RUMOR: PSP Go to be Relaunched
Launched last fall to widespread indifference, Sony's smaller, sleeker PSP Go portable has failed to go anywhere -- and reports indicate that the company may be considering a restart of the portable system, featuring a likely (and much-needed) price drop.
This story comes to us from Gamervision, whose source at Sony says a PSP Go relaunch is "imminent," and will be accompanied by a heavy marketing campaign. While the source says nothing about a price cut, it is widely assumed that one is on the way. Critics of the system have repeatedly pointed out that its $250 price tag is too high when consumers can purchase a PSP 3000 for $200.
Another important issue is the fact that every PSP game made until late last year was published on small discs, called UMDs. The PSP 3000 can play them, the PSP Go cannot. So despite the fact that the PSP Go bravely embraces digital distribution and can conveniently download all new PSP games, it can't play most of the system's library.
These issues appear to be deal-breakers for consumers. Recent Japanese sales figures show that, for the week ending on January 3, the PSP Go sold only 3,903 units, compared to a more respectable 132,911 units for the older model. Although there are currently no such sales figures for North America, it's unlikely that the PSP Go is performing much better on this side of the Pacific.
While a PSP Go relaunch is only a rumor at this point, its necessity is very real. Sony needs to drastically reduce the system's price and reintroduce it to consumers. Only then will they put their PSP Woes behind
Source [http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/psp-go-relaunch-rumored/1387602]
Launched last fall to widespread indifference, Sony's smaller, sleeker PSP Go portable has failed to go anywhere -- and reports indicate that the company may be considering a restart of the portable system, featuring a likely (and much-needed) price drop.
This story comes to us from Gamervision, whose source at Sony says a PSP Go relaunch is "imminent," and will be accompanied by a heavy marketing campaign. While the source says nothing about a price cut, it is widely assumed that one is on the way. Critics of the system have repeatedly pointed out that its $250 price tag is too high when consumers can purchase a PSP 3000 for $200.

New PSP Go?
Another important issue is the fact that every PSP game made until late last year was published on small discs, called UMDs. The PSP 3000 can play them, the PSP Go cannot. So despite the fact that the PSP Go bravely embraces digital distribution and can conveniently download all new PSP games, it can't play most of the system's library.
These issues appear to be deal-breakers for consumers. Recent Japanese sales figures show that, for the week ending on January 3, the PSP Go sold only 3,903 units, compared to a more respectable 132,911 units for the older model. Although there are currently no such sales figures for North America, it's unlikely that the PSP Go is performing much better on this side of the Pacific.
While a PSP Go relaunch is only a rumor at this point, its necessity is very real. Sony needs to drastically reduce the system's price and reintroduce it to consumers. Only then will they put their PSP Woes behind
Source [http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/psp-go-relaunch-rumored/1387602]