console gamer's eyes.

Publishers and hardware manufacturers are no doubt exceptionally keen to make DD work, as they not only have better control over their platforms, they take far more of a cut from software sales, and simultaneously eliminate used game sales. Its like dreamland for them.

For retailers and consumers however, it could mean bad news. Physical media is not ready to disappear just yet in my eyes, and consumers would probably be better off for now hoping that new home consoles still use some format of physical media.

pain777pas4753d ago

Ihave1 2 gig card, 2 4gig cards and and 8 gig card filled with games for a PSP 2000. I for one don't care. Being able to download games when you want is a great idea. For the larger mb releases I prefer getting the hard copy but the experiment has worked. Why? because I will be ready to adopt the same strategy when the NGP comes along. I tell you if the had a terabyte card for NGP I might go all digital for anygame under 1 gig. Suprisingly some of the best PSP/PS1 games are in the 300-600mb range. FF, GOW, GT and the like are huge downloads but the convenience is amazing. I have one card 4gig card with PStarP2, SFA3, Wipeout, Vagrant Story, FM3, Arc 1 and 2. I mean you can have some diversity and entertainment with some room for some music aswell. My 8 Gig has like FF7 and 9 GT, Burnout, RR... this is the way portable gaming should be. Plus I have my Vice City UMD in the drive incase I want something to sink my teeth into. The PSP GO has led to a convenient approach for portable gamers to get games. Even though it failed commercially it still is a success because everything that the GO wanted to do the older versions can do and more.

colonel1794753d ago

It failed in the very first moment they did not make it mandatory for EVERY game to be downloadable. Who in their right minds would sell a download only system, but not offer all the games (new and old) in the format.?

Downloadable games (at least for portables) make sense, and it is proven by the iPhone and iPad. I know, they are casual, cheap games, but people like the idea of downloading the games and keep them in their handheld. Maybe for home consoles is still far off, but for portables it's here, and Sony blew their chance to dominate the downloadable market for games.

Redempteur4753d ago

TRue the online psp library wasn't enough and missed lot of titles .. that's not th best argument when if you wish to sell a device.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4753d ago
TheBeast4753d ago

The article says it well, Sony deserves credit for taking a chance in the digital download industry. Sony did the best they could.

Close_Second4753d ago

Rubbish. Look at Itunes pricing then look at PSN pricing. Apple knows how to price digital content and look at how it sells.

Thrungus4753d ago

Kinda glad I didn't buy one, although saying that, I didn't buy a PSP either.

VampiricDragon_4753d ago (Edited 4753d ago )

a dd only real game handheld will only sell in the hundreds of units a month

and all ngp games will be digital like what the psp has except minis

MAULxx4753d ago

It was kind of pointless but the NGP looks like it's going to be the real PSP.

ALFAxD_CENTAURO4753d ago

You mean a real successor and new generation of Portable.

VampiricDragon_4753d ago (Edited 4753d ago )

the psp was the real psp. It had great sales, an amazing library.

people confuse the psp go and the psp 3000 which is selling like gang busters

hiredhelp4753d ago

lol disagrees again even on this thread i see. I agree psp was a sucsess with a very big libary of games. PSP GO looked nice but digital download. hmm

now NGP CANT WAIT!!

Show all comments (38)
100°

Why I Bought a PSP Go in 2021

Alex S. from Link Cable Gaming writes: "I bought a 12-year-old, digital-only system. And I gotta say – I love it."

Read Full Story >>
linkcablegaming.com
Knushwood Butt1046d ago

I got one at launch and still have it.
Great system and super portable.
Not so comfortable for big hands playing for long sessions though.

Have good memories of Peace Walker on the Go, pun intended.

dolfa1045d ago

I believe there is some prototype of a hand held console with dedicated GPU that can run modern AAA games too.

Eidolon1045d ago

PSP has such great games, it's such a shame Vita didn't do as well, I still use mine I bought in 2014. I still would love an upgraded handheld if just for ports, though.

redrum061045d ago

I've enjoyed my PSP a lot, too bad they're not making handhelds anymore.
That time when Skype was available on PSP was awesome.

Show all comments (6)
230°

The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition Is the PSP Go All Over Again

Ed writes: Yesterday, Microsoft revealed the brand new, disc drive less Xbox One S All Digital Edition console to the... confusion of a lot gamers.

Read Full Story >>
twinfinite.net
ziggurcat1837d ago

it's more prevalent now, so I don't think it's the same thing. I've been all digital since 2014, so if the next gen of consoles has a discless SKU as well as one for physical media, I would likely get the discless one.

ThinkThink1837d ago

Yeah, it's just another option to add to the mix. Does seem like it's releasing way too late in the generation though. I was also expecting $200. I don't see anyone buying this at $250.

darthv721835d ago

I love the PSP Go. It is an awesome little handheld that can also double as a home console. I'm still amazed that so many people DONT know about that feature. sure the 2k and 3k could plug into a tv but you still had to use them as the controller. The Go has a dedicated dock and you can sync a sixaxis controller to it for couch play using an actual controller. Doing what the switch does, before the switch.

Mine has an additional 16gb M2 card inserted for 32gb of storage. the main problem was Sony not having any sort of digital validation program for people with existing UMD's. It was rumored they were working on a UMD reader that could plug into the USB of a PS3 and then it could validate the game and allow you to dl a digital version to play on the Go. They were also toying with the idea of digital trade in program at retailers, along those same lines. You bring your UMD games to trade in for digital versions.

Despite what people think about its failure... it really is an awesome little device.

Knightofelemia1835d ago (Edited 1835d ago )

@ziggurcat

Yes you do pay for the license with either physical or digital. But with physical you get a sense of owner ship with that title unlike digital. And if a studio loses a license then a person who wants to buy that game digitally is screwed. Like when Activision lost the license to all the Transformers games and the digital copies all got ripped from the digital stores. People who bought the digital copies can still access the games but a new person can't.

annoyedgamer1835d ago

Have fun paying more for all digital. Try bot to get to violate the ever changing TOS too...

ziggurcat1835d ago

it's the same ToS whether you buy digital or physical.

DarXyde1835d ago

Ziggurcat,

Not where licensing is concerned.

GameStallion1835d ago (Edited 1835d ago )

I heard they released it just to test the “diskless” waters so to speak in gathering research for next gen.

ziggurcat1835d ago

@darxyde:

It’s exactly where licensing is concerned. You’re paying for the same license regardless of whether you buy physical or digital.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1835d ago
shaenoide1835d ago

A diskless SKU without at least an HDD upgrade is pointless IMO.

ziggurcat1835d ago (Edited 1835d ago )

Well, that's almost a moot point as you'll likely be able to plug in an external HDD of far greater capacity than what the internal drive would be. You could easily just use that external for games storage, and transfer any games from the external to the internal for the duration of time you play that game.

darthv721835d ago

Technically... it did get a hdd upgrade. Majority of the S units are 500gb while some specific bundles include 1tb or more.

demonicale1835d ago

But with all digital the prices at launch are £10 more here in the UK, not sure about the US though?

rainslacker1835d ago (Edited 1835d ago )

It's certainly the same principal. But yeah, times have changed and there may be a market for it. I think that market may be more prevalent if they priced it lower, but never know. Stranger things have happened. Although, I think its success depends more on MS making X1 more popular overall.

PSP Go was a neat little system though. I might have been interested except I could have downloadable games on the regular version which I already had. Best part I liked about it was the sliding control pad. On the flip side....there is really nothing special about the X1SAD.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1835d ago
PhoenixUp1837d ago

Sony at least had the decency to put in 16GB storage in the PSP Go which was more space than what other models with disc drives had out of the box to compensate for the lack of physical media.

Microsoft didn’t even bother putting in a 4TB HDD into this thing to make it more enticing over a standard model. This whole things reeks of halfassed decisions just to see how the market reacts to an all digital device.

bluebenjamin1835d ago

Like the Ps4 pro less than half of a difference on screen from ps4 base lol talk about half azzed

Atticus_finch1835d ago

The pro has the best looking games... Unlike the Xbox SAD!

bluebenjamin1835d ago

@ Atticus the soup textures are not the best in gaming Sony needs talented developers because the pro is weak in power.Ps5 will show you how terrible Pro is.And yeah im not a fanboy so I can care less about xbox sad.Im a ps3 fan 360 Dreamcast onex fan never been a fan of Base ps4 or pro or xbox one base and s

King_Noctis1835d ago (Edited 1835d ago )

4TB? Won’t that increase the price of the console even further? Even the much more expensive Xbox One X and PS4 Pro has nowhere near that much amount of storage.

Let be real now and not complain just for the sake of it.

DarXyde1835d ago

I think it's a blatant push for Game Pass. Since games cycle through frequently, you don't need to top off on storage unless you're buying.

bluebenjamin,

Pro is not what it *could have* been. They could have included dedicated BC hardware which would've been sweet and a UHD bluray drive if you're into that... but on the other hand, Pro does some pretty incredible things with the specs it has. I only have a base PS4, and I'm still seriously impressed with Sony's studios. God of War, Horizon: Zero Dawn, and Uncharted 4 to name a few look stunning in the base hardware.

I'm pretty happy with not buying a Pro though because the next generation is gonna be that much sweeter.

PhoenixUp1835d ago

@ blue

Dafuq are you even talking about?

@ King

Because 4TB is the only reasonable way you’d convince consumers to give up a physical drive. Nixing the disc slot is a pretty big deal and not making a huge incentive for consumers is really insulting.

There’s even been a 2TB Xbox One model yet Microsoft didn’t bother including that size in this thing. Not that 2TB on its own would justify lacking physical media, but it would’ve been a lot better than the 1TB

Imortus_san1835d ago

You mean like the PS4 not having a 4k Blu Ray player?

DarXyde1835d ago (Edited 1835d ago )

Not exactly. We're talking about an all digital console not having something as essential as more HDD storage. The original Xbox One launched with a 500GB HDD and a device that ONLY accepts digital content only has 2x that. Doesn't make a lot of sense, especially when every game has to be installed either way. It's also $250 and doesn't offer real advantage over the original One S at all.

PS4 not having a 4K blu ray player doesn't seem to have hurt a GAMING device's popularity and appeal.

Keep up, homie.

Nintentional1835d ago

Yeah the PSP Go was good, because Sony. Xbox One S All digital is bad because there’s no Sony logo on it, you’re right.

Silly gameAr1835d ago

Your name is Nintentional. I think that says all we need to know about you.

DarXyde1835d ago

Both are pretty bad.

I think the argument being made here is that 16GB storage in PSP is decent since games were much smaller back then, but 1TB for an all-digital console with games that frequently require patches and updates and has Game Pass is pretty paltry.

Now if someone buys this with the sole intention of playing exclusives, 1TB is probably fine.

Otherwise, no, all digital gaming devices are not great ideas. To the PSP Go's credit though, it's a portable device. A portable DVD player with all digital access is practical where you can have a DVD player and DVD collection at home.

Switch gets it right in my opinion. The cartridges are tiny and easy to move around with, so going all digital makes less sense for that. I don't see any reason for an all digital home console. Options are good, sure, but I just don't see the point unless you're really constrained on space.

Something for everyone, I guess...

darthv721835d ago

I added a 16gb M2 to mine for 32gb of storage. My other PSP models only have 8gb MSPDuo cards.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 1835d ago
isarai1837d ago

Its far more relevant now and could EASILY be a popular choice...

but just not at that price

RizBiz1835d ago

At least Sony had the decency to improve the design with the PSP Go.

chris2351835d ago

nope. the go had a few games. the xox got nothing.

Show all comments (35)
80°

Top 10 Reasons to Miss the PSP Go

Sony's collapsible PSP model was cut down before it could even reach its prime, and it might have been their best handheld. Here's why the PSP Go is missed.

Read Full Story >>
playstationlifestyle.net
rainslacker2641d ago

A regular PSP could do whatever the Go could do.