Ben-DutkaAs nifty as that new digital wonder is, some people think it's simply too expensive. When Kaz Hirai officially unveild the PSP Go! at Sony's E3 press conference, he made a point of saying it would launch at the same price of the original PSP: $249.99. But despite the advancements, Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter says it's just too high.
Now, if you will remember, the PSP Go! is a fully digital gaming unit that disposes of the UMD software utilized by previous PSP iterations and relies entirely on digital downloads. But because it doesn't boast the iTunes App Store or downloadable music from iTunes, Pachter doesn't understand how it can compete with Apple's iPod Touch, which is priced at $229. Well, you should be able to put music on the PSP Go! but it won't be the streamlined process as it is with the iPod Touch, although we should probably point out that Sony's portable unit is still for games . This doesn't sway Pachter, though, as he said in a recent episode of Bonus Round: "$249 is too much. Period." He further doesn't understand the price point, as he claims it costs Sony less to manufacture the PSP Go! than the current PSP-3000. Added Pachter:
"The $169 PSP-3000 is a profitable device — the disc assembly, for a UMD, costs more than 16 gigs of flash does. So this new device doesn't cost them as much as the PSP-3000 and they jack the price up $80?. They're rippin' off the consumer … they're making a lot more money on the PSP Go than the PSP-3000."
Well, we can't fault a company that seeks to make money on a product, especially after they took an early beating with the first PSP models. But then again, we imagine many consumers will agree with Pachter's analysis; $249 is a little scary these days. What say you? Are you willing to pay the extra amount for this all-digital upgrade? Or is Sony gouging you simply to make a little extra cash? And if it's the latter, does that sway your purchase decision? Or are you a Day 1 buyer?
Apologies for the duplicate comment, my browser is doing odd things today.
I'm going to get when something disastrous happens to my PSP-1000. Have been using it for 2 and a half years =D
Also, $249 a scary price? Not the case with the Wii.
Im getting tired of this Pachter guy. Does he ever shut up?
I do not own a PSP yet. I was intrigued greatly by the PSP Go! because I am a technophile. I know, it's a sickness, but I just have to have the latest and greatest. I already own an iPhone and I am thinking about getting the new 3GS when it drops. I am very much considering the PSP Go! and the price doesn't really bother me. If you want the latest you have to expect to pay for it. It is the way of the tech industry. No one is forcing the purchase so no one that does not want to pay the price of admittance should be complaining. The 3000 will still be there and all those nice UMDs will still be in production for a while so cool your jets and wait for the price to come down and let the tech geeks and nerds like myself frivolously spend.
Ummm..Pachter you do remember a thing in your Microeconomics class known as price discrimination right??? You know…Sony trying to catch those consumers who WOULD PAY $250 for the DEVICE. It's CALLED…TRYING TO MAKE MONEY EASILY!?!
Pachter's one of those idiots saying every few weeks that a PS3 price cut is "imminent" until it actually happens and he will claim to have been right. What a genius!
If I didn't have a GoW red version I might consider. My Kick Ass Kratos is holding me over until I get another STICK!
If it had a touch screen it might be a fair price, but now? Looks like a stripped down PSP-3000 to me…
psp GO is worth it if you don't have one, (Which I don't cause i sold mine do to the catalogue slump and unportability lugging umd cases around) . 250 is not great for current owners since u spent 169 to 200 already. plus GO should not be compared to the 169 psp 3000 since you get nothing with that price. at least GO comes with memory built in and a bonus for ps3 owners, if you buy off psn many our games already cross over to psp so games out the box
I want to get job at Wedbush Morgan where Michael Pachter works, they pay you to make lousy guesses!
I would buy one but I need to know more about what they're going to do about transfering the old UMDs to digital media. Plus, its $250 because they're expecting a lot of people to upgrade from the old psp-1000s so trade-ins are going to go through the roof. I would guess that they might do a deal with Gamestop or just do something on they're own like "trade in your old psp and get $100 towards the new psp go". Didn't Tretton say something about the psp go being targeted at early adopters of new tech and anyone who wanted to upgrade from a psp-1000?
The price is there to offset the upcoming PS3 price drop…
Seriously, I would have expected this thing to be priced to compete with the DS/DSi…and here we are with a handheld that cost more than an X360 Arcade. I'll stick w/ my old PSP thx. And even if I didn't have a PSP, I'd get the PSP-3000 because of that $80 buck difference.
I would gladly take a PSP Go over an Xbox 360 Arcade any day. I have a lot more fun with my game choices on the Sony side of things. Personal preference plus, I bet the build quality of the PSP Go is better than the Xbox 360. 😉
Agree, $250 bundled (maybe some added memory, vouchers, etc.)
$200 seems like a good stand alone price.
I see a common "theme" in pricing discussions of newer technology and we know, everyone would like things to be at the cheapest possible while the company/manufacturer still generates enough revenue to stay in business but let's not forget the pricing structures since the early days of gaming. I believe my Sega Genesis was $199 and games went from $49.99 to $79.99 (Strider, anyone?) back in the late '80s. If we go before then, Nintendo games were regularly priced around the $49.99 mark here in the US and yet, we see people complaining about how "expensive" games are these days. I know, we work hard for our money and we want our money's worth but take a look at what gaming systems used to cost, along with games and accessories, and see where we are now.
I wasn't trying to derail this thread but you gotta be thankful that gaming hasn't skyrocketed like everything else has in the last 20+ years.