The PSP Go Thread

[J-PaP]

I thought you still could on the PSP3000? You definitely can on the phat & lite.

DS is easier you are right (more costly though). I know of at least 12 people off the top of my head with a DS that also have an R4.

Actually just noticed that the DSi already has a R4'esque device for it. Guess piracy won't be stopping for them anytime soon.

 

[Tornado]

I thought you still could on the PSP3000? You definitely can on the phat & lite.

You cannot install CFW on any PSP made after August (roughly) of last year, be it 2000 or 3000. At the same time, there were flash cards for the DSi literally days after it came out in Japan.

 

[Casio]

From memory 163dpi (from that picture above) is exactly the same as an iPhone. Right?

 

[LaBounti]

There is no way a Disc driveless PSP would sell well. Nope. Only issues with UMD is load times and storage. Not having it for any other reason would be silly. UMD 2? 3-4GB multi layered and selectable drive speed for power consumption.

That user concept is a good idea. But its too thin to hold with my larger hands.

 

[slowman]

Could've fooled me. I had a Phat that I had rewired with SMD LED's in the triggers and the ring on the back was cut out and replaced with plexiglass which was lit up behind it with 8 LED's. The UMD drive was removed to make space for the jewel, LED's, and wiring. CFW was installed so games could be run off the mem stick. I used to dump my UMD's with another one of my PSP's. Just yesterday I sold it for $170.

 

[Tornado]

Could've fooled me. I had a Phat that I had rewired with SMD LED's in the triggers and the ring on the back was cut out and replaced with plexiglass which was lit up behind it with 8 LED's. The UMD drive was removed to make space for the jewel, LED's, and wiring. CFW was installed so games could be run off the mem stick. I used to dump my UMD's with another one of my PSP's. Just yesterday I sold it for $170.

That doesn't really mean anything. Quite a lot of extenuatingf circumstances apply in your case.

 

[suzq044]

I got the CFW just so I could go without having to carry a bunch of discs' around. 4-16g of memory is plenty of space for hours of entertainment. I think it's a good idea. Software installed (solid state hd maybe); and clear memory stick. I would rather carry a bunch of small memory sticks than a bunch of huge discs that are more easily damaged.. and hold less data (apparently?). I would love to see a full-range GPS on my PSP.. (meaning, at least california, if not other states too, like what they have in cars)

As long as the PSP2 comes with the necessary equipent and at least a 4 gig stick, i'll be good. (oh, and its price-range doesn't come into early x360/ps3 pricing).

 

[Kryz11]

Yeah to think about it, Discs and cartridges is stupid to carry. But, 4-16 gigs is not enough. we need 20+ HDD space.

I would pay 300 USD the most.

 

[FoolKiller]

I know that for many of us digital downloads seem fine, but going completely that way will eliminate a certain portion of their audience. Personally I will be less likely to purchase them as I have a relatively slow broadband connection.

But I still can. I know that there are some who are just completely opposed to not having a hard copy that they can later resell, or be guaranteed that they can still use it in ten years if they deleted the file without wondering if their download list will still be active at that time. Others have download caps on their Internet which could definitely affect their ability to purchase these things. And then there is the fact that broadband is not 100% yet.

No matter how much we can list why we personally think it is better this way it does not fix any of the situations I just listed. My main opposition to the digital download scene is that it does eliminate a percentage of their customer base.

As for Patapon 2: I am waiting for the people without a desire to get a digital download, but pre-ordered when it was first announced, to get to the store and be handed a sheet of paper. I want to see how many pre-orders get canceled.

 

[suzq044]

I had a thunk.

what about having the capability for the damn thing to accept THUMB DRIVE linkage, if not having a standard usb .. hole (lol - forgot word). But there's going to be situations where somebody is going to not like it no matter what they do. In the long-run, these aren't HUGE files anyways.

I think a lot of people want to skip the middle-man anyways (ie - game stores). I would much rather rely on myself for these; plus I tend to wait a while, cause I use GameFly for my PS3 anyways (I just can't afford spending 60$ a game.. so I rent; not to mention, if the game sucks, i can send it back!)

I just think you're hitting a larger audience WITH the e-files. It also eliminates or minimizes "pirating/sharing" the games; for the most part. heh.

I would rather get the email saying "you can download it now!" instead of "you can go to the store in the morning for it to not be there!" .. lol .

 

[FoolKiller]

what about having the capability for the damn thing to accept THUMB DRIVE linkage, if not having a standard usb .. hole (lol - forgot word). But there's going to be situations where somebody is going to not like it no matter what they do. In the long-run, these aren't HUGE files anyways.

If it is over 150MB there is a chance that the download won't finish before I go to bed, assuming I buy it during the week after work. I could go to a store and be back quicker.

I think a lot of people want to skip the middle-man anyways (ie - game stores).

Some do, some don't. If GameStop is my only option, then I want to avoid them, but when I can get it at Best Buy I prefer going to the store.

I would much rather rely on myself for these; plus I tend to wait a while, cause I use GameFly for my PS3 anyways (I just can't afford spending 60$ a game.. so I rent; not to mention, if the game sucks, i can send it back!)

This sounds more like an argument against digital downloads. You can't rent them, nor can you just send it back. And thinking about this, it really does seem that a digital download option would be less favorable for me. I can't rent it and I can't borrow it from a friend, so I just have to assume it will be good.

Obviously, based on my PSN purchases, this isn't a big deal, but $5-$10 games are much easier to accept as being nonrefundable than a $20-$40 game.

I just think you're hitting a larger audience WITH the e-files.

I'm not sure how. More people might be willing to buy a game like that due to the ease, but they always had an option before. They were never excluded. If you go digital only then you will, without a doubt, exclude a certain number of people.

As of last year broadband penetration was only at 72.5%. Assuming steady growth over that year you would still be eliminating approximately 25% of your potential US customers. And that doesn't take into account people on limited systems with maximum download caps and people who are just opposed to the idea in general.

It also eliminates or minimizes "pirating/sharing" the games; for the most part. heh.

I have heard this before and someone needs to explain it, because if you look at music and movies you can see that going digital has prevented nothing.

I would rather get the email saying "you can download it now!" instead of "you can go to the store in the morning for it to not be there!" .. lol .

That is great for you, but if you get outside of Southern California you will find that broadband penetration isn't as great. I still know people in Kentucky without the option.


I'm not saying that going this route will prevent me from being able to buy anything, but I do think it is a bit early for Sony to jump like this.

 

[Tornado]

But there's going to be situations where somebody is going to not like it no matter what they do. In the long-run, these aren't HUGE files anyways.

The average big-budget PSP game is something like a gig uncompressed. Many companies have expressed having space issues with UMD (Portable Ops had to use digital comic cutscenes and simple text because they couldn't do normal MGS-style scenes). I figure the PSP 2, assuming Sony doesn't go completely stupid and try and force digital distribution, would probably need at least as much space as a standard DVD, if not a DVD-9, for their next storage format. Even normal flash drives, the cheapest of removable storage, are not cheap enough if games were to be 8-9 Gb a pop.

 

[Kryz11]

The 2nd one wouldn't be bad; but I keep mine in a pocket most of the time; the heat in your pocket.. just like the original LG Chocolate phones.. would cause either over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity.. it's why they went away from the touch-panel thing. It was a pain in the ass in the long run.. basically.

I kinda like this one though:

If this is true.. I love it!!!

Really,
No matter what is the Price, I will buy it..
Its going to be the ultimate media device.. Sure there are other ultimate and better media devices.. but they do not play games

 

[Max_DC]

New PSP to launch with 100 digital titles - report

The new model PSP, expected to be announced at E3 this June, is likely to be supported at launch with over 100 titles made available through the PlayStation Network.

That's according to a report by 1UP, which claims the new PSP will drop the UMD drive and come in two SKUs, with eight and 16GB of flash memory.

Speculation of a redesigned system has been rife, with many expecting a complete overhaul for Sony's handheld. 1UP's report suggests the new model will not be the PSP 2 that some expect, but will feature a sliding screen and retain the current button configuration, without introducing dual analog sticks.

According to the report, the system is likely to launch in Japan this September, with other regions following before the end of the year. It's also suggested the new PSP will retain the Go! branding already introduced on some PSP products in Europe.

Sony is attempting to reinvigorate the PSP market this year, with both US marketing boss John Koller and out-going Euro president David Reeves stating that 2009 is expected to see the best software line-up in the history of the system.

Following the announcement of MotorStorm and LittleBigPlanet titles for PSP earlier this year, Sony is also promising more big names for the system, along with renewed publisher support from the likes of Ubisoft, Electronic Arts and Capcom.

GamesIndustry.biz has contacted Sony for comment.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/new-psp-to-launch-with-100-digital-titles-report

 

[Robin]

Sounds good, 100 new titles! But the bit about it might not be the PSP2 as we expect sounds worrying. It might just be a PSP-3000 with a sliding screen.

As for the UMD issue, if its a refresh model then I think it will definitely have UMD (despite reports). If its a totally new PSP2 they might choose to go digital download to memory stick but I think that would be an opportunity lost because they could seriously consider doing a Blu Ray UMD drive.

Sony ages ago miniaturized the Blu Ray laser assembly and this would allow them to use it in the PSP. It could even be backward compatible!

They could seriously increase the storage capabilities of each disk leading to better, longer games and they could even be the first to have high definition portable gaming!

Robin.

 

[FoolKiller]

Sounds good, 100 new titles! But the bit about it might not be the PSP2 as we expect sounds worrying. It might just be a PSP-3000 with a sliding screen.

I am actually torn on what I would prefer here. I have a PSP 2000. An all new PSP 2 would be cool, but it means that I wouldn't be able to get the GT mobile game, assuming that is coming, which was the main reason a lot of people bought a PSP. I will likely not be getting a fully new PSP 2 at the likely $300 asking price.

As for the UMD issue, if its a refresh model then I think it will definitely have UMD (despite reports). If its a totally new PSP2 they might choose to go digital download to memory stick but I think that would be an opportunity lost because they could seriously consider doing a Blu Ray UMD drive.

As they have a lot of UMD Legacy downloads I will not be surprised if they drop the UMD, even on a refresh. While I don't like the idea of all digital, and think it does risk eliminating a portion of the market right now, UMD did not catch on like Sony hoped. The movie studios were disappointed with it and now I rarely see movies available to buy on it. Its necessity for movies has been replaced by the PSN Video Store (in the US, at least - coming "soon" to everyone else) and the UMD legacy games coming out on the PSN are slowly eliminating the need to buy any disc-based games for anyone with broadband.

Also, going all digital will allow Sony to slowly but surely pull the PSP away from Gamestop (and other used-game retailers). That shelf space can go to having more of the PS3 titles available.


Honestly, I will not be surprised if we see a system without UMD and it becomes a test bed for an all digital gaming market. Throw on a GT mobile for it and you have your system seller too.

 

[Tornado]

Without some form of PSP BC, it won't sell. Argue what you will of the importance of BC in consoles, but the fact remains that there has never been a successful handheld that didn't have some sort of BC on it, barring when the handheld was the first in a line (and even then, BC has occured in some handhelds). The PSP described is essentially akin to the Game Boy Micro, which isn't exactly the best thing to be compared to.


And that's even ignoring the ludicrous idea that digital distribution will work on a handheld as the primary method of selling games, considering such an an absurdly tough sell on consoles that are always connected to the internet.

 

[J-PaP]

Way I understood 1up's article was that we more than likely will see some bigger psp titles that exist now being converted to digital downloads as well as the assortment of psone titles we have at the moment on the psn. Plus ontop of all that some new titles with the system. Now I came across an article that should really excite some of you assuming there is some truth to it

Whispers of a new or revised PSP have been growing decidedly louder as of late, and now 1UP's gotten a ton of new details from what it claims are "sources directly involved with the new system" -- our favorite kind of people, actually. Here's what they were told: UMD is out, replaced instead with options for either 8GB or 16GB of built-in flash memory. Also nixed is any hope of a "PSP-4000," with Sony opting instead to use a subtitle. Three rumored names include PSP Slide, PSP Flip, and PSP Go!, the latter of which borrows from Sony's pre-existing Go! brand and suggests there might be a built-in camera à la PSP-3000's Go!Cam peripheral. The same D-pad, analog nub, and face button configuration remains, but they now slide out from the bottom of the unit (see mockup, pictured). Expected launch is September for Japan and late October / early November for US, and coming with 'em are over 100 classic and new downloadable titles including Gran Turismo Mobile as a headliner. Sony's supposedly going official with all this during its E3 press conference in early June, and for now they're opting to give the staple "does not comment on rumors or speculation" response. That's one mighty intriguing rumor -- we can only hope it pans out.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/28/sony-unveiling-umd-less-psp-with-slide-out-buttons-at-e3/

 

[Tornado]

Sony must not want to sell too many copies of GT Mobile if they plan on making it exclusive to the PSP 4000. Seriously, its like Sony is targeting the smallest market possible with this new PSP.

That mockup also looks completely unusable.

 

[J-PaP]

Tornado: Lets assume for a second that the new psp is a umd-less psp with a few extra tidbits. I wouldn't be suprised if the processor, ram etc are the same. So apart from needing a bigger memory card, why can't earlier psp's play gt mobile? My PSP fat can play games off the psn. Also that picture is a mockup. As are all pictures we have seen of psp2/psp4000 etc. so far. It is no real indicator of what the new psp will look like

 

[FoolKiller]

Sony must not want to sell too many copies of GT Mobile if they plan on making it exclusive to the PSP 4000. Seriously, its like Sony is targeting the smallest market possible with this new PSP.

Until we get the full technical specs thsi could just be a UMD-less PSP. I am having trouble imagining that they would allow Rock Band Unplugged to come out just after they announce this thing.

I can see customers now torn between Rock Band Unplugged and older PSP or GT Mobile and PSP NEW!!!. Both titles have a lot of selling potential, but not if you are actively splitting their availability.

 

[Tornado]

Tornado: Lets assume for a second that the new psp is a umd-less psp with a few extra tidbits. I wouldn't be suprised if the processor, ram etc are the same. So apart from needing a bigger memory card, why can't earlier psp's play gt mobile?

Because I have a fundamental hatred of companies selling software while at the same time being too cheap to actually sell you the software. Digital distribution is more like a lease than anything, and that angers me to no end.

Also, let's say you are Sony: You're telling me that I need to go out and buy a (not cheap whatsoever) memory expansion to play the game that I likely bought the system for in the first place, simply because you want to force me to buy it digitally?

If Sony made the PSP 4000 have the internal memory and a UMD drive, even if they did raise the price, I would give them bravos the world over. That would be a brilliant move that I feel benefits the customers and the company. However, much like the Nintendo DSi, this PSP revision seems nothing more to me than profit padding. Which is an incredible shame, because Sony could have done much more with the PSP's longterm viablity simply by lowering the price of the 3000. As it stands, I cannot see this being anything but an expensive failure that Sony will keep throwing money at until it is a success.

 

[FoolKiller]

Because I have a fundamental hatred of companies selling software while at the same time being too cheap to actually sell you the software. Digital distribution is more like a lease than anything, and that angers me to no end.

I would say you have a much better complaint if the PSN store acted more like iTunes, but as you have unlimited redownloads to a system, and up to five total systems they are trying to not make it feel like a lease as much.

Also, let's say you are Sony: You're telling me that I need to go out and buy a (not cheap whatsoever) memory expansion to play the game that I likely bought the system for in the first place, simply because you want to force me to buy it digitally?

This is what I see the late announcement of digital only doing to Patapon 2. Not everyone has huge Memory Sticks because they were only using the system for disc-based games and just needed enough for save files.

If Sony made the PSP 4000 have the internal memory and a UMD drive, even if they did raise the price, I would give them bravos the world over. That would be a brilliant move that I feel benefits the customers and the company. However, much like the Nintendo DSi, this PSP revision seems nothing more to me than profit padding. Which is an incredible shame, because Sony could have done much more with the PSP's longterm viability simply by lowering the price of the 3000. As it stands, I cannot see this being anything but an expensive failure that Sony will keep throwing money at until it is a success.

There really are a lot of complaints regarding UMD out there, so I don't see this being a huge problem. It was apparently slowing the system down, developers didn't like it, and even a lot of consumers complained about its read speeds and not liking it in general. The reason there is buzz surrounding this news is because a majority of people are wanting to get away from the UMD. And if the digital only thing becomes an issue the release of games on Memory Sticks is not impossible.

 

[J-PaP]

Because I have a fundamental hatred of companies selling software while at the same time being too cheap to actually sell you the software. Digital distribution is more like a lease than anything, and that angers me to no end.

Also, let's say you are Sony: You're telling me that I need to go out and buy a (not cheap whatsoever) memory expansion to play the game that I likely bought the system for in the first place, simply because you want to force me to buy it digitally?

If Sony made the PSP 4000 have the internal memory and a UMD drive, even if they did raise the price, I would give them bravos the world over. That would be a brilliant move that I feel benefits the customers and the company. However, much like the Nintendo DSi, this PSP revision seems nothing more to me than profit padding. Which is an incredible shame, because Sony could have done much more with the PSP's longterm viablity simply by lowering the price of the 3000. As it stands, I cannot see this being anything but an expensive failure that Sony will keep throwing money at until it is a success.

I understand your issues with digital distribution itself. I don't like the idea of having no physical element to property of mine and that I cannot sell it later on. There are benefits to it though including cheaper prices, ease of access, greater market diversity to name a few.

If anything the UMD was a failure. Forcing people to buy a device that uses a medium that has no other use and increased costs for no good reason bar attempting to reduce piracy. Which it failed at miserably. By sony removing this, they attempt to keep costs down for publishers which will reduce costs for consumers.

Also you cannot blame sony for consumers impatience and anxiety. Nobody said buy a psp because gt mobile might come out on it eventually. And even if they had made such a promise, gt mobile I see as likely being playable on older psp's. Also maybe when the psp first came out memory was pricey, but where a 256mb usb stick used to cost $30AUD, I can now get 2gb usb stick for $12AUD. Memory is cheap these days. Regardless, at least Sony is looking to offer a device that does not make prior devices obsolete, something that is increasingly happening in electronics.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the DSi IF it was the same price as the old one. With technology getting cheaper there is absolutely no reason or any offering in the DSi that I see as increasing its production costs that much that $100 more is a justifyable price. It still, hardware wise is inferior to the psp yet costs more. The psp at least is looking to offer some technological additions and we are yet to know a price to judge it as price padding.

 

[FoolKiller]

Nobody said buy a psp because gt mobile might come out on it eventually.

Actually:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gran_Turismo_4#Mobile

Gran Turismo 4 Mobile (also known as GT4 Mobile) is a PlayStation Portable game developed by Polyphony Digital. The game was announced at the E3 Sony press conference on May 11, 2004, the same conference where Sony announced the PlayStation Portable.

Want to take a guess at how many people pre-ordered a PSP because of that announcement? It is one thing if it just got delayed or never came to fruition, but it is another thing when your selling point for one system is only available on a more expensive one.

I won't deny that anyone who bought a PSP for GT Mobile without it being out made a mistake, but Sony risks bad PR if there is not a way for it to be played on the original PSP. If they release GT2 on the PSN then maybe they can save some face.

 

[J-PaP]

Fair enough I guess Sony did make a promise of gt mobile. However they still have done nothing that could lead us to believe GT mobile won't be playable on an original psp. I know I'm speculating but I expect it to be like Patapon 2 where you just will have to get it off psn. GT2 would be great on the psp as well.

 

[FoolKiller]

Fair enough I guess Sony did make a promise of gt mobile. However they still have done nothing that could lead us to believe GT mobile won't be playable on an original psp. I know I'm speculating but I expect it to be like Patapon 2 where you just will have to get it off psn. GT2 would be great on the psp as well.

Which is why I keep saying that I will only make assumptions of a PSP2 when I see it and assumptions regarding my current playability of GT Mobile are reserved after seeing technical details of a PSP2-whatever.

 

[slowman]

GT2 would be great on the psp as well.

GT2 *IS* great on the PSP. Get yourself custom firmware. I'm sure you have a copy of GT2 laying around as I did, all you need to do is back it up to ISO and convert it to an EBOOT using PSX2PSP.

 

[J-PaP]

GT2 *IS* great on the PSP. Get yourself custom firmware. I'm sure you have a copy of GT2 laying around as I did, all you need to do is back it up to ISO and convert it to an EBOOT using PSX2PSP.

I did get it and complete it a year or so ago but it was not the same. Could never get 100% completion due to lack of arcade version available and being in a pal region meant the gamesave was useless on my disk copy/ps1

 

[LaBounti]

If anything the UMD was a failure. Forcing people to buy a device that uses a medium that has no other use and increased costs for no good reason bar attempting to reduce piracy. Which it failed at miserably. By sony removing this, they attempt to keep costs down for publishers which will reduce costs for consumers.

Waaay Back in 2003-04 when the hardware was being designed there was no better option or solution to UMD. A disc medium cant fail unless no one buys it. With 40+ Million PSPs sold and game sales steady it seems like a success to me. I own 30 UMD games and I oly have issues with the fragile casing.

Very similar to people who complain about missing PS2 features or needed changes years after it launch. Like memory cards, cant change a core design.

Tekken 6, Soul Calibur and GT Mobile are going to push even more PSPs.