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Survey reveals potential new colors for PSP Go
Handhelds have a penchant for donning new colors, and the PSP Go is likely to be no different. A Destructoid reader was invited to take a survey conducted by UK marketing firm Research Now. The survey pictured a number of colors, including the already-available Piano Black and Pearl White systems. Some of the colors catch our eye, like Bright Red and Blue -- but colors like Lemon and Coral look a bit too much like urine and vomit, respectively.Of course, new colors don't really matter without the appropriate software. We wonder if anything will ever be able to dethrone the best PSP bundle ever.
French magazine shoots handhelds through boards, much to our amusement
Show full PR text As you know, there's one thing we love more than gadgets -- wanton destruction. Combine the two (on someone else's dime, o'course) and we're having a pretty good day. That said, we're glad that there are others out there with our bent, including Amusement, a "gaming lifestyle" mag based en France. Apparently, the theme of the current issue is "computer bugs," with a number of articles illustrated in a clever, artistic, Gallic manner. But that's not what caught our eye -- no, we were into the pictures of handheld game consoles (specifically, a Nintendo DS and a PSP Go) being shot through particle board. Feel free to peep some more action photography after the break -- and we'll just go back to working on our coilgun.
New PSP-3000 value packs coming to Japan
Further proving that digital distribution is the new name of its game ... distribution method, Sony will begin selling a new PSP-3000 bundle in Japan on December 3 which includes no extra UMDs, but rather, a 4GB memory stick. An empty 4GB memory stick, upon which video games, once purchased, can be placed. Though it somewhat defeats the pick-up-and-play accessibility of other game-infused bundles, at a price point of 19,800 yen, it should leave enough in Japanese gamers' pocketbooks to make a few PSN purchases.
PSP Go sells 28K units on Japanese launch day
While most of you probably spent your Sunday relaxing with a chilled beverage, watching some sporting event and relishing in the extra hour of life that had recently been bequeathed to you, the hard-working folks at Enterbrain were ... well, they were working hard. See, the PSP Go launched in Japan yesterday, and Enterbrain's sales statistics gatherers took it upon themselves to gather the sales data from the launch. Here's what they found: Sunday is a pretty terrible day to release a new handheld device. According to Enterbrain, retailers moved 28,275 units of the PSP Go system during its first day of availability. While that's still a fairly sizable amount of hardware, Japanese gaming blog Andriasang points out that the DSi, which went on sale on Saturday, November 1 (2008), moved 170,770 units during its first two days on the market. We guess that just goes to show, if you want your handhelds to launch with a bang, launch them on Saturday. Also, put two cameras in them. Sounds silly, we know, but it works.
How would you change Sony's PSP Go?
Sony's PSP Go hasn't had the warmest reception of all time or anything, but does it really deserve all the negative vibes being flung its way? The UMD-less console leaked way earlier than Sony intended, but after a proper launch and you inevitably trekking out to snag one, we're curious to know whether or not you're enjoying things. Would you have kept UMD support? Would you have added more internal memory? Enlarged the screen? Offered it in neon yellow? Be sure to spill your thoughts in comments below, and you'll get a few bonus points if you're coming from the world of an original PSP. Promise!
Q? Entertainment: Music licensing, other issues keeping portable Lumines off PSN for now
Lumines was one of the most popular launch titles for the PSP -- but Q? Entertainment's puzzler is notably absent from the PSP Go's initial lineup. Q explained the reason for the non-downloadability succinctly in a Tweet."We would love to bring Lumines/Lumines II to the PSN store," Q's rep said, "but there are complications, music licensing, was published by Namco, etc." However, "That said, we're obviously looking into it. :)" Q went on to single out the songs "Shinin'" and "Lights" as requiring new licenses for digital distribution, and clarified that it would be Bandai Namco's decision to publish the first Lumines on PSN, since it published the game on UMD (in Japan).While the licensed music in Lumines makes it even harder to republish, this is starting to sound really familiar. As Sony's Eric Lempel told us, it's especially difficult for publishers of older PSP games to go to PSN, because licenses will have elapsed, and won't have covered digital distribution in the first place. And Sony isn't requiring third parties to pursue digital distribution, so unless they see significant revenue potential from, say, PSP Go sales, many publishers just won't. That said, it's hard to imagine a PSP without Lumines, and we're confident it'll happen eventually.[Via PSN Stores; thanks, Kassatsu]
Telltale hoping to push content to new consoles, handhelds & Macs
With more avenues now open between consumers and game creators than ever before, third-party companies like Telltale Games can sell their wares on every platform -- as long as their software runs on it. That's the tricky part, but Telltale CEO and co-founder Dan Connors has told Gamesindustry.biz that his team is already looking to take advantage of the "huge potential" out there."I definitely think there's huge potential there, and right now we're working on getting our content over to some more channels, over to new consoles and the Mac," Connors said. With any luck, PlayStation 3 will be caught in Telltale's wider net -- it's the only current home console that has yet to be visited by a talking dog, a hyper-kinetic rabbity thing ... or even a dog that doesn't talk but is still weirdly expressive.Telltale's ambitions go further still, added Connors. "And after that's done, we're going to be looking at handhelds. I think we have to consider the PSP Go for sure."
PSP Go is $200 at Fry's this weekend... err, '$249.99 before $50 savings'
You could also say it's just the square root of 39,996, or maybe the circumference of a circle that's 63.66 units in diameter, but that's just plain silly. Alternatively, you could just save $30 and buy the chunkier model that still plays UMDs. [Via Joystiq]
PSP Go on sale at Fry's for $200
Providing further evidence of our belief that there's a nice retail markup on the PSP Go, electronics retailer Fry's has put the UMD-free device on sale for $199, through October 22. Fry's sales tend to vary by location, so it may be wise to call your local store before you begin your epic, miles-long trek through its near-endless expanses. We verified the sale price with the Austin, TX location, which is pretty far away from the Fremont, CA store whose ad appears here, so it would seem to be nationwide. That $50 discount almost puts the Go near the price point of the previous PSP models! [Thanks, Brian!]
Third parties not required to release PSP games on PlayStation Store
What do Undead Knights, Naruto Shippuden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising, NBA 2K10, Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes and Cars: Race O Rama have in common? All of these are PSP games released on UMD after the PSP Go's October 1 launch -- and all are currently without a digital equivalent. Owners of the Go system are unable to play these games because they simply aren't available on the PlayStation Store.Once again, Sony's hands-off approach to the PlayStation Network means third parties are responsible for getting their content on both UMD and the PlayStation Store. "It's up to individual third parties to decide if and when to publish their UMD releases on PSN. Most, if not all, are on board, as this is a revenue opportunity for them," we were told by Eric Lempel, SCEA's director of PlayStation Network operations. Namco, the one publisher that returned our request for comment, noted specifically that "there are currently no plans to release Akatsuki Rising on PSN right now," despite its October 6 release on UMD.We highly encourage Sony to make simultaneous digital releases of PSP games a requirement for publishers, not merely a suggestion. The company previously issued a mandate for PS3 games to include trophies in 2009 -- a similar policy must be enforced on the PSP. Without it, there's no guarantee that all future PSP games will ever be playable on the PSP Go.
PSP to HDMI, all with one giant converter box
Props to Lenkeng for dressing up their otherwise anonymous VGA-to-HDMI converter box with a PSP-related angle -- the LKV8000 comes with the necessary cables to take your PSP-2000 or above's 480p video output and push out a 720p HDMI signal complete with stereo audio. Not a bad idea -- except that we can't think of an HDTV that lacks either component or VGA jacks and that doesn't have a built-in scaler to do the same job. Maybe you're just out of ports? In any event, this guy needs a Stateside distributor before we can tell you pricing or availability, so you're stuck swapping cables for a while, Sparky. [Via Oh Gizmo!]
Video: Mega 64's $300 PSP Go joke
You know, one day we hope to be as rich as those cats at Mega 64. The troupe's latest video -- an alarming look at one of the PSP Go's lesser-known features (courtesy of IGN) -- shows us just how stacked with loot these guys really are nowadays. We're not going to give the ending away, but let's just say the whole thing is a fine way to burn a neat stack of Benjamins. In the end, it's alright -- we bet they got paid a lot more than $300 for their work.Head past the break to check out the video. If you need us, we'll be eating some ramen and freezing to death in our apartment we can't afford to heat.
Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime says the PSP Go has a 'fundamental concept problem'
Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime has been known to take a few shots at the competition in the past and, while he's not exactly verging into CE-oh no he didn't territory this time around, it seems that he just couldn't help himself from offering a few thoughts on Sony's latest handheld. Speaking with The Washington Post, Reggie says that the PSP Go has a "fundamental concept problem in terms of 'Who's it for?' and 'What's the benefit?" -- adding that he always has the "utmost respect for all our competitors, but that it's "interesting to try and answer the consumer question of 'What's in it for me?' in that product." Of course, Sony does have a few answers to those questions for its part, sort of.[Via Joystiq]
Reggie Fils-Aime on PSP Go: 'What's the benefit?'
In an interview with The Washington Post's Mike Musgrove, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime handily dismissed the DS's competition, suggesting either that he doesn't feel threatened at all, or he feels really threatened (and the history of DS sales makes us more likely to believe the former interpretation). He said that the newly launched, download-only PSP Go has a "fundamental concept problem in terms of 'Who's it for?' and 'What's the benefit?'" He added that he has the "utmost respect for all our competitors, but it's interesting to try and answer the consumer question of 'What's in it for me?' in that product."As for the other major competition in the handheld space? When discussing the DS's advantages over the iPhone/iPod Touch platform, Fils-Aime made the surprising move of referring to a third-party game, namely Scribblenauts. "That's a fabulous experience that can only be brought to life on the DS." Honestly, it probably could be done on iPhone, but it hasn't and probably won't, which is just as good for Nintendo.
Sony PSP Go game dev taken aback by lofty ESRB rating costs
Nothing really new here -- the ESRB has been charging a nominal fee to get its saucy logos on your game for years upon years now -- but the discussion of fairness has recently surfaced with the introduction of Sony's UMD-less PSP Go. A few game developers are voicing concerns about the amount the ESRB charges (we're hearing around $2,500) in order for their titles to receive a rating, particularly when those very same titles don't have such a costly requirement in Apple's App Store. Subatomic Studios, for instance, can charge $2.99 for the iPhone version of Fieldrunners, while the same game is priced at $6.99 on the PlayStation Store. Naturally, the ESRB would love to get in on App Store ratings, but it's hard to say just how long (if ever) that cracking process will take. So, any of you devs put off by the ESRB fee? Put off enough to sidestep PSP Go development altogether?[Via Joystiq]
Swag Saturday: Final Fantasy spinoff pack (PSP)
If you're like us, you're ready for The Future of Digital Entertainment™ and want to get rid of all that silly, antiquated physical media still laying around the house. We're using some for coasters (something's gotta hold our Zima!), some for Halloween treats later this month, and some for Swag Saturday giveaways. We're hoping that you're not like us and are instead hungrily searching for your chance to win a copy of both Dissidia Final Fantasy and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (on UMD, of course). Leave a comment below letting us what you're going to do with your physical media when the future is upon us and there's no turning back. We'll choose one winner at random after the comments are closed 24 hours from now. See you in the future! Leave a comment letting us what you're going to do with your physical media when the future is upon us and there's no turning back. You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec, presumably based on the longstanding feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys) Limit 1 entry per person per day This entry period ends at 7:01PM ET on Sunday, October 11 At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive Dissidia Final Fantasy ($40 ARV) and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII ($20 ARV) For a list of complete rules, click here %Gallery-12134%%Gallery-18738%
Is that a PSP Go? Nope, it's a PSP Faux
Look, China -- we need to have a talk. We know you're back up to your old tricks again, trying to sell people knock-offs of Sony's new PSP Go handheld. We thought you learned your lesson last time? You had made all of these promises, told us how you were going to get your life back on track and now we have to find out about your Slide Panel Retro from some website? Where's the communication? We don't care if the thing has 4GB of space, a built-in camera, mp3 player and emulation software, it's just not right! To say we're disappointed would be an understatement.So, here's what we're going to do: We're cutting you off. No more joyriding in the Jag or going down to Toshi Station to waste time with your friends. This is it, we're washing our hands of you . Do what you want, we won't be responsible anymore.[Via Siliconera]
PSA: Don't download your PSP Go Rewards games to your PS3
What's worse: "upgrading" to a PSP Go knowing you won't get any kind of reward for (effectively) giving up access to your UMD collection, or thinking you'll get some bonus games and then having them snatched away at the last second, Charlie Brown-style? Ask these PlayStation forum users, who discovered that a kink in the DRM for the free European rewards program games meant that downloading the games to a PS3 before copying them to a Go invalidated the licenses. In short, if you download your free games to a PS3 first, you will have not free games, but free large, useless files. Sony is aware of the issue, advising new users to download their freebies directly to the PSP so they can play them at some point. If you've already made the "mistake" of redeeming your codes on the PS3? "We're still coming up with a solution for those who have redeemed the voucher and are now receiving the error message," forum moderator moshii says, "and we'll update you as soon as we have a solution for you."Kind of makes you nostalgic for when the only method of transfer for games was from the box to the system via the "your hand" protocol, right?[Via Destructoid]
PSP Go Rewards program hitting DRM-laced brick wall
Needless to say, none of this applies to the Americans in attendance, but for international PSP Go buyers looking forward to taking advantage of Sony's PSP Go Rewards program, the always user-friendly DRM seems to be putting a solid kink in those enjoyment plans. According to a growing number of users at the official European PlayStation boards, an error by the name of 80109D53 is causing downloaded titles to not play back on the new handhelds. We're told that Sony is aware of the issue and is toiling away in an effort to fix things, but for now, it seems as if you can sidestep some of the risk by downloading your trio of free titles (which Sony offers if you're an existing UMD owner) directly to the PSP Go rather than sideloading 'em from a PS3. Any others having this issue? Figured out a solution? Shoot your mouth off in comments below.[Thanks, James]
Interview: SCEA's Eric Lempel on PSP minis, scrapped UMD conversion
In the second part of our interview with SCEA's Eric Lempel, we chatted about the simultaneous release of PSP Go and PSP minis. In addition to discussing the hands-off approach Sony is taking with the pricing of minis, we talked about the possibility of the minis program moving to PS3, and eventual Mac support for the PSP's MediaGo application.Joystiq: Are any Sony first-party studios working on PSP minis? Eric Lempel: Right now, to my knowledge, they're not. That could change, again, but right now, I don't believe any of the studios are working on minis.What determines the pricing of PSP minis?There are a couple of rules, or maybe there's just one rule. They have to come in at $9.99 or under.If someone wanted to release at $1.99, they could?Yes, absolutely.
