PSP Go!

[John Mora]

...to the garbage heap? (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3173959)

[Valkysas]

OH YEAH. NOW I CAN REBUY ALL THE GAMES I BOUGHT IN THE PAST THREE YEARS AT FULL RETAIL PRICE FROM THE PLAYSTATION STORE!

lol, **** this.

I would LOVE to be excited about this. Really! but I really don't want to have two PSPs, and I really don't want to have to rebuy all my PSP games, and worry if some of them would even be re-released on the store. even if some are discounted from their original MSRP, you're still looking at around 10-20 dollars to rebuy a game you already own.

and that is ****ING STUPID and I'm NOT DOING IT.

I like the PSP, I love that it's getting so much great stuff this year, and I like the prospect of 16GB internal storage for carrying games around on. but having to repurchase my games is a complete dealbreaker.

now watch me buy it anyways.

[Sivart]

Maybe, if I'm lucky, I'll snag a ton of UMDs that no one wants anymore when this comes out.

Y'know, since I only have like 4 PSP games. :|

[KumoShinagi]

This is bull****.

[marcus]

i'll just wait a month for it to be cracked then load all my umd .iso's that i ripped myself onto it, thank you.

edit: waitaminute the whole "no umd" thing just smacked me in the face. i'm assuming all future psp games will be digital only?

this may very well improve sales and make it harder to pirate games unless... i dunno, it has to store the game somewhere on the harddrive meaning SOMEONE will obtain access to it.

still, this is pretty counter intuitive. i know umd's are a dead format but ugggggh who THOUGHT of this?

[John Mora]

OH YEAH. NOW I CAN REBUY ALL THE GAMES I BOUGHT IN THE PAST THREE YEARS AT FULL RETAIL PRICE FROM THE PLAYSTATION STORE!

Welcome to the joys of a dead media format. }:3

[Valkysas]

They could very well make this thing impossible to pirate games on.

to the best of my knowledge, no one has managed to break the PS3's anti-piracy measures, or modify the firmware.

the entire reason the current and previous PSPs could be hacked was because of the update data being stored on memory sticks. with 8-16GB internal storage, there's no reason this thing should even have removable storage. meaning the system can carefully monitor everything going into it.

Welcome to the joys of a dead media format. }:3
this isnt exactly the same, you know. this is technically the same system. it's not like your old player suddenly saying "no, those DVDs dont work anymore. you need to buy these ones, and put them into the same machine for the exact same functionality"

[Sivart]

The hell? If that's all the storage you get with no possibility of adding on..

**** it, I'm sticking with the 2000, then. I don't want to deal with the tedium of deleting games to make room for news ones all the time.

[Valkysas]

now that the games are going download-only, you have to deal with that anyways.

not gonna buy a single PSP game the rest of the year, just in case I do get this.

[Marc M.]

I'll hold my judgment until I see the actual product.

[Toaster]

My PSP is essentially my portable emulator these days, so its not going to be going anywhere. I'm curious to see just what titles end up for download though. This is what I got for PSP that I think is worth owning:

Breath of Fire III (import)
Castlevania: The Dracula Chronicles X
Crush
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (olol)
LocoRoco 2
Lumines
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Patapon
Star Ocean: The First Departure
Star Ocean: The Second Evolution
Valkyrie Profile

Seeming as over half these games were originally available for the PSone, I'll probably be stupid enough to sell these UMDs and buy them again for the new system (for a third time) provided they offer them. While I love the idea of having all my games on the go and not fumbling through UMDs like a jackass... I really DO like having physical representation of my vidya collection.

{{{{{{{:/

[Valkysas]

I also really, really like PSP game packaging. the slim transparent cases just look really nice to me (same for PS3). some game packaging is just too damn pretty to get rid of, like popolocrois.

even if I get this, and download all my games again, I'm keeping my physical PSP games.

and I just realized! imports! will we still be able to get imports? because I have ALWAYS wanted BoFIII and the Rockman Dash PSP ports.

[John Mora]

They're saying there might be some way for people to make electronic copies of their original UMD games. Dunno how they would make this immune to dishonesty...

[Valkysas]

lol, gamefly.

[Toaster]

They're saying there might be some way for people to make electronic copies of their original UMD games. Dunno how they would make this immune to dishonesty...

Yeah, it's pretty easy. D:

[Chuck]

Depending on the price I may be interested.

[marcus]

They're saying there might be some way for people to make electronic copies of their original UMD games. Dunno how they would make this immune to dishonesty...

I can understand linking the psp to your ps3, having the ps3 do a umd disc check and then making an encrypted copy that you can move onto the psp go! (what a dumb name why are consoles so stupidly named). If Sony really expects people to rebuy their PSP games then... yeah, this is about as dumb as the rumor that every ps3 game was unique and you couldn't rent or trade them.

I also really, really like PSP game packaging. the slim transparent cases just look really nice to me (same for PS3). some game packaging is just too damn pretty to get rid of, like popolocrois.

Good packaging is dead, my friend. Finding a manual larger than 5 pages that's in color is rare.

Let us remember awesome manuals/packaging

Every pre-buy out Rare game.

Every Nintendo game

Original Fallout manual

Homeworld

Pretty much every text adventure game

StarTropics

[Red Dragon]

Think you should be able to put in a retail code or somthing for, at least, a discount. Like type in the UPSS code on the UMD itself or somthing.

I have 5 games for my PSP. I want to get a few others but they're too expensive, so I hope they mark down the prices at times.

[JLaCroix]

I'm going to reserve judgement until I hear this all from Sony themselves. As far as UMD going away, if that's true, it's no big surprise. This is the direction everything is going to, like it or not, there's nothing we can do about it. I predict in five years (ten at most) no system will be shipped with removable media for games, instead they will all be downloaded. Then again, we shall see when it is premiered how much of that news story turns out to be true.

[John Mora]

Dude, I own Star Tropics and it's pretty awful.

[Perversion]

Star Tropics isn't HORRIBLE...I enjoyed it back in the day.



Never even dawned on me that it was kinda a Zelda rip-off.

[IRC]

Why does Valkysas have to redownload all his games? Can't he just play old games on his old PSP and the new ones on the new PSP? Do guys from Sony come and smash your old PSP when you buy a new one?

[Valkysas]

how is startropics a zelda rip-off? nintendo made it, and it uses an enhanced version of the zelda 1 engine.

I like the game.

Why does Valkysas have to redownload all his games? Can't he just play old games on his old PSP and the new ones on the new PSP? Do guys from Sony come and smash your old PSP when you buy a new one?
I dont want to have to carry two of them to take my game library with me on trips and such.

[IRC]

Seems a lot easier than spending all that money or getting all worked up about it.

[Biggie]

Will new releases only come out for the PSP Go?

Because I was waiting for a PSP to come through the pawn shop again since I sold mine, I don't want to download titles. :c

[marcus]

Dude, I own Star Tropics and it's pretty awful.

I didn't say it wasn't a bad game, I said it had good packaging.

Before intrusive drm, you had to rely on your manual for anti-piracy issues. This was when the used game market was limited to like three funcolands per state, pawn shops, and babbages and people actually kept the packaging (i know, weird isn't it?). StarTropics had you dip a letter in water for a secret code and other games like Wizardry and Ultima made you consort the manual for in game things like spells and monster data.

Basically, the manual was an extension of the game. It was awesome busting out the "field guide" and doing research on a particular location or item. Modern RPG's usually have a built in glossary but I liked that tangible interaction.

[Big Rick Cook]

to the best of my knowledge, no one has managed to break the PS3's anti-piracy measures, or modify the firmware.

Depending on the kind of piracy you're talking about with the PS3, I've seen some fairly convincing videos (not to say they're legit of course) of PS3 mods that allow you to bypass the remove disk feature, enabling copies to be played. It's highly complicated and I think easy to completely **** your system up, but it looks possible at least for PS3 piracy.

[John Mora]

There's one thing I learned about the advantages of having the original packaging: the manual for Phantasy Star did a much better job explaining the premise of the game than the game ever did, and the Spinhog Software Pile didn't give you an option to see it. }:c

[Biggie]

If LittlerBigPlanet is download only, I'll regretfully buy this junk.

[Perversion]

Bigfoot pays for "junk," pass it on.

[marcus]

The PS3 vulnerability has been found and someone has found a way to loud blu-ray iso's on the system. There's a video on youtube but I won't bother uploading it.

Oh well, Sony made a pretty protective system this time around. Stumped people for 2 years.

[highwind]

i haven't turned my psp on in several months.

LIKE SEVERAL.

[Perversion]

I use my PSP as a bulky ipod.

[Jamos]

I use my PSP to play games.

As for the topic at hand, I would never buy this thing because I would never be able to get games. Seeing as I'm pretty sure you would have to go online to get those games. Guess what I can't use on any system.

[John Mora]

Go to a bookstore or sit outside a Chick-Fil-A or something.

[Sivart]

I'm willing to buy games for this if they release their games like they will with Patapon 2. Normal retail price for the case and manual, $5 off for a direct download.

But I won't be willing to buy the system itself!

[Valkysas]

As for the topic at hand, I would never buy this thing because I would never be able to get games.
So this is your last year of playing new PSP games. sad.

[Kefka Jr.]

The last time I touched my PSP was in January, when I accidentally knocked it off of the TV stand and I had to pick it up and put it back.

[Sivart]

I touch my PSP all the time. I sometimes even put a memory stick in it.

[John Mora]

I went to go play Suikoden on it only to find out I have no idea what to do next in that game because it's been months since I played it.

[Perversion]

That's why games like Etrian Odyssey and The Dark Spire are PERFECT for handhelds. Enjoyable grinding in bite-sized chunks plus VERY minimal story equals never having to try to figure out what you are trying to do if you set it down and come back two months later.



Therefore, you should buy Class of Heroes for the PSP when it comes out, John Mora.

[John Mora]

Never. I have my grind-a-thon on my DS.

[Perversion]

:skeptical



Well, when you buy Class of Heroes, you'll have one on your PSP tooooooooo!

[John Mora]

My PSP is for playing games that have been previously released on other platforms and that is all!!!

[Perversion]

I thought that was the exclusive domain of the Wii.




Unless you hacked your system and are playing roms. Or you are just playing all the old PS1 games on the PSN.


In any case, you're a strange breed, Mora.




As a side note, my buddy's subwoofer is so powerful that they were watching a movie one night or something with the sub turned up LOUD, and his brother had his PSP on a table above the sub. The tabletop was at least a foot and a half up from the top of the subwoofer (it's seriously HUGE...it was like $500 or something), and his brother came back a few days later to play his PSP, and the bass from the sub completely wrecked his LCD screen. It hadn't even fallen off the table or anything. The bass vibrations alone ruined his screen.

[marcus]

My PSP is for playing games that have been previously released on other platforms and that is all!!!

i said the same about the gameboy advance

[Perversion]

You two losers are missing/have missed out on a lot of good stuff, then!

[John Mora]

I don't think so!

[Perversion]

With John Mora, it's all black and white and rose-tinted nostalgia goggles.

[Jamos]

Go to a bookstore or sit outside a Chick-Fil-A or something.
Why do you people keep telling me this?

So this is your last year of playing new PSP games. sad.
Yes, very sad. I woves my PSP. :tear

[John Mora]

Why do you people keep telling me this?

Because it's free, public Wi-Fi. It's getting more and more common.

[marcus]

You two losers are missing/have missed out on a lot of good stuff, then!

no i was being ironic because everyone uses the "psp only has ports" defense when the GBA and DS have pretty much equal amounts if not more.

handhelds in general were a depository for ports. it wasn't until the GBA that recent ports were available but you look at the GB and gamegear. i'm surprised the sega nomad didn't do as well as it should have, that thing was a portable genesis that worked 5 years before nintendo decided to release a "portable snes"

[gray]

my god he's right! the nomad is better than the gba!



what an insight in this topic ABOUT THE PSP




yeeesh

[SirTMagus]

i'm surprised the sega nomad didn't do as well as it should have, that thing was a portable genesis that worked 5 years before nintendo decided to release a "portable snes"
Really? You're SURPRISED? Have you USED the thing?

It was CLUNKY as **** and used like 6 AA batteries. And it helped kill the Genesis. Y'know, what Sega did best - kill itself. Yeah, awesome handheld system right there.

Your arguments are just insane, man.

Oh and to tie this into PSP - Sony likes killing itself too. :V

[Biggie]

War of the Lions aside, most of the PSP ports were a degrade. Unlike the GBA. And it had more than ports.

[marcus]

Really? You're SURPRISED? Have you USED the thing?

It was CLUNKY as **** and used like 6 AA batteries. And it helped kill the Genesis. Y'know, what Sega did best - kill itself. Yeah, awesome handheld system right there.

Your arguments are just insane, man.

Oh and to tie this into PSP - Sony likes killing itself too. :V

All the handhelds were clunky back then, considering the gameboy pocket didn't come out until a year after the Nomad. The battery issue was a problem (compared to the four batteries the original gameboy used) but Sega released recharge packs and there was always the wall adapter option. Overall you had 4-6 hours of battery life which is about the same as the PSP.

And Sega killed itself by flip flopping around too much and never focusing on a single console. By the time Saturn kicked off in America (not even 2 years after its release) they stopped focusing on it to work on the Dreamcast. A year before the Saturn they released the 32x to compete with the SNES and two years prior they released the Sega CD to do the exact same thing. Sega is like the ADHD ridden grade schooler.

War of the Lions aside, most of the PSP ports were a degrade. Unlike the GBA. And it had more than ports.

I'm legitimately curious now. What ports have you played because aside from the downscaled graphics they're the same as their originals or upgraded versions.

Valkyrie Profile
PoPoLoCrois
Megaman Legends 1&2 (JP only)
Breath of Fire III
Tales of Eernia
Gurumin
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness
Lemmings
Suikoden 1&2 (JP only)

That's just off the top of my head.

[Valkysas]

Megaman Legends 1&2 (JP only)
No. these are worse. the games are actually the CD images of the PS1 version and running on an emulator that is also on the UMD, which causes immense slowdown. controls are worse too thanks to no R2 and L2

[Jeroak Nelave]

Damn, thats kinda sad Valk, cause i'm sure that i could rip my copy of MML2, emulated on my CFW PSP and it would run just like it did on the original PSOne, but i never got far in MML2, so i dont know if there was lots of slowdown in that version.

[Chuck]

no i was being ironic because everyone uses the "psp only has ports" defense when the GBA and DS have pretty much equal amounts if not more.

handhelds in general were a depository for ports. it wasn't until the GBA that recent ports were available but you look at the GB and gamegear. i'm surprised the sega nomad didn't do as well as it should have, that thing was a portable genesis that worked 5 years before nintendo decided to release a "portable snes"
Yeah the DS and GBA have tons of ports. Nintendo practically released every classic NES & SNES game two or three times over between them. But they also have their own standout franchises. Pokemon, Ace Attorney, Nintendogs, Advance Wars, Ouendan/Elite Beat Agents, Trauma Center, Rune Factory. PSP has LocoRoco and Patapon that I can think of.

[John Mora]

Even then, PSP's "stand-out" titles aren't very popular or well-known.

[Toaster]

There's a difference between that (which is running the ISO off your Memory Stick) and the game loading the data off a UMD, though.

Lack of R2 and L2 alone would make the game nigh-unplayable.

[Valkysas]

Damn, thats kinda sad Valk, cause i'm sure that i could rip my copy of MML2, emulated on my CFW PSP and it would run just like it did on the original PSOne, but i never got far in MML2, so i dont know if there was lots of slowdown in that version.
It would run fine. capcom's early PS1 emulator for the PSP suuuuuuucked.

may not have to rip it. RPGDork notified me that capcom has told joystiq that they're gonna be putting 20-40 PS1/PSP games up on the PSN starting this month.

[marcus]

Even then, PSP's "stand-out" titles aren't very popular or well-known.

Lack of strong 1st party support. There's no "flagship" titles on the PSP in the same way Nintendo has Zelda and Pokemon.

Lack of R2 and L2 alone would make the game nigh-unplayable.

I found controlling the game easier (I'm basing this on my ripped iso of MML). L2 and R2 are assigned to the nub. I assigned strafing to the shoulder buttons, movement with the d-pad, and lock on and free look with the analog nub.

MML2 (ripped ISO) seems unplayable past a certain point. After you fight this ninja guy (in the dungeon after the first fight with Tronne) the game freezes when you hop on your ship.

[Sivart]

Use a different version of POPs, silly!

[Chuck]

Another game going UMD-free.
"We expect to see a growing trend where highly anticipated releases such as UNBOUND SAGA (http://www.unboundsaga.com/) will bypass the UMD format and the often challenging retail environment, being instead delivered directly to consumers. It certainly is a ‘win' for both content producers and gamers alike —- it avoids an unpopular delivery medium and costly manufacturing, while improving the timing and availability of great content to consumers when they demand it."

[Biggie]

****!

I want to get a PSP, since we have a really nice one here at the shop.

But I'm afraid I'll buy it then next month all new titles are announced as download only.

[Valkysas]

8GB memory stick pro duo = $30 at amazon.com

[Biggie]

But, will downloadable titles only be compatible with the PSP Go?

And honestly, I want to hack it, so I can play my PS1 games.

[Valkysas]

you can download PSP games right now from the PSN (I just recently got guilty gear judgement for $5.99 on there). so existing users will be fine.

[Red Dragon]

(I just recently got guilty gear judgement for $5.99 on there).
So did I!

:highfive

Seemed like that was the best game for the buck at the store anyhow.

[John Mora]

I dunno, Suikoden is a pretty great value.

[Biggie]

But I can't go to the psp store without updating the psp, and I'd rather hack it so I can play playstation games I already own on it.

Besides, I don't really ever see any ps1 games on PSN worth purchasing.

[Valkysas]

not just PS1 games, but actual PSP games are up, like I said. capcom is gonna bring 20-40 PSP/PS1 games to the store starting this month, and Agetec has been throwing games they published up there the past two weeks (Bowling, R-type Delta, and King of Fighters '99), so we might actually get RPG Maker 1 on the store sometime soon, which would be pretty damn awesome. would breathe a lot of new life into this place.

hacked PSPs can still access the store. ask Sivart about it. I'm probably gonna get mine running custom firmware to play my PS1 games, he said he'd walk me through it. hell, he just recently got Patapon 2 from the PS Store.

[Biggie]

If games like LittlerBigPlanet the new Soul Cal are released on UMD, then I'll just get a used PSP.

But it they are not, then I don't know what to do. :c

[Valkysas]

then you would buy them from the Playstation store and put them on your memory stick because hacked PSPs can still access the store. (seriously, ask Sivart)

[Biggie]

I'm just cautious that sony at any time could update the psp firmware so hacked systems can't access the store.

[Toaster]

Sony ain't got **** on DarkAlex

[Valkysas]

sony already updates to block custom firmware from accessing the store and other stuff.

and an hour or two later, the custom firmware is updated to restore that function.

and if by some insanely unlikely chance you are eventually locked out for good, then you go back to official firmware and just rebuy PS1 games you want to play on the PSP for 5 bucks each.

[marcus]

Also, remember if you have custom firmware and you turn in your PSP to Sony for repairs the first thing they do is upgrade to their latest firmware.

[SirTMagus]

MGS1, Res Evil 1 and some other crappy games are confirmed to go up on PSN sometime soon.

I guess it's the thought that counts, Sony.

[Perversion]

I want Tactics Ogre to come out on the PSN, so I can download it and never play it.




Because that would be a hell of a lot better than paying $80+ on ebay, and still never play it.

[Toaster]

It's really not that great.

FFT: WoTL is a much better choice, seeming as it's basically that game, but better.

[Perversion]

But I wanna pretend to be a completist!

[John Mora]

You'd do better to be a startingist.

[Jeroak Nelave]

I would love to see Ogre Battle on the PSN too...but good luck getting Squeenix to actually do something like that.

[Toaster]

PSP Go! design is leaked. (http://kotaku.com/5273208/rumor-qore-lets-slip-the-first-look-at-psp-go?autoplay=true)

I think it looks ugly. :v

[John Mora]

That's an ugly baby.

[Biggie]

I envision.. hand cramps..

Plus I guess it isn't replacing the 3000, so I dodged a bullet.

[Goufunaki]

I hate it.

[Valkysas]

it looks terrible, and very uncomfortable. the original and current PSP is a rather stylish piece of hardware. it's very pretty. this. this is not.

same goes for the new PS3. it looks ugly, where the original is rather sexy looking (to me, anyways). what the hell is sony doing?

I'll just get a 16GB memory stick for my current PSP unless this thing has some secret features that will somehow blow me the **** away at E3.

[Biggie]

The LittlerBigPlanet and new Jak look pretty snazzy though. :I

[Red Dragon]

To be fair this si a prototype.


Anyone remember boomerang PS3 controllers or the giangator brick that was the DS?

[Valkysas]

Not a prototype. the box leaked (kotaku has a pic). this is what the retail unit will look like.

[The_Real_Crunk]

same goes for the new PS3. it looks ugly, where the original is rather sexy looking (to me, anyways). what the hell is sony doing?

Thiiiiis. I dont know why, but that little black box with slitted edges still seems like its something from the future.

Also, yeah if thats the final design, it looks like ****. Dear sony, just take a friggin PS2 dual shock controller, and cram an LCD screen into the middle of it, and somehow find a way to make the grips collapsible, or fold/slide into the unit. If they can make transformers you can do this.

[highwind]

my psp go is broken already.

[John Mora]

The PSP Go design is definitely not new. (http://gizmodo.com/5273258/so-the-psp-go-is-basically-a-sony-mylo-2-with-gaming-then)

[Chuck]

It looks more or less like I expected it to look. Could do without the white circles around the d-pad and buttons and the curved sides. And is that tiny thing next to the d-pad the analog nub? I don't see how that's even usable. Anyway, smaller screen = fail. And have they said whether it'll have a UMD slot or not?

[Toaster]

And have they said whether it'll have a UMD slot or not?

PSP Go! = no UMD slot.

[John Mora]

LOL

Changed your mind about wanting one pretty quickly, huh, Chuck.

[Toaster]

I would have rather had this.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2039/2260615770_130005262e.jpg

[Biggie]

I would have bought that for the right analog stick alone.

[SirTMagus]

what the hell is sony doing?


giant

enemy

PSP Go

[Chuck]

And one more reason the Go sucks. It has a new multi-function port instead of a mini USB so it's not compatible with exisiting PSP accessories.

[Valkysas]

wait. no mini USB?

it had damn well better come with a wtf ever-to-USB cable.

also, what does this mean for accessories like the GPS and Camera that are available outside the US? they'll have to make brand new versions of them for the new system.

[Chuck]

Well hey they do have a workaround for the mini-USB port.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/09/pspgocableconvt5.jpg

Great job, Sorny.

[Valkysas]

what the ****ing **** is that?

[Chuck]

It's a cradle thing for pspGo that plugs into the new everything port and gives you a miniUSB port at the top so you can use old PSP accessories. If you just ignore the fact it's butt ugly and ruins the go's major selling point... even then it's still pretty stupid.

[Valkysas]

old PSP accessories? I cant think of any that were actually released in the uS that had that. we never got the camera, we never got the GPS.

oh, the old USB cord. thats what this is for, I guess.

:minotaur

[marcus]

I do not understand developers at all. Is it really that difficult to include a mini-usb port? The parts required are ****ing tiny and take up absolutely no space at all.

This ranks up there with how much I hated Nintendo for changing the power supply and stylus size for the DSi despite requiring the exact same input.

Oh yeah, the lack of headphone jacks in the GBA sp.

You know what? I don't think developers actually play their own consoles. They could have at least made the PSP attachment symmetrical. Instead I'm looking at 3/4 of a personal pan pizza.

[Translucid]

No UMD conversion program for PSP Go at launch. (http://kotaku.com/5367207/sony-nixes-plans-for-umd-conversion-program-for-pspgo)

Seriously Sony? Almost the same hardware, but no way to play the games you own. And yet they thought it's ok to release the system like that. And they're still going to support UMDs, somehow??

They are massively squandering any sort of chance they had against Nintendo handhelds.

[marcus]

No UMD conversion program for PSP Go at launch. (http://kotaku.com/5367207/sony-nixes-plans-for-umd-conversion-program-for-pspgo)

Seriously Sony? Almost the same hardware, but no way to play the games you own. And yet they thought it's ok to release the system like that. And they're still going to support UMDs, somehow??

They are massively squandering any sort of chance they had against Nintendo handhelds.

Man, talk about shooting yourself in the foot. The kiosk thing sounds immensely retarded.

How about this: you hook your USB cable from your old PSP to the PSPgo; your old PSP reads the UMD and downloads the data onto the PSPgo.

Oh, wait, you have to buy an accessory to get a mini-usb plug on the go. Whoops!

[Goufunaki]

This thing seems doomed before it's even released.

[Valkysas]

you hook your USB cable from your old PSP to the PSPgo; your old PSP reads the UMD and downloads the data onto the PSPgo.
would never work. hello, gamefly.

[marcus]

would never work. hello, gamefly.

People still rent games???

I still think there should be a method. Nintendo used to let you register games to earn points. Maybe you can enter a code or something found in the interior of the manual behind one of those scratch-off thingies. It would mean only people who buy new games could transfer their games to their PSPgo, but it's a way better option of saying "So we have this new system that won't play the dozen games you own and is nearly twice as expensive as a previous iteration that can download and play the exact same files." Besides, companies want you to buy games new so it's incentive for new customers not to go 2nd hand and Sony makes more money as a result.

[Marc M.]

People still rent games???The smart ones who like to save lots of money do.

[Perversion]

Yeah, marcus, you and I are the morons still BUYING games. Especially NEW games.


Actually, the above statement was only meant to be 43% sarcastic. The other 57% of me thinks that, yeah, we ARE the morons.


EDIT @ Toastie's pic of the fan mockup above: My God. That is a sexy, sexy piece of hardware. If the fan mockup can be compared to Charlize Theron in 2 Days in the Valley, then the actual PSP Go would be Charlize Theron in Monster. Based on looks alone, that model would pull in killer sales.

[The_Real_Crunk]

I only rent games that I know are really short and I will breeze through in a few days. Stuff I really like and know will last me a while I buy.

[Toaster]

See, I buy games used at GameStop and then return them immediately after I beat them. What? You expect me to pay $7 to play through for Resident Evil 5?

Also: This PSP Go! thing is a complete mess and I hate it. Look at this reaction on Kotaku.

Imagine if the iPod [and mp3 players in general] locked you into downloading music from pay per song services. No CD encoding to mp3, no mp3s that aren't signed from the pay per song service, a proprietary port that blocks user generated or encoded content.

Do you think the iPod and mp3 would have been a hit? No, no chance in hell. MP3 players took off because of techies and music afficianados that happily converted their hundred plus CD collections to their players. MP3 players took off when the first hard drive players came out, with multiple gigs of storage, to fit hundreds of hours of music on them. And the easier the process of going from CD to mp3 gets, the more success an mp3 player has, that's why you see Apple, Microsoft, Creative, and Sony dominating the market, because their players come with solutions that make the process of CD to mp3 easily. Combining the consumer's personal CD collection with the pay per song download services insures a healthy amount of content.

With the PSP, it's different. The consumer has nothing to put on it as far as its true strengths: games and movies. Yeah, they can put mp3s on it, and they can put photos on it, but they're kind of screwed as far as gaming and video...

which means, how can anyone get behind this? To put it simply, imagine if you owned the entire Pink Floyd back catalog on CD...and you bought an mp3 player..

Would anyone buy an mp3 player if they had to spend $100 on mp3s when they already have the CDs at home?

Yeah, yeah, this is for new PSP owners, but tell me this, why would anyone want to get into the PSP at $250 when they didn't want to at %170?

$250, and you can't even buy the games that are $10 new at Toys R Us and Wal-Mart, or the clearance games for $7 at Target, or the used new releases at Gamestop for $25. No, you're forced to pay a premium for old games. Who is going to spend $15 on Daxter when it's $4 used at Gamestop and there's a hundred copies on ebay and at yardsales for $1? Who is going to pay $20 for Tekken when you can buy it for $10 anywhere that has it?

And even then, it alienates so many people. Is the PSP game store really going to carry "Smackdown VS RAW 08" or "Brooktown High" or "Avatar the Last Airbender"?

Yeah, you, the kotaku reader are saying, "who needs those crap games?" but you know what? That's the kind of game that sells day in day out at a Gamestop or a Wal-Mart, not everyone buys a PSP and wants it just to play Metal Gear, Dissidia, and J'eanne D'arc.

so pretty much Sony, let yourself get walked all over. Thank you for killing the PS2's life cycle by not keeping the format alive on PS3. Thank you for killing the PSP by releasing the Go, right when the PSP was starting to give the DS a serious run for its money. Thank you for turning the PS3 into a classless, tacky crippled piece of hardware.

I love you Playstation, really. No matter how many mistakes you make, you won't catch me buying a Wii or a Xbox. But you better believe it if Sega came back or Nintendo straightened up and released a real HD power house with nothing but hardcore games, I'd jump ship in a heartbeat. You had magnificent exclusives that you lost left and right. You had a brilliant, over priced, but completely worth it piece of hardware in the PS3. The PSP was starting to come into its own with AAA game after AAA game and even started rallying in Japan. You could have stood your ground and came out a winner...but at this point it seems you're trying to beat Microsoft at their own game, selling the customer the biggest piece of garbage ever and trying to pass it off as gold.

[Valkysas]

but they're kind of screwed as far as gaming and video...
No, you can put video on the PSP. yuuuup. I do it.

[The_Real_Crunk]

I love you Playstation, really. No matter how many mistakes you make, you won't catch me buying a Wii or a Xbox....but at this point it seems you're trying to beat Microsoft at their own game, selling the customer the biggest piece of garbage ever and trying to pass it off as gold.

I love how he talks about how ****ty the PS3, PSP Go and Sony are, and says he'll jump over to Nintendo or Sega, but still finds time to try and rip on the 360. Good show kotaku.

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd86/THEREALCRUNK/CORALINEMOM.png

[Marc M.]

Good show Kotaku.
That is a commenter on Kotaku, not an actual Kotaku post.

[The_Real_Crunk]

Close enough for me~

[Chuck]

People still rent games???

I still think there should be a method. Nintendo used to let you register games to earn points. Maybe you can enter a code or something found in the interior of the manual behind one of those scratch-off thingies. It would mean only people who buy new games could transfer their games to their PSPgo, but it's a way better option of saying "So we have this new system that won't play the dozen games you own and is nearly twice as expensive as a previous iteration that can download and play the exact same files." Besides, companies want you to buy games new so it's incentive for new customers not to go 2nd hand and Sony makes more money as a result.
That would only work if they'd been putting codes on the manuals all along. They could start putting codes with games but the whole point is people wanting to put their back catalog of games on the go. Most new games will already be available for both.

[goldgecko4]

As someone who owns no PSP games and is looking to get a new one, this system almost appealed to me. Almost. I thought to myself "this is a tiny, compact, stylish multimedia player that's half the size of a PSP, and I never have to hunt for a game I like again!" THEN, I saw the prices of the used games at my local Game Crazy and realized that the digital download prices would never be that low. Ever. Not to mention the fact that I could never truly OWN the games I bought from the PSN Market, I realized that this product, this PSP Go is not for me. Nor anyone else for that matter. Given that I could get a used PSP-3000 for 100 dollars less than the Go! price, I think I've made my decision.

[Valkysas]

and you can get a 16GB memory stick pro duo for around 60-70 on amazon, and have the internal storage capacity of the PSPGo for downloadable games, and still be able to get cheap UMD games too.

its what I did. it's the ideal situation.

[Toaster]

I love how he talks about how ****ty the PS3, PSP Go and Sony are, and says he'll jump over to Nintendo or Sega, but still finds time to try and rip on the 360. Good show kotaku.

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd86/THEREALCRUNK/CORALINEMOM.png

Last paragraph aside, I do not think we should discredit some of his points. Such as, why the hell would we pay a premium for an old title when we could pick it up for much cheaper at GameStop?

I would've been fine with a PSP being digital only--if they started things out this way. But changing things up like this? This is just awful.

What they shoulda done was made the PSP Go! have two analog sticks, improve the specs, and made it so it was like the PSP 2.0. You would've been able to purchase old PSP games and PSX games and put them on the device, or purchase the NEW games that are available for the device that take advantage of the new hardware and improved processing power.

[Chuck]

Honestly I think that's exactly what they're doing. The go is just a stepping stone to build up their digital library and services like the digital comics to pave the way for an all digital PSP 2.

[marcus]

So, the last method I can think of if they actually wanted to allow people to transfer their old games over is by doing it the old way: proof of purchase which would require you to send in the receipt proving that you bought the game (new, of course). I'm as stumped as Sony when it comes to making a way to legitimately tell if someone owned the game.

They really shot themselves in the foot making an aesthetically updated system that can't play the library the system is designed to play. I'm in the same boat as everyone else who says they should have waited until a hardware upgrade before doing this. PSPgo could have been PSP2 but Sony seems to love throwing a money away. Even if this is a "bridge" it's a pretty flimsy one.

[Kire]

Last paragraph aside, I do not think we should discredit some of his points. Such as, why the hell would we pay a premium for an old title when we could pick it up for much cheaper at GameStop?You underestimate the powers of laziness, ignorance, and convenience.

[Red Dragon]

They could always strike a deal with Gamestop or some other retailerthat they will buy-back old UMDs for a price and then the retailer will give you a code to unlock a game in thier store.

Might work?

*shrug*

[Jehuty]

Just a silly bump, since i don't want to search 7 pages for a straight answer:

PsP Go can't play UMDs, and you *can't* load your current UMDs onto it from an older PSP?

This alone would determine if i buy one, i have 10-15 UMDs I won't abandon.

[marcus]

Just a silly bump, since i don't want to search 7 pages for a straight answer:

PsP Go can't play UMDs, and you *can't* load your current UMDs onto it from an older PSP?

This alone would determine if i buy one, i have 10-15 UMDs I won't abandon.

Yes, the Go doesn't have a UMD disc tray and you can't play ripped umd's on it. I'm pretty positive someone will crack the firmware by the end of the year which is a big thing for me because I personally rip all of my UMD's for better battery life + I hate carrying/swapping out discs but who knows what kind of workaround is required for this.

[Chuck]

I only recently looked into PSP homebrew and wasn't trying too hard but from what I could find nobody's found a way to downgrade past a certain firmware without using a Pandora battery and with PSPgo having a non-removable battery that's no longer an option. Apparently noone's managed to crack PSP-3000 yet and by all indications the go will be a lot harder.

[orius]

Such as, why the hell would we pay a premium for an old title when we could pick it up for much cheaper at GameStop?

Because Sony doesn't like you shopping at GameStop, they feel it's profit they're missing out on. They really hate the very idea of used game sales. They would much rather the consumer pay $50-60 bucks for a new game rather than buy one for a bargain at $20, unless they decide to release it as a Greatest Hit. At least that's the impression I've gotten. That's probably what's behind the downloads on this PSP, and maybe why they're not interested in supporting backwards compatibility with the PS2 on the PS3.

[Toaster]

Companies don't like second-hand shops aping their profits?

I had no idea!

[Goufunaki]

Buy a chinese knock off for only $83.99.

http://kotaku.com/5377570/pspgo-in-chinese-knock-off-form

[Chuck]

9lVCV1LGHiA

Apparently the PSPgo has been hacked.

[marcus]

Good. The one thing keeping me from getting a Go is that I can't move any of my stuff over. I noticed the Sega CD emulator loads twice as fast than on the PSP 1000 so maybe everything else is faster as well.

[The_Real_Crunk]

Good luck with that. the guys that cracked it are all pissy over rival VIDYA PIRATES for some reason. They are saying they did this just to show it can be done, but wont share how to do it with anybody.

Its only a matter of time before somebody in their little group leaks it or other people find away to do it too.

[marcus]

Good luck with that. the guys that cracked it are all pissy over rival VIDYA PIRATES for some reason. They are saying they did this just to show it can be done, but wont share how to do it with anybody.

Its only a matter of time before somebody in their little group leaks it or other people find away to do it too.

Most definitely. The irony is that they've probably motivated every hacker and their mother to step up to the plate.

I'm suddenly reminded of a humorous news report where a meth dealer sent a video of his revolutionary creation process that didn't involve a huge, noticeable lab to his rival in another city to taunt him.

The rival sent the video to the police and the dude was arrested. I'll laugh if this thing is cracked and publicly released by Monday.

[Chuck]

FYI PSP firmware 6.20 is out. It adds playlists for photos and videos and a new XMB entry "Extras" where Digital Comics is located. Not much use yet since the service isn't launching here until next month but Sony and IDW Publishing are giving away some free comics so you can try it out. Just redeem the corresponding code.

EC2N-9HBR-HJD6 | Transformers: All Hail Megatron #1
FF3N-H7B6-M2JF | Astro Boy: Movie Adaptation #1
724K-A4BG-JLD7 | Star Trek Year Four - The Enterprise Experiment
63N8-R2BF-9E4D | Aleister Arcane #1

Codes valid until Dec 16th and must be redeemed on a PSP.

[Chuck]

Sony's finally gotten around to trying to give people a reason to buy a PSP go.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2010/06/pspgo61.jpg

R&C Size Matters, LittleBigPlanet, and SOCOM FtB3 free with purchase of a go until March 31, 2011.

Also, LBP, Resistance: Retribution, Gran Turismo, and Secret Agent Clank have become Greatest Hits. And a new PSP Favorites line brings some games down to $10.
* Ape Escape: On the Loose
* Buzz! Master Quiz
* Hot Shots Golf Open Tee
* LocoRoco 2
* Patapon 2
* PixelJunk Monster Deluxe
* SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo
* Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow
* Twisted Metal: Head On
* Justice League Heroes
* Manhunt 2
* Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play
* Pinball Hall of Fame: Williams Collection
* Silent Hill: Origins
* Sims 2
* The Warriors

[Valkysas]

I dont know why anyone would buy a go right now, when we know a new model PSP is on the way, and we'll probably even see it at E3 in 14 days.

glad to hear about the new GH games, and the 10 dollar games (probably pick up locoroco 2) though.

[Jeroak Nelave]

If Sony doesnt announce a PSP 2 at E3, i think i may end up picking up a Go. I've been wanting one...and that will give me 3 PSP's...kinda sad.

[John Mora]

If you pick up a PSP Go it'll mean a 200% increase in PSP Go sales for the month of June.

[Hrafn]

Warriors for $10 means anyone who has a PSP and hasn't played that game (either on that system or the PS2/Xbox, it's the same game on any of those platforms) should definitely get it. Still one of the best movie to game adaptations (and absolutely one of the only ones that is probably better written than the film itself).

[Jeroak Nelave]

If you pick up a PSP Go it'll mean a 200% increase in PSP Go sales for the month of June.

a 200% sales increase? Does that mean you are buying one too?

:dumpster

[Valkysas]

cZmD_KKnVv8

[Jeroak Nelave]

Yeah, that was probably the stupidest most ignorant PSPGo hate video ever made.

If I didnt like the IGN message boards so much, i wouldnt even go there anymore.

[Valkysas]

it's not a hate video. jesus.

Mega64 just felt like making some jokes about the "doesnt play UMDs" thing.

They have nothing against the PSP Go. It was a joke. Well, they might, but still. they're allowed to.

but most importantly, it was a joke.

and it was funny.

kind of like the whole idea of a console that can't play the majority of it's own library.

:minotaur

seriously. it's a joke. settle down, man.

[Toaster]

Yeah, that was probably the stupidest most ignorant PSPGo hate video ever made.

If I didnt like the IGN message boards so much, i wouldnt even go there anymore.

Do I need to chase you out of here again?

[The_Real_Crunk]

Yeah, that was probably the stupidest most ignorant PSPGo hate video ever made.

If I didnt like the IGN message boards so much, i wouldnt even go there anymore.

:facepalm

[Perversion]

Your Backlogery sig is the best, Toaster!

[Chuck]

PSPgo just has too many big cons stacked against it's few small pros.

[John Mora]

They have nothing against the PSP Go. It was a joke.
I think the PSP Go's a joke, too!

[Hrafn]

Mega 64 doesn't make hate videos. They don't really make comedy videos either, though.

Are there really supporters of the Go? I mean, I know there'd be a few, I'm sure even the N-Gage had its diehards, but I still have to assume the vast majority of people recognize it to be a poor idea poorly implemented. I am something of a PSP fanboy, and I still feel nothing but disdain for it.

[Perversion]

I'm sure even the N-Gage had its diehards....

http://www.pavilionboards.com/forum/member.php?u=374

[Jeroak Nelave]

Valk, i know it was meant as a joke, but the fact that the video is not even funny in the least, atleast to me, doesnt endear me to their poor attempt at humor. And the fact that they spent $300 to just destroy a PSPgo is moronic in its own right.

I wont disagree that EVERY PSP game should be available to download, and i think Sony messed up there with the marketing of the go, but i'm not going to fault Sony for going towards a market that they thought would get them customers.

I do honestly hope that a PSP2 is announced at E3. That would just make my day...as long as it is BC. It would still make my day, even if it isnt BC.

[Perversion]

Sony announcing a device that spins feces tethered to a hinge would make your day.

[Jeroak Nelave]

Since i'm personally not a big fan of feces, that would be a no.

:lol

[Valkysas]

I'd buy it.

[Jeroak Nelave]

Damn, that means i would have to buy it just to jump on the bandwagon.

:lol

[Hrafn]

My PSP 2 purchase would hinge on BC. If they have it, definitely. If not, they'll need to bust out some serious games to get me to abandon the original PSP.

[Valkysas]

You dont have to throw your old system away when you get a new one.

when there is a PSP2, I will buy a PSP2. and keep my old PSP.

[Hrafn]

I don't intend to carry around multiple handhelds, unless I was going on a trip or something. Buying the PSP 2 would essentially be having it replace the first one. And if there's no BC, then it would first need to surpass the original's library. And since it wouldn't have Final Fantasy Tactics, that'd be tough to do.

[Jeroak Nelave]

I have to admit Valk, that i prefer the convenience of having BC on all of my systems. Thats why i desire to keep my PS3 in top condition, because i like being able to play PSone, PS2 and PS3 games on the same console. Thats what i like about the Wii & DS, and to a lesser extent the 360.

That way, if i want to play a particular game on a whim, i dont have to pull out an old system and hook it up to play.

[Valkysas]

Oh, it's nice, but it's not absolutely neccesary.

I'm sure the next PSP would be able to play anything released for the original that was on the PS Store.

and I'd keep my old PSP no matter what, since I have a bunch of UMD games.

[The_Real_Crunk]

If they do make another PSP, itsll probably be a PSP Go 2, where everything is digital content. It'd be lame as hell just like the Go, but hey, its Sony~

[Jeroak Nelave]

"With a name like Sony, it has to suck"

[Perversion]

Not true. After two really subpar years of LCD models, they're actually nosing their way back up again, concurrent with Samsung starting to slip a bit, in my opinion.

Granted, Sony has a LONG way to go to catch up with Samsung. I think Sharp and LG are the ones to watch this year.

[Chuck]

I always figured from the start PSPgo was just to set to groundwork for an all digital PSP. I'd be shocked if PSP2 has any type of physical media.