While we all have a different opinion on Sony's forthcoming PSP Go, we can all agree on one thing: this is a great year for the PSP. Here's a short list of some of great-looking games on PSP and PSN in 2009:
* Disgaea 2
* LittleBigPlanet
* Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
* Warriors Orochi 2
* Motorstorm: Arctic Edge
* Persona
* Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?
* Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny
* Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines
* Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier
With a lineup like that, it's hard to argue the PSP is still the black sheep of the industry it was when it launched in 2005. Show somebody a PSP 3000 and you won't be laughed at - they'll ask you what you're playing.
Show somebody a PSP Go, and well... that's a different story.
When the Go was announced, I immediately planned to purchase the console, even at Sony's high price. I've been loving DD on the PC with Steam and spend more time on my consoles playing download games than I do full retail releases. I've never felt anxious about a DD future until now - since announcement, Sony has taken every step possible to make me afraid to buy their console.
They announced a UMD transfer program - two weeks to launch, and there is no information on just what this means to consumers.
They announced day-and-date UMD and PSN releases - since the announcement, not one game has seen this reality. Even a company like Nippon Ichi, releasing it's entire back line-up on the PSN for the Go launch, did not release Disgaea 2 for day one.
Last, and most important, they've failed to give me the sense of security that's necessary when purchasing DD. With Steam, I know that's it's a proven success - I can always re-download my games and backup is a drag and drop affair. With the PSP Go receiving backlash from retailers and gamers, I don't have that confidence. For all I know, the PSN store for PSP could fold under the weight of a failing platform, and I'd be left up the creek with nothing to show for it.
At this point, I almost feel like taking an entirely different route - buy a PSP Go at launch, buy all my games on UMD and wait for the console to inevitably be hacked. I've gone from Go to I-Don't-Know in the space of a few months.
Are any of us ready to trust Sony?
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I doubt the store is going anywhere. Many developers are turning to it for unique games that may not sell tons of copies but can still be profitable if they don't have to pay manufacturing fees for UMDs. It's also great for publishers that want to keep out of print games available for download.
For now I'm happy with the PSP 3000. I'm waiting to hear more about the UMD transfer program before I upgrade.
And it's not just for DD that I want a Go. I hear fantastic things about the screen (I plan on playing Disgaea) and that the control layout is nicer. And 16GB + M2 will always be more than 0 + MSPD. The game suspend feature is also fantastic, especially if it works for multiple games. That's why the shoddy handling of this whole situation makes me upset, because otherwise I think it's a great product that is [almost] worth the price tag.
Everything about how Sony is dealing with this thing is utterly retarded. I hope it flops big time and shows them that the general public isn't quite so stupid as to hand over more money for a system that will deliver far less (without any saving on games).
As for day-one releases for PSN versions of disc games, Nippon Ichi is releasing it's entire lineup for the PSP Go's launch, right? Disgaia 2 is now part of that lineup. I imagine it will be released with the rest of the stuff and they simply didn't do it right away because the Go isn't on shelves yet.
As long as you don't switch consoles, you can download PSN software as many times as you like, or should be able to if I understand the wording correctly, so I'm not worried about things becoming inaccessible. I'd also say the "backlash" the Go is getting is kind of stupid. It's backlash for something that hasn't happened yet, based on people assuming the worst. Or about how UMD is stupid but ZOMG THEY TOOK OUT UMD?! Have to pick a side for that--can't really do both.
I'm holding off until I find out how my UMDs are getting onto the thing. That's really the only concern I have. The thing will get me into more PSP games and be easier to carry. I'm pretty confident it will happen, I just don't need a Go until it does.
Apart from this fault, what are we to do with the 70+ umd discs we have collected, once the children want to upgrade or in my opinion downgrade to the go?
I personally have a 3000 psp and to be honest it rocks !! i can borow the kids games when they are in bed or out, and play them on my own console, or vice versa, but when they start wanting a psp go, they will have to buy those games all over again, and kids get bored of the same game over and over, hence the 72 umds.
sony sould have thought of this better andhave like an external umd drive like a laptop so people like us can buy a psp go and not have to worry about starting a new games collection.
Well this is just my opinion anyway, thanks
After a few hours of back and forth, I'm pretty firmly back on the Go hype train. Two weeks to Go!