Hello all! I am a newcomer to vgchartz and I wanted to start a thread concerning the DSi and PSPgo.

The purpose of this thread is to discuss the differences between the new nintendo and sony handheld revisions and why these differences will result in either successful market adoption or failure. There are many points to consider:

1. Hardware differences/Graphical capabilities

PSgo: MIPS cpu @333 MHz , 64 MB RAM vs. DSi: two ARM CPUs main CPU @133 MHz, 16 MB RAM

PSPgo graphics akin to PS2 games vs. DSi graphics akin to N64 games (a full generation behind)

2. User interface/ input methods

Traditional D-pad, buttons AND stylus touch screen controls, camera for DSi vs.  buttons and and one relatively awkward analog "nub", with no touch screen for PSPgo,

3. Price/ Value

$249.99 PSPgo vs. $169.99 DSi

4. Media format

Flash cart AND downloadable games for DSi vs. downloadable content ONLY for PSPgo

5. Backwards compatability

Dsi b/c with all DS games vs. PSPgo has no UMD drive and no guarantee that UMD titles will be available as downloadable content

6. Online functionality

7. marketing strategy/ key demographics

8. Variety and type of software

9. Storage media

16 GB internal flash plus memory stick up to 32 GB vs. 256 MB internal flash memory plus SD/SDHC card (up to 32 GB)

etc.

specifically, I am interested in how you think the PSPgo is going to perform with respect to the DSi; Was Sony's decision to remove the UMD drive, not include a touch screen or a second analog stick and incorporate exlusively digital content a mistake? Is the price point for the PSPgo too high?  Do you think Sony is guilty of overshooting the market in terms of consumer wants/needs and price range like they did with the PS3or are they evolving gaming for the better and looking ahead to new markets? Is Sony using this model to test the waters for a fully digital distribution enabled PS3 revision or their next gen console like nintendo did with the DS? Has Nintendo placed a better bet by including both traditional and touch screen interfaces along with both traditional media distribution and digital downloads? Is the poor PSPgo destined to repeat the mistakes of the PS3? Which company has the better strategy in the long run?

I am a nintendo guy at heart, but also a sony fan. I own a DSi and I was contemplating picking up a PSP (either a go or 3000 model); but the current outlook for the PSPgo has me a bit worried and I am thinking I should just wait it out to see whether the go will succeed in the marketplace against nintendo's handheld. What are your thoughts?

Firstly welcome to VGC!

...well if its PSP Go vs DSi, surely the DSi will do better.

But i think it wouldve been better if it was PSP Go vs iPod Touch since its evident to where Sony wanted the PSP Go to aim against. Both being DLC only and multimedia device with built in storage and ranging the same price tag. And maybe Sony wanted to shut Apple up about how their games on the iPod are better than NDS and PSP lol

Don't forget to add that you can put any movies and music you have onto the PSP Go.

In the short run it alreadyappears that Dsi has trumped the PSP yes, but will sony have the better strategy in the long run?

Perhaps Sony is considering the ipod touch/ iphone the immediate competitor to the pspgo, but in my opinion, sony made a grand mistake in not considering nintendo as "competition" in much the same way as they treated wii compared to ps3. What do you think?

@V-r0cK: thanks for the welcome!

@silicon: that is a good point that I didn't highlight properly, although I think downloadable movies and music is covered in the "digital distribution" part.