Sony considered second analog nub for PSP Go

[Marine Mike]

Sony considered second analog nub for PSP Go
by Ben Gilbert { Jul 22nd 2009 at 11:35AM }

Like most PSP owners, we've definitely had our fair share of, "Why isn't there a second analog stick on here?" moments, fiddling in the air with our thumb for the phantom nub. And Sony knows that we want it, according to the most recent issue of Game Informer where Sony exec Shuhei Yoshida confirmed that the company "had a very serious discussion" on the subject, but ultimately decided against it due to worries over splintering the market.

"The PSP Go is designed to be perfectly compatible with the PSP-3000 and all the games that released before that," Yoshida said. For him, it's not a question of improving future games' controls but keeping parity with previous PSP iterations. "We are talking about the mid-life cycle of this platform," he says. Considering the PSP launched in the US in March of 2005, it appears as though Sony is sticking to its 10-year life cycle plan for the handheld.

[pacificvibes]

Were talking bout this now in ol GC...come join.

[STARSCREAM]

All they had to do was add this and I would have bought one. Now they fubard it again.

[Shin-Ra]

I'm sure 50,000,000+ existing PSP owners would have appreciated all the new games designed for a second stick they don't have.

You can't just run out and buy a $30 or whatever dual analog controller like you did for the original PlayStation and the transition to dual analog was much slower back then because it wasn't the standard on other systems for a decade before.

Save it for the PSP2 and design PSP games properly for the controls everyone has.

[Rike255]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

I'm sure 50,000,000+ existing PSP owners would have appreciated all the new games designed for a second stick they don't have.

You can't just run out and buy a $30 or whatever dual analog controller like you did for the original PlayStation and the transition to dual analog was much slower back then because it wasn't the standard on other systems for a decade before.

Save it for the PSP2 and design PSP games properly for the controls everyone has.

+1. Adding a 2nd stick this late in the game would be analogous to a new 360 model that used a BD drive. Good way to alienate a whole lot of owners.

[PA_Kid]

Translation:

We're too far into the PSP cycle to make such a significant change and splinter the market. We can hold off until the PSP2.

[Sponge-worthy]

I can't help but think that PSPGo is as much an experiment as anything else. There are no real improvements to the hardware (no 2nd stick, smaller screen actually), and the UMD PSPs will still be supported and presumably sold. Also, I have seen video of people playing the Go, and it really doesn't look very comfortable to hold and operate (double 'claw' grip).

More and more I get the sense the Sony is really just testing the waters of a digital-only device before releasing an actual flag-ship handheld--be it PSP2, or PSP phone, or whatever it will be.

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by PA_Kid

Translation:

We're too far into the PSP cycle to make such a significant change and splinter the market. We can hold off until the PSP2.

Correct.

[Shin-Ra]

Originally Posted by ryan69969

There are no real improvements to the hardware (no 2nd stick, smaller screen actually),

Which model of PSP is it (1000, 2000 or 3000) that the PSPgo's indentical to apart from the smaller screen size, then?

I must have imagined those other improvements and resulting benefits. Or maybe everything has to be listed out to be easily understood.

[Elandyll]

Frankly Shin, at $250, it's almost like the PSP Go is a very clever trick to make people buy the PSP 3000 after checking out the Go

In fact, almost thinking about it myself with the slew of new games coming and the augmented interaction with the PS3.

[Shin-Ra]

How do you add bluetooth to the 3000?

[Elandyll]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

How do you add bluetooth to the 3000?

Do I need Bluetooth, and is it worth $70 ?

[Shin-Ra]

Do you need WiFi?

[Elandyll]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

Do you need WiFi?

Yes

[Shin-Ra]

Some people don't like wires dangling from their ears, like a lot of people don't like a wire dangling from their controller.

I was being obtuse, because it's irritating when people don't care for the features on something then pretend they don't exist.

[Rike255]

Originally Posted by pacificvibes

Were talking bout this now in ol GC...come join.

Happy Birthday!!

[GLaDOS]

I actually would like a second analog nub for the PSP-Go, to make things a bit more convenient for shooter games or action games; you have a bit more freedom thanks to the two analog nubs.

[AranhaHunter]

Well, at least we know it's probably gonna be included in the PSP2

[ToonyLoons]

Originally Posted by kotsedriver

I actually would like a second analog nub for the PSP-Go, to make things a bit more convenient for shooter games or action games; you have a bit more freedom thanks to the two analog nubs.

While I do think a second analog nub would have been beneficial I think since this is not the PSP's successor but another part of the family, it is best to not have it on the system.

A second nub would have meant adding an additional control scheme for any game depending on if the user has a PSP Go or a regular one. That may not be hard but what happens if you want to have multi-player games or online play. Most likely the players with a second analog vs the players without would have a huge advantage.

The Go may do well on it's own for those who do not shy away from the $250 price tag, but they can same more innovations for the next generation PSP IMO.

[PA_Kid]

Originally Posted by ryan69969

I can't help but think that PSPGo is as much an experiment as anything else. There are no real improvements to the hardware (no 2nd stick, smaller screen actually), and the UMD PSPs will still be supported and presumably sold. Also, I have seen video of people playing the Go, and it really doesn't look very comfortable to hold and operate (double 'claw' grip).

More and more I get the sense the Sony is really just testing the waters of a digital-only device before releasing an actual flag-ship handheld--be it PSP2, or PSP phone, or whatever it will be.

Bingo.

We have:

• Digital Downloads as primary delivery method
• Non-game applications being tested for the PSN store
• Remote play thru cell phone being developed
• Acknowledgement that a 2nd analog nub is important, but can wait for next gen
• Acknowledgement that PSP is solidly in middle of life cycle
• Sony's desire to enhance their PSN content delivery system and it's penetration

I think we're seeing moves that mean within the next year's time we're going to hear about the development of the PSP2 and a target release date, that there will be phone and non-phone versions, that it will be backwards compatible with the PSP, and that when released it will have a ton of applications/game offering through a combination backwards compatible PSP applications/games and a slew of PSP2 launch day releases.

Maybe it won't be out for another 18-24 months at the earliest, but I think we'll hear confirmations about it in the next 12. (Personal opinion of course)