Sony’s new product has hit gaming magazines and blogs with a bang. The PSP Go is scheduled for release in the United States on October 1, 2009 for $249.00. What makes this product unique is that it is no longer compatible with the UMD discs used for PSP games and movies. Games, movies and music must be downloaded from the Internet to use them on this unit.
The new design is beautiful with a thin and light exterior and comes in black or white. Some owners of older products are hesitant to upgrade because of the price and some of the features just haven’t convinced them to spend any money. The biggest concern revolves around the fact that the newest model is only $50 more than the current unit and the upgrades have hardly caught the attention of current gaming device owners. What is it about the PSP Go that would give someone the incentive to own it?
Storage and layout:Instead of the disks used with previous devices, this product will have 16 MB of built-in internal flash memory that can be expanded using a memory card. The screen measures 3.8 inches wide and the device is touted as 43% lighter than the PSP 3000 at approximately 5.4 ounces and can easily slip into your pocket.
The device will only accept digital downloads. Games sold in the future will include both disc and digital versions. Not much has changed regarding the layout of the controls. The device was rumored to contain a touch screen which did not arrive this time.
The converter cable is required for the accessories of previous models: If you’re like me, you want to be able to continue using the accessories from your previous gaming devices. If so, you’ll need to get the Sony PSP Go Converter Cable Adapter, as most accessories won’t work with the PSP Go.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Capability: An interesting addition to the device is Wi-Fi support, which adds Bluetooth capability. The upside is the future potential for web browsing and online gaming over a wireless 3G data connection if Wi-Fi isn’t available. New versions of popular games, movies and TV shows will be available via direct download from the PlayStation Store via the console’s Wi-Fi connection.
digital media support: This unit will continue to support music, video and photo files as the previous devices. Not wanting to cause any stress to owners, the manufacturer partnered with e-Music to enable downloading of music purchases. This is the same technology as i-Tunes.
PS3 Integration: the PS3 may still be compatible, which means the game remote can be used to access audio, video, and some game content wirelessly. Additionally, consumers can pair the wireless PS3 controller with this unit for more convenience and precision when using in-game controls. Although the PSP Go is the newest line of handheld devices, it is not intended to be a replacement for the PSP 3000, which will continue to be sold.
Current owners of the game can keep their money until the manufacturer decides on another update. Your reluctance to fork over the money is mostly due to the proprietary USB cable it takes, not the removable battery and now having to accept storing your games on the drive’s hard drive instead of having the convenience of UMB drives. .
This unit may appeal to someone who doesn’t own a handheld, and the features may be attractive enough for them to make their first gaming controller purchase. Otherwise, current owners of earlier game console models are so far not convinced that this upgraded unit is worth their hard-earned money.