During an interview with
GameBusiness.jp, Sony's product planning division head honcho, Naoya Matsui, commented that Sony always had plans to go
UMD-less, and that the
PSP Go is the fruition of all that planning. "We'd planned to release a PSP model without a UMD drive since the very beginning," Matsui said. He further makes his case by stating, "But if we'd simply released the hardware, there wouldn't have been much for everyone to enjoy. We needed to prepare the right environment for it first - things like the transferral [sic] of content with the PS3 and PSN, and PC software to manage content like music and movies such as Media Go."
Matsui explains that part of the progression of the PSP to the PSP Go is that Sony had to wait until digital content was on par with physical media, and that the timing now is right. That's one of the reasons Sony is still selling
the existing PSP alongside the Go. Well, that, and it's probably not a good idea to have a single handheld that
costs as much as a Wii.
[Via
Edge]
{ Jul 2nd 2009 at 11:45AM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:47AM
Needs more Dead Space Face.
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:16PM
Monkey see monkey do huh guys?
The Dark Wang(Ohyeahcola in disguise) @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:48PM
I'll never forget you DSG. *Cries in the corner
alienterrorist @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:36PM
They could have replaced the PSN logo with it.
Chin-Paaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:48AM
Were UMD movies always the plan as well. : P
Storm Eagle (P:FoXGameR, X:PullingADrifter) @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:51AM
Snap...?
WINterfang @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:05PM
You don't know? use this chart.
http://blog.mrhacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/oh-snap-chart.jpg
Wiizer (Michael Pachter MUST DIE.. Professionally) @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:50AM
"it's probably not a good idea to have one single handheld available for purchase that costs as much as a Wii."
BUT, have you seen the graphics??? They're almost on par with the PSP!
Chin-Paaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:51AM
And I can hook it up to a TV or put it in my pocket and also plays PS1 games! Sorry Wii. : D
Mr Khan @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:56AM
eh, Wii can play N64 games. They're better.
:P
Ashitaka @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:17PM
Sure they are! Keep telling that to yourself.
Help me! @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:18PM
Tell them, bro!
cuteSAVAGE @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:01PM
Apples and Oranges. N64 is great if you have enough friends willing to drop everything to come over and play some BFD, GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, or SSB. PSone is great if you crave deep single player games (especially JRPGs).
Unfortunately, neither the Wii or PS3/PSP capture the greatness of either console. Rare games will never be available on Virtual Console, thus eliminating 75% of the greatest multiplayer games of all time. And the US PlayStation store seems to have everything but PlayStation's bread and butter.
Platinum_Skeet @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:33PM
A mod PSP can play everygame from PS1 to Atari.
If PSPGo is able to run emulated firmware then PSPGo wins in the discussion on what's worth buying...
AustinAM @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:51AM
The price point is ridiculous. Keep in mind that the Wii also comes with a game. Don't get me wrong, I'm still getting it, but C'MON SONY!
Jack Tretton @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:21PM
"The price point is ridiculous [but don't] get me wrong, I'm still getting it."
Sony's counting on impatient saps like you.
kill_strike @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:50AM
I love my psp, but I call bullcrap on this. Sony wanted UMD to be revolutionary but we all see what happened now they are just backtracking and trying to forget about the whole UMD format.
Oh and the GO is waaaaaaaayyy too expensive
WINterfang @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:08PM
Yeah that's like if the Blueray would have lost the format war, then Sony will came out with some lame excuse for the lack of blueray on newer PS3 interactions. ( at double the price)
tenor77 @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:52PM
Umm yeah this is called Spin.
See they also planned on phasing out Betamax as well. It just received a slightly earlier retirement than was originally planned.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:51AM
I don't really believe it. They didn't really want UMD, but they went so far as to even release movies on it (which were only viewable on the screen, not even video out).
I'm normally a pretty staunch Sony defender, but come on guys, it's not necessary to try to backfill all your decisions. Just say "we decided to change directions".
Jinsenken @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:46PM
Far...even...
Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?
>_> Couldn't resist.
Old Professor Zertoss @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:51AM
*sniff sniff* For a second there, I thought I had wandered into the cowboy universe again, but it turns out I'm just smelling bullshit.
WINterfang @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:12PM
I read that with the Professor voice so it makes it 3 times as funny.
Mr Khan @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:53AM
I find this hard to believe, as it means they would have had to assume that UMD would be a failure as a general-purpose format from the beginning
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:00PM
not necessarily.....I mean Think of it this way. people ran with VHS for a while KNOWING it wouldnt last long. and then the same with DVD, and the same with Blu-ray.. Not to mention it cost less to go all digital in terms of packaging and materials. The gamble is will enough people buy the product knowing that they cant trade games in when they are bored with them or if they suck. I'm sure if that PlayStation Cloud stuff is true then that is going to eventually lead to streaming console games some years down the road.....
Girugamuk (Moptimus Slimed) @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:52PM
dude, VHS has been around since the 70's, it lasted about 25 years on top
DVD showed up around 93, its lasted 16 years and is still going strong
people didn't buy them "KNOWING it wouldnt last long". They bought them because they KNEW it WOULD last long. Thats why Blu-Ray is still losing out to DVD
Chin-Paaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:13PM
Actually DVD showed up in retail in 97.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:54AM
I believe this, hell I expected this. But not UNTIL the PSP2. The PSP Go! Really caught me off guard and the price is ludicrous. I can see sells of this tanking and then they phase out the 16GB version and introduce a 32GB version for $199 meanwhile the PSP-3000 will get priced at around $145 with a bundle....making way for the PSP2 to come in 2011 or 2012 at the latest.....for around $250
Cheesus(Crust) @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:56AM
But its better than the Wii because it has better games and a ton of homebrew right?
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:07PM
what the hell are you talking about??
Jake B @ Jul 2nd 2009 3:21PM
What the hell are you talking about Chris D.
A. You are not tough.
B. Whoever is in your screen pic looks like a giant D-bag.
C. Your commentary sucks
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jul 2nd 2009 5:14PM
Seriously???
as for being tough and looking like a "douchebag"....say it to my face....
Peter @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:35PM
@ Cheesus & Jake BUh, what the hell is your problems anyway? There was absolutely nothing wrong with Aggies comment. And I think that he's probably right with his speculations, more or less.
WINterfang @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:56AM
Which on is the biggest rip off?
PSPgo! or DSi.
Storm Eagle (P:FoXGameR, X:PullingADrifter) @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:57AM
Definitely the GO!
DSi added things, GO! just took them away....
Chin-Paaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:59AM
Actually, the DSi took away GBA compatibility, some care about it, some don't, but something was taken away from the previous model.
Chin-Paaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:00PM
The PSP GO has also added Bluetooth, only useful feature I can think of it right now is hooking the GO up to a TV at certain times and playing games with the PS3's Sixaxis or Dualshock 3 controllers.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:06PM
its they are both ripoffs from a certain perspective. I mean TONS of people still use the GBA slot on DSLites hell its 2 or 3 DS games that wont play on the DSi because that slot is gone. Sure it added an SD Card slot and 2 cameras but to some people that wasnt worth $50 since they took away that GBA slot...
PSPGo! took away a UMD drive that is detrimental to the play of a past CURRENT Gen Library. Although they say they are working on some sort of trade in program that seems like it may be too much of a hassle. then there is the fact that everyone has mentioned 16GBs of flash memory arent that costly. Hell you can buy the Hi-speed 16GB SD cards for like $25 in some places. Which on the other hand they added bluetooth to it which opens up a hold world of possible interactivity with not only headset, phones, printers, etc, but also the PS3. Is that worth the $70+ difference only each individual person can decide.
Mr Khan @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:12PM
DSi took away your ability to play games from last generation, PSP Go! took away your ability to play games from this generation.
Take that for what you will
CJLopez @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:21PM
i'll say GO!!!
Ok, GBA slot loss was a mayor loss, but at least they added a couple of cameras that add new features and new thing devs can work with in future games, more ram and CPU so devs can give better looking games, lighter and has new things in the DSiWare section. Besides, maybe they hadn't announced but i'm pretty sure ther will deliver VC on the GBA, there's a lot of potential for it. And besides, between a Lite and a i, there's only 40 bucks of difference. Notice also the SD slot and bigger screens!!!!
On the other side, Go cut away the "so revolutionary UMD", smaller screen, ok, they added the 16gb of flash (gosh, thats more than the Wii!!!!) and more battery life. Also added bluethoot, opening the thing to a whole new world of posibilities, but still, the 16gb and the bluethoot ain't enough to charge 90 bucks more than a regular PSP3000!!!!!!
So yeah, for me Go is the mayor ripoff. Besides, GBA is sooooo last gen!!!
Girugamuk (Moptimus Slimed) @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:59PM
oh noes! DSi took away my ability to play Guitar Hero! Now what am I supposed to play on the way to work?
How about all those other awesome games for the DS?
Brilliant!
Jacksons @ Jul 2nd 2009 6:39PM
I can tell you one thing, I'm sticking with my DS Lite and my 2000 series PSP.
Jrinswand @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:56AM
I usually tend to overlook statements such as those made by Matsui, but the Sony PR department is actually getting to the point now where they are starting to piss me off. Every single time they introduce something new or make a mistake, they try to cover their tracks and say that they took that course of action on purpose.
Not to sound cliche, but it kind of reminds me of 1984, where the countries would change allegiances and cover their tracks to make people believe that the new enemy was always the enemy.
Anyway, my point is that this is BS. If Sony really wanted to make a UMD-less PSP, they could have been forward-thinking and done so straight out of the gate. Instead, they did what they always do: ape successful trends.
F1: Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:00PM
That reminds me I should go watch Red Dawn today.
squeevi @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:56AM
Oh yes, I call BS on this. No way they were planing full digital distribution for the PSP from its inception. It was released what, four/five years ago? give them two-three years designing/whatnot before it even hit stores. There is just no way they were thinking about a fully digital distribution platform six-eight years ago.
Help me! @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:20PM
It's that guy's job to try and make the company look good, if he can do that by lying he'll be delighted to
onyx corruption @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:57AM
They wanted umd's to be the new big thing and now that it flopped their trying to cover thier butts saying "haha oh we fooled you we didnt really mean it"
Storm Eagle (P:FoXGameR, X:PullingADrifter) @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:58AM
Kinda makes you wonder...
If it was always their plan to have a UMD-less PSP, then the risk for the UMD to fail must have been minimal, right?
So what do you think the markup on a new UMD game really is?
Jack Hollow @ Jul 2nd 2009 11:57AM
Does anyone believe this? If they would've released the the first platform to fully rely on digital distribution they could've had a great claim to fame. But no, they decided to go with UMDs which didn't set the world on fire like they thought it would.
That's twice now Sony that you go "We thought of that a long time ago"
First with your motion controller and now this. When someone states that years later, just kinda looses a bit of credibility. Just get to making good games. I'm getting fidgety waiting for Uncharted 2.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:29PM
Umm the motion controller HAS been in the works since the Eyetoy....at least back in 05....