Sony exec says PSP Go 'confused' consumers, might have been too expensive
By Donald Melanson 
posted February 25th 2010 2:16PM
posted February 25th 2010 2:16PM
Well, we've already heard some rumors that Sony was considering a relaunch of sorts for the PSP Go, and it looks like at least some execs from the company are now starting to speak publicly about why such a move might be necessary. In an interview with IndustryGamers, SCEA Senior Vice President of Publisher Relations Rob Dyer admitted that the PSP Go did "confuse" customers, and that the "higher price point didn't help matters any either" -- not exactly the sort of thing you hear Sony say every day. Does that mean we'll be seeing updated hardware or a lower price anytime soon? Dyer unsurprisingly wouldn't say when pressed, adding only that Sony is "going back and re-communicating" with consumers.
You guys should probably cut Sony a little slack, it may not be intended for you. I felt the same way most of you did until I actually bought one. It is much lighter and smaller imo. I travel a lot and it's perfect compared to the PSP 3000 for carrying around in a pocket. There is no way I would carry an extra case with me, which is why I usually opt to leave my original psp at home nowadays. I'm not missing out on UMDs because I have no interest in buying them. I would like to get my hands on Lumines though.
Yeah, I'm confused, didn't Sony used to be this really cool high tech company... now they're trying to compete with the iPod touch with... this clunky touch screenless... monstrosity...
By the way, who's brilliant idea was it to have ZERO functionality when the screen is 'closed'? Even my Samsung slider phone (which is this designed after) has some features when its closed.. Think guys, Think!
Sony should read Engadget; their 'customers' (on here) told them at launch the price was way too f****g high ... idiots!
May as well buy an iPhone and have a better games system, mobile phone, iPod, smaller device .... I could go on!!!
Just make it to play divx/xvid without converting mp4 like PS3 or the stupid file name conversion, then I will buy one regardless of the game.
I loved my PSP-1000/2000 for the video, but can't stand changing the stupid file name to its own standard.
Seriously? I can just imagine the conference or meeting that these old geezers at Sony were having over this piece of gaming fail. AT no point during the meeting, I can guarantee that no one, at anypoint during their babbling, even had the thought that they have a piece of shit that is worse than their original product. Haha, "confuse consumers" it certainly did. But not due to lack of understanding what this thing is capable of.
Of course it's confused customers. I work in a ELEC. Dept. And I have to tell the customer if they want the PSPgo do you know you have to buy DIGITAL GAMES ONLY. It have a nice built in 16GB I wouldn't mine getting it for myself. But some people trying to buy PSPgo that DOESN'T know bout it's digital only content and some stores doesn't even carries it because of the price tag and lack games to go with the PSPgo. Just don't know what else to tell the customer bout it.
How about instead of going back and "re-communicating" this thing, you go back and kill it and bury it like it deserves?
Just throwing good money after bad.
It's fine for what it is, got it for $105 new at gamestop and bought motorstorm, and at that price and for how much i use it, plus the quick access to lots of games (ps1 especially) it is pretty good if you can get it that cheap
hahahaha it's hilarious to me that everyone realized this before the product hit the market... and sony is realizing it... just now
We weren't confused. We knew exactly what this was... a cynical market wedge designed to give you total power over the supply chain. We just didn't fall for it. Maybe it's time to start thinking of someone other than number one for a change, Sony.
@MNeko
Well said, indeed!
Sony has to realize that we're not as stupid as they want us to be. Techno-geeks tend not to be as gullible as the average DVD player buying consumer. We study the hell out of technology before we plunk down our money and take a gadget home, and anyone who did even a LITTLE research on the PSP Go would know it was a loser.
I bought this piece of shit. PSP is shit nowadays in general. Update your hardware assholes, even a pmp runs games better then the PSP. If Birth By Sleep doesn't come out on the PSN I will be really pissed.
It didn't 'confuse' me, I just like physical media. That, and I don't possibly see why this should cost more than a PSP. If anything, it should cost less.
Hey Sony.....
Here's a thought...you want an instant jump in PSP GO sales???
Offer existing PSP owners a way to transfer their UMD games....
Oh..and drop 50$ off the price...
No brainer moves here.
If the psp go had dual analog stick, you would not be reading this article!
If the PSP Go were hackable, and I could run custom firmware on it, I'd grab one in an instant, even at $250. I've been through several PSPs, and it wasn't until I put custom firmware on one that I found it at all useful.
What killed the PSP Go was Sony's stupid pricing for games in digital format. Why the HELL would anyone pay $19.99 for a digital download with no UMD, no manual, no case, and no resale-ability, when the UMD version is $19.99 or LESS at most retail stores?
If they wanted this to work, they need to do two things:
1. Make digital-only versions of games cost about 20% less than retail versions.
2. Allow PSP Go owners to buy UMDs and install them to their PSP Go's memory.
Without those two features, the PSP Go is a joke. Until someone hacks the thing and makes it possible to run custom firmware, the PSP Go will continue to have poor sales. Sony needs to accept that the only thing keeping the PSP's sales up was people modding them.