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PSP Minis service launches, prices are atrocious photo

PSP Minis, the bite-sized downloadable game service for the PlayStation Portable, has now launched in the US and UK, just in time for today's arrival of the PSPgo. In the States, seven games are currently available on the PSN for your downloading pleasure. In the United Kingdom, there are thirteen games.

Disappointingly, the Minis games have not launched at a competitive price point, making them more expensive than the rival iPhone Apps. The cheapest Mini costs $4.99, with prices rising to $9.99. Even games that have been ported on the iPhone will cost more. Tetris, for example, costs ten bucks, making it twice as expensive as its iPhone counterpart. 

Well ... it was a nice idea when it was a theory, but I guess I had to have expected this. Instead of games costing a mere two or three dollars apiece, you'll need to pay a premium for no reason whatsoever. Was I naive to think that Sony would see one good idea through to the end? I guess so, and I guess the iPhone still remains the king of quick, cheap, downloadable gaming. Sony, you've done it again!

Sony and the PSPgo make the best PR that Apple could ever need.

US PSP Minis releases:

Alien Havoc ($4.99)

Tetris ($9.99)

Hero of Sparta ($6.99)

Brainpipe ($4.99)

Fieldrunners ($6.99)

Sudoku ($4.99)

Funky Punch ($4.99)


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62 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Death by Yeti's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:25
Death by Yeti
sounds about right
Onlineatron's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:27
Onlineatron
The prices in the UK are fine

http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2009/10/01/heads-up%E2%80%99-playstation-store-update-1st-october-2009/#more-7677

Most expensive is £3.99
Fore once... Sony hasn't screwed 'UKians'
ArcticFox's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:28
ArcticFox
ANTISONYBIAS!

Now that that's out of the way and rational discussion can proceed, I dont necessarily think these prices are quite that bad. $10 dollars does seem a bit much, but if people will buy it, then that is really their fault. At least there are $5 games too.

I think the biggest problem is Sony's tendency to test prices out in the real market. It makes me wonder if they do any form of focus testing or if they just release things and see if the market responds. I think the latter certainly seems to be the case, at least for the PS3, the PSPGo and these PSP Minis. Their initial pricing structures don't really seem to make much sense. im sure these will drop if there is a lack of sales.

And has Tetris on the iPhone always been $5?
10BobMarleys's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:29
10BobMarleys
Can we go back to calling this the PSPno? I really liked that one. PSP Noooo! Heh Heh. Go on, King of Video Games, declare it to be so.
stevenxonward's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:32
stevenxonward
The modding community needs to get moving on this thing.
Sexualchocolate's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:34
Sexualchocolate
That's because your Amurkin dollars are NOT REAL MONEY.

Apparently the UK pricing is OK.

Win.
Donovanad's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:35
Donovanad
Not that I like the prices, but when compared to DSiWare, they are on fairly the same level. On DSi, the prices range from $2.00 (useless apps like clocks and calculators) to $8.00 (full games), so its not really that bad when looking to its competitor in the games market (not that the iPhone is not in the games market).
atastysammich's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:35
atastysammich
Forget the iPhone, they're pitting their own software against itself at those prices! There's no reason for a barebones version of Tetris to be more expensive than the average PSOne game on the store. I was intrigued, but I think I'll just drop the extra Hamilton on an NIS game.
NoJ87's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:35
NoJ87
When you consider a full game is roughly $20-30, this is pretty terrible. These shouldn't cost MORE than $5, and should start a a simple 99cent point. I still won't be getting one soon, if ever.
Tha Meat's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:36
Tha Meat
Yeah, I have no problem with these prices. Who is still buying Tetris anyways?
CHU BOI's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:37
CHU BOI
@ArcticFox - I remember my buddy buying Tetris for like $8 or $10 bucks when it came. Most likely $8. All I know is that it wasn't $5 cuz on release because he was bitching about the price
tttt30's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:38
tttt30
the digital download model is great for me. I dont like having a shitload of shitty plastic DVD UMD cases around. they add up and they are really ugly.

BUT, Sony has made it very clear they intend to take every penny out of us they can. They will not pass any savings of direct distribution and also money saved on packaging to us.

minis should be no more than $5 or else they are just PSP download games.
Sexualchocolate's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:40
Sexualchocolate
God Iphones make me sick. Too many sheeple buying it because it's pretty and making out like it's some kind of games console! It's a fucking phone with some silly touchscreen games on it!

I just downloaded a scribblenauts torrent on my Nokia N97's torrent client, used the memory card slot in the phone to copy it directly onto my Acekard microSD and popped that into my DS. No PC required.

Let's see your Iphone do that!
JerinsFury's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:41
JerinsFury
$9.99 for Tetris is kind of retarded, so I fail to see how these are going to compete with iPhone apps when most are in the $.99 to $4.99 range.
Tha Meat's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:46
Tha Meat
@Sexualchocolate

Pirating Scribblenauts are we? Better not let 5th cell defense force leader Jim Sterling find out about that!
Super Drybones's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:46
Super Drybones
Sony is a lot like the Democrats, they promise a lot and somehow fuck it up in delivery.

Like a fake OBGYN.
IV Backstab MC's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:49
IV Backstab MC
What sonys turning into microsoft
Super Drybones's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:52
Super Drybones
@Sexualchocolate
pirating jackass

@ IV Backstab MC
no, once they start charging you for using the store they will be microsoft.
whormongr's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:53
whormongr
they do realize we are still in a recession and there are a lot of unemployed people , no?
JustLikeBuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:57
JustLikeBuck
@whormongr
Chances are those who have bought a console of any kind, then complain about a recession being on has bigger problems.
ArcticFox's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:58
ArcticFox
@Sexualchocolate

Jesus dude, that post made it sound more like you're jealous of the iPhone. It is not a gaming machine per say, but it does save me the trouble of having to bring my DS or my PSP everywhere and is great if an unexpected wait time pops up. Nobody seriously plays games on it. The games that are on it are distractions really, nothing more, and they don't really claim to be anything more. Maybe if you spent some time with one and took your troll hat off you would see that the games are fun little distractions and arent really meant to be anything deeper. It's just a treat that some of them, like Mecho Wars, are. Apple really only touts it as a game machine because it technically is and it is great for the casual gamer, the vast majority of whom are not going to be pirating DS games on their goddamn cell phone. And those "sheeple" who buy it buy it because its a goddamn handheld computer that is easy (not to mention fun) to use. No one buys the thing cause it can play games. They buy it because of the sheer amount of things it can do and they don't need the professional style of a blackberry.

It's also good to see you're willing to admit to stealing cash from hardworking developers like 5th Cell. Good work, troll.
Evergreen's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 10:59
Evergreen
@ NoJ87

Full games are up to $40, which is outrageous. Even for a UMD I thought that price was outrageous.
dip's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:03
dip
DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION IS AWESOME, CONVENIENT, CHEAPER GAME DUR HUR
RitualNet's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:06
RitualNet
Isn't there an iPod game on the Mini service? Hero of Sparta or something. Under £2 for the iPod version, £3.99 for the Mini version, the only thing it has going for it is hardware buttons. Ok I do like physical buttons, but I've actually started enjoying stuff like twin-stick shooters (MiniGore, Against the Fire!, Alive4Ever) on the iPod.

Removing the control system, it's still £2.50 or more that you have to pay for the convenience of an iPod game on the PSP.
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:07
Tubatic
I don't run a billion dollar company, but how are they botching this so hard?!

Then again, if you're willing to pay $250 for a PSPgo, you can probably get away with a $5 to $10 price point for impulse-buy games. It works for the cellphone software industry, I guess...
CelicaCrazed's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:08
CelicaCrazed
I saw the prices for PSP games on the PS Blog last night and I have to say Sony can go fuck themselves. I've been one of the biggest supporters of the PSPgo but their prices aren't anywhere close to being fairly priced. Well maybe "fair" to those who fear digital distribution like the plague but I was really expecting the older games to be more competitively priced.

Definitely not buying a PSP anytime soon if the prices are going to be that much.
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:11
Xzyliac
@SexualChocolate
Dude I can download hundreds of great games for free from ANYWHERE at anytime.

Is it it a competitor against the PSP or DS? Fuck no. But it sure as hell is a viable gaming machine for little burst of boredom and really that is just as decent a portable experience as any.

Also, the PSPgo is evil. God damn Nazi machine.
Everyday Legend's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:18
Everyday Legend
@ Sexualchocolate
"I just downloaded a Scribblenauts torrent...and put it on a microSD...to play on my DS."

This, sir, is why I consider you a total bastard. You're trying like hell to make it sound as if Sony is some sort of saintly company who isn't trying to rape the consumer wholesale, and then in the next breath you exclaim that you pirate new software, which essentially takes money from a worthy developer's mouth.

You totally fucking suck as a human being, never mind a gamer.
Everyday Legend's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:24
Everyday Legend
Oh, and I'm not a part of the iPhone defense force - I rock a BlackBerry 9630 (Tour), and do 90% of my DToid posts from said device (it only looks work-appropriate!).

Still, I stand evermore behind my previously-made statement. Yes, it's true, Your Honor: Sexualchocolate has no dick.
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:25
Xzyliac
@Everyday Legend
Hot damn.
TopKatt's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:26
TopKatt
As has been mentioned upthread, the UK pricing for the minis is pretty much spot on. Bizarre decision from Sony really, I'm starting to wonder if the US hasn't upset them somehow.
wutang4ever's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:28
wutang4ever
ummm why are people bashing sony? is it sony making these prices atrocious or the developers?! EA released Tetris, they think they can get away with a $10 price tag? when def jam fight for NY is 10 bucks on the PSN! Don't get why people are bashing sony for putting games up on the PSN, its the developers/publishers of those games you should whine about.
Los255's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:30
Los255
lol
stevenxonward's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:33
stevenxonward
@ wutang4ever

If Sony has a higher minimum price tag for games than Apple's, there is a problem.
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:35
Xzyliac
@wutang4ever
I don't know how the Mini dev process works admittedly but if it's anything like XBLA there is a price minimum. This ensures that the company hosting the game, in this case Sony, is reimbursed. I dunno how the App astore works but I wouldn't be surprised if they did the same thing.

The price hike may be because of price minimums, hosting cost, or you might be right. I think a lot of people are just skeptical of Sony. I wouldn't read too far into it.
Ninja Cameraman's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:36
Ninja Cameraman
@ Everyday Legend


You know that sport movie cliche where everybody is stunned by the awesomness, then one guy starts clapping and it spreads while stirring music ramps up and everyone is cheering?

For that brilliant post/Burn you fucking DESERVE that.


*clap.....clap......clap*
Elsa's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:38
Elsa
Even on PSN games usually launch at a higher price but often go "on sale" after awhile and are available at a reduced price. I don't doubt that over time we'll see that same thing happen.

... early adopters always pay more.
GohanGVO's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:43
GohanGVO
Every day, I am putting more stock into the conspiracy theory that this is one giant ploy to lead consumers into buying PSP-3000s. No other explanation makes sense at this point.
Buddyleej's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:56
Buddyleej
I would assume the blame doesn't go only with Sony. However, the best feature announced for the psp in years is dead before it even has a chance to get off the ground. They are idiots for doing this.
Defaultsound's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:56
Defaultsound
Meh, I couldn't care less about the prices, I agree they could come down a bit, although field runners is a great game and the sizes are quite small and perfect for on the go gaming
Everyday Legend's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 11:56
Everyday Legend
@ Ninja Cameraman

I swear, I could actually see the edges of my vision go sunburst-orange and a voice faintly screaming "ULTRA COMBO FINISH!" when I posted that retort. Dude fucking deserved that burn far more than I deserved the clapping, but that inspirational clapping montage is so thoughtful - thanks, man.

We.
Are.
DESTRUCTOID.
:oD
Everyday Legend's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 12:00
Everyday Legend
@ GohanGVO

Considering Sony's world-famous "Throw More Money At The Problem, Maybe Then It'll Go Away Or Right Itself" business strategy, I think you may be legitimately onto something.

What better way to boost up sales of the near-flatlining UMD than by making it seems as if it's about to be gone for good?

Genius. Evil, but genius nonetheless.
Ganjookie's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 12:03
Ganjookie
They seem like good price points to me.

Not being an Apple fan I have never checked out their pricing structure for hardware or software. I think that Sony may be relaying on this type of user to sell the minis off.

I wouldn't expect to pay more then $10 for a mini or app software from a dev team (pro or amateur)
Midgetsnowman's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 12:09
Midgetsnowman
I'm amused by sexualchocolate of all people calling another rabid fanbase sheep. Its like the pot not ony noticing the kettle is black, but tossing charcoal dust and black paint on it before doing so.
Tha Meat's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 12:14
Tha Meat
@ Everyday Legend

You're my hero for the day!
ouched's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 12:22
ouched
@ Sexualchocolate

You're stealing from 5th Cell, on top be being the most pathetic Sony fanboy to ever troll Destructiod?

Go die in fire, right now.
Robbo the hood's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 12:29
Robbo the hood
How is 4 pounds spot on? Unless Apple is screwing you guys too, that's a pretty garbage price.
Arch649's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 12:36
Arch649
Why Sony? WHY?
sheppy's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 12:39
sheppy
You know, at this point I really think it's finding ANYTHING to bitch about. It really is. I mean I logged in with my PSP-1000 and found plenty of full games dropped to VERY good prices including Prinny for $10. I dropped $45 this morning, no complaints. And Jims coverage on PSP Go, despite having a huge amount of games at DAMN decent prices, even rips apart Minis. And of course this is ALL Sony's fault once again.

Oh wait, let me check my development sources on Mini deving. Who sets the prices on Minis? Developers? Well fuck my ring raw, this is certainly Sonys doing since they MADE these games... oh wait...

Now you COULD be a dear and pay these ridiculous prices OR you could do what Apple's audience did when devs pulled this shit, even with the above mentioned Tetris, DON'T FUCKING BUY IT. By Mana Kharmia for $15 instead. Buy Prinny or Badman for $10. Buy PQ for $5. Buy Jumping Flash 2 for $6. ENCOURAGE GOOD PRICING!
Everyday Legend's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/01/2009 12:47
Everyday Legend
Sheppy has the right idea. The only true vote in a consumerist society is one made not by a person, but by that person's wallet.
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