While I think there's definitely a market for the PSPgo, I wish they hadn't taken out the UMD drive. I really would have loved to play my PSP games with a normal controller, especially Me and My Katamari.
Is the PSPgo Really Worth It?
With a lack of ability to play UMDs but the added convenience of on-board storage, does the go measure up?
With the PSPgo out in the wild, we must ask the question: Is it worth it?
In order to answer this question, it's necessary to isolate the differences between the PSPgo and Sony's latest PSP-3000. The two main points we'll assess here are features and price.
Features
Of course, the biggest difference between the go and the 3000 is the UMD drive. In order to move forward with a completely digital future, Sony has removed the UMD drive for the go, and instead replaced it with 16GB of flash memory (with 2GB being sacrificed to the system's OS).
Removal of the UMD drive doesn't do much for go owners as players only sacrifice choice. All other PSP owners have the ability to connect to the PlayStation Network and download games onto a removable memory stick that players can purchase separately.
This also means all upgrading PSP owners must sacrifice their entire current connection as there is absolutely no way to import their UMDs onto the go.
Additionally, the go has changed connection types, no longer supporting standard mini-USB. Custom adapters are now required to connect any and all devices to and from the PSP.
Though the go seems to remove features, it has added Bluetooth support. Players can now sync a variety of other electronic devices including cell phones and even the PS3 Controller. This allows players to enjoy PSP games using a more standard controller. This option isn't available to other PSP owners due to the lack of Bluetooth hardware.
Price
The PSPgo has released with a suggested retail price of $249.99. The upcoming Gran Turismo PSP-3000 bundle has a suggested retail price of $199.99. Unlike the go, the 3000 includes bundled items.
Players will receive Gran Turismo PSP, a 2 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, as well as Vouchers for a movie on PlayStation Network, 10 song downloads from Sony Music, and an in-game white Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
For $49.99 less, players will receive a near identical PSP, with the exception of about 12GB worth of storage. Even if players were to spend $100 on an extra 16GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, they will be on near equal standing with players who were to purchase a go along with Gran Turismo PSP.
Conclusion
In essence, the PSPgo on purely a feature and price standpoint seems to be a poor choice for players looking to purchase a PSP. Players should only invest in the go if they appreciate the system's form factor, because they are sacrificing, most importantly, the ability to play UMD games and everything that comes with that functionality.
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