Wow. Looking at how much the PSPgo costs in some areas, it's no wonder that the system continues to be a retail pariah. As stores across Europe boycott the all-digital handheld system, it's been revealed that the PSPgo costs the same as a PS3 in Denmark, causing a considerable amount of retailers to shun the machine.
Nedgame was the first Danish outlet to refuse the PSPgo, and now Fona, Danish Supermarket and Coolshop.dk have all opted to ignore the latest PlayStation Portable. Considering the size of some of these stores, it's safe to say that the PSPgo is not being welcomed with open arms in Denmark.
"We initially chose not to take PSPgo into the mix," says Fona commercial director, Mikael Drott. "We believe it is priced wrong compared to the PSP we sell now. It must come down in price before it will be interesting for us. Right now it costs just the same as a PlayStation 3."
Yeah ... I can hardly blame any retailer who is expected to sell a UMD-less handheld that costs the same as a home console. Sony expecting that of any competent retailer is absolutely stupid. It's amazing how Sony seems committed to taking all its good ideas and then pissing all over them ... and it wonders why it's in third place.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
5:20 PM on 09.24.2009
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I have to say though what about the iPod Touch and iPhone? It just now kind of struck that by selling me an iPhone I no longer have to buy CDs or even a computer for my music and yet retailers stock that. I dunno. Just a thought. I may be missing the point.
Also how much will retailers be making off of each PSPgo sold?? I assumed that the higher price was to compensate retailers with a bigger cut of the profit pie, make up for the lack of UMD sales, but I guess not. Like they say when you assume things....
I am pretty underwhelmed by sony's lack of a UMD -> Digital Copy exchange program. However I only really play like 1 or 2 of my 15+ UMD games anyhow so it isn't the end of the world for me ( I still have my old psp right? If I MUST bust out a classic game ill simply bust out the old psp.. ).
I got one preordered from dell.com for only 220$ after tax and shipping! (thank you gizmodo deals!) which is at least a bit better than the 250$ asking price. The price they are asking for it in Denmark is ridiculous though!
Just my 2 cents, but I think the haters are making a bigger noise than the supporters, I think the GO still has a chance at doing well. However, 250$ is a REALLY high price for this gadget, right on the fringe of crazyness. Some people will still buy it, but once you jack it up to ~400US$ like it is in some territories, you can basically expect very very few to buy it.
For one, I don't support digital distrobution AT all.
They cut out all various amounts of expenses that a normal game would incur along the way. They cut out costs on: a Disc, the game case, manual, shipping, importing, exporting..etc and yet they want to charge the SAME amount.
How does that add up?
Plus, retailers loose out as they wont be abkle to carry these games online in their stores so what the benfit of them selling the PSPgo? It's like forcing a car store to sell bolts for a tire that you can only buy from the factory, who the hell would want to cartty those bolts?
Actually I have gotten the impression that PSP owners looking forward to upgrading are the majority.
My issue for hating the PSPgo is twofold. First of all my gaming budget is slim and I don't have faith in Sony being any better than MS at pricing shit on their online service. Granted we haven't seen what they'll do yet but there is no way in hell I'm gonna take the risk. Maybe if they don't fuck shit up after the second year I'll cave ik but as Jim said Sony has a long of history of having great ideas an dropping the ball on them.
Also Sony hasn't developed a UMD to digital program. That tells me they don't have much interest in saving me a buck and that just outright scares me.
The all digital future is riculously scary to me. I don't wanna sound like a Republican here but I don't trust the United States of Sony to socialize my gaming.
iphone costs as much as a Wii, or will this weekend. Same with Zune. Both can be used as portable game systems. Both cost more than PS2, which is a home console, last time I checked. The DSi costs more than a home console. I suppose Apple, Microsoft, and Nintendo are also amazing stupid, right Jim? I'm sure you that since you are expertly qualified in all financial matters, you simply haven't had the time to write stories about how amazingly stupid Microsoft, Apple, and Nintendo are yet. Right? Of course you haven't had time yet. Otherwise, you would look like a hypocrite.
Or a shill.
Woah. Woah. An iPhone does a shit ton more than a Wii so that comparison is piss poor. You can watch a movie on it right out of the box for one.
There is so many other factors that Jim mentions that you have left out. I am to busy to actually spend the time to refute your post so just know that you are wrong and your argument and thus your insults are unfounded.
Here in Brazil a PSP costs around 800 bucks.
You buy a car in the US with this.
Haters are always louder than supporters. Look at the republicans and those tea party idiots.
STFU, the iPhone is not a gaming device. It's a phone with which you can download apps and alot of them happen to be games. I have a calculator that plays tetris, should I start comparing it to the PSP to shit on it?
Seriously, grow up and stop comparing peaches with carrots.
Sorry my man but you're comparing apples and oranges.
The iPhone does more than the PSPgo and yes that does matter. Jim is saying the PSPgo costing as much as a PS3 is ridiculous and he's fucking right. Dude one is a handheld and the other is a Blu-Ray player.
If you're telling me those two things can be evenly priced and people should just say "Okay," clearly I know what label I can tag you with and you're just not worth my time.
but do remember that the original psp cost $185 for just the console, $225 for the value pack in 2004. back then a ps2 also cost around $149
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psp#Launch
http://play.tm/news/3561/e3-2004-ps2-price-dropped-stateside/
so, yes it is a high price, but looking back at the original psp launch; its on par with pricing, in comparison to its bigger home console brother PS3 (atleast for those in the USA.) EU you get a free AWESOME game but always get that usual price hike vs us/canada.
so i agree both ways. and most likely will end up with since i did buy a psp on launch day too (no one thought they'd sell then either, it was $80 more than a ps2!). peace
I honestly don't know who Sony is marketing this thing to. It's priced to high for the casual market. Hell it's priced to high for anyone with half a brain. I guess they are just trying to sucker as many early adopters as they can into buying this before the inevitable price drop.
But this time Sony already has multiple PSP's on the market, with their 3000 being both half the price and all around more useful. When the PSP first launched, there wasn't a PSP competing with it. Now there is compitition from within it's own brand, as it's former model is for just about everybody a better deal than the PSP Go.
Australia: JB Hi-fi: PSP Go + Nothing = A$449.95
Australia: EB Games: PS3 + Games = A$496
Australia: EB Games: PSP Go + Nothing = No price, not even listed & not taking pre-orders.
Seriously!? God dammit.
*runs to Kotaku*
dude the article says that Sony won't have UMD conversion at launch. your the second guy i've had to tell not to spread flame bait.
"We were evaluating a UMD conversion program, but due to legal and technical reasons we will not be offering the program at this time," a Sony Computer Entertainment of America spokesman told Kotaku.
"We are looking into programs for owners who have previously purchased UMD titles and want to exchange them for digital versions," Sony Computer Entertainment's Brian Keltner told Kotaku at the time. "It's something we are still hammering out the details. As soon as we have solid plans in place we will make an announcement."
http://kotaku.com/5367207/sony-nixes-plans-for-umd-conversion-program-for-pspgo
In other words, there is quite literally no working plan to transfer your UMDs for legal and technical reasons.
But for all of you with your panties in a bunch over this, I didn't say one negative thing about iphone, Apple, Nintendo, MS, or anyone else, except for Jim, whose job it seems is to stir the pot whenever possible. I'm just calling bullshit where I see bullshit. And once again, I'm not comparing the features of these devices, except for their ability to play games, and or make phone calls. If my using Apple products to illustrate a point hurts your feelings, then wipe away your tears and consider the other devices mentioned.
And for those not old enough or smart enough to tell the difference, discussing and hating are not the same thing. I have no intention of getting a PSPgo now or at any time in the foreseeable future. Personally I think Jim is right about the PSPgo being overpriced. In fact, I think digital distribution is almost always a ripoff. I will never purchase a digital version when it costs the same or even slightly less than a physical product. I was merely pointing out that Jim is...uneven in his criticisms. Or to put it another way, Jim bashes the PSP, and Sony in general, considerably moreso than he does the other companies. And I called bullshit. It just appears to me that he uses a double standard when one standard is much better.
To put it another way, I agree with his message, just not the uneven way he delivers it. And I also think everyone who reads Destructoid would be better served if Jim used the same level of scrutiny for MS, Apple, Nintendo, etc. that he does with Sony.
Besides, I don't remember consumers asking for a remodeled PSP with no UMD. No, they want a portable PSP2 which = the power of a PS2 (10 year old console). Come on Sony, get it RIGHT!
But he didn't.
@wastedyears
You're basing your entire argument around last gen consoles or a console that doesn't cater to most gamer's interests.
Sony's peddling a 4 year old game console at the exact same price that it's original model sold for. How's that a realistic price point? I download games on it. Oh right. Well, I'm sure it's got built in 3G service like the Kindle? No? Well, then I'm sure they've got a free hotspot deal lined up right? No?
Can I make calls on it?
I don't even really understand your argument. You're mad that the popular consensus is that the PSPgo is expensive and was a waste of time to bring to market?
Um, loads of stuff costs more than a PS2, FYI. That doesn't make a flying flip of difference. The big point is that Sony's delivering LESS than the previous model for a higher price. Smaller screen, can't swap the battery (in an effort to fight [scary looking font]PIRACY![/scary looking font], game selection that's missing some of the bigger PSP library titles, this list does go on...
I'm really bored of hearing things that suck about the PSPgo. I want to see some news that it's actually got some killer feature with the PS3 (expanded remote play to enclude Blu Ray and DVD support) or maybe that PSN-PSP games are half price for the first 3 months to make up for the crap library of current titles.
Well that's not news.
We all knew they were "hammering out the details." It's never been something that was going to be there out the gate.
No I don't expect them to. Which is why I want the ability to shop around. PSPgo and a DD-exclusive future kills that for me and I haven't the budget to pony up full price most of the time.
Also, theoretically Sony saves money using DD so they could give us a discount over DD and still keep steady profits.
Can I just say if the PSPgo can successfully be DD-exclusive and not a rip of a product I will eat my words proudly. I'm anything from a troll or a flameraiser. I want to love the PSP again.
PSP Go is over priced and will flop miserably. Just look how long it took Sony to stir PS3 sales again since they were too high? On top of that, its amazing that retailers are boycotting it (this has never happened in the games industry before to a console, and the fallout could really hurt Sony, who rely more on selling outside of japan now.
Its going to be the same shit, different day, and people will just buy a cheaper DSi instead. Or even a PS3 seems a better option, than PSP Go. Sony are just too stupid for words.
I think the issue is legal crap moreso than money. I think Sony wants to have the UMD to digital option honestly. I think it's just rights and crap like that.
I don't get why they can't just make you use the UPC code, make it only available to one download, and charge a licensing fee to cover any rights stuff.
I mean, releasing something that's not as fully-featured as the previous version for MORE money is pretty goddamn dumb, and if you think that's a deal, a steal, the sale of the fucking century - then fuck it, Nick, I think you can keep it.