Pachter: "PSP Go a Rip Off"

[JasonS]

http://psp.ign.com/articles/993/993682p1.html

And I agree...more people like him need to stick it to Sony on these ridiculous hardware costs. I love Sony as much as everyone else on this board, but my jaw dropped when I heard the $250 price tag. Ridiculous.

[Septimus Prime]

But it was perfectly fine for iPhone to be $600 at launch, despite using EDGE instead of 3G, and it was perfectly cool for it to charge buyers another $300 to get features that should have been included in the first place (3G) a year later.

[Terjyn]

Yeah, refuse to buy something because they charge more than you want to pay. Let's make everything like the Wii, cheap to produce but with no real cutting edge technology whatsoever. But hey who cares? People will eat it up anyway.

[ifuwereahotdog]

Well the first problem with this article is that it's on IGN. IGN has been known to be a little biased for the green team when it comes to video games. But I guess if you don't like the price, don't buy it. The only one it's hurting is Sony.

[androvsky]

Originally Posted by Septimus Prime

But it was perfectly fine for iPhone to be $600 at launch, despite using EDGE instead of 3G, and it was perfectly cool for it to charge buyers another $300 to get features that should have been included in the first place (3G) a year later.

A lot of people complained about the iPhone launch price, it was only okay to the Apple apologists. But surely you're not saying it's okay to remove existing features and charge $80 more for the privilege, right?

Now the PSP Go is launching for more than an iPhone costs currently! Cellular data connection? Nope. GPS? Despite being promised by SCEA for years, nope. Built-in camera? Nope. Increased memory and CPU so it can at least have a better web browser if nothing else? Nope. Is Sony removing features from a lower-priced model and charging more for it? Yes!

How bad are things when Apple hardware starts looking like a pretty good deal? I'm a long-term Sony apologist, but even I have to say the PSP Go pricing is nuts. Even with extra margin to mollify the retailers, it's still far too expensive.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

Yeah, refuse to buy something because they charge more than you want to pay. Let's make everything like the Wii, cheap to produce but with no real cutting edge technology whatsoever. But hey who cares? People will eat it up anyway.

Um, what "cutting edge technology?" The PSP hardware is 5 years old for god's sake! Sony is asking us to pay 80.00 more for....

1.) The same technology that's in the original PSP
2.) a smaller screen
3.) no UMD drive
4.) incompatibility with previous memory sticks and accessories

If Sony wanted to charge more, they should've went ahead and made this the PSP2 and added the 2nd analog stick and touch screen. As it is, this is a complete rip off!

Yes, I know they've included blue tooth which imo was a waste (unless you can use the device as a phone, what's the point?) and they've included 16gb of ram but we all know that ram is dirt cheap when bought in huge bulk.

No I'm sorry but as much as I love Sony products, the price on this is NOT justified! At MOST this system should cost 199.99.

[Sweetstache]

I bought the God of War psp when it came out - I think I paid around $200 for it, I also picked up a 2gb memory stick for either $30 or $40 (I foolishly bought it at Gamestop) If I had the option back then to buy the "Go", I certainly would have.

[JasonS]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Um, what "cutting edge technology?"

Exactly my point. If this was a true PSP 2 with OLED touch screen and two analog sticks I'd be the first one in line to buy one for $250 and wouldn't complain. But not for old technology wrapped up differently. They are trying to rip people off.

Look what happened with the iPhone. It was listed at $600, customers raised hell about it and Apple lowered the price to $400 and gave all early adopters $100 back. People CAN make a difference and don't have to put up with companies trying to shaft us.

[Havok83]

Originally Posted by Septimus Prime

But it was perfectly fine for iPhone to be $600 at launch, despite using EDGE instead of 3G, and it was perfectly cool for it to charge buyers another $300 to get features that should have been included in the first place (3G) a year later.

it was never perfectly fine for the iPhone to launch that high which is why so many people b-tched about it and Apple quickly dropped the price only a few months later

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

I didn't have an ounce of respect for Pachter BEFORE viewing this thread, but if I did, he would have lost it the second he said "fanboys". He's supposed to be a ****ing professional industry analyst, not a 15 year old video game blogger!

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

That's the key.

This whole thread is based on an idiot's perspective of the gaming industry. Hell, I have a better record than Pachter on such matters!

quoted from the last Pachter thread.

How 'bout it Max? Shall these finally be merged into a "Pachter is an idiot" megathread so we can keep track of his "predictions"?

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by JasonS

Exactly my point. If this was a true PSP 2 with OLED touch screen and two analog sticks I'd be the first one in line to buy one for $250 and wouldn't complain. But not for old technology wrapped up differently. They are trying to rip people off.

Look what happened with the iPhone. It was listed at $600, customers raised hell about it and Apple lowered the price to $400 and gave all early adopters $100 back. People CAN make a difference and don't have to put up with companies trying to shaft us.

Well, if Sony added an OLED screen I guarantee you it would cost a LOT more than 250.00. Actually, I'm fine with the PQ of the current screen as it is (PSP 3000 model).

To be honest, I would've gladly paid 250.00 and not complained if Sony had simply added the 2nd analog stick and a touch screen. Sony could have added those features along with the blue tooth and the internal memory, called it PSP2 and that would've been perfectly OK for me!! For a handheld, I'm perfectly content with the PSP's capabilities from a performance standpoint. I don't need anything more powerful. I just want something with more functionality.

Sony's BS claim of "a 2nd analog stick would make future games incompatible with current PSP users." Tell me, just how hard would it REALLY be for game companies to add both control schemes to their games? Then eventually as more of the newer PSP's penetrate the market, slowly phase out having both options. I mean it's not rocket science.

[sega_smasher]

Originally Posted by Stephie_is_a_dork

I didn't have an ounce of respect for Pachter BEFORE viewing this thread, but if I did, he would have lost it the second he said "fanboys". He's supposed to be a ****ing professional industry analyst, not a 15 year old video game blogger!



quoted from the last Pachter thread.

How 'bout it Max? Shall these finally be merged into a "Pachter is an idiot" megathread so we can keep track of his "predictions"?

this

[kslim]

I'm going to skip the GO and pick up a PSP2 if/when they release it.

[Goodintentions]

if you feel its a rip off then dont buy it much like i wont .. ill stick with my psp lite and be happy ... no need to get your panties in a bunch about it

[Marine Mike]

I'll be buying the PSP Go! and I don't feel like I'm being ripped off because its new to me, lol.

I feel like I'm paying for research costs of developing this new product. Its not free to make a new product like this. Someone has to pay the piper to begin with and I'm using Amazon's great deal on console purchases so really I'm only spending like $30 out of pocket, lol.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Um, what "cutting edge technology?" The PSP hardware is 5 years old for god's sake! Sony is asking us to pay 80.00 more for....

The cutting edge technology was actually besides my point, which got lost.

The PSP hardware may be 5 years old, but it's still as impressive of hardware as the Wii is. But the Wii gets a pass with its 250$ price tag and the PSP Go doesn't. Why?

Because people honestly have no clue when it comes to technology pricing. The internal parts on the PSP Go may be vastly different, better, and more expensive. But you don't care about that...you see what's been removed, don't give a damn if Sony actually makes a profit or not, and whine at them for being overpriced.

[bajor27]

Originally Posted by ifuwereahotdog

Well the first problem with this article is that it's on IGN. IGN has been known to be a little biased for the green team when it comes to video games. But I guess if you don't like the price, don't buy it. The only one it's hurting is Sony.

Did you even read the article or have any idea what it's about? IGN is just reporting that a well-known analyst (who works for a different company) feels the price is too high. How does that in any way reflect a bias on IGN's part?

I, for one, agree with him. There is nothing to justify a higher pricepoint than the PSP-3000.

[LifeOfAPirate13]

I really like the look of the PSP Go. But I just picked up a Ratchet PSP 3000 bundle and I am not going to upgrade I am perfectly happy with having hte ability to download digital still, have a big screen, and have a physical UMD so I can either trade it to someone or trade it in. Like I stated before if they want to go all digital make it worth our while lower prices and or free exclusive content. They need to do something.

[Marine Mike]

If price is the only thing people are complaining about, then Sony has done a good job with developing the PSP Go!.

The positives with the new system more than outweigh any negatives.

I think its a longshot to call it a 'Rip Off'.

[AikonEnt]

If you think you lot in the US of A are being ripped off be thankful you don't live in the UK. These are the prices of consoles I've just quickly looked up.

PSP Go - £249.99

PSP 3000 with a free game - £129.99

PS3 with InFamous (a £40 game) - £279.99

360 Elite with RE5 + xtra controller - £229.99

Wii with Wii sports, Wii fit and balance board - £219.99

Now can anyone tell me they don't think the PSP Go is way overpriced as it effectively costs more than a PS3? I bought my PSP Phat at launch and it was £179.99.

I now like the PSP Go, but there's no way I can justify paying that much for one. Especially when I can't use any of the games or films I have on UMD, or the memory cards and the protective case I have. If I had the money to spend I would seriously just keep my Phat and cough up the extra £30 and buy another PS3.

Also the current exchange rate is 1 UK pound = 1.6072 US dollars

Therefore our PSP Go is $401.78. I wish we only had to pay $250