Sony America scraps UMD-to-PSP Go conversion plans

[ssj12]

Onyxmeth said:

Procrastinato said:

Onyxmeth said:

You must not be aware of the power of upgrading a console to a new model. It isn't just VGChartz. It's everywhere. I wonder would the PS2 Slim and PS3 Slim have been better off getting rid of the drives and become DD only? It sure would attract the new customers, however big that market is, but it would alienate everyone that did upgrade to those slim consoles just for the new look.

It's also a detriment to gamers. As UMDs go down in price and get clearanced out, PSP owners have their choice of pricing the market on both fronts and grabbing UMDs on the cheap. If you think the DD market is going to follow suit, you're foolish. Really the only thing the PSP Go gamer gets is the compact handheld, but they lose out on every other conceivable front and are paying more money to do so.

First, the PSP-3000 is still available.  This is a side-grade, not an upgrade, unless you want what the Go has to offer.  If the PSP-3000 and its UMDs appeal to you, as a consumer... you can buy it (at even more retailers, apparently).  I have to disagree on the upgrading for look/feel being a major player.. I don't believe that it is.  In any case, upgrading hardware isn't in any hardware manufacturer's best interest, because console hardware is almost always sold at a loss...  Even the Go's high margin most likely merely goes to the retailer -- I doubt Sony sees much of it at all, or big retailers wouldn't even carry it.

Second, DD prices will come down if/when it takes over.  We have capitalism to thank for that.  Competition and the basic laws of economics -- profit will be greater without CoG, resale/used, and retail margins (MUCH greater), thus competing economic bodies will have price as a stage on which to compete, plain and simple.  Look at Steam, as an example.

Your first paragraph is basically questioning the existence of the PSP in it's entirety. You say it's not remarkably profitable, that the compact design is not much of a factor in a hardware upgrade, and the PSP 3000 is still available. So then since the PSP 3000 does everything the Go does, and does it for less, where and what is the market for the Go?

Regarding DD reacting anywhere remotely close to retail in regards to price drops and clearancing out items, I give you PSN, XBLA and the VC/WW as the three major examples of why pricing will stand still. Most games that have come out haven't seen a single price drop and only XBLA runs any sort of discount program with it's Deal of the Week thing.

US PlayStation Store Update

Updates

Brain Challenge Price Drop (now $4.99)

Brain Challenge Expansion Pack Price Drop (now $1.99)

Droplitz Temporary Price Drop (now $4.99)

25 Guitar Hero World Tour songs are on sale for $1.50 this week!

 

EU PlayStation Store Update

Special Offers

As detailed last week, PixelJunk Racers, High Velocity Bowling, Super Stardust HD Double Pack, Echochrome Micro and Disney’s Action Game feat. Hercules are still on special offer this week, however, we also have the below Guitar Hero Tracks available for one week only starting today:

Guitar Hero World Tour – all tracks (£1.19/€1.49)

• Mr. Brightside by The Killers
• Low by Travis Barker
• What’s My Age Again by Blink 182
• Jessie’ Girl by Rick Springfield
• We Are The Champions by Queen
• Human by The Killers
• Black Betty by Ram Jam
• Because of You by Nickelback
• 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins
• Hot Blooded by Foreigner
• No Rain by Blind Melon
• Life In The Fast Lane by The Eagles
• Drive by Incubus
• Rock n’ Roll Band by Boston
• Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen
• Gimme All Your Lovin’ by ZZ Top
• Another Way To Die by Jack White and Alicia Keys
• So What by Pink
• Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seger
• One Of These Nights by The Eagles
• You Know You’re Right by Nirvana
• Ticks by Brad Paisley
• Use Me by Hinder
• Me and My Gang by Rascal Flatts
• Sliver by Nirvana