http://kotaku.com/5361820/uk-retailer-declares-pspgo-almost-dead-before-arrival

While not joining a broader boycott among some European retailers, ShopTo's comments in advance of the PSPGo's launch do not exactly encourage sales. "As a format it is almost dead before it has arrived," the ShopTo boss told Eurogamer.

Again, the gripe isn't so much about the new handheld's cost - $250 in the U.S. - as it is the format switch from UMD to download only. It effectively robs these retailers of the margins they reap on game sales. ShopTo's pissed enough that it's grudgingly selling the device without any real push to its customers. "We do have it listed on the site, but we are not concentrating any big marketing behind it," ShopTo chief Igor Cipolletta told Eurogamer.

Sony has decided to cut publishers and retailers for the software of the PSPgo and deal direct with developers, giving them a 70 per cent margin for any items sold on Sony PSN. I believe if they had lowered that to 50 or 60 per cent, and given the opportunity to online retailers, it would have enjoyed greater success and retailers would attempt to promote the console to the market.

Everybody's Favorite Analyst, Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan, thinks those who boycott selling the PSPGo, or publicly support such an action, are behaving self-destructively. "Refusing to carry them subjects them to the risk that Sony will bypass them for Gran Turismo or Uncharted, in which case they lose," he said. "Retailers have to face the fact that games will be increasingly offered over Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, and cope with the outcome."

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hmm so what do you guys think?

Is the PspGO! doomed even before it comes out?

i am not entirley sure if it is.

as much as i love the idea of a download only system, i think sony made a huge mistake making this a remodel rather than a PSP2.

i also think what  might hinder sony from seeing the full potential of the pspgo! is releasing it as the sole system that is download only..

it allows  crazy retailers to push the pspgo! around like the way the are doing now .

had they waited for nintendo or microsoft to do the same the pressure would be far less seeing how there is no way a company could boycott ALL video game systems...

so again what do you guys think?

It was doomed from the start. Some people will buy it but it never had a chance for mass market appeal.

IMHO the only way PSPgo gets great sales is if it gets broken fast and starts selling to pirates who want big disc.

dont blame them - it's like askinjg a tobacco comapny to sell nicotene patches, it's not in their interest.

they cant even release points cards to be sold at retailers cos you pay in cash at sony store, they must have seen this coming and I expect a lot of other retailers to follow suit.

Expect bit retailer pushes for DSI / cheap DS Lite's this holiday season.

Sony really does need to lower the price of the psp go. £220+ is too much. It needs to be atleast the same price as the current playstation portable.

This has been posted already. Well, the original Eurogamer article has been.

well if u like spending money and u like premium shit and the economic crisis didnt affect shit to u u wud get it like me lol

Don't expect any sales with such a price tag.