Archive for: psp-go
Rumors of a PSP 2 (a real PSP 2, not this PSP Go BS) have been raging on and off for several years. And here were are several years later looking at the same old units. To be fair, the PSP is still a powerful portable gaming machine. For someone such as myself who prefers graphics to often gimmicky social, motion activated, or *insert fad here* tactics, true eye candy and graphical prowess are what take my cake. So when, if ever will we see the hallowed PSP 2?
If emails being sent out to PSP devs are any indication, 2011 could finally be the year. Specifically, the emails detail the ending of PSP developer kits such as the (dtp-t200a) and developer testing tool (dtp-h2500a). That could either mean (1) Sony is preparing to launch PSP 2 developer kits (reports have stated that said kits have already begun to be distributed), (2) that something as simple as expired licenses means we’ll see these dying kits come back to life at some time in the future, and (3) …nothing. I highly doubt Sony would give up on the mobile gaming market. They’ve got a great product. As far as using expired licenses — it seems like nothing more than a PR tactic to keep interested parties from avoiding any near-term PSP purchases in hopes of holding out a little longer for a PSP 2. That would mean that an impending PSP 2 is the obvious reason.
Of course, Sony will deny the truth all the way up to the last second, so we may never know until Sony wants us to know. Of course, using that same logic we can assume that the day of PSP 2 reckoning is nearing once Sony goes into super-deny mode. All I can say is that I’m more than ready for a near-PS3 quality experience in the palm of my hand. That doesn’t seem to demanding, does it?
- September 17, 2010 7:02 am
If you’re in the market for a portable gaming device from Sony, go ahead and get one. Wait, what? With news of a PSP2 in the post title, shouldn’t I be advising you to wait? Usually that would be the case. However, it’ll probably be quite a while before we see any PSP2. Hell, Sony hasn’t even announced one yet. With that said though, they don’t have to because the company behind Mortal Kombat did.
At PAX2010, Executive Producer Shaun Himmerick went ahead and let out a few opinions on the in-house PSP2 device they have for testing/development purposes, claiming that it was a “powerful machine” and citing a 60fps figure. Being that the PSP internal hardware didn’t really change from PSP to PSP Go and that same hardware is many years old, I would hope some newfound speed is finding it’s way into Sony’s mobile lineup.
Even though we don’t have any specs, pictures, or official recognition from Sony, we can rest assured that the devs working on the games that makes said hardware tick will keep us in the loop — albeit a small, rarely talked about loop. Still, I’ll take a small something over a vast nothing any day. Looks like we still have something to look forward to folks…
Even before Sony’s PSP Go launched, many more critical gamers were quick to notice the inflated price and unchanged specs from previous versions of the gaming device. While current PSP users didn’t really have much reason to upgrade, it seemed that for gamers new to the PSP scene, the PSP Go was a rather worthy choice. However, the launch was anything but perfect. With Sony backing down on previous UMD -> trade in programs to problems with transferring legally purchased content from your PS3 to your PSP, Sony is setting itself up for a major disaster. This newest problem, the fact that you can’t transfer downloaded content from your PS3 to your PSP, is the latest notch in the belt of disappointment that seems to be tightening itself around Sony’s mobile gaming market angering countless customers and turning away others. I briefly considered the PSP until I saw the trade-in program getting shelved as well as the price. One would think that a unit that is the same exact thing (hardware/performance-wise) as the original unit that debuted over four years would somehow manage to be a tad cheaper. But I digress…
The general public hasn’t exactly been eager to throw down any more cash for the Go due to the reasons mentioned above. Heck, adding insult to injury, Sony doesn’t have a fix for the current PS3 -> GO transfer issues meaning you’re SOL at the moment. Nice, isn’t it? Such experiences that Sony is currently doling out are creating lifetime Nintendo users. While not as graphically powerful, at least it works. Right?
If you picked up a PSP Go, how’s it going for you?
Ars Technica
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If you thought Sony’s pricing on the PSP Go was say…a bit overpriced, you wouldn’t be alone. Not by a long shot. The biggest culprit that is causing people to feel like the PSP Go is a lack of value is the botched trade-in program that was to let old PSP/3000 users trade in physical media for certificates or cards for digital copies. Of course, a smaller screen, identical internal specs, and the inclusion of sub standard specs (WiFi b we’re looking at you) rounds out a wholly bland release on Sony’s part. Not to mention, spending a few minutes on Google will garner a fair amount of reviews bashing the unit for high price and low value as well.
Because of the specs listed above and the problems associated with them, many thought since the PSP Go was a PSP-lite of sorts that the price tag would accurately reflect that belief. We should all know Sony by now…
If you’re not quite down with the current price, look no further than the internet for wallet relief. Many big name online retailers including Amazon, Play, HMV and GAME are strong arming Sony’s over inflated price. In many places in the UK, Sony’s “new” gadget is going for under £200 in the UK! Quite the deal. Though many would again claim that’s what is should have been from the start. Have you taken the dive and purchased a PSP Go? Happy/Sad? How cheap did you pick it up for. Oh…do share.
Electric Pig
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- September 25, 2009 8:04 am
PSP owners: Do you have a small collection of UMD’s? Looking forward to the PSP Go’s digital only approach? With any major change up such as the move from physical to a digital only distribution method comes two sides. One side is happy. One side is not. Ignoring whatever side you choose, if you thought you’d have a sure fire way to backup or copy over your previously purchased UMD movies to digital copies for your brand spankin’ new PSP Go will have some thumb twirling to do as you wait around for Sony and their partners to get their act together. According to Sony:
We were evaluating a UMD conversion program, but due to legal and technical reasons we will not be offering the program at this time
They do note however that they are actively working on a UMD trade-in program of sorts that would allow UMD owners to trade-in their physical copies for a digital. Hardly the solution many wanted, though better than nothing I guess.
Does it bother anyone how “our property” is becoming less ours and more of a “rental” from the manufacturer?
Gizmodo > Kotaku
- September 23, 2009 12:08 pm
The PSP Go to some is the same machine with a slightly redesigned control scheme and inflated price tag. To others it is the way of the future as it drops physical games and ushers in the era of software/downloadable only games. That very same “futuristic” feature may be hurting it in the classic retail environment. First Dutch based retailer “Nedgame” pledged to ignore the PSP Go as they felt it “didn’t offer them the customer any value” with its lack of physical media. The lack of physical media means no game trade-ins which for Nedgame and other used game retailers means no sales, no money, and no job. Some may see this as an issue, but for many I would assume the lack of physical media is a blessing. Gone are the bulky cartridges that take up valuable space as well as minuscule game card formats that are insanely easy to lose. Once you step back and look at the bigger picture, one can see the only people that will be “hurt” by the shift from physical media are outlets that thrive on physical media sales and re-sales.
- September 21, 2009 12:48 pm
Sony’s grand plan of having PSP Mini games take off and become as popular as and comparable to iPhone game offerings have become a little less realistic after an announcement last Thursday at a Game Developers Conference presentation. While PSP Mini games will benefit from a faster approval process, the grim details talk of limited functionality and features put a blemish on something that could have been much better. The list of disappointments on upcoming PSP Mini games include the banning of PSP Mini apps from using any networking features as well as excluding said games from any downloadable content. Further casting a cloud over these seemingly favorable little apps is the fact that Sony has also put the kibosh on any 3rd party peripheral support.
While I understand cutting costs and pushing apps through faster means some sacrifices have to be made, when considering Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch apps all of which have full support of the blacklisted Sony features means Sony’s attempt at even matching Apple has failed before it’s even started. Why companies shoot themselves in the foot like this is beyond me. Are the suits that run these companies really that out of touch with reality and their customer base?
Electronista < Joystiq
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When new gadgets come out rendering our once prized possessions, our older gadgets, we are often caught up in a moment of love at first sight as we anxiously calculate in our heads many times over the finances needed to pick up the latest electronic gizmo that has captured our fancy, reassuring ourselves that we can in fact afford said device. (Whether we actually can or not is another issue all together). So often however we forget that there isn’t just the device itself but many other accessories such as cables, chargers, pouches, etc. that cost extra and aren’t included with the original purchase. When we move from one generation to the next of a particular model line, many hope that the accessories will carry over, and, if the manufacturer is one that actually cares about customers and has an intelligent R&D team, being able to allow such backwards compatibility with accessories is in reality, not that hard.
Even though Sony loves to play the deny game, and have been doing so concerning any rumors that had to do with any PSP replacement, have finally got nowhere to hide. Mere days before E3 is set to kick-off with Sony officially announcing the PSP-Go, pictures of Sony’s next iteration of the PSP have been leaked giving everyone the ability to take a nice long stare at the Go. Besides looking remarkably different than the PSP-3000 by way of a new slider/controller design, the Go features:
- 3.8″ Display (Resolution unknown at this time)
- 16GB flash internal memory
- Memory Stick Micro support
- Full Playstation Network Support as well as full integration with Playstation 3
- Bluetooth w/ support for phone tethering and BT headset support
If those specs are enough to make you drool over, you may be happy to know you’ll only have to wait a little longer as the Go is rumored to be released sometime this fall. Also, the PSP-Go is not actually a replacement for the PSP-3000 as they are going to be sold along side each other. If you have a PSP-3000, is the early leak of the PSP-Go enough to motivate you to part with your old love and move on to something new? If you don’t have any PSP at all, is the Go finally the unit you’ve been waiting for? Is the new slider design perfect for your fatter fingers? A few more eye candies and the chance to verbalize your deepest passions await you after the click.
