PSP Go a failure - Should we buy one.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Mandingo]

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.

What I meant by 'first-time' buyers, are those people who have never owned a PSP before buying a PSPGo, thus they wouldn't have to rebuy games off of the PSN, because they never bought UMD's in the first place. I'm just pointing out a different demographic Sony was trying to reach with the PSPGo, but admittedly, they have failed miserably. In fact, one of their corporate reps has pretty much said the same thing, in different words. Also, Sony hasn't forced consumers to buy a PSPGo -- it's just an option for those who want the convenience that a PSPGo offers. And often times, convenience comes at a price. If you want a laptop with the same specs as a desktop, you will pay more for the laptop, and so on, and so on.

And again, Sony still sells regular PSP's, so it's not a huge deal. If Sony only started selling the PSPGo at the retail level and got rid of the UMD models, that would be a major problem.

The only thing that sucks for PSPGo buyers is that often times new releases on the PSN cost the same as their UMD counterparts. You would think that digital releases would be cheaper since there is no cost of packaging.

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.

The thing is, Sony initially stated they were working on a solution for existing PSP owners with UMD's. That proposition never materialized for whatever reason, and I can't say for sure that their reasoning behind this decision was invalid. I have to believe that highly educated individuals in business have a better grasp on their market and products than you or I.

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.

The PSPGo may have been a flop, but the PSP platform itself is strong, especially in Japan. So, I don't think Sony will bat an eye at the PSPGo's failure, because, as I have said before, Sony patently wanted to test out the digital distribution market. And that's not a bad endeavor actually, as they can now take what they've learned with the PSPGo and apply it to the development of the PSP 2.

As for the rest of your statement, it seems to be a mixture of speculation and facts, so I won't address them.

[gurpswoo1]

What I meant by 'first-time' buyers, are those people who have never owned a PSP before buying a PSPGo, thus they wouldn't have to rebuy games off of the PSN, because they never bought UMD's in the first place. I'm just pointing out a different demographic Sony was trying to reach with the PSPGo, but admittedly, they have failed miserably. In fact, one of their corporate reps has pretty much said the same thing, in different words. Also, Sony hasn't forced consumers to buy a PSPGo -- it's just an option for those who want the convenience that a PSPGo offers. And often times, convenience comes at a price. If you want a laptop with the same specs as a desktop, you will pay more for the laptop, and so on, and so on

I though Sony had already targeted the DD demographic with the normal PSP, doesn't that allow you to download games to the memory stick aswell as the option to purchase the UMD. I do take you point about convenience costing I don't think this will ever chnage.

And again, Sony still sells regular PSP's, so it's not a huge deal. If Sony only started selling the PSPGo at the retail level and got rid of the UMD models, that would be a major problem.

Woah don't get me wrong, I think the Normal PSP has been a huge success. I'm just referring to the PSPgo in this instance.

The only thing that sucks for PSPGo buyers is that often times new releases on the PSN cost the same as their UMD counterparts. You would think that digital releases would be cheaper since there is no cost of packaging.

Lets not forget distribution cost and profit margins, store overheads and profits margin, delivery to your door and finally taxes and duties for each stage. What's more in some cases the UMD actually cost less to purchase than the DD.

[Mandingo]

I thought Sony had already targeted the DD demographic with the normal PSP, doesn't that allow you to download games to the memory stick aswell as the option to purchase the UMD.

I don't remember the exact timeline, but I believe PSN content, in regards to full game downloads, was pretty barren until the release of the PSPGo. So, if I'm not mistaken, Sony didn't full-on attempt to reach the DD market before the PSPGo's release. I mean, if you look at the PSPGo's build, the device is very specifically meant for DD: It's small, has a good amount of onboard memory, and of course, lacks any moving parts through the exclusion of an optical drive.

And if you look beneath the surface, I believe that Sony also wants to squeeze-out used game sales and positioned the PSPGo as a testing ground to gauge consumers' reaction to a. . . DD only model. But alas, I will refrain from going further into that issue.

In any case, Sony would've been foolish not to let everyone access the PSN, regardless of the model PSP they owned. In addition to content consumers would normally buy off the PSN, Sony also makes money selling memory sticks too, you know.

[gurpswoo1]

I don't remember the exact timeline, but I believe PSN content, in regards to full game downloads was pretty barren until the release of the PSPGo

Really - Not using a PSP through it's life, I don't really know. If that's the case then there really is a point to the PSPgo. Oh well. I just presume that because it has a memory stick it had that function from the start.

But alas, I will refrain from going further into that issue

Completely agree, think were going a bit

Back to the question, should we buy a PSPgo?

[Mandingo]

Back to the question, should we buy a PSPgo?

Another thing to remember is that, in the future, there is no guarantee that you will be able to download games/content from the PSN using a PSPGo. Developers who post content to the PSN have to endure licensing fees and other costs, which means over time, games and other stuff will be pulled off the PSN. That in my opinion, further degrades the long-term value of the PSPGo.

Whereas with UMD's or other physical media, they will be available for quite some time on the second-hand market. That's just my perspective as a hardcore collector. As a fanboy, I will certainly buy one for its unique features, but not until its priced in the $100-$120 range.

[scourdx]

Wait for the Sony Ericsson PSPGo phone.

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