I’ll be the first to admit that Sony’s sleek new PSP Go! fills me with a tempering technolust that makes it even more difficult for my old, disgusting, fat PSP to fit in to my jean pockets. It seems though that the little device could be in trouble before it’s even hit retail shelves.
Despite an awesome upcoming line-up- including such anticipated titles as GT PSP, LittleBigPlanet and Metal Gear Solid : Peace Walker – the redesigned handheld is already looking like a no Go!
One cause of the consternation is one of the things that makes the device so small in the first place – its lack of UMD drive. With games for the system being available via digital distribution one link in the video game food chain is feeling a little left out – The retailer. We know that retailers don’t make much money from console hardware sales, using them to spur on much more lucrative software sales.
With small profits from hardware and retailers not getting their proverbial slice of the pie from PSP Go! game sales it starts looking like a waste of shelf space; and there’s indeed a growing trend amongst retailer to not stock the device at all. Reports came in earlier this month that NedGame, the Netherlands’ largest game retailer has opted to boycott the device and is apparently not the only Dutch retailer to do so. Today brings news that EB Games Australia will also not be stocking the 4th iteration of Sony’s PSP.
I can’t really say I blame them – it just makes financial and business sense for retailer to forgo the Go! The digital distribution model is doubly compounded locally where we pay premium rates for bandwidth making it even less viable. The fact that it retails for just $50 USD less than a $299 PS3 Slim probably also does little to enamour it to anyone but the filthy rich or gadget obsessed.
The PSP Go! will be available locally next month – Do any of you have plans to get your sweaty gamer hands on one?
Last Updated: September 23, 2009
Notorious
September 23, 2009 at 14:37
I think by trying to cut out piracy on this handheld they shot themselves in the foot.
Darkling
September 23, 2009 at 14:50
R.I.P PsP?
Milesh Bhana
September 23, 2009 at 19:29
if anything, having a discless system will encourage piracy won’t it? Give up your PSN access (cracked firmware would get detected) and download free games.
I’m sure the pirates will crack that firmware sooner or later.