PSP Go a failure - Should we buy one.

[Mandingo]

The PSPGo is actually quite a nifty device despite not being able to play all games via UMD. The screen is of higher quality than any other model, it has a much more sturdier build, it is extremely portable rivaling the DSLite, you don't have to worry about the bulk of physical media, and you can connect a Dualshock 3 to it using Bluetooth.

All that said, the PSPGo should've been more competitively priced, but remember the Go also has 16 GB of onboard memory. Nonetheless, Sony clearly wanted to test out the digital distribution market before deciding on the final specs of the PSP 2. So yeah, customers are basically paying for a glorified marketing experiment.

[scourdx]

IMO if the device allows you to load your own game from your existing UMD games, the device wouldn't do so badly. All Sony needed was release external UMD drive.

[Mandingo]

Originally Posted by scourdx

IMO if the device allows you to load your own game from your existing UMD games, the device wouldn't do so badly. All Sony needed was release external UMD drive.

The PSPGo might have sold more if there was an external UMD drive, but the whole point of the 'Go' is that it is extremely portable, moreso than any other PSP model. So having an external drive defeats the purpose. And with concerns over piracy, I can see why Sony never came up with a solution for those who already owned UMD's.

[gurpswoo1]

The PSPGo might have sold more if there was an external UMD drive, but the whole point of the 'Go' is that it is extremely portable, moreso than any other PSP model. So having an external drive defeats the purpose. And with concerns over piracy, I can see why Sony never came up with a solution for those who already owned UMD's.

Sony could have allowed everyone with UMD games and films already to download the digital version from the server for free or even a small processing fee like a few $. No one in their right mind was going to buy a device which is 50-100% more expensive than their exisiting system, then buy all the games and film again, likely at a higher price than the UMD equivelent.

Not even the ultimate Hardcore Sony PSP fans would do that. It doesn't take a genius to work this out so why couldn't Sony.

It's not like they don't do this with their own films, they give away a digital copy with the Film so why not games.

[Mandingo]

Originally Posted by gurpswoo1

Sony could have allowed everyone with UMD games and films already to download the digital version from the server for free or even a small processing fee like a few $. No one in their right mind was going to buy a device which is 50-100% more expensive than their exisiting system, then buy all the games and film again, likely at a higher price than the UMD equivelent.

Charging a nominal fee to transfer UMD's seems reasonable. And so, I find it hard to believe that Sony would willfully neglect such a money-making opportunity. They are a business, after all. But again, piracy issues have forced Sony to not pursue such an option. Piracy already runs rampant in regards to PSP games, so I doubt Sony would want to aid such behavior. With Dissidia, in particular, the same number of who legally bought that game, also pirated it. Regardless, Sony still sells the 1000-Series PSP's, so the PSPGo is clearly marketed to first-time PSP buyers who don't want the hassle of physical media. We can act indignant over this, but it is Sony's business plan, for better or worse.

Not even the ultimate Hardcore Sony PSP fans would do that. It doesn't take a genius to work this out so why couldn't Sony.

Incorrect. I know a few hardcore gamers who have re-bought games on the PSN. And I'm sure that, Sony, as a multi-million dollar corporate entity, has a few smart people working there.

It's not like they don't do this with their own films, they give away a digital copy with the Film so why not games.

Apples and Oranges, really. The PSP is a closed-platform. Why give away a digital version of a game, when they can charge you for it via the PSN? If Sony had a digital film distribution service that you could access through blu-ray/dvd players, you better damn well believe that they wouldn't give away free digital copies.

[gurpswoo1]

Charging a nominal fee to transfer UMD's seems reasonable. And so, I find it hard to believe that Sony would willfully neglect such a money-making opportunity. They are a business, after all. But again, piracy issues have forced Sony to not pursue such an option. Piracy already runs rampant in regards to PSP games, so I doubt Sony would want to aid such behavior. With Dissidia, in particular, the same number of who legally bought that game, also pirated it. Regardless, Sony still sells the 1000-Series PSP's, so the PSPGo is clearly marketed to first-time PSP buyers who don't want the hassle of physical media. We can act indignant over this, but it is Sony's business plan, for better or worse.

Exactly my point, first time buyers had to pay a huge premium for the console, then pay considerbly more to rebuy the game on PSN for a game they could never sell on. - it would have worked if it was a digital only platform in the first place but not 4 years after the UMD drive. Everytime a new refresh of the system has been released there was never a need to buy all the games again.


i.e
PS3 > PS3 Slim
Xbox 360 elite > Xbox 360 slim
DS > DS lite, DSI DSI XL.

I take your point on piracy, but that's mainly because the device is marked to the exact demographic that do 95% of it. teenagers and uni students,

All Apple products have the same problem, although I must point out that the Nintendo DS, PS2 and especially the PS1 had far bigger piracy than the PSP and they were all the biggest selling console, 3-4 times the install base. It seems the best selling console do have the most amount of piracy, this is such a shame.

Incorrect. I know a few hardcore gamers who have re-bought games on the PSN. And I'm sure that, Sony, as a multi-million dollar corporate entity, has a few smart people working there.

Ok I may have exaggerated a bit here, but my point is that those few that did re-buy the games were not at all happy and more than likely reduce their amount of purchasing of newer games. Sony being a multi-million dollar corporate entity has made them arrogant. It not like the Playstation platform has made them the multi millions everyone keep shouting out.

They made a $3 billion loss on on first few years then they finally make a profit of £100 million, how many years will it take to make all the money back. No one seems to ask that question, the answer is never. The company is stuck in tradtion and the old ways that worked before.

The company is just to big and diverse to make a decision that is right for the company. It's because the Playstation platform did so well before and was a cash cow that they just kept saying yes to the gaming devision, but it has so far turn out to be a huge mistake. They would have been £3 billion better off if they didn't start the PS3 project and kept supporting the PS2. It's not like they don't have the smart people, they do, infact some of the best, but using them their maximum potential is what hardest.

Someone somewhere should have looked at the spiralling cost of the PS3 development and the part costs and said would they actually make money from this venture. Instead they put their trust in the division without anyone overlooking the project from the outside.

What happen next was the PSPgo one of the biggest flops in gaming histroy.

[scourdx]

Originally Posted by Mandingo

The PSPGo might have sold more if there was an external UMD drive, but the whole point of the 'Go' is that it is extremely portable, moreso than any other PSP model. So having an external drive defeats the purpose. And with concerns over piracy, I can see why Sony never came up with a solution for those who already owned UMD's.

I wouldn't mind PSPGo if I can somehow transfer my existing game and movie over. So far Sony has no solution. So I am stuck with repurchasing all the games I own.