Sony looks to boost PSP Go sales with ten free games -- in the UK, at least
By Donald Melanson 
posted May 26th 2010 7:22PM
posted May 26th 2010 7:22PM
We're not sure if this is the "relaunch" that we've been hearing about, but it looks like PSP Go buyers in the UK will soon have one big new reason to consider the UMD-less handheld -- Sony says that it'll be throwing in a whopping ten free game downloads with each system. That deal will apparently also apply to at least some existing PSP Go customers (those that registered their system after April 1st), and it looks like you'll get a surprisingly solid lineup of games, including titles like Little Big Planet, Gran Turismo, Wipout Pure, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, and Need for Speed Shift, to name a few. Unfortunately, there's no indication on when or if the promotion will launch over here, with SCE's UK sales director Mark Howsen only confirming that it will be rolling out in the UK "next month."
This thing was DOA (Dead On Announcement)
I highly doubt a relaunch would work if you can still get a 3000 for cheaper.
@commenter7 I don't know about that, I mean yeah on announcement it was gone but this sounds pretty good to me and i think it will really get the attention of the supposed target audience sony was seeking with the go, people seeking a more convenient psp that they don't have to carry games for.
@commenter7
At first I was excited for the go. Then I realized it wouldn't have a second nub for proper mobile fps games. Sony shot themselves in the foot.
But an offer like this makes the UK an envy because that's a lot of savings.
@AJR21
I don't get why people think the PSP Go was an entirely new platform. It wasn't, it is the exact same PSP as before in a different case and without a UMD drive.
You can't go changing the fundamental controls of a platform through its cycle, you would get crazy fragmentation in the games.
@rhododragon I do agree its actually a pretty amazing offer but I still can't picture it making an impact. Just look at the current sales, it can barely pass 5000 a month in Japan, even the ps2 has higher monthly sales. A simple offer like this would boost the sales but not by much
@commenter7 I never thought Sony would be stupid enough to release a PSP that doesnt play PSP games.
UMD was the best part of PSP, removing it is the worst thing you can do
@Extinction
Lol, UMD was the best part of the PSP? Are you kidding? It was terrible, drained the battery, far too big and added bulk to the system. The only decent thing it had going for it was its good storage space.
@QwaF
I agree. Downloading games for hand-held is just loads more convenient. I remember when I had a big bag full of game boy cartridges, pain in the ass to bring on trips. Having all of your games saved in memory makes it so much more portable.
The only problem is that it uses Memory Stick...
@rhododragon
You don't have to carry games for any of the older PSPs either. Any PSP can go on PSN and download whatever is available, Go or no Go.
I do like the PSPgo from a hardware standpoint, but I really feel that this whole "download" concept is actually making games on the PSP worse. Game developers, in order to facilitate downloading, are decreasing file sizes and subsequently watering down what the games should have been. Example, Gran Turismo had no career mode and visuals were not up to par with what they originally promised. Tekken 5: DR is arguably better than Tekken 6 and Soul Calibur had no real story mode (which might not matter to some, but I'd rather have it than not, especially considering the prices of PSP games rival that of real consoles). This trend can only get worse as Sony last year instituted on game publishers a 16 cent fee for every GB downloaded over PSN, so cutting out features actually pays for the developer, and we lose in the end.
@QwaF "Lol, UMD was the best part of the PSP? Are you kidding?"
No, I'm not. UMD is not big, they are as big as gameboy games were.
The difference in power between the PSP 1x and 2x is far greater than the difference between the 1x and Go, proving Sony can improve power far greater even with UMD than they did by removing it.
We went from 32 MB portable games to 1.8 GB portable games, and some even larger (there are a few multidisc UMD games) UMD is the best thing to happen to portable gaming
@Extinction And yet they are substantially larger than a memory card, they require a mechanical drive mechanism making them more prone to failure and usually higher power requirements and they are noisy.
The PSP came with a perfectly good memory slot. From day one they would have been better off not having the UMD and shipped games on memory sticks some how instead.
UMD is one of the worst aspects of the system, easily. It provides no tangible advantages over alternatives. That said, it also shouldnt have been dropped that late into the lifecycle of the device.
@Smigit flash memory was way too expensive when the psp was launched for it to have been used as the primary storage medium for games. as i recall 1gb cards were well over a hundred bucks.
@AJR21 Drop my hopes with GO since its debut, when I hear the word UMD-less paid games via online. Epic facepalm indeed. Reasons. http://j.mp/psp-go-no-console
Sounds nice, still not convinced on buying one really, just doesn't seem worth the cash... Rather get PS3 games instead.
Sinking shipp comes to mind!! They need to adopt the iPhone/ipad gaming setup and encourage developers to make money by selling games for the machine and encourage the emulation scene through apps
Rubbish!
Nice, people might actually buy them now.
@Maybach I'd buy one if 6 of the 10 were games I'd actually play.
wait.. nah nah I'm holding out for the 3DS or the PSP2.
sounds like a good deal
This actually makes it not a bad deal.
Not that I am considering buying one anyway though.
I will wait for new rumored PSP..... or just use my Desire to play games..
They'd need to pay for the surgery to move fingers into places for which this design would actually make sense.
Sony really screwed up here. Should of been a touch screen with newer technology.
@anotherworld
Why? This isn't supposed to be the PSP 2.
This would be the best deal ever ... unless they are doing this to clean out stock before a new console release.
there just getting rid of Gos to make room for the PSP 2.
@KingFaisal94 They're*
That's actually... not bad... Hmmm. Makes me consider a PSP now.
I used to own one of the original ones (you know... rampant piracy...?) but sold it due to a lack of good games.
Make some good games for the PSP and then I'll consider one...
@EggoEspada There are tons of good PSP games, more than DS has
@Extinction Yeh right, if there were more good games than the DS it might actually sell a few units.
So the people here in the US get boned again? I mean first the UK get 3 free trade-in and now this.
i'm getting one soon. To bad I'm Canadian.
we all know they will be the games no one buys... :-/
Sony,
Please....put the Damn GSM radio in it.
@cpquit
With a touchscreen (obviously).
Or... you know... they could just LOWER THE PRICE OF THE SYSTEM. What is wrong with you, Sony? You've all but announced a new system now, anyway. Little late to be pushing these things.
I still prefered the PSP with UMD , if not lower the PSP GO price then I will consider.
why don't they make this thing with a phone? i'm pretty sure that would sell.
@stefmart
Yes, PSPhone please, Sony. While you're at it, make the developer tools free like everyone does these days. Real gaming controls on a slider phone? *drools*
Sony should just stop wasting their time with the Go and release their next gen killer PSP already. If they take their time, they will lose to Apple, again.
@ResidentEVO Agreed, I've been hoping for a PSP2 4-8 times as powerful as PSP, bluray-based UMD, 3D LCD, always connected, PSN, trophies, free SDK, etc
Sony please give up on the pspgo and move onto the psp2
The psp go just needs a huge price drop, i dont think this will really help
I really don't like to see Sony still stumbing in so many arenas in 2010. Televisions, media players, portable gaming...it almost looks like the PS3 and Blu-ray successes were flukes.
I dunno why people bitch about the price as u can now get one for about £160-170 new in some shops and as little as 120used. The game library isn't /that/ bad considering that most the back catalog is still awol, only bad thing is the updates lately have been piss poor at best... I'm praying they pull a golden nugget out of somewhere dark at E3 or it really will be the end
Finally the price is justifiable
if they drop the price by about 100 bucks it might actually be worth it.
Yay for LBP :D
Wrong!... Plain ol lower the price and then ill think about buying one.. Otherwise, tell me you'll release a full on PSP2.