Just
as expected, Sony just announced the PSP Go at E3 just now -- Haz Kirai called it the "worst kept secret at E3." The slider handheld has a 3.8-inch LCD, built-in Bluetooth and 16GB of internal storage, all in a case 50 percent smaller and 40 percent lighter than the original PSP-1000 -- a weight savings we're guessing is directly attributable to the loss of the UMD drive. That's right, the Go doesn't have a UMD drive -- games will instead load in through the Memory Stick Micro slot or over PlayStation Network. That's not the end of the classic PSP, though -- Sony says it will "live on." New PSP titles will be distributed through both UMD at retail and online simultaneously -- Sony's beefing up the desktop client and renaming it Media Go for easier access and syncing with Playstation Network media, but you'll be able to get PSN content directly from the Go as well. The PSP's music features have also been beefed up with a new auto-playlist feature called Sense Me, which sounds a lot like Pandora or iTunes Genius playlists, and there's a new video delivery service being rolled out.
Don't expect the loss of UMD to lower the price, though: the Go will be $249 when it launches on October 1 in North America and Europe and November 1 in Japan. Sony's showing demo videos with both black and white versions, but that's not confirmed yet -- we'll let you know.
Update: Check the full PR
here.
Update 2: Sony has just blasted out the
detailed specifications. Here are the highlights:
- Approx. 128 x 16.5 x 69 mm (width x height x depth)
- Weight: 5.6 ounces (including batter)
- CPU: 333MHz
- 64MB memory
- 3.8-inch display (480 x 272 resolution)
- Built-in stereo speakers and microphone
- 802.11b WiFi
- Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
- USB 2.0
- Memory Stick Micro slot
- Analog video out
- 16GB storage
posted Jun 2nd 2009 2:09PM
Memory Stick Micro? 16GB or not, with UMD's topping 1GB each, downloadable games being similar i'm guessing, there's not gonna much room for space, and M2 cards are expensive!!
FAIL
That's what he said. Yes, he.
...and $80 more than a regular PSP?
Double-Fail!
Well if you compare it to the older PSPs, if you have just 1 UMD with you then you have 1 game with you. Even if you don't use the addon storage you'll be able to have multiple games without carrying anything extra. Seems like a better deal to me. Shame they chose a lame memory card standard though.
They went with a lame memory card standard because it is their own lame memory card standard. Typical in Sony fashion, a proprietary solution that hurts their products. The PSP Go would be much more interesting if it didn't cost more than the normal PSP. Hell, just a $20 premium would be fine with me... but nope.
bot,
Sony will never use standard memory or any add-on.
Nintendo have DSi and they did have several version of GBA without anyone complaining.
Sony Ericsson plans to only use SD and many Sony products support SD or CF, like the alpha range.
it's quite amazing... everything I hate to see in a PSP is included!
Embedded flash, no UMD games support, silly sliding form-factor. The only advantage I see is far more compact size (which is a great move, all said). Though I may have reservations about the smaller screen (or not).
The controls look more uncomfortable, though I reserve to right to change my mind about those after playing with one.
Hrm. Can't say I would appreciate this. I also wonder how the old-skool accessories (GPS, camera) would fit to this. I'd say they're gone too, if the UMD is gone. No UMD was the biggest surprise. The vocal anti-UMD whiners have won this round :)
We'll see how she sells.
and it'll prolly take another year to hack this to run emus
epic fail!
The disc supports up to 1GB, but coming from a man who has pirated more than his fair share of PSP games, most of them don't break the 500MB mark. I'd say the average size is closer to 250MB. As long as they aren't too draconian about allowing you store game files on some form of external storage, this isn't a big deal.
The $250 price? That's a big deal.
Jamma, as a Leeds United fan I guess you would know all about FAILing
$249. LOLROFLBBQLMAO
Cmon sony, at least make people want to buy your products
Brand new PSP-2000s (which if you remember don't have the 3000s' screen issues) have now stooped to $129 (not officially), go get 'em!
IM WAITING FOR THE PSP GO N2000 BECAUSE THE PSP GO NOW I THINK IS OK AND PRETTTTY COOL BUT NEEDS SOME WORK. I MEAN WHO WOULD BUY IT. SMALLER SCREEN,THE START AND SELECT KEYS! IT COULD BE A LITTLE THINNER AND THE SCREEN COULD BE BIGGER BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE SPACE ON THE FRONT AND ALSO THERE NEEDS TO BE A NEW USER-INTERFACE.
For a brand new device, it seems a somewhat underpowered. Yet Sony claims they can run Gran Turismo on this PSPGo. That quite an accomplishment for a 333 Mhz processor. Sony should upgrade the software on the PSP Slim so I could run Gran Turismo on that even if I have to buy more memory for it.
@ Jamma,
UMDs cap at 1.8GBs.
But I think 16GBs is pretty good. I mean, I've yet to see games that use the full capacity of UMDs. The biggest game I have is FFVII: Crisis Core, I think its 1.5GBs. I don't think that its worth the $250.00 though. No more ram upgrade? It could have been used for web browsing. This 10 year idea is not a good one IMO. I personally want a more powerfull system.
Does anyone know what the capacity cap for M2 is currently?
what about the survey they conducted?
apart from UMD less, no new feature is added...
- dual sticks
- OLED/touch screens
i'm so disappointed :'(
EPIC FAIL! I don't get it. Why not have better graphics? why are they putting out the same device 4 times already. Make it better at least. Just give me GT Mobile already!!!!! That's what a want not another device that is essentially the same and actually looks like poor button placement to me
@tekdroid - the UMD was the worse thing about the PSP, I always said. Not surprising to me at all that it's gone. Why use a mechanical loading system in a portable? One that feels flimsy and can break easier. And having to mess around with discs in a world of digital content. They do need a way of letting people with umd disc to download a fresh copy for the GO at no charge, maybe scanning a barcode or something from the disc.
Otherwise it is what it is. I don't think it's a fail, it's a mid point between PSP 1 and the next PSP2 but that in itself maybe the disappointing fact. It doesn't need to be a phone, or media player, or touch screen - it just needs to play games well - that should be its focus. Admittedly with that in mind it should also be cheaper.
As for second nubs, just thought they could tick one somehow in the middle of those buttons on the right, or have some kind of screw-in nub or flip panel..something to think for the next one.
It really don't look as bad since it's so much smaller.
doesn't*
Seriously? It makes me feel a little sick...
Also, the new joystick placement will make it impossible for a human to use together with the directional keys, making some games pretty much unplayable... FAIL
It's basically the GBA to GBA SP move all over again. Cramped friggin controls. Of course Nintendo forced you to buy it anyways because you couldn't see the damn GBA screen without a flashlight.
At least this is optional, because I'm sure most of the new "PSP Go!" features are going to be a firmware update for the old PSP's (video store). Though bluetooth would be nice to have... but not enough to warrant a new purchase. I see there's no wired headset option anymore (and no TV-out). That's weak. If they upgraded the wireless to 802.11G or faster then I might consider trading mine in though.
ZOMG! I never heard of this!
Kiss me through the phone.
I see you are a 13 year old girl if you made that reference. My 13 year old female cousin listens to that crap. Shameful. *Breaks out Midnight Marauders* That's better.
That's what she said.
The Low End Theory was better.
FAIL
Any ATCQ album is good even though I was just listening to Lyrics to Go.
$250
BULLSHIT. This is what I call fail.
Agreed.
Sony: "We have learned nothing."
Where'd you get that figure? I don't see it in the article.
Superevil: It's in the live E3 coverage:
The PSP Go will be available in stores in North America for $249 and 249 Euros, the same price the original PSP launched. In Japan, it's ¥268,268 (??)
The second to last line
A 16gb iPod Touch cost more than that so I don't think the price is as messed up as you're making it seem.
This is exactly what I thought, why the f*ck would I spend $80 more when it won't DO more than Bluetooth. You can grab 8GB MemStickDuoPros for cheap these days and while they might not be as cheap, it'll sure do the job you're looking for it to do. Sony should have launched at $199
I guess we know why they aren't dumping the PSP 3000 now, at least.
Long live:
http://www.techdigest.tv/psp2-concept2.jpg there's always a next time?
+1 dude. That concept was boss.
I really don't see how they can't incorporate at least some of that into this.
For example, move the start/select buttons above the analog stick and then add a second analog stick where the buttons used to be.
sooo much better
-1, because that concept would be the most uncomfortable GAMING device EVER. If you seriously think that that concept would've been "boss", then you don't want a portable gaming system; you want an Archos 5 with buttons for gaming.
that concept is incredible, but for portable gaming systems i would definitely go with a clam shell design. it leaves more room for the controls (you don't have to stick them at the bottom edge). my ideal portable gaming system: take the Pandora, remove the keyboard and redo the controls, slim it down, and give it the sexy from that render.
also, the Go isn't really a PSP2, it's just another revision of the PSP.
Great concept, but I don't think it's gonna happen anytime soon.
No dual analog, no touchscreen, no sexy? Maybe next year..
no dual analog because it runs standard PSP games, not new games specifically for the Go.
but TBH, as long as it's got a WVGA screen it will do amazingly in the PMP market because it's small enough to be pocket sized but has a big enough and high enough resolution screen for movies to be watchable.
also GT for PSP looks amazing.
so... what happens with our old UMD games?
Simple, you use them on your current PSP. So don't trade-in your PSP for a Go! if you want to use them...
Same as your old memory sticks - You can only play them on your old PSP.
There's nothing Sony loves more than making people buy the same shit over and over again.
Buy the same shit over and over? Naw, we'll just stop buying from them, period .
I guess the they should rename it from Go! to "Go...and buy the same shit over and over again"
Newer gadgets require often different memory cards. If we should have worked against that, everyone have been running around with compact flash cards in their cellphones....
Ripping on Sony for having us buy the "same shit over and over again"? Really? This is pretty much all Nintendo does (DS -> DS Lite -> DSi) and I'm on my 3rd 360 already... Everybody does this.
Buy the same shit over and over? What other company was that again?
>There's nothing Sony loves more than making people buy the same shit over and over again.
Nintendo does the same thing. See every Mario and Zelda franchises. Same story, better graphics. You're deluded if you think otherwise.
It would be nice if they offered some service to scan the barcode or other identifier on the umd disc then let you download it to the Go for free.
So i am guessing the next PSP will have a microSD slot (or something different than Memory Stick) and we wouldn't be able to use PSP Go's games ?? that's frustrating....just like in college every year they change books for same class so we can't buy or sell cheap books!
Lame, Sony, Lame. One more thumbstick, the PSP would be a serious mobile machine.
And for those who will try to argue that they can't change it because all old games won't support it, can go wiki the PS1 because they probably arn't old enough to remember that Sony went from no thumbsticks to two in the middle of the PS1's prime time.
Really? This is your solution? UGH
This thing has no market. Its out of date before it even launches with proprietary media, no touch screen, stratospheric price.
I could see this being a success at $99. A mini-psp that drops a few features and is smaller than the PSP-3000
But $250? PASS
FAIL
It's hard to tell from the distorted pic, but it looks like the d-pad and buttons are nearly flush with the face of the device. It would really be a shame (though not a surprise) if Sony has ended up making the controls even less comfortable to use.
Whew, that's ugly.
Why can't Sony seem to do anything right? Could it really be that hard to give us dual analog at least? Damn Sony I want to buy your stuff so bad. So please make something worth buying.
it looks like they tried to put a psp into a mylo
Are you sure about the screen dimensions being 3.8"? That appears to be smaller than the current PSP and not too much bigger than the iPhone's.
i mean I knew the price would be high. Blue tooth and 16GB MEM does that. No shock. Any1 surprised with the price must think they make these things from sand or out of the air or some shit.
16 is too much to me. They should slice it to 8 GB take off adhoc and bring back MS Duo or go to SD. I got like 5 of those layin around my house. I aint coppin no damn M2.
16GB of flash memory costs less than $30 more closely to $20 now (And no I am not talking about SD cards, etc) Bluetooth can cost as little as 5 DOLLARS! Seriously. Don't know if there's licensing or not, but the hardware itself is cheap.
Suffice to say this is the price I'd pay for a PSP 2. Not a questionably better form factor PSP with questionable "upgrade".
The fact that the PSP IS SO OLD now is what makes this a slap in the face, and I seriously hope no one gives Sony the time of day over this so that they learn once and for all how to treat their consumers. Then again, people are giving Nintendo their time, so why not Sony too.
if anything, the memory saves them having to build (and test, and assemble) the far more complex UMD drives. Shipping weight / size / cost is also reduced. All savings not to be sneezed at.
Additional retail cost has very little do with how much something actually costs to make, and a lot to do with pricing at the maximum profit point (especially for early adopters), then adjusting as the demand curve changes in future...
once upon a time(1990's), sony had the best industrial design around.
and now they are selling this garbage
what the hell
Sony have always wanted to be the Apple on the PC side. They've got style (well some for the most part) and the price tag (on their good stuffs) but there just aren't enough quality in the hardware to back it up. MS media should have been long gone, getting ppl to pay premium for something can only be used in Sony products is becoming a bigger no-no since the economy is dipping south. For the price of this one could get a Wii + a game for party fun instead. Not totally fail but very bad price tag, im expecting cuts within 3 months.
Why did he say it was $249 USD and $249 Euros? Shouldn't it be less Euros?
No that sounds about right... we always get ripped of in Europe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT8TDQDjQNM
wow, that's awesome, but they did the same thing during the original PSP's launch and we haven't heard anything for a long time after that. Polyphony are SLOW! and I won't believe in GT Mobile until I have it right infront of me playing.
Thanks for posting that btw.
By fair comparison a 16Gig iPod touch is $299
Taking into consideration the Apple tax and certain things that would actually make it worth 50 bucks over the PSP, I think it can be reasonably decided that the Go is a ripoff
Yeah, This doesn't really make sense.
When its up against the PSP-3000, what's the motivation to buy this?
You can get the PSP-3000 for $170 and a 16GB stick for $70 bucks AND the PSP-3000 has a bigger screen.
Very strange that anyone would want to buy this.
not if it's got a WVGA resolution, then it makes sense since it will be the only PMP with a screen under 4.3" which has WVGA resolution and therefore higher picture fidelity.
@ Andrew
Have they increased the resolution? Because it wouldn't make sense unless they hardware is good enough to scale the picture. (I dunno, honestly) Otherwise, you're gonna have even more empty space than when playing gba games on a DS.
@ benny
You're paying for portability. Decreased size is a big deal to many people, especially those who carry numerous gadgets with them.
Reminds me of the T-Mo Sidekick... what a piece of shit.
$249 is ridiculous. The PSP Go has no market. You can almost buy a netbook for that price.
I didn't think about netbooks...
But netbooks can't play PSP games and fit in your jean pocket.
50 bucks too much.
$250 too much.
It seems expensive, but when you factor the current price of a PSP + 16gb memory stick pro duo + Sony tax, it's not horrible. Still, you're pretty much paying for the increased portability.
They did this so make so pirate psp game wont work at all.
This thing is a piece of shit and it's not even out yet. Is Sony not listening to anyone or anything? Economic slowdown + shitty new hardware/design = YOU GET NOTHING FROM THE CONSUMERS = you die. Do they not get that?
Again, more PROPRIETARY SHIT - micro SD please. No more Sony BS! Let's get RID of UMD but add in PROPRIETARY SHIT ... again. You can keep it.
Seems most all hand helds are garbage now. Don't like any of them.
I was so so stoked for the PSP Go! having sold my original PSP and regretting that decision. Jumping back in with the Go! was my plan.
But I cannot, for the life of me, especially in this economy, understand why Sony would debut a new, smaller device at almost $100 more than the current PSP?!?
Even Nintendo debuted the DSi at a mere $40 more that had less features (GBA backward compatability) while shrinking the hardware and adding a dual cameras and a SLIGHTLY larger screen. That decision made sense (even though I didn't re-up) but I could see new DS buyers opting for the DSi without too much of a hit to their wallet.
But $249.99?
If the PSP Go! had debuted at the same price as the current PSP, it would sell, even slightly higher ($189.99 or even $199.99), but not $80 higher.
The DSi was $20 MORE than the original DS so quit ya bitchin.
The DSi still takes retail DS games. And although they took out the GBA slot, at least they compensated by adding a SD slot and new download service.
Way to release an overpriced piece of plastic during a recession, listen to your customers Sony! The PSP Go is offensive. This will be $149 by December but in the meantime I'm happy with my PSP-2000 w/8GB memory stick.
And then Sony WONDERS why they are last in the gaming market, when it comes to both portables and at home gaming? this should of been the design of the first psp and Sony should have built upon that. guess not. Epic fail.
what the fuck r u guys complaining about.....the design is smooth, and i will definitely upgrade from the 1000 series when this comes out. Everybody and their mother is up on the Iphone-jock and im sick of it. props to Apple for innovating touchscreen handhelds, but i personally think its a fad and its gonna wear out very soon.
PSP Go! IS 100 PERCENT GO FOR ME
this is a big time FAIL.
Still no touch screen, analog joystick more awkward, more expensive, needs proprietary Memory Stick Micro cards, and you have to rent all your games? (*)
Has FAIL written all over it.
[ (*) Download only = can't resell => they're really indefinite rentals ]
oh so this is the PSP designed after the break thru device Mylo ..
mmhh yeah GO ... away !
Would not buy it. I much prefer bigger screen and some genuine memory cards at cheaper prices so that I can play video and play games on bigger screen.
No handheld system these days should cost more than $150.