Sony said to have seriously considered second analog nub for PSP Go
By Donald Melanson 
posted July 22nd 2009 2:34PM
posted July 22nd 2009 2:34PM
It's no secret that a second analog nub was one of the biggest demands for what's now known as the PSP Go and, according to Sony exec Shuhei Yoshida, those requests were heard loud and clear during the Go's development. Speaking with Game Informer, Yoshida said that Sony had some "very serious discussion" about adding a second analog nub to the PSP Go, but ultimately decided against it to avoid splitting the PSP market in two. He further elaborated that the PSP Go is "designed to be perfectly compatible with the PSP-3000 and all the games that released before that," adding that "we are talking about the mid-life cycle of this platform" (referring to Sony's ten-year life cycle plan for all of its consoles). In other words, don't bet on one showing up on the inevitable PSP Go Slim 6000 either.
[Via Joystiq]
[Via Joystiq]
"perfectly compatible with the PSP-3000 and all the games that released before that"
Except you'll have to re-buy your games or jump through whatever hoops they give you to get the UMD game onto the PSP Go.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS
Games have "controller profiles" which allow games manufactured today to work with game controllers of the past.
Example: Most racing games can recognize a steering wheel, or a controller, or a flight yolk.
Why the hell couldn't they have given us the 2 analog nubs and then made the games able to adapt to either the old PSP or the Go?
All I know is, I'm not buying one until they put 2 nubs on and I know plenty of other potential buyers who won't either.
EXACTLY.
They need UMD to be compatible with old games. They lost that. So why the hell can't they add a second stick?
I'd like to go with really low IQ...
I agree as well.
It's pure & simple, my money's only going to Sony if & when they could really incorporate that 2nd analog nub on the PSP (whatever version or iteration)!
psp go is cut cost version op psp.
remove umd disk.
smaller screen.
less on time.
no in-line remote.
no mini usb port.
and by add flash and bt. they ark you for $100 more.
lame
O hai guys lets not improve our new product so people still might buy our old one.
I think it's more or less so people don't HAVE to buy a PSP Go and that all new games will work on the old system.
They're being nice, not pricks.
@ grammar
There's no reason new games couldn't be made to support both one and two analog nubs. This was a serious mistake on Sony's part. I would have purchased a new PSP with two nubs in a heartbeat even with all the other potential drawbacks (all of the games I already own on UMD, all of the accessories I already own, etc). Without that as an option, I'll stick with my PSP-2000.
BEN!: Yeah, developers just love supporting multiple control regimens on one platform.
Two analogs would be great, but save it for the PSP2.
I agree. Save this for the PSP2. Who gives a shit about the PSP, hardware-wise. What's done is done, if they feel they need to continue to improve it, perhaps they should spend that money towards releasing a PSP2 and get over with it.
They're just afraid of Nintendo. Plain and simple. If they move first, Nintendo can trump them. I can't blame them though, Nintendo has a vise-grip on the handheld market, but Sony playing it safe isn't going to help loosen their grip any time soon.
@BEN!
When the Dual Analog arrived for the original PlayStation, many games stopped support on the digital pad. Why would Sony want to open that can of worms? They just decided it was worth it to take a little internet bitching to save them major backward compatibility woes in the future. It was a good business decision. Save the other analog for the real new PSP.
And really, do we need two analog sticks for anything but FPS games on that thing? It's a portable device. It's not like you're playing Crysis or Oblivion on the thing. One analog stick is fine for the time being.
Dual analogue sticks are useful for anything that involves character movement and camera control simultaneously, which means, well, almost any game.
@Loonie
You make a good point, but I also believe developers wouldn't mind a little extra programming if the platform they're developing for gets a second wind in sales. I'm almost positive the PSPgo would have sold MUCH better with a second analog stick than without.
that PSP Go is one ugly gadget. one of the worst looking things every to come from Sony.
Not to mention it's not really that comfortable to use. I tried it at e3 and, even though my hands aren't huge or anything, it felt kinda cramped and uncomfortable to use, especially for longer periods of time.
What's worse--and a lot of the comments here don't seem to be well thought out in this regard--using the analog nub moves your hands even closer together. If they had put a second one on it, your thumbs would be practically on top of each other--twiddling your thumbs.
Don't you mean PSP Slim GO 5000?
Isn't the GO 4000?
i think it means dont count for having a dual nub on the next hardware revision, or the next rev after that, and after that.....
Please, try to learn sarcasm.
Does it mean PSP2 will have second analog nub? Does this also mean there is no reason to wait for PSP2 in the near year or two?
the decision not to have a second analog nub may be one of the stupidest in sony history...
Fool, you think this costs them much?
Forgot Betamax?
Actually I'd put L2 and R2 waaayyy before the second analog. On the PS1 the analog sticks weren't standard but L2 & R2 were.
I'm all for making the PSP controls mirror the Dualshock, but why focus on the right analog? It's missing so many other things, and to be honest the right analog really isn't that important for anything except FPS's.
Betamax wasn't a complete screwup. Betacam was the standard for television production until recently.
Just wait for the PSP/PSP2 phone.
Prove it!
Lol, does Sony need to only carter to North Americans now? Because of the last time i checked, the rest of the world didn't love FPS that much.
Maybe the next Little Big Planet for the PSP is actually a FPS and requires a second nub.... and Dissidia actually needs touchscreens to play!
Saying the PSP is highly underestimated and unappreciated is an understatement, lol.
Yea no shit they considered it. They also considered how best to milk the PSP of all its worth. That's why they put select and start buttons in a spot which would easily fit a second analog. That way they can release a PSPGo2 (or PSP Go Slim 6000, if you prefer) sometime down the track with the second analog in the right place and select and start buttons above the analog sticks, and make a truckload of money with minimal effort on their part.
I agree with sony on this one; releasing a psp with 2 analog sticks would essentially create a psp 1.5, where games developed to make use of the second analog stick would not be compatible with the 3000 or older. I think their major goal with the PSP Go was to continue the trend towards digital purchases, and not to make a new platform in the middle of their projected life cycle.
who cares as there are hundreds of great games from all genres that prove beyond a shadow of doubt that a second analogue is in no way required
more importantly this site should correct their earlier mistake, fact is the PSP has been able to buy/rent, and download movies videos tv shows and what not for a long time now from the US playstation store directly on the PSP
its just another version of the psp. i understand your disappointment but please stop whining about the missing feats. i'm pretty shure the psp2 will have 2 analog sticks and maybe a touchscreen. who knows, it might even have a camera and augmented reality games!
damn, 10 gadget-years is a 100 human-years. the psp is now old and in need of replacement. please give us the psp2 asap. like, tomorrow.
why would a second analog stick break the backwards comparability?
they could always have the firmware programed to, and this is groundbreaking stuff here, not have the older games recognize the presence of that second stick?
runn older games through an emulater or something... this is such a bs excuse.
:|
EXACTLY
I remember when PS games had to be reverse compatible with the analogless launch controller, as well as be forward compatible for Dual Shock controllers as DS was only in Japan at the time and hadn't gotten to the US. Why is this such a big god damend problem?
His argument doesn't really follow through well when you consider that the analog nub has been moved to the other side of the control setup. Sure, there's still all the same buttons there but what you're ultimately doing is forcing devs to create a PSP/PSPGO control scheme if the game makes much use of the nub. And how different would this be from Having a PSP/PSPGo control scheme for playing games with either 1 or 2 analog sticks available...?
What are you taking about? The nub is i the same place it was before, just a little closer to the center.
Im ok with no second stick but have concidered lowering the price to something... reasonable? $250 Is a bit too much since I already own a PSP.
"In other words, don't bet on one showing up on the inevitable PSP Go Slim 6000 either."
lol, way to go Engadget!
hay
" but ultimately decided against it to avoid splitting the PSP market in two." WHAT? As if, going UMD drive-less was not splitting it in two already, give us a damn analog stick Sony. Jerks
I understand why they didn't change it, even if it seriously needs it... Why don't they just make the next version of both the Go and regular have 2 sticks though?
Sony Exec A: "Oh shit, people are not too happy with the PSPgo."
Sony Exec B: "Hmm, let's make it more expensive than the other model."
Sony Exec A: "Well, we've done that."
Sony Exec B: "Hmm, let's force people to buy new memory stick."
Sony Exec A: "Done."
Sony Exec B: "Oh come on. Well, let's just make an excuse that we were going to do what people were hoping."
Sony Exec A: "Excellent idea, that would bring back people's trust to the Sony brand. Yoshida-san, you know the drill. Oh, make it sound that we were 'serious' too"
Shuhei Yoshida: "'Serious discussion...' Got it!"
Their reason sounds fairly justified to me.
@Dan: Then why didn't Kaz simply say so during the announcement on E3? Or immediately right after? Pretty much any blogs/gaming news site pointed the issue. Sounds more like a PR damage control, a bit late I might add as people seems to have gone over it until this news brought it up again.
Back in the days we were perfectly fine with only one analog stick. We played Mario 64 and Shen Mue and Headhunter just fine. We played with ergonomically shaped controllers, though. In other words: forget that second analog stick, just make the PSP more ergonomical! The miniature analog nub is a pain even to look at, and the Go looks to be even worse. I don't care how, just FIX IT!
SONY!......You guys must really not want me to buy a PSP.
Myself and three other people really were hoping for that second Analog stick..
C'mon, please make us have a reason to buy one!
Sony really screwed up this time. I bought the PSP-1000, upgraded to the PSP-2000 when my original one decided to crap out. And when Circuit City went out of business, I got a PSP-3000 for insanely cheap- (they "found" a few that apparently some worker was hiding and I purchased that on one of the last days of their operations.
A dual analog nub would NOT have split their market, it didn't when they introduced the dual analog the first time around. Just that some games used both, some used one, some used none. Makes no sense to me whatever they're saying because they've shown the world themselves that they can do it.
And to price it that high... in a recession? They must really covet that third place.
I had a psp but sold it on ebay becuase of the lack of the 2nd nub.
Every game i loved on the PS2 i could not play on the psp
It is not like the game experience was any different on the PSP vs PS2 they were the exact same games, which i liked.
I would buy another PSP ONLY if they had the 2nd nub.
tomatolord
That didn't stop Sony from adding analog sticks to the original Playstation half way through it's lifecycle, and fans were overall happy about that addition.
And rumble controllers...