PSP Go drops to $199 in US [update: price drops in UK too]

@C1
Small and light-weight, pretty good for ppl who don't want to carry around UMD disks.

@C1

PSP2 won't be here until 2012.

People don't want this because the PSP3000 is a better deal. Love my PSP3000 and I have not desire for a Go. The Go was a terrible idea.

@jackolo

Yep it was never meant for people with a UMD library.
Although with all the crying and screaming calling the device an epic failure is actually totally misguided.

The device is great. A total improvement over the 3000. The failure is Sony not having the entire UMD library available at PSP Go launch, and not having a complete UMD trade in program. If those things were in place, it'd be a raging success. I never had a PSP before the Go, and I love it. No way I'd ever carry around a pile of UMDs.

Look at Steam and the iPhone and tell me digital distribution is not the future. I'll go ahead and guarantee all future gen consoles will be DLC only.

@FriedConsole


PSP2 will launch before Christmas of next year

@Dizazter

"I never had a PSP before the Go, and I love it."

Then you would be Sony's target audience: "People who don't know better."

@Dizazter

Loving how you can't play Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep?

I don't disagree future consoles will try to go downloadable only, but it's not happening yet and I highly doubt the next cycle of consoles will employ it exclusively. Sony messed up charging $250 for it and no UMD drive. Anyone (not you I guess) could see the PSP 3000 with an 8GB flash card was the better deal. They have access to everything Go users had and more and not pay an absurd premium for no reason. The system flopped period, it failed. You have to have some serious blinders on to say otherwise.

Plus unless you're planning a really long road trip who plans to play more than 1 game while they are out anyway?

@Dizazter The PSP 3000 can play downloadable games too. All you need is a big enough memory stick. On top of that it can play UMD games, so there's really no reason to buy a go.

@C1

I have both variants of the PSP and I much prefer the Go over the 3000. It has a 'pause' save state feature which I utilize all the time, a more compact and comfortable design (it actually fits in a normal pocket), it can tether to a phone and it supports the DS3 which is 100 times better than either Go or the 3000 controls for long hours of game play.

So many people on this site whine about everything.

@jackolo I'll buy these the second they give me a way to transfer my UMDs on there. A $50-$100 price drop means nothing if I can't play games I want to on it, or are forced to repay.

@Dizazter @Jackolo

You guys sound like PsP Go Sales reps. Why put so much emphasis on UMD's being cumbersome, something akin to an infomercial with over exaggeration?

Using deduction I will assume hand held gaming devices are most commonly used during travel, whether it be by train, plane or boat. With that said the average gamer isn't walking around with 40+ plus titles for his PsP, so the issues with carrying 1-3 UMDs is no different from, "Bleh, cell phone?! Uhg! I hate carrying that thing! I'll just call you from a pay phone..."

@FriedConsole. No, the Go was a poorly executed idea.

@Dizatzer

It isn't just the lack of UMD's that are pissing people off; it's the fact that by making a hand-held digital download only, you're essentially removing the choice from the consumer's hand. Think of it this way; without UMDs:

You can't rent games
You can't borrow games from your friends
and more importantly: you can't buy used games.

Keep in mind the reason why Valve and Apple have had success with their digital services is mainly because of pricing. Until the Big Three adopt a service model similar to Valve's Steam, I really don't see any gamer being alright with a console like the PSPGO.

@FriedConsole

The Go is actually some pretty amazing hardware. The failure falls squarely on pricing (hardware and software) and the fact that not all the PSP games are on the PSN library. If it was more reasonably priced, and all games were on the PSN also reasonably priced (I can find dissidia for $10 in some stores rather than $40 on PSN) then it would be a great option.

A PSP3000 is far more worth it because not only is it cheaper, but you have the dual option of UMD and PSN downloadable games.

I'll stick with my PSP-2000 and its CFW.

@Hank Hill

Well 2 8 GB memory sticks will tack on another $50 to the price of your PSP 3000, so bear that in mind. And then you have to carry them around and constantly switch them out depending what game you're playing. Not to mention your big pile of UMDs. For me, I like it all in one compact device, call me crazy.

It's also worth mentioning that the PSP Go is considerably smaller when folded, and has blue tooth capability to using your PS3 controller with.

@Vegeta has a ps3

Yup, can't rent or trade in, both of which make zero dollars for the people actually making the games. Not renting or trading of games on iPhone or Steam either, and people almost never cry about that.

But Sony could easily create a online DLC rental system.

@acefondu

Yeah I agree $250 was too much to charge for the Go, but it's a new device, which are ALWAYS overpriced. But Sony was WAY too slow to drop it to $199.

But the logic of "the Go should have had a UMD drive!!!!1!!1!" is backwards. The whole purpose is to not have a UMD drive. Adding it would have made the device cost $50 more AND be larger. Both would be very bad things.

The real solution is to have the ENTIRE UMD library available on the PSN and have it competitively priced, with a rental system in place. Even more vital is to have a trade in program for anyone who buys a new PSP Go. So when you think about it, 90% of people's complaint's isn't with the device itself - it's with Sony's lack of support for legacy users. But somehow I feel if these core issues were fixed it'd still be trendy to slam the Go.

@acefondu Dude, I have a 3000 and couldn't care less about Birth by sleep.

@Dizazter Not necessarily, I bought two 8 GB sd cards and a sd to memory stick converter for about $40. The cards are cheaper now.

@Negatron

Sorry, but I'm a PC guy. I don't really see how what I said sounded like advertising, it's just stating the obvious. I really have no plans to get a PSP, thou a PS3 I might get...

@iluvalima

But the fact you don't even have the option to play Kingdom Hearts with the Go just shows what a complete failure it is. It's not just that game either, it's many many others. I've never seen a system not be able to play its own games, it's just unthinkable.

I mean the PSP has a small library as it is why would anyone choose the version of a system with an even smaller library?

@Dizatzer

The logic that it should have had a UMD drive isn't backwards at all. The device should never have been what it was marketed as in the first place. In other words they shouldn't have presumed a downloable handheld would succeed 1. At that price point 2. Without the entire PSP library, and 3. Ignoring their current user base.

A new handheld normally spurs current users first to upgrade much in the way Nintendo does with the DS and GBA systems. But did Nintendo make a DS that couldn't play all the DS games? No they actually made a DS that added an online store for MORE games, not less games (granted they all suck so far). And gave it a bigger screen. The PSP Go didn't improve anything. It's less friendly to hold onto first of all, they didn't bother adding the second joystick, the battery life is exactly the same as the current PSP somehow even though there's no UMD drive in use. The mind boggles at how they managed to come to the conclusion to sell the unit to people who were only interested in downloadable games who for whatever reason don't know flash cards exist and can be used on the current PSP.

@Ashkental

I could understand waiting for the 3DS... but if I had no other choice for a gaming handheld... I'd pick the Go over an iPod Touch 4 any day

@skyblaze

For gaming, yes definitely. But given the choice between the two, I'd probably pick the iPod Touch.

At least I know I'll still be using that 6 months from now.

@NaeemTHM

Yeah, you definitely have a point... though I have both sitting in front of me and for some reason I actually find myself using the Go alot more (the touch is more relegated to music and random stuff... and I know no one who I could even try facetime with so... meh) but that's just me. To each their own

@Ashkental yea because both of those SOOOOOOOOOOOO play Ghost of Sparta and LBP....

@skyblaze I bet you own a Zune too.

@RyogaVee

lol.... i do actually. good call :P

@RyogaVee I have a Zune too...whats wrong with that? they are awesome!!

@RyogaVee

Zune ftw

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
I agree. While I won't buy 2 of them a $150 price tag is better. I mean i'm glad it dropped but i still won't pay this much.

@SonyPS I want one and I'd give the other to my brother.....

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
Yea i want one too. Because I really only have like 6 UMD's and I don't play them at all. I only play the games I downloaded.

@Jack Kevorkian

I miss my minidisk player. That thing was awesome, for the time.

@DJ Kenneth A
I believe Walmart will not close unless they get a call saying the area is in a "State of Emergency" (or whatever) and the roads are closing.

@DJ Kenneth A dude I understand. Im from md and there were time I wish I had bought some new games. My brother and I just played a lot of Army of Two 40th day and Rainbow Six Vegas 2