Sony: The PSP Go Was A Test For Future Portable Plans
See Full ImageWe've heard nothing about a possible unveiling of the PSP2 at E3 (that rumor has lost some momentum), but Sony has clarified that the launch of the PSP Go was more of a test than anything.
Essentially, Sony says they were testing the waters for future handheld units. This according to what SCEE president and CEO Andrew House told MCV, where he said that their UMD-less PSP iteration "was introduced in a mature lifecycle to learn more about what the consumer wanted and we've definitely learned a lot." As most everyone knows, the PSP Go wasn't exactly a smash sales success, but House says he doesn't believe such a test is measured in terms of units sold. Rather, it was about gathering research from gamers everywhere, as a litmus test for how they would respond to a portable all-digital system. The executive went on to say:
"One of the reasons we launched PSPgo was to understand where that consumer behavior was going. We were getting signals from consumers that this was the kind of device that they wanted. But we need to recognise that consumers like their packaged media library."
Well, the signals were fairly clear from the majority of gamers, and it'll be interesting to see how Sony incorporates this feedback into the next PSP. The PSP2 has been pseudo-confirmed by a number of sources, although Sony certainly hasn't lifted the veil just yet. In the meantime, it's good to see that consumer reactions to the PSP Go haven't gone unnoticed, although we have to question if Sony considered the unit to be an experiment from the get-go...
6/8/2010 12:33:07 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (73 posts)
coverton341
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:55:18 PM
Though on the plus side of things maybe they will actually use this as an indicator that people aren't really ready for all digital media.
12 up, 0 down
Evil tele
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:07:10 PM
Reply
but seriously... sony should step it up... they're not just competing with nintendo, apple is coming up in the game.
The psp2 can be gold, if they listen to what people want.... their consumers...
psp2 should be a phone, with a design similar to that of the pspGO
1. touch screen
2. 2 analogs
3. better apps on it, to compete with apple (like the gps thing that's only available in japan)-smart phone capabilities
4. stronger, better processor
5. maybe even copy the motion sensing ability of the iphone
6. better screen with a higher resolution! (we're at that point where the psp should be 'better' that ps2 at the least)
7. better 'ideas' for connectivity with the ps3, laptops, etc, idk
8. maybe even 3d..?
i do think that dropping umd was a good idea... but they should've implemented a voucher system or something...
in other words.... copy the competition, use the cool features that are unique to other handheld devices, but to it 'better'
8 up, 4 down
Evil tele
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:43:41 PM
the iphone is starting to become a serious competitor with handheld gaming.
why would it be bad for the psp2 to be the best gaming handlheld, and put apple in their place?
1 up, 0 down
sticklife
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:54:43 PM
10 up, 0 down
Cesar_ser_4
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 4:08:19 PM
1 up, 0 down
SmokeyPSD
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 4:29:44 PM
These are the ppl which caused sony to take away backwards compatibility.
4 up, 1 down
Cesar_ser_4
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 4:49:37 PM
PS: id pay sony 100 bucks to give my slim descent backwards compatibility :'(
hehehe imagine the battery life on it if youre making a call on 3g with a bluetooth headset while playing a mini bluray game online, at full 720 hd 3d while cross game chatting with a friend, while texting another, checking email, and uhhh i dont know what else...
Last edited by Cesar_ser_4 on 6/8/2010 4:56:52 PM
0 up, 2 down
Fane1024
Saturday, June 12, 2010 @ 5:19:16 PM
1 up, 0 down
mike rlz
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:07:23 PM
Reply
8 up, 0 down
Cesar_ser_4
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 4:12:07 PM
0 up, 0 down
SmokeyPSD
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:08:36 PM
Reply
It's a great system with plenty more life in it. I'm constantly surprised at what it is capable of, Sony needs to stop experimenting, roll up their sleeves and get back on track with this great little system, by giving it even more features via firmware, making what we already have even better and produce some great games, offering incentive to 3rd party developers aswell. Grow the connectivity between the ps3 even more aswell.
I'll never understand people saying there's no games either available, the psp is seeing a boom in great games right now, with more ahead, it doesnt seem to be letting up. if not many of them are for u that's cool and all, but ur not the only person on the planet.
4 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Saturday, June 12, 2010 @ 5:20:46 PM
0 up, 0 down
realmadpuppy
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:14:08 PM
Reply
Last edited by realmadpuppy on 6/8/2010 1:14:25 PM
2 up, 0 down
SmokeyPSD
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:18:13 PM
2 up, 1 down
Lawless SXE
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:17:07 PM
Reply
As far as what it needs, I'd love to see a slide out control pad, Two analogue sticks, and the retainment of physical media but not in an optical disc format. I'd prefer the games to be released on maybe Memory Sticks or something of that ilk as then the developers would have a LOT more room to work with. A touch-screen wouldn't be a terrible idea either, but only if it was properly integrated and didn't rely on it.
Also, apparently Nintendo reckons that the 3DS processor is more powerful than the PS3 and 360. If that's true, then that will be a beast, and Sony need to top that somehow. Dare I say, Cell BE?
Peace.
0 up, 1 down
SmokeyPSD
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:19:47 PM
1 up, 0 down
Shams
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 3:54:46 PM
0 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Wednesday, June 09, 2010 @ 2:51:19 AM
Peace.
0 up, 0 down
Shams
Wednesday, June 09, 2010 @ 5:24:49 PM
0 up, 0 down
DjEezzy
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:21:47 PM
Reply
Again, I love my PSPGo. Its a very cool piece of hardware and it performs EXTREMELY well. I love the size and the portability. But it totally blows that you can only get games off of the network. Reminds me of the Sony MiniDisk and the stupid DRM'd program that went with it. I don't know if anyone remembers them, but it was just a nightmare to get anything that was recorded with it on any device other than a MiniDisk Player. It was really retarded.
0 up, 0 down
ArnoldK PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:31:45 PM
Reply
I actually saw someone on the subway last week with one...the first time ever, in fact, I've seen someone in public with a PSP Go.
5 up, 0 down
Nynja
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:00:14 PM
I couldn't even play some of the best titles out there; FF Tactics, FFVII:CC, FF1, FF2... Had I kept my old UMD PSP, I'd still be playing those great games.
0 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Wednesday, June 09, 2010 @ 2:57:49 AM
Sorry for the rudeness, on-topic now. I wholeheartedly agree that Sony really wasn't behind the PSP Go in the way they seemed to be when talking about it. I mean, I've only ever seen one thing even close to being an advert for the device, and that was in K-Mart, something about 'Now closer to you' or well, I don't rightly remember.
And, I've only ever seen seven people with PSP's in public, and no Go's so, it really defeats the purpose dunnit?
Peace.
1 up, 0 down
Milonakis
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:34:24 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
ace_boon_coon
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:35:47 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Nynja
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:07:52 PM
My "denied" reply was to a deleted post and it got shifted to your post.
I was not laughing at you.
Last edited by Nynja on 6/8/2010 2:08:17 PM
0 up, 0 down
Nynja
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:50:13 PM
Reply
F U Sony.
**EDIT**
What Sony needs to do is include a 1 time download voucher packaged in every UMD game released. This way people can have their cake and eat it too.
Last edited by Nynja on 6/8/2010 1:54:07 PM
3 up, 3 down
Highlander
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:28:10 PM
Lots of hating on Sony in this comment section. What did they do, kick your dog?
6 up, 5 down
Nynja
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:49:54 PM
I think that's reason enough, at least for me it was.
Last edited by Nynja on 6/8/2010 2:51:47 PM
2 up, 3 down
sticklife
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:58:55 PM
2 up, 1 down
Lawless SXE
Wednesday, June 09, 2010 @ 3:16:27 AM
I have no intention of buying any digital-exclusive console, so either way it's a moot point for me.
Peace.
0 up, 0 down
DjEezzy
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:58:52 PM
Reply
2 up, 1 down
Nynja
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:04:52 PM
What really burns me is that I paid Sony $250 to beta test something for them. If you include all the games and accessories I purchased for it, that's easily over $800.
Sony should reimburse me for the money I spent to QA their product.
1 up, 0 down
DjEezzy
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:06:53 PM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Nynja
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:10:20 PM
0 up, 3 down
LightShow
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:11:48 PM
Reply
I literally dont have a physical psp library to speak of, and i, plus another 100 people, were probably the only people who looked at that and said "thats my machine" right off the bat.
Last edited by LightShow on 6/8/2010 2:12:59 PM
4 up, 0 down
Nynja
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:19:12 PM
I had all these great games on UMD that I could not play on my PSP Go simply because there was no means to get that game on the system.
What Sony needs to do is include a voucher with every UMD game so customers can also get a digital copy of the game at no extra cost. Conceal the code with that "scratch away" substance.
Same as the Bluray + Digital Copy packages for movies.
3 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:37:12 PM
Reply
As for complaining that this somehow invalidates the purchase of a PSP GO...What rubbish! It does nothing of the sort. For a start, PSP games are available as download or physical purchase. The PSP GO gave Sony a reason to push digital delivery for the PSP.
The fact that the price wad high always meant that the PSP GO was for the early adopters and gadget freaks. I don't see how you can complain about what Sony has done with the PSP. We've all benefited from the test.
9 up, 3 down
Nynja
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:58:03 PM
I had every FF UMD game available on PSP. Believing SCEA's claim of bringing all UMD games to PSN for PSP Go users, I ditched the old model and bought the Go. 6 months later, the PSN still has less than 25% of all PSP games. It's now 8 months since release and new UMD games are still missing from PSN.
That alone was enough for me to get rid of the PSP Go and to develop such distaste with SCEA's lack of support for the device.
Last edited by Nynja on 6/8/2010 2:58:58 PM
3 up, 1 down
Alienange
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:46:16 PM
Reply
1 up, 4 down
LightShow
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 3:13:25 PM
wait, they do that already.
8 up, 0 down
LightShow
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 5:56:52 PM
unfortunately, apple now doesnt care really about their original ipod. innovation has stalled on it and all their creative energy is going to their touchscreen devices. i forsee an identical situation if the PSP was to go touchscreen.
0 up, 0 down
Alienange
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 10:00:12 PM
0 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Wednesday, June 09, 2010 @ 3:19:51 AM
Peace.
1 up, 0 down
Sol
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 2:55:54 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
JackC8
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 4:22:57 PM
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Maybe If someone could extract every last ounce of common sense out of my head then I too could be an executive.
1 up, 0 down
HAMCHUNKS
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 5:37:32 PM
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does anyone really believe this?
Want to know how to sell some SKUs SONY? LISTEN TO US!!! any forum will have hundreds of ppl talking about what we want! and its free!!! look at Evil tele!!! he made a list! a list!!! THEY PAY THOUSANDS FOR RESEARCH COMPANIES TO TELL US WHAT WE WANT THEN WHEN WE DON'T BUY IT, THOUSANDS FOR PR TO TELL US LIES!
just put one of us here in a consultant position and we will make what the consumers want!
----well there is my rant for the day:)
4 up, 0 down
SolidFantasy
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 7:25:00 PM
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If the PSP went all digital and the mother console stayed physical I'd be ok with that.
0 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 8:13:26 PM
Bad move, what they should have done before fully gearing up the sales, is given them to some of us as beta testers, and also have advertised them as being such a test.
Then after it was all done, yeah, sure, go ahead & sell them, but only after Sony had given the Go buyers a FREE UMD to Digital transfer as already promised.
1 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 8:16:14 PM
Who care's you ask???
Er.....Gaming collectors care, and they care a hell of a lot!
And as one of those gaming collector, I care too.
0 up, 0 down
SolidFantasy
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 9:39:34 PM
And trust me I have a neatly organized pile of games that I hold dear. But if the industry decides to go digital I don't think I'll be leading any riots.
1 up, 0 down
AirplanePeanuts
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 7:27:25 PM
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As it stands this is like the Sony's Virtual Boy (except there are at least good games for the Go, but I can play those on cheaper and less limited devices)
0 up, 0 down
hehateme
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 8:27:12 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
StangMan80
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 8:45:10 PM
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PSP2 most have No full touch screen it's ok but I don't want to be taping the screen the entire time like the dS. I do not own a dS for a reason.
The PSP doesn't need to be a phone too yea I quese that would be cool but this is a potable game divice and it most have two analog sticks.
3D what?!?!?!
Some of you are asking for to many features and then cry because it cost to much. you are the people to blame for not having BC on our PS3. Thanks. now there are people who are willing to pay sony out of the nose for it.
0 up, 0 down
Qubex
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 8:52:20 PM
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The reality is Apple... (and I have always been saying this... just ask Highlander) gaining a lot of ground and will surpass Sony in the future when it comes to compelling handheld gaming devices... they see that the future of gaming, for the most part, is mobile... Mobile devices will get much more powerful going forward, and games will look more and more spectacular on them... and Apple will lead the charge...
Sony better come out with a compelling PSP2 design, with a state of the art processor and graphics package otherwise I am saving my money for the 2nd generation of iPad and the new iPhone.
At the moment nothing compels me to get a PSP until I see a big hardware upgrade and a more "open" system architecture...
Feel sorry for the people who have been "duped" by the PSPGo train, they will no doubt suffer when the PSP2 is announced and everyone starts to sell of or mothball their PSP1's.
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
*Currently in Phenom Pehn, Kingdom Of Cambodia
Last edited by Qubex on 6/8/2010 8:55:40 PM
2 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 9:06:55 PM
Reply
All of this really has me curious about the marketing angle Sony will take with the PSP2. It would seem handhelds tend to be far more profitable at a lower cost with cheaply created and distributed software. While I, personally, don't have much interest for the majority of cheap, mind teasing games, it would seem only logical for Sony to tap into that market more aggressively to stay viable.
And while that new MGS:PW looks awesome, I can't help but wonder if Hideo's talents would've been more appreciated by creating the game as a full-fledged PS3 title.
0 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Wednesday, June 09, 2010 @ 3:36:37 AM
It would be folly for Sony to turn towards the apps market as the vast majority of titles for the PSP2. I say this because Sony has built themselves upon a foundation of the hardcore market, even if they have tried to branch out to the casuals, with varying degrees of success. To switch to the App market, which is undeniably cornered by Apple would split the user base in a big way and begin to crumble the foundations. Once that happens, the fall is inevitable, no matter how strongly the fortress is built.
On Peace Walker, sure it may have been better were the Kojimaster to develop it on the PS3, but you can't deny that it will still be Hideous (like it?). Besides, you can't fault the guy for his dedication to the Sony brand as a PSP iteration was the only way to keep it exclusive with Konami's insistence and M$'s money.
Peace.
0 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Wednesday, June 09, 2010 @ 9:59:26 AM
That may be the case with PSPgo's higher price. The inflated profit margin would placate retailers in having to give up shelf space (albeit what appears to have been a very small amount) for a product that wouldn't promise big returns on software sales.
Regardless, I can't help but think if it should've been marketed that way to begin with. Maybe Sony would've had better luck with a lower cost while allowing some retail chains, like Gamestop, to drop the product in favor of a more aggressive online ordering service, and also, Walmarts and Targets etc. Apple gets away with selling iPods without a massive increase to profit margin through this approach.
And concerning software marketing. I agree that Sony has a segment of more dedicated gamer on the PSP in comparison to something like an iPod/iPad & cell phones. Games like God of War and Metal Gear Solid: PW suggest that. I just wonder if only a handful of really high quality titles that sell around 2-3 million per release is enough to sustain a product line. And moreover, if a segment of PSP owners who do eat up to the lesser quality content are getting syphoned off to other handheld devices can't help the situation either.
I am grateful to have any dedicated effort by Hideo to offer us a Metal Gear. I would still rather have something as large in scope, like PW, to be on PS3. And that's just speaking for my own interests.
0 up, 0 down
King James
Wednesday, June 09, 2010 @ 1:44:48 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
___________
Wednesday, June 09, 2010 @ 3:32:41 AM
Reply
sony really stuffed up with this, and there only shooting themselves in the foot with it.
you would think downloadable games would be cheaper no?
WRONG!
assassins creed bloodlines from EB, game, JB HIFI $50.
off the PSN? $60!
little big planet PSP from EB, game, JBHIFI $50
off the PSN? $68!
army of two the 40th day from EB, game, JBHIFI $40
PSN? $46!
and if thats not shooting yourself in the foot enough they always take a few weeks to get new releases onto the PSN.
o, and that 5 game rebate we were suppose to get? STILL WAITING FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so let me get this stright.
im paying MORE for the system, MORE for the games AND i have to use up my download usage to get the games?
WTF?
since when do you have to pay more, for less?
soon will be paying 1000 dollars for the games, and 50 bucks for the systems!!!!!!!
2 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Wednesday, June 09, 2010 @ 3:44:32 AM
Shooting yourself in the foot? Try putting that aforementioned foot down your throat. For goodness sake, if you can't wait for a game for a few weeks, then mate, go to America, they usually get them first. What five game rebate is that I must ask?
Anyway, it was your choice to purchase the system at the price point that was being asked, knowing full well of the price of the games (those being advertised even before release), and of course your download usage. How else would you expect to get the games you want? As for your last comment, I am not going to lower myself by commenting on the stupidity I feel flows from your fingertips at writing that.
Really, I don't go off very often, but you just annoy me. I'm sorry for any insults, but honestly, someone had to say it.
Peace.
0 up, 2 down
___________
Wednesday, June 09, 2010 @ 8:13:36 AM
they release a platform and screw over everyone that buys it than wonder why its selling like sh*t.
hmmm, i wonder why i got fired after banging my bosses wife, than destroying his car.
0 up, 0 down
alex2010
Wednesday, June 09, 2010 @ 9:46:16 AM
Reply
and peace walker was due to cost of development and potential market. roughly 34 million ps3's or 60 million psp's and hugely minimized cost of production makes the psp a better choice.
and I don't think this was a test as if sony were going to release a test project I think they still would've wanted to make some money out of it, and release an official ripping software and both parties would be happy and no consumers complaining - hard copies with the option of faster loading times and longer batt life, but of course, this is sony or as I like to call them, ass backwards
0 up, 0 down
richfiles
Thursday, June 10, 2010 @ 9:24:09 PM
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That said, a future iteration of the PSP could be a BEAUTIFUL machine. Dual analog, a modern >250-300 DPI lenticular or parallax based autostereoscopic high resolution LCD with multitouch, A modern mobile processor, UMD backwards compatibility, and a Blu-Ray iteration of the UMD format. If current UMD is 1.5GB to DVD's 8.5, then equipping UMD with a Blu-Ray laser, a Blu-Ray UMD would be about 8GB to a full size Blu-Ray's 50GB. This would allow full PS2 and Xbox 360 sized media content on the device...
Imagine 8 GB downloads...
Some people might not sweat it, but there are still, and will still be many people with slower connections than modern multi-megabit broadband. Are you OK with painfully long downloads, massive amounts of expensive flash storage, just to hold a couple games, vs cheap, easily pressed BD-UMDs, all the BD-UMDs you can carry. The other option is limiting game data size to preserve fast downloads and make room for a multitude of games.
I'm not ready to give up physical media. It still has advantages. What's it feel like waiting to download a full 1.5 GB DL version of a large PSP game of the PSN. It's still slow. How many of those large games can you fit on your 16GB flash, or your 2, 4, 8, or 16GB Memory Stick?
And one more thing... I DON'T want it to be a cell phone. This should be a game console first, and still be affordable. Let people buy cell phones if they want to make calls. Don't force this thing into another unreasonable price tier, or turn it into a by subscriber contract device.
Last thing supporting the UMD... What happens when you spent $250 for a system, and $500 for 10 games. If those games are UMD, you have the option of reselling them, if you choose to do so. Say you sell when depreciation reaches 2/3 the original value. Selling the system and UMD games nets you about $255. If the games are DLC, then you can't transfer the games without giving up your PSN and violating Sony EUL. DLC can not be resold. The system, at the same depreciation would only net you about $85, and the games are a loss, a $170 loss (using the 2/3 depreciation as an example).
I like to own what I buy. While the logistics of game ownership is debatable by game companies and their arcane license agreements, at least, a PHYSICAL disc can be owned. I have no intention of buying the next PSP, if it's digital only. I will abandon the PSP product line. The next PSP MUST have some form of UMD for me to consider buying it. It must also be backwards compatible.
1 up, 0 down
firesoul453
Thursday, June 10, 2010 @ 9:37:21 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Saturday, June 12, 2010 @ 5:33:11 PM
They're ALL all-digital. Ones and Zeros, man.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 6/12/2010 5:35:32 PM
0 up, 0 down
fluffer nutter
Reply
Tuesday, June 08, 2010 @ 1:01:51 PM
If they really wanted to test the market, they would have released a lot more of the back catalog via download. Provided more incentives, even. I'm not buying their excuses.