psp-go posts (Subscribe to this feed)

New PSP-3000 value packs coming to Japan

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 4th 2009 at 11:45AM }

Further proving that digital distribution is the new name of its game ... distribution method, Sony will begin selling a new PSP-3000 bundle in Japan on December 3 which includes no extra UMDs, but rather, a 4GB memory stick. An empty 4GB memory stick, upon which video games, once purchased, can be placed.

Though it somewhat defeats the pick-up-and-play accessibility of other game-infused bundles, at a price point of 19,800 yen, it should leave enough in Japanese gamers' pocketbooks to make a few PSN purchases.

PSP Go sells 28K units on Japanese launch day

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 2nd 2009 at 11:00AM }

While most of you probably spent your Sunday relaxing with a chilled beverage, watching some sporting event and relishing in the extra hour of life that had recently been bequeathed to you, the hard-working folks at Enterbrain were ... well, they were working hard. See, the PSP Go launched in Japan yesterday, and Enterbrain's sales statistics gatherers took it upon themselves to gather the sales data from the launch. Here's what they found: Sunday is a pretty terrible day to release a new handheld device.

According to Enterbrain, retailers moved 28,275 units of the PSP Go system during its first day of availability. While that's still a fairly sizable amount of hardware, Japanese gaming blog Andriasang points out that the DSi, which went on sale on Saturday, November 1 (2008), moved 170,770 units during its first two days on the market. We guess that just goes to show, if you want your handhelds to launch with a bang, launch them on Saturday. Also, put two cameras in them. Sounds silly, we know, but it works.

Q? Entertainment: Music licensing, other issues keeping portable Lumines off PSN for now

by JC Fletcher { Oct 21st 2009 at 11:00AM }

Lumines was one of the most popular launch titles for the PSP -- but Q? Entertainment's puzzler is notably absent from the PSP Go's initial lineup. Q explained the reason for the non-downloadability succinctly in a Tweet.

"We would love to bring Lumines/Lumines II to the PSN store," Q's rep said, "but there are complications, music licensing, was published by Namco, etc." However, "That said, we're obviously looking into it. :)" Q went on to single out the songs "Shinin'" and "Lights" as requiring new licenses for digital distribution, and clarified that it would be Bandai Namco's decision to publish the first Lumines on PSN, since it published the game on UMD (in Japan).

While the licensed music in Lumines makes it even harder to republish, this is starting to sound really familiar. As Sony's Eric Lempel told us, it's especially difficult for publishers of older PSP games to go to PSN, because licenses will have elapsed, and won't have covered digital distribution in the first place. And Sony isn't requiring third parties to pursue digital distribution, so unless they see significant revenue potential from, say, PSP Go sales, many publishers just won't. That said, it's hard to imagine a PSP without Lumines, and we're confident it'll happen eventually.

[Via PSN Stores; thanks, Kassatsu]

Telltale hoping to push content to new consoles, handhelds & Macs

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Oct 20th 2009 at 8:30PM }

With more avenues now open between consumers and game creators than ever before, third-party companies like Telltale Games can sell their wares on every platform -- as long as their software runs on it. That's the tricky part, but Telltale CEO and co-founder Dan Connors has told Gamesindustry.biz that his team is already looking to take advantage of the "huge potential" out there.

"I definitely think there's huge potential there, and right now we're working on getting our content over to some more channels, over to new consoles and the Mac," Connors said. With any luck, PlayStation 3 will be caught in Telltale's wider net -- it's the only current home console that has yet to be visited by a talking dog, a hyper-kinetic rabbity thing ... or even a dog that doesn't talk but is still weirdly expressive.

Telltale's ambitions go further still, added Connors. "And after that's done, we're going to be looking at handhelds. I think we have to consider the PSP Go for sure."

PSP Go on sale at Fry's for $200

by JC Fletcher { Oct 16th 2009 at 6:23PM }

Providing further evidence of our belief that there's a nice retail markup on the PSP Go, electronics retailer Fry's has put the UMD-free device on sale for $199, through October 22. Fry's sales tend to vary by location, so it may be wise to call your local store before you begin your epic, miles-long trek through its near-endless expanses. We verified the sale price with the Austin, TX location, which is pretty far away from the Fremont, CA store whose ad appears here, so it would seem to be nationwide.

That $50 discount almost puts the Go near the price point of the previous PSP models!

[Thanks, Brian!]

Third parties not required to release PSP games on PlayStation Store

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 16th 2009 at 9:15AM }

What do Undead Knights, Naruto Shippuden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising, NBA 2K10, Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes and Cars: Race O Rama have in common? All of these are PSP games released on UMD after the PSP Go's October 1 launch -- and all are currently without a digital equivalent. Owners of the Go system are unable to play these games because they simply aren't available on the PlayStation Store.

Once again, Sony's hands-off approach to the PlayStation Network means third parties are responsible for getting their content on both UMD and the PlayStation Store. "It's up to individual third parties to decide if and when to publish their UMD releases on PSN. Most, if not all, are on board, as this is a revenue opportunity for them," we were told by Eric Lempel, SCEA's director of PlayStation Network operations. Namco, the one publisher that returned our request for comment, noted specifically that "there are currently no plans to release Akatsuki Rising on PSN right now," despite its October 6 release on UMD.

We highly encourage Sony to make simultaneous digital releases of PSP games a requirement for publishers, not merely a suggestion. The company previously issued a mandate for PS3 games to include trophies in 2009 -- a similar policy must be enforced on the PSP. Without it, there's no guarantee that all future PSP games will ever be playable on the PSP Go.

Video: Mega 64's $300 PSP Go joke

by David Hinkle { Oct 14th 2009 at 12:00AM }

You know, one day we hope to be as rich as those cats at Mega 64. The troupe's latest video -- an alarming look at one of the PSP Go's lesser-known features (courtesy of IGN) -- shows us just how stacked with loot these guys really are nowadays. We're not going to give the ending away, but let's just say the whole thing is a fine way to burn a neat stack of Benjamins. In the end, it's alright -- we bet they got paid a lot more than $300 for their work.

Head past the break to check out the video. If you need us, we'll be eating some ramen and freezing to death in our apartment we can't afford to heat.

Continued →

Reggie Fils-Aime on PSP Go: 'What's the benefit?'

by JC Fletcher { Oct 12th 2009 at 11:30AM }

In an interview with The Washington Post's Mike Musgrove, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime handily dismissed the DS's competition, suggesting either that he doesn't feel threatened at all, or he feels really threatened (and the history of DS sales makes us more likely to believe the former interpretation).

He said that the newly launched, download-only PSP Go has a "fundamental concept problem in terms of 'Who's it for?' and 'What's the benefit?'" He added that he has the "utmost respect for all our competitors, but it's interesting to try and answer the consumer question of 'What's in it for me?' in that product."

As for the other major competition in the handheld space? When discussing the DS's advantages over the iPhone/iPod Touch platform, Fils-Aime made the surprising move of referring to a third-party game, namely Scribblenauts. "That's a fabulous experience that can only be brought to life on the DS." Honestly, it probably could be done on iPhone, but it hasn't and probably won't, which is just as good for Nintendo.

Swag Saturday: Final Fantasy spinoff pack (PSP)

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 10th 2009 at 7:00PM }

If you're like us, you're ready for The Future of Digital Entertainment™ and want to get rid of all that silly, antiquated physical media still laying around the house. We're using some for coasters (something's gotta hold our Zima!), some for Halloween treats later this month, and some for Swag Saturday giveaways.

We're hoping that you're not like us and are instead hungrily searching for your chance to win a copy of both Dissidia Final Fantasy and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (on UMD, of course). Leave a comment below letting us what you're going to do with your physical media when the future is upon us and there's no turning back. We'll choose one winner at random after the comments are closed 24 hours from now. See you in the future!

Leave a comment letting us what you're going to do with your physical media when the future is upon us and there's no turning back.
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec, presumably based on the longstanding feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys)
Limit 1 entry per person per day
This entry period ends at 7:01PM ET on Sunday, October 11
At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive Dissidia Final Fantasy ($40 ARV) and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII ($20 ARV)
For a list of complete rules, click here

Gallery: Final Fantasy Dissidia

Gallery: Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core - March 08

Is that a PSP Go? Nope, it's a PSP Faux

by David Hinkle { Oct 9th 2009 at 12:00AM }

Look, China -- we need to have a talk. We know you're back up to your old tricks again, trying to sell people knock-offs of Sony's new PSP Go handheld. We thought you learned your lesson last time? You had made all of these promises, told us how you were going to get your life back on track and now we have to find out about your Slide Panel Retro from some website? Where's the communication? We don't care if the thing has 4GB of space, a built-in camera, mp3 player and emulation software, it's just not right! To say we're disappointed would be an understatement.

So, here's what we're going to do: We're cutting you off. No more joyriding in the Jag or going down to Toshi Station to waste time with your friends. This is it, we're washing our hands of you . Do what you want, we won't be responsible anymore.

[Via Siliconera]

PSA: Don't download your PSP Go Rewards games to your PS3

by JC Fletcher { Oct 8th 2009 at 10:40PM }

What's worse: "upgrading" to a PSP Go knowing you won't get any kind of reward for (effectively) giving up access to your UMD collection, or thinking you'll get some bonus games and then having them snatched away at the last second, Charlie Brown-style?

Ask these PlayStation forum users, who discovered that a kink in the DRM for the free European rewards program games meant that downloading the games to a PS3 before copying them to a Go invalidated the licenses. In short, if you download your free games to a PS3 first, you will have not free games, but free large, useless files.

Sony is aware of the issue, advising new users to download their freebies directly to the PSP so they can play them at some point. If you've already made the "mistake" of redeeming your codes on the PS3? "We're still coming up with a solution for those who have redeemed the voucher and are now receiving the error message," forum moderator moshii says, "and we'll update you as soon as we have a solution for you."

Kind of makes you nostalgic for when the only method of transfer for games was from the box to the system via the "your hand" protocol, right?

[Via Destructoid]

Interview: SCEA's Eric Lempel on PSP minis, scrapped UMD conversion

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 8th 2009 at 5:20PM }

In the second part of our interview with SCEA's Eric Lempel, we chatted about the simultaneous release of PSP Go and PSP minis. In addition to discussing the hands-off approach Sony is taking with the pricing of minis, we talked about the possibility of the minis program moving to PS3, and eventual Mac support for the PSP's MediaGo application.

Joystiq: Are any Sony first-party studios working on PSP minis?

Eric Lempel: Right now, to my knowledge, they're not. That could change, again, but right now, I don't believe any of the studios are working on minis.

What determines the pricing of PSP minis?

There are a couple of rules, or maybe there's just one rule. They have to come in at $9.99 or under.

If someone wanted to release at $1.99, they could?

Yes, absolutely.

Continued →

PSP Go launch generates 'platform' sales boost

by James Ransom-Wiley { Oct 8th 2009 at 11:00AM }

Without disclosing actual sales figures, Sony has found a way to trumpet last week's launch of the PSP Go: In its first three days at retail (October 1–3), North American PSP platform sales soared by 300 percent over the previous week's figures. Again, we don't yet know the numbers -- but that's not even the most important part of the equation.

Read it again: PSP platform sales soared by 300 percent. Whether the Go tanks or not, it's got the PSP brand on consumers' wish lists again. "With several blockbuster games launching digitally and on UMD in the coming weeks -- from LittleBigPlanet to Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines -- we expect this momentum to continue and look forward to a strong holiday season for both the PSP Go and PSP-3000," SCEA corp. comm. director Patrick Seybold told Gamasutra.

The PSP Go currently retails for around $250, and its most compelling trait could be that it highlights what a great deal the only $169.99 PSP-3000 model is -- it plays all the same games, after all; from Minis to full-game downloadables.

Independent UK retailer boss expects PSP Go to 'fail miserably'

by David Hinkle { Oct 7th 2009 at 4:30PM }

The managing director of Chips, the UK's largest independent game store chain, doesn't see a bright future for Sony's new PSP Go. In fact, during a little pow-wow with GI.biz, Don McCabe said, "I'm 99.9 per cent sure it's going to fail miserably, in which case it's going to put back other potential people coming into that digital space." Wow, that's a lot of certainty!

McCabe doesn't point to any one thing about the new handheld as a deterrent for potential customers (examples: price; no UMD; crazy cable accessories), but seems adamant that the system isn't destined to "go anywhere." Of course, this comes in stark contrast to Sony's opinion that PSP Go sales are meeting expectations. If both end up being correct, those must have been some weirdly low expectations.

Here's that second PSP analog stick you wanted

by David Hinkle { Oct 6th 2009 at 5:15PM }

Tim Magoolaghan is quite the modder and has made a Frankensteinian PSP. Aside from the second analog nub he slapped on this custom PSP-2000, he's also added a built-in camera, 32GB of Flash memory (eliminating the UMD slot) and a dedicated charging port that allows USB charging no matter what the handheld is currently doing. In the video interview where he shows off his creation (video past the break), there's also some emulation stuff going on due to the custom firmware, but we don't condone that kind of thing.

Tim's whole motivation behind this custom PSP is that he wants to show consumers the older model can do wonderful things that the new PSP Go cannot. He says Sony's new device isn't very consumer friendly and while we think he has something there, it's overshadowed by the fact that he's sitting next to the most annoying woman on the planet.

[Thanks, Robin!]

Continued →