Sony simplifies PSP-3000 lineup, only offering one SKU

Hope all you would-be PSP buyers out there are into that PSP-3000 Ratchet & Clank Entertainment Pack that just went on sale a couple weeks ago, because it's going to be the only bundle available from here on out. That's the word straight from Sony, which says that "ongoing discussions" with retailers have led it to kill the previously-announced $169 4GB Memory PSP-3000 bundle in favor of offering a single SKU -- although the company helpfully points out that you can still score a 4GB PSP Memory Stick PRO Duo for an additional $45. Yeah, thanks for the tip, guys. The current Mystic Silver bundle will be joined by a Piano Black version sometime in December, so you're not totally limited option-wise, but we're not exactly pumped about throwing extra money at a game we don't necessarily want -- we'd happily drop the extra cash on a non-interlaced screen, however.

[Sina @ Oct 28th 2008 12:00AM]

Yay the first ! for the very first time !

[MastrCake @ Oct 28th 2008 12:02AM]

Congrats. You want a cookie?

[Abuzar Baloach @ Oct 28th 2008 1:06AM]

I want a cookie...

[Alex @ Oct 28th 2008 12:01AM]

That's actually a much better way of doing it... Surprised this isn't on www.talksony.com already!

[MastrCake @ Oct 28th 2008 12:01AM]

Now I'm glad I didn't wait, even if the screen is "messed up". I haven't noticed anything odd, except for it being more colorful compared to my friend's PSP-2000. I still love mine.

[James Mack @ Oct 28th 2008 12:07AM]

A 4 byte memory stick for $45? Sony's really cheaping out on this one.

[Jhongerkong @ Oct 28th 2008 12:15AM]

Imagine all the ASCII porn you could put on it

[djpurpose @ Oct 28th 2008 12:25AM]

Not much with 4 bytes: "8----" or maybe "()()"

[Erb @ Oct 28th 2008 12:51AM]

Just buy a microSD adapter, they are like 10 bucks xD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208439

[Jason @ Oct 28th 2008 12:09AM]

i already played and beat ratchet and clank why would i want a new copy

[EdgeOne @ Oct 28th 2008 1:43AM]

That's what I was thinking.. New hardware, OLD game??? Nice Bundle.

[Andrew @ Oct 28th 2008 12:13AM]

Straight from Sony you say? Isn't Sony the one who said the Playstation line (note, this includes the PS3) will be forever backwards compatible. There are so many more examples of Sony blindingly throwing darts at a board and making promises off of the results, it would take me forever to list them all (or maybe just the amount of time to still sell a console and games for it 2+ years after it's been replaced).

[Dylan @ Oct 28th 2008 12:30AM]

Honest question here:

Does the PSP actually sell?

To be honest it's one of the bigger console flops in my opinion, probably second only to the Gizmodo, oh, and that N-Gage thing. I'm not just ripping on it though; I bought one back when they first came out and thought it was the coolest thing ever because it played games, had a web browser, let you watch movies, etc., and I though it'd do pretty well, then I realized that when I bought a DS Lite when they first came out I only bought two games for the PSP (Death Jr. & Loco Roco [awesome!]). Their lack of games and single analog stick make it a poor gaming console, and web browsing and video playback are pretty much standard in everything now. Don't even get me started with UMDs.My cousin got a newer PSP recently, the video out is a nice gimmick, but why would I bother hooking it up to my television with my shiny gaming rig taking up all the component and HDMI ports? It even felt lighter and cheaper than the original. I even dabbled in homebrew to screw around with thing like using it as an IR remote and such, fun stuff, but hardly enough to make it sell (especially since Sony doesn't like that). My poor PSP has been sitting in my closet for a couple years now on some custom 2.x firmware. :/

Honest question, honestly.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Oct 28th 2008 1:09AM]

It sold 45 million. Pretty damn good in my book.

I bought one the day it came out in the US. Had to sell it soon though. Missed out on all the great homebrew stuff for it.

[Eric Yeung @ Oct 28th 2008 1:11AM]

Actually the PSP hardware wise is doing really well. You should check the sales charts before you make such a drastic comment such as "it's one of the bigger console flops in my opinion, probably second only to the Gizmodo, oh, and that N-Gage thing". It's nowhere close to those devices.

The area where is does struggle is software sales because of presumably piracy. However the hardware has no problems selling at all.

[Kspraydad @ Oct 28th 2008 1:35AM]

Um...poor selling console and lack of games? Before your 'honest questions' you should crawl out from under that media blackout rock of yours.

[yui @ Oct 28th 2008 2:14AM]

"Their lack of games and single analog stick make it a poor gaming console"

I do agree have a 2nd analog stick will make it better, but a single analog stick won't make it a poor console. It still have some great games.
Before you questioned about the sell and the lack of game, please, have a look at the RETAIL umd games. There are many great titles.

[Blazeitup123 @ Oct 28th 2008 2:43AM]

from x3F...numbers in japan
"- PSP: 159,816 135,915 (568.66%)
- DS Lite: 29,839 2,075 (6.50%)
- Wii: 26,024 3,147 (13.76%)
- Xbox 360: 7,856 93 (1.20%)
- PS2: 7,261 279 (4.00%)
- PS3: 4,725 1,009 (17.60%)"

i'd say its sellin'!

[Keith @ Oct 28th 2008 12:32AM]

The screen looks perfectly fine compared to my friends 2000 series and plays scenes in Crisis Core better so you guys need to stop complaining about that.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Oct 28th 2008 1:10AM]

Well technically the screen on the 3000 is MUCH BETTER. So much better in fact that it's not compatible with some games :(

[yui @ Oct 28th 2008 2:06AM]

really?! I played Street Fighter Zero 3 on my 3000 and those scan-lines appeared even when I move characters!!! terrible.
But to be honest, 3D games like Monster Hunter Portable 2ndG and Macross Ace Fronters have no problem on scan-lines.

[Kspraydad @ Oct 28th 2008 1:34AM]

Um...there is more than one SKU out there...you can still buy 2000 CORE, 2000 GoW Pack, 2000 Madden Pack, 2000 StarWars Pack and now the 3000 Ratchet Pack. The Piano Black will be available as a core, not a Ratchet Pack...at least that is how I read the statement.

What you are seeing isn't SONY's greed in droping the 4GB Stick but, I beleive, a reluctance on retailers to devote more space to the PSP given above inventories and higher sales volumes of 15 different DS colors.

[AJR @ Oct 28th 2008 1:43AM]

wait a minute did i read that that is a 4 byte card, or is that supposed to be a 4 memory block card like in the origanal PlayStation?

[ecco6t9 @ Oct 28th 2008 1:52AM]

So the PSP Bundle that actually is worth a damn goes away due Jane Inventory not wanting to keep track of another SKU at Best Buy,Toys R Us,Gamestop,Wal-Mart corp HQ?

[carg0 @ Oct 28th 2008 2:44AM]

im sorry but the PSP continues to have the absolute worst packaging i've ever seen. it's a sophistcated, sleek and sexy piece of engineering not a goddamn box of your kid's favorite cereal...

the original package during it's launch perfectly symbolized this then, in their infinite wisdom, they decided this nearly $200 product should be targeted at 9 year-olds.

[mercurysunblast @ Oct 28th 2008 5:14AM]

Well, children are one of THE best markets to exploit...marketing wise.
As a demographic, more money is spent on/by children than almost any other group. They are also much easier susceptible to marketing ploys so...
I guess this makes Some business sense.

[Lemmiwinks @ Oct 28th 2008 6:23AM]

Good news, everyone! We've included a game so you can see how crappy our new screen is out-of-the-box.

Bye!

[Das Boot @ Oct 28th 2008 9:25AM]

Hate Mungerer

[Doodad Pro @ Oct 28th 2008 6:49AM]

I was seriously considering going with a PSP-3000, but after the display issues and lack of bundles (or specifically the absence of a "non-bundle, 'PSP-only'" package), it looks like I'll be going with the new DS.

[lemon @ Oct 28th 2008 8:29AM]

Just one sku, huh? No base model only? blërg.

[DustoMan @ Oct 28th 2008 9:28AM]

I'm sorry Sony, but I'm not interested in your stupid Ratchet and Clank game and UMD movie I will never watch. I'd like my piano black PSP and 4GB memory stick please.

[htd @ Oct 28th 2008 9:29AM]

with the psp3000 screen turns out to be this bad, I dont want no psp3000 no more, thanks.

[VGN @ Nov 3rd 2008 9:53AM]

Its a good value for money given that you get an extra game and memory card for paying 30 bucks more.
$169.95 -> http://www.videogamenew.com/buy-PSP-3000-Limited-Edition-Ratchet-and-Clank-Entertainment-Pack.html