PSP Go!

[abigsmurf]

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3173959

Silly journalist broke an NDA so the news has spread everywhere. Does indeed ditch UMD. Downloads only for games. Pic is a mockup but apparently fairly close. Can't see a straight slide out screen working well, will be very top heavy.

It's got me mildly interested but only if there's a surge of new games. Hopefully with the reduced complexity the lack of UMD offers, it'll be cheaper and have a 6+ hour battery life

[VR46]

Just confirms the rumours we've all heard over the weeks/months really. Going to cost a fortune I bet.

Gran Turismo as a launch title heh.

[toythatkills]

These are still rumours, nothing is confirmed, still.

Ditching UMD is a rubbish decision unless there's a way to download all the games I've bought. I'm not buying a PSP I can't even play my PSP games on, where you'll only ever be able to buy new PSP games at full price. Not seeing many advantages, here.

[abigsmurf]

It's not confirmed but the way it's been reported suggests that a lot of journalists who are under an NDA know it's mostly true.

[angelox]

I would hope if there was no way to take the UMD file onto your PSP (officially), then at least have the classic PSP titles at a heavily discounted price (like VC prices). I'm game for this update, but only if the anlog "nub" is changed to something more useful. What it is right now, I hate.

Sony might have a good end of year afterall in Japan, if they can get Birth by Sleep out along with GT for the new PSP launch, and FF13 for the PS3 then too, things are looking up for Sony's sales.

[Number45]

These are still rumours, nothing is confirmed, still.

Ditching UMD is a rubbish decision unless there's a way to download all the games I've bought. I'm not buying a PSP I can't even play my PSP games on, where you'll only ever be able to buy new PSP games at full price. Not seeing many advantages, here.

Same here basically. Unless I can mod the system of course, which solves that problem, but I'm guessing that's not likely.

[Dogg Thang]

I honestly don't know why they bother. The release schedule for the PSP is a sorry sight and has been for a long time now. I have no doubt that Soul Calibur and Tekken will sell loads but that's because there's damn all else to buy. And yet the system has sold loads. How does a system with so many units out there in the wild have so few games? Not even shovelware?

[toythatkills]

I would hope if there was no way to take the UMD file onto your PSP (officially), then at least have the classic PSP titles at a heavily discounted price (like VC prices).

That's not even a solution though, because it rules out any hope of getting imported games on the system. They're not going to make the PSP store region free, certainly. I've got some imported UMDs and so they'll be useless if I wanted to upgrade.

[sj33]

This makes sense if it's an actual follow-up to the PSP. Going the iPhone/iPod Touch method of distribution, while anathema to people like us, is the logical step given how well it's worked on the iPhone.

I honestly expect/expected an iPhone/iPod Touch-style touch-screen. I can't see Sony challenging Nintendo in it's own turf, but a more game-friendly iPod Touch-style device seemed to be the most logical approach.

If this is a remodel of the existing PSP and intend to market it as such, they risk alienating their existing install base.

[Cuber001]

Love the idea of Digital Distribution only. For handhelds this is perfect. For example i had to take the missus to the hospital today as she is 8 days overdue for our first child, and i was told we would be there for a good 3 hours. So i ended up buying Driver from the Playstation store. So handy and much better than than having to cart around actual physical media. Just hope that consoles dont head the same way. But we also need dual sticks IMO.

[noobish hat]

That's the very last Sony will see of any of my money then. If they're going download only, then I simply won't be buying anything from them, and the last UMD release will be the death of the PSP as far as I'm concerned. Well, it's been a hell of a ride. No it hasn't.

[capcom_suicide]

Love the idea of Digital Distribution only. For handhelds this is perfect. For example i had to take the missus to the hospital today as she is 8 days overdue for our first child, and i was told we would be there for a good 3 hours. So i ended up buying Driver from the Playstation store. So handy and much better than than having to cart around actual physical media. Just hope that consoles dont head the same way. But we also need dual sticks IMO.

I agree, but I also don't want to have to take 2 PSP's around to play my UMD's.

As it is, I own over 20 PSP games, and I would welcome the chance to "Officially" convert these into ISO's that can play on the PSP Go. That would be a huge selling point for me.

As it stands a CFW PSP will do that job, but I'd rather not have to use CFW if possible.

Fingers crossed.

[JamesS]

I really dislike the idea of only having a single retailer for games for a platform, which is what you're getting here. No competition on price can't be good for the consumer.

Does anybody buy PSP games from PSN currently? If so, why? You can generally find any game for half the price of the download with a couple of minutes on Gamestracker.

[Dogg Thang]

I bought one, simply for handiness. Loco Roco 2. Wished I didn't but I did appreciate the ease of just being able to buy a game on the spot. But you make a good point about the problem of a single retailer.

[JU!]

Bought a white PSP 3000 not long ago and they are still releasing colour after colour. I take it this is a while off it best be. Speakin of download only games I have 3000 yen worth of points to burn as found out I can`t use my Yen points on OutRun (doh). Recently downloaded PSOne games Biohazard 2, DOA and The King Of Fighters 98 it is nice to have loads of games on one machine, so virtual only is a good thing I think unless the machine`s memory fails etc .