A lot of you people are missing the point of the PSPgo, and its incredibly rude and ignorant on your part.
The PSP is a fine platform. Sony have been providing you with improvements pretty much constantly over the last few years with hardware itrations to improve upon the previous design. Nothing big, but the 3000 is pretty much the best handheld ever created, even better than the DS.
HARDWARE wise, not game wise.
the PSP is almost ready to start emulating DS games, just so you know how far that is along. As a platform, it offers an impressive screen, impressive power and far better network/internet servics than any other handheld with full PSN useage. It really is an amazing piece of hardware.
What did it lack? It lacked games. What is it getting? more games than any other platform. Infact, Sony is pushing the PSP more than it's pushing the PS3. (And no wonder, it's making huge profit on the psp).
For me, when I use my PSP, I have a significant issue with it. It's big and it doesnt fit in my pocket well. If I want to use the full potential of the psp, that is, as a full media device, so music, movies and games, I need to carry around a lot of umds and using it as a mp3 player (a-la-iphone) its simply too big and clunky. It still shines as a gaming platform though.
So, from an engineering standpoint and an ergonomic standpoint, where does sony go?
Engineering issues the PSP faces are
1) Size versus power. Sony wanted to provide a powerful handheld device unlike no other, they did. In order to do so it requires bigger hardware and disc media in order to provide the graphics tech, so it needed a disc loading bay and the rest of the internal components. Result: the PSP needs to be sort of big, and this counter acts the portability of the console TO A DEGREE. its still very portable, just less than it would be if it was smaller.
2) Piracy: Piracy on the psp is worse than any other gaming platform in history, even worse than the dreamcast. Sony's combat has been to constantly release new firmwares, but it has been an issue since games do not require a certain firmware to use. If the game exist only as digital content, they can require the game to sign a serial to psn account to device signature that will not be hackable and the piracy dies. The PSP go, and the shift to digital media is an attempt to destroy piracy.
3) Pandoras battery. Every single one of you in this thread who have ever pirated a single game for the psp, for any reason, are the reason the battery is not removable. Pirates use the pandoras batter in their psp to hack it. The inclusion of a non removeable/serviceable battery is to combat this and it is YOUR FAULT. (whoever does that.)
4) Software sales: the PSP is not as bad off as people think it is. Games generally do not make massive sales, but core games generally sell at least remotely well on the PSP. Piracy rates on the psp range from 200 to 500% of game sales, so removing it by going all digital will actually Increase sales and profitability for developers.
So where does the PSPgo sit? why are you all angry at it? why do you think the PSP go is a bad thing? It's not an upgrade, it's an alternative version of the platform. It's not supposed to be an upgrade, its a side grade so can we please stop talking about the PSPgo like it's a DSi? it's not the same. the PSPgo is the same as comparing a 80gb ps3 to a 120gb ps3, it's just a hardware alternative, its not a new platform alltogether.
Sony experimented with downloadable games. games like patapon 2 and others were obviously profitable or sony would not have gone ahead and went through with this. You dont need to get the PSPgo, it's not a new PSP.
Sony is NOT expecting massive sales. Sony is NOT expecting the PSPgo to "save" the PSP. It doesn't need saving, it's the most successful non nintendo handheld of all time and is a massive, MASSIVE success for sony.
the PSPgo is for those who want increased portablity, and want to use their PSPgo as a more media oriented platform that can also play games.
For those of you talking about non main stream games not being supported, thats also bullshit. games like holy-invasion of privacy badman! are sure main stream games. You will see pretty much 100% support from games releassed from now on. Developers would be throwing money in the garbage if they did not.this is the only chance they have for an unpirated version of their game. it is nothing but profit.
The PSP go is not intended to be a platform that existing owners get, while some may for the samee reason I will, it's just a more portable media device that can also play psp games.
It's side and side with the PSP3000(4000?) and will be supported just as much. The increased hardware cost is so that distributors can gain an extra profit off the hardware since they will not get any on software. and so sony can bank some extra money off of the hardware.
This is no different than the iphone. You do know that an iphone is 599$ right? it's quiet possibly the biggest rip off in the history of hardware. It's not even worth half what a PSP is, yet it sells for how much more? over double.
consumers want small, tiny, and they love digital. I personally am getting older and I'm getting tired of cluttered walls with game discs. After I construct my racing seat for Forza 3 and GT5 I will have a cluttered living room and I welcome digital distribution.
You dont need to get a PSPgo, stop bashing it. You have no idea what goes into putting a game up for digital download. Legal issues are HUGE.
The greatest thing that can come to this is that since the PSP is not region locked, you can make a japanese psn account an ddownload all the amazing japanese tittles that will surely come. I can't wait! you can get them on your PSP as well!
Why are you complaining? rejoice in sony's attempts to gain more profit and remove piracy. Be happy sony is still supporting the original PSP! and still stocking store shelves (unlike nintedo) with older models.
Be happy in what might possibly be the most stellar software lineup ever concieved for a platform and get them games! The time to own a psp is now, whatever version you choose is your own choice.
