[Kube]

Read this:

Andrew House: Sony

"When you introduce a new piece of hardware you have the opportunity to say there is a certain premium that is associated with it, and we took that into account."

Basically saying that you have a chance to hit the early adaptors and (dare i say it) fanbase.

Disgusting.

[P-P-S-S]

That's Sony top to bottom really. Never has and never will give a t**s about the fanbase. It doesnt seem like this stupid console spin off has taken off that well anyway....hope it fails. Who is going to buy a console that only offers downloaded games (the pricing of which is controlled by the greatest dictator...SONY)?

[jabintendo]

I also think it is going to fail at that price, especially if we are really being honest, most people that buy a psp will most probably pirate games too, which means that they will not buy this version either.

[Jonstone]

Originally Posted by Kube

Read this:

Andrew House: Sony

"When you introduce a new piece of hardware you have the opportunity to say there is a certain premium that is associated with it, and we took that into account."

Basically saying that you have a chance to hit the early adaptors and (dare i say it) fanbase.

Disgusting.

Premium pricing a product at launch is a very common practice so I don't think you can be too harsh on sony for it.

Where sony have a problem is that they already have a product in the marketplace that can do everything else the psp go can do with a lower price point.

I do feel though that sony are marketing this product as a media player that plays games, I don't think your typical psp buyer is their target demographic. I am sure they will be pushing it alongside their online movie store just as much if not more so than for its game playing abilities.

[Sly]

Originally Posted by Jonstone

Premium pricing a product at launch is a very common practice so I don't think you can be too harsh on sony for it.

i think there is a difference between doing it because you can and telling everyone that your going to do it because you can.

[Kube]

Exactly!

I wont be touching this console, not because of what he said, not because its too expensive, not because its a downgrade on earlier hardware but because this handheld is practically redundant.

[danwalton]

Is it likely that the PSP Go's catalogue of download-only games will be available to older PSP models?

If so, surely it's better to pick up a cheap PSP and a decent sized memorystick?

I am looking forward to a download-only future (although pricing is an obvious concern), but I just can't see the Go taking off at that price.

[Norlo]

Originally Posted by danwalton

Is it likely that the PSP Go's catalogue of download-only games will be available to older PSP models?

Yes, all older models are going to be able to download the games, just like you can on a Go. Obvisouly you'll need a large Mem stick for the older PSPs, as they don't have flash built in like the Go, but it's not a Go exclusive thing. Not even Sony are daft enough to cut out the millions of PSP owners (and their cash) by excluding them.

Originally Posted by danwalton

If so, surely it's better to pick up a cheap PSP and a decent sized memorystick?

Precisely. You can get a PSP 3000 and a 8GB memory stick for less than the Go. That'd give you all the features of the Go, plus a UMD drive for older/other games.

PSP Go = less, for more money.

Originally Posted by danwalton

I am looking forward to a download-only future (although pricing is an obvious concern), but I just can't see the Go taking off at that price.

Me too. I have FF7 downloaded, and if the PSP store had anything else that took my fancy, i would download too. The best thing about the Go being released is that Sony will finally get more games and content on the store for all owner.

And yes, @ the OP. It is disguising. I referenced (in passing) this comment in anther PSP thread in the Go forum a while back, here

Originally Posted by Norlo

'it's a premium that early adopters are willing to pay'.

Essentially, what they are saying is, our fanbase will want the new product, so we are going to make them pay more. Then once it gets going (and we've made extra $$$ out of them) we'll get the price down and try to attract new users too.

This is business, so fair play. But 1) don't tell people you are bending them over, and 2) how can Sony fanboys not see that their 'loyalty' to the company is not only taken for granted by Sony to a certain degree, yet they still follow. This is not a Sony only problem obviously, becasue any business will bend you over if they think they can get away with it, but when you see people defending a corp like Sony (as you will on here), it makes you wonder if those people have their brains plugged in when you read stuff like this.

[BenchyUK]

But the GO looks so cool

[Norlo]

Originally Posted by BenchyUK

But the GO looks so cool

Yes, it is a nice looking device you are right mate.

But its still a total botch in terms of everything else.

[BenchyUK]

I'll be getting one regardless here in the US because i don't think $250 is too bad for someone from the UK.

It's still soley going to be how they do the UMD exchange program because i won't be buying many games on download rather i'll just milk this initial scheme they do.

If they say to send in your UMD's and they send you a code, then i'll buy up as many games from Ebay for a couple of quid each and send them in

[craigie998]

I must say the PspGo, does look preety minted and the 16GB flash memory is nice, but I really feel that there is little point from updating from a 3000 to a pspgo, considering I would imagine that buying 2 8GB memory sticks and a 3000 would probably be cheaper.

I think it would probably appeal to people who don't have a psp yet or die hard sony fans, although I must say I am rather interested in the apps they are gonna be bringing out just for the GO, as well as the XMB while in game, and apparently the ability to browse web on psp while playing.

Honestly the only reason why I am thining not getting one just yet, is the fact they they have exactly the same RAM and also the same battery life, which is utter poop, oh well fingers crossed for the PSP2.

[bigkingy]

To me the big question is how much the downloadable games will be. If they are £25 each, I can't see it working as if I want psp games, I wait til they come down to a tenner or so. And even then you know you can trade them if you don't get on with them!
The other thing is that we have been spoilt by the apps store selling pretty good games for as low as 59p!

[Nuggsy]

Originally Posted by bigkingy

To me the big question is how much the downloadable games will be. If they are £25 each, I can't see it working as if I want psp games, I wait til they come down to a tenner or so. And even then you know you can trade them if you don't get on with them!
The other thing is that we have been spoilt by the apps store selling pretty good games for as low as 59p!

I completely agree.
I guess the question that remains is as a % how much cheaper do downloads need to be?

[BenchyUK]

I think individual game downloads will be full price like the UMD's so around £20-£25 a pop but i think they will introduce the rumored subscription service where you'll get say up to 4 games a month for £10. It will seem like a great deal in comparison which means more people will go for it, meaning more money for SONY

[Tonks01]

People were worried about the cost of downloadable games when steam was introduced, but now that's one of the cheapest places to get games. They occasionally have games at laughably low prices!

I can see them dropping older titles down to £5ish for 'a limited time only' say over the course of a weekend. I wouldnt think twice - I think with the introduction of the iphone they have seen the success in making games so cheap the consumer doesnt think about cost.

On that note there were rumors today of PSP/PSN games from .99p to £5-7 in the same vein as the iphone.

[Nuggsy]

Couldn't help but notice Madden 10 is £30 on PSN but only £25 for the UMD at Shopto.net.
Doesn't bode well. Let's hope for some sort of pricing announcement this week at the conference.

[P-P-S-S]

Sony is looking to monopolise the game market for the PSP. Sony being the only one selling games for the PSP might not go down well with anti monopoly laws though. Unless Sony has plans to allow online retailers to sell game downloads. Even the highstreet shops could sell the download games too. They simply sell you a card with the code and you use it to download the game from Sony's servers. That wouldnt be too bad. However it will still the second hand game market for PSP.

[Nuggsy]

Originally Posted by P-P-S-S

Sony is looking to monopolise the game market for the PSP. Sony being the only one selling games for the PSP might not go down well with anti monopoly laws though. Unless Sony has plans to allow online retailers to sell game downloads. Even the highstreet shops could sell the download games too. They simply sell you a card with the code and you use it to download the game from Sony's servers. That wouldnt be too bad. However it will still the second hand game market for PSP.

What Sony is doing with downloadable content is no different to what we all accept with iTunes is it?
They have announced the network cards so retailers will be able to sell these as they do for the iTunes business model.

[Tonks01]

has anywhere implemented the RRP of £224.99 that was announced at Gamescom??

[Moogle]

Originally Posted by Tonks01

has anywhere implemented the RRP of £224.99 that was announced at Gamescom??

Well Tesco Direct has it on pre-order for £199.99 ( 20% pre-order discount ) at the moment which is even cheaper then that.

[Tonks01]

Originally Posted by Moogle

Well Tesco Direct has it on pre-order for £199.99 ( 20% pre-order discount ) at the moment which is even cheaper then that.

Yeah push comes to shove that's where I'll be pre ordering from, sent them a little email about the RRP, 20% off £224.99 would be even better about £185 makes it more than worth it in my book. Fired them off a quick email which has been passed onto the entertainment sectio, I'll keep you posted

Now just have to hope Tescos get it to me within 10 days for the freebie - although I'm sure if you could prove you bought it on release they would honor it.

[CAS FAN]

The PSP Go has flop written all over it and I can see it selling for £150 in no time at all.

There's just no reason to upgrade from a PSP 3000 really, crikey, I still have my Japanese launch PSP 1000 .

[Norlo]

Yes, Steam is the model all online delivery methods should follow. Cheap weekends, mad prices. You just need to look at the sales spikes, to see how this works.

However, if you 'can see Sony dropping the price for a limited time' etc, i would ask,

1) what makes you think that? Info, link, or just faith?

2) Why have Sony not done this with PSN already to a greater degree? What you are proposing by Sony adopting a model like Steam represents quite a shift in the way Sony (and MS) look to be handling electronic delivery, so i am wondering what you base that on?

Oh, and the same goes for XBLA (more so in fact, as MS are kings of consumer milking), just in case you get upset i am having ago at the love of your life. I know you don't like that.

Originally Posted by Tonks01

People were worried about the cost of downloadable games when steam was introduced, but now that's one of the cheapest places to get games. They occasionally have games at laughably low prices!

I can see them dropping older titles down to £5ish for 'a limited time only' say over the course of a weekend. I wouldnt think twice - I think with the introduction of the iphone they have seen the success in making games so cheap the consumer doesnt think about cost.

On that note there were rumors today of PSP/PSN games from .99p to £5-7 in the same vein as the iphone.

[Norlo]

Originally Posted by CAS FAN

The PSP Go has flop written all over it and I can see it selling for £150 in no time at all.

There's just no reason to upgrade from a PSP 3000 really, crikey, I still have my Japanese launch PSP 1000 .

100% agree.

Still have my JP launch 1000 Ceramic White , and unless i am missing something, that does everything the Go does, and more?

[Tonks01]

Originally Posted by Norlo

just in case you get upset i am having ago at the love of your life. I know you don't like that.

You let yourself down - your answer was mature and bought up some valid points until you spat your dummy out at the end.

And my point that I made was COMPLETELY on blind faith, 100% in fact. I have no inside knowledge on the inner workings of how sony does things nor do I have any juice left in the flux capacitor to find out.

My observation was based on the fact steam has become so successful in what they do that other publishers would be stupid not too follow suit - the only reason I think that is because I am an enthusiastic gamer, ask me about video gaming and I will answer you enthusiastically. I'm sorry I don't have a burning hatred to crucify 'the man' at Sony or Microsoft and bad mouth them to whoever will listen but I'm just not that kind of guy.

Now stop writing those overly long posts and come give me a hug.

[Norlo]

Thanks, i thought it was faith.

Look, i agree with you, Steam is the way to go. I also agree with you, that gamers see this and are like 'why don't Sony and MS just do that' - you know what the mad thing is, Sony and MS don't think like that.

GDC this year, there was a round table on releasing arcade games in the summer, as it means your XBLA or PSN game won't have to compete with big Q4 releases. Huge news eh? Not really, i am sure you and I could have told them that 3 years ago. But you know what, the publishers, MS and Sony, just don't think like that. I know that sounds odd, but its true. There were publishing execs at that meeting, when Mathew Blow said that about relating arcade games in the summer, and they were like 'wow, that is such a great idea' - i mean, what?

This is why, when i read a post which is based on faith, i just think, if only it worked like that in the games business. I do not have a burning desire to run down Sony/MS or anyone in the business, it is an industry that has paid my wages for many years.

I know i tend to write to much. I have done it again.

I guess i could have said, i agree with you, steam is great and the model they soudl follow, but the fact that we as gamers see that working so well, doesn't mean it even occurs to MS or Sony.

And, as your asking...

/hugs Tonks

Originally Posted by Tonks01

You let yourself down - your answer was mature and bought up some valid points until you spat your dummy out at the end.

And my point that I made was COMPLETELY on blind faith, 100% in fact. I have no inside knowledge on the inner workings of how sony does things nor do I have any juice left in the flux capacitor to find out.

My observation was based on the fact steam has become so successful in what they do that other publishers would be stupid not too follow suit - the only reason I think that is because I am an enthusiastic gamer, ask me about video gaming and I will answer you enthusiastically. I'm sorry I don't have a burning hatred to crucify 'the man' at Sony or Microsoft and bad mouth them to whoever will listen but I'm just not that kind of guy.

Now stop writing those overly long posts and come give me a hug.

[Tonks01]

Although I keep getting my fingers burnt I'm still holding out that the likes of Sony are going to do what we all see as obvious. Will that happen? I don't know but at this point I can only hope!

I think consumers really have a chance to impact here though. They will speak to Sony the only way they will listen - with our wallets. For the PSP Go to be a success it needs something hugely appealing like heavily discounted prices for DL software when compared to the UMD counterpart. Again obvious to all of us! I think price of software will be the only thing that will make 95% abandon physical media.

I'm just happy to get rid of UMDs

[paul1979]

i was in my local blockbuster store the other dy and they reckon they are pretty much getting shot of psps as no one buys them all ds now (the sales area justifies this). i asked about the new go, and was informed as no discs they may not get it as make nothing on the sale of the unit itself.

In game they did not evan know the release date and did not know it had a built in memory and no discs.

all in i think it is beinng marketed in a bad light from the off.

[mattrixdesign2]

Originally Posted by paul1979

was informed as no discs they may not get it as make nothing on the sale of the unit itself.

You know that is a very valid point, I wonder how many stores would refuse/not bother stocking the PSP Go as it will have very little linked sales (software etc), having said that plenty of stores stock Ipods so it proves they don't always need software sales.

I wonder what the profit margin is on these kind of items, the PSPGo certainly seems high for "old" technology.