Why I'm getting a PSP 3000 and not PSP Go

It's easy to get caught up in the hype of a new system release. Companies blitz consumers with ads while fans anxiously wait for the next latest & greatest. PSP Go may be the latest, but I don't find it all that great.

The slider design of the PSP Go is pretty slick, and while missing a UMD drive, both allow for the handheld to be much smaller & lighter. (On a side note, I couldn't care less about the PSP's weight; anyone who thinks the original was too heavy needs to hit the gym). Fans have been hoping Sony would employ a slider design in the PSP for years, sentiments I've seen on display in numerous photoshop mock-ups. The point of the slider design is to maintain the same controls while making the device smaller. Now the PSP Go is definitely smaller, but at the cost of a UMD drive AND it's screen size!

When it comes to devices like Zunes iPods & PSPs, half an inch is a huge difference. One of the best things PSP had going for it was that it's 4.3" screen trumped the competition. Evidently Sony was trying to make PSP Go "pocket sized" as implied by the name, but it still makes a fat mp3 player and a poor one at that.

But wait, because of the 16gb on board flash memory, now all of your games can fit in your pocket too! That's awesome. Thing is, I can get a 16gb memory stick pro duo for a PSP 3000 and do the same thing.

Oh but PSP Go has a slot too so memory is expandable unlike the 3000. Well guess what, I can get a 16gb memory stick easily for $50. I've even seen them run as low as $35. That means a PSP 3000 with equivalent memory for for AT LEAST $20 less than a PSP Go. A 32gb stick can be found for $90, so for $10 more you get DOUBLE the storage. I don't see the problem, especially when mem sticks will only continue to get cheaper. Point is, if you want to store your games internally, both devices can do it, the difference is the 3000 can also play UMDs.

Now I think using UMDs for anything but games is ridiculous, but if you don't mind carrying a game case too (something my backpack/travel bag handles quite nicely), you can get TONS of used games at incredibly cheap prices. While I'm waiting for Sony to add all the games I want to their store, I can go to GameStop and pick up any title - and for less money. A $170 3000 + $50 memory stick puts me at $220. With $30 to spend on games, I now have at least 2 quality titles as well having matched the price of the Go. If I want to continue going the UMD route, in the long run I will save A TON of money, while still having the option to download games if I so chose.

So let's review: bigger screen, lower price point, WAY cheaper games. Oh and Bluetooth? whatever.

I guess this is why after 3 weeks on the market, the GameStop near me has yet to sell a PSP Go.

I go to my local GameStop about once a week, so the guys (and girl) who work there all know me... and they have told me "in confidence" that they are overstocked with Go hardware and it's not movin' very fast... furthermore they have no confidence in the future of the hardware and think Sony made a mistake...

... 3000s are rockin' off the shelf though.

Gee... I wonder why that is?

:lol:

Go owners have my sympathies... I think that they are the victims of early adoption, in a bad way, and that they have every right to feel like they got sold a bill of goods. This is going to be like the VirtuaBoy, only not QUITE as big of an embarrassment.

Sony realizes they are losing a lot of money because of the used game market. PSP Go is their way of remedying that by forcing customers to by games only from them. Is Sony even passing on to the customers the money they are saving but not producing and shipping UMDs?

The Go was a bad idea to begin with, probably to combat piracy, but Sony always fails at that.

Sony realizes they are losing a lot of money because of the used game market. PSP Go is their way of remedying that by forcing customers to by games only from them. Is Sony even passing on to the customers the money they are saving but not producing and shipping UMDs?

tazzydnc

Wait... you want them to turn the savings over to the only source of revenue they have? Dude... they live off of you, you gotta be kidding. This move by Sony is all about keeping as much profit in-house as possible. And by the way, UMD versions aren't going out of print, they have markets like South America which are just now getting the PSP, and they are not about to alienate all the rest of us who AREN'T going to turn into Go-zombies, plugged into their battery banks... Don't fool yourself, they know exactly what they're dong when they charge $15 for "Field Commander" when you can pop down to the re-sale and get a copy for $8. Trust me.

:lol:

Sony realizes they are losing a lot of money because of the used game market. PSP Go is their way of remedying that by forcing customers to by games only from them. Is Sony even passing on to the customers the money they are saving but not producing and shipping UMDs?

tazzydnc

As an early adopter of the Go, i feel that the go is more to my liking then the 3000. You guys may hate all you want but the Go is more for my lifestyle. I like the smaller model and more portablity factor. Also the download only thing in which the games are marked doesnt really affect me since im just paying a few dollars more per game.

I think its based on preference. I could have bought a 3000 but I honestly dont believe that I would have been as happy with a 3000 then I am with my go.

BTW, get off why you like the 3000 more than the Go (or why one is better than the other). It used to be ds vs. psp, now itsall handheldsvs. psp go. Mark my words,eventually handhelds will be all downloads.

As an early adopter of the Go, i feel that the go is more to my liking then the 3000. You guys may hate all you want but the Go is more for my lifestyle. I like the smaller model and more portablity factor. Also the download only thing in which the games are marked doesnt really affect me since im just paying a few dollars more per game.

I think its based on preference. I could have bought a 3000 but I honestly dont believe that I would have been as happy with a 3000 then I am with my go.

BTW, get off why you like the 3000 more than the Go (or why one is better than the other). It used to be ds vs. psp, now itsall handheldsvs. psp go. Mark my words,eventually handhelds will be all downloads.

damann22

Quit taking these posts as personal attacks... there's no hate here dude. Just observations and opinions based on those observations. If you're happy with your purchase then you really have nothing to say here, just play your games and leave it be. But there's no hate here. Read it all again.

As an early adopter of the Go, i feel that the go is more to my liking then the 3000. You guys may hate all you want but the Go is more for my lifestyle. I like the smaller model and more portablity factor. Also the download only thing in which the games are marked doesnt really affect me since im just paying a few dollars more per game.

I think its based on preference. I could have bought a 3000 but I honestly dont believe that I would have been as happy with a 3000 then I am with my go.

BTW, get off why you like the 3000 more than the Go (or why one is better than the other). It used to be ds vs. psp, now itsall handheldsvs. psp go. Mark my words,eventually handhelds will be all downloads.

damann22

As an early adopter of the Go, i feel that the go is more to my liking then the 3000. You guys may hate all you want but the Go is more for my lifestyle. I like the smaller model and more portablity factor. Also the download only thing in which the games are marked doesnt really affect me since im just paying a few dollars more per game.

I think its based on preference. I could have bought a 3000 but I honestly dont believe that I would have been as happy with a 3000 then I am with my go.

BTW, get off why you like the 3000 more than the Go (or why one is better than the other). It used to be ds vs. psp, now itsall handheldsvs. psp go. Mark my words,eventually handhelds will be all downloads.

damann22

I agree, the go, just isn't really good.

The max portability my 3000 gets is from my bed to the couch in the living room. I bought it to be my main console, as wierd as that may sound.

The max portability my 3000 gets is from my bed to the couch in the living room. I bought it to be my main console, as wierd as that may sound.

SK33948

[QUOTE="SK33948"]

The max portability my 3000 gets is from my bed to the couch in the living room. I bought it to be my main console, as wierd as that may sound.

digimonkey12

Mine goes to the movie theater too, but mostly I do this ^

The max portability my 3000 gets is from my bed to the couch in the living room. I bought it to be my main console, as wierd as that may sound.

SK33948

I got the PSP 3000 recently screw PSP GO

I would get both PSPs even though I don't have any clue how I would be able to afford both. I seriously don't.

[QUOTE="digimonkey12"][QUOTE="SK33948"]

The max portability my 3000 gets is from my bed to the couch in the living room. I bought it to be my main console, as wierd as that may sound.

ston3henge

Mine goes to the movie theater too, but mostly I do this ^

You don't watch the movie...? :P

But I have to agree with you about how the Go's are selling, I work at Kmart and these just don't sell well. I have to ask them, "You know this doesn't have a UMD drive right?" They look at me like I'm stupid and then look at the PSP games and usually say, "Those won't work on this?" Then I have to explain how it works and yada yada. Apparently people don't research things and just buy whatever. But I've sold one Go... and then it got returned the next day.

Even though the psp go really isn't all that much better it does has some postives that you really underplay...LovetoBall

Care to elaborate?

[QUOTE="ston3henge"]

Not weird at all ;)digimonkey12

Mine goes to the movie theater too, but mostly I do this ^

You don't watch the movie...? :P

But I have to agree with you about how the Go's are selling, I work at Kmart and these just don't sell well. I have to ask them, "You know this doesn't have a UMD drive right?" They look at me like I'm stupid and then look at the PSP games and usually say, "Those won't work on this?" Then I have to explain how it works and yada yada. Apparently people don't research things and just buy whatever. But I've sold one Go... and then it got returned the next day.

[QUOTE="FallofAthens"]

[QUOTE="ston3henge"]

Mine goes to the movie theater too, but mostly I do this ^

digimonkey12

You don't watch the movie...? :P

But I have to agree with you about how the Go's are selling, I work at Kmart and these just don't sell well. I have to ask them, "You know this doesn't have a UMD drive right?" They look at me like I'm stupid and then look at the PSP games and usually say, "Those won't work on this?" Then I have to explain how it works and yada yada. Apparently people don't research things and just buy whatever. But I've sold one Go... and then it got returned the next day.

Oh I definitely watch the movie... it's just that at least here in the United Dump of America they play flippin' soda pop commercials and Cadillac commercials and commercials for Lawd-Knows-What prior to the movie's start, so my PSP and a set of ear-buds drowned out all of that faulderal and flim-flam!

:D

And yes, consumers will buy anything blindly. I see people in the GameStop all the time asking if DS titles will play in a Wii, and the like... poor shop clerks, having to explain that no, PS3 doesn't play PS1 or PS2 games anymore, that 360 has a selective back catalogue, and that a Go will not be able to play any of the used games on their shelves...

... which might be another good reason why they don't eventually sell too many of the hardware in question. Where's the motivation in selling hardware which will eventually edge you out of your corner in the marketplace?