Look up there, folks. That's the future of Sony's hopes and dreams in the handheld gaming sector. With just hours to go before the company's official E3 2009 press event, it looks like the pieces are all coming together. First a UMD-less game release, then a highly credible mole giving the PSP Go a name, and now -- live action shots. The images here were sourced from an obviously slipped June 2009 Qore video, and aside from giving us a look at the slider-based system (which, let's be honest, looks a ton like the questionably successful mylo), we're also told that it'll tout 16GB of internal memory, built-in Bluetooth and an undisclosed memory slot. If all goes well, it'll ship this Fall for a price to be determined, and it's actually not slated to replace the PSP-3000, as both of 'em will attempt to live on store shelves harmoniously... at least for awhile. Oh, and don't worry -- we'll be on hand in LA to bring you all the impressions we can muster early next week.
Why would it have dual analog sticks? It's meant to exist alongside the current PSP but with a focus on downloading games as opposed to optical media, they're not going to cannablize sales of existing PSP games by changing the hardware. It's an in between device, to focus consumers on the Playstation Store, you'll notice quite an obvious trend that we're moving towards these unified marketplaces from the large electronic companies. It's quite a good move on Sony's part, using the existing PSP hardware and games, but it remains to be seen whether it'll be a success.
Dual analog sticks wouldn't make new games incompatible with old systems, they would just have to have two control setups programmed into them to make them playable on both systems.
You know, the same way as almost every single original Playstation game was after the first Dual Shock came out? Except that they had to be programmed for two sticks versus zero.
I guess existing owners might be pissed that there's no upgrade path to be able to get the second stick (since this thing can't play their existing game library) but those are the breaks in the world of portable electronics.
Good points. I still see this as more of an inbetween device, one to focus their efforts on the growing Playstation Store. I could easily see a PSP of upgraded hardware in 2011 when the Playstation Store has matured a bit and they can offer a huge back catalog of games along with newer titles for an upgraded PSP.
@chefgon_ign: "Them's the breaks" is an arrogant approach for a company in the best of times, but when your system is already languishing behind the competition, it would be downright stupid.
Buying a $30 controller (or whatever the DS cost back then) is one thing, upgrading an entire system is something altogether. Not adding a second analog stick was absolutely the right thing to do for what is a PSP facelift, not a PSP sequel.
If this is the actual PSP, then I'm heart-broken, Sony!
Yeah, this is one of the worst looking Sony products I've ever seen.. Why couldn't that first render we saw be the actual thing? That thing looked amazing.
This can't be real! Since this is a modification of the first PSP I can understand not having a second analog stick (better saved for a PSP 2), but this is the most ridiculously ugly Sony product I've ever seen! The Mylo looks a bit better than this, but seriously! And having a slider function just adds more potential for mechanical failure. I've seen many cheap slider phones break apart.
I think I'll buy a DS if I want a newer portable gaming system.
i wonder how long song will go until they release the Go! 2, or the Go 2000!, or w/e they wanna call the revised unit. cuz this is seriously one of the ugliest devices i've ever seen in my life. why is surprising, because its honestly not that difficult to design a decent looking PMP (which is basically what this is). i mean, for christs sake...the the xperia x1, instead of a keyboard add two analog sticks and 4 buttons...it'd look 10x better than this. YUCK sony....YUCK. I wanna take some ipecac syrup to throw this up its so disgusting. what has been seen....cannot be unseen.
1. Move the start and select buttons to that large empty area above them. 2. Plop in a second analog stick in their place. 3. Make future games dual-analog and laud this PSP's "backward compatibility" with the old games. It's really time to move on...
Aw.. this sucks. I was hoping for something that would compete with next-gen Nokia Internet Tablet and all the Android MIDs coming out at the same time.
it doesn't look that bad but what seems to piss me off the most is that Sony does not want to upgrade the whole PSP platform. I thought they would upgrade the whole thing like adding a faster processor and bringing new and more higher graphic games.
It looks all right. I would care more about comfort than the looks. The sliding thing is okay and all, but it provides no screen protection, unlike the DS.
They wanted to be ahead of the curve for downloadable content. Seem to me that they're quite a bit behind Apple's curve. They're thinking about digital game downloads now. I wonder why? Oh that's right, they're copying Apple.
They've only got one thing going for them.... Gran Turismo mobile. Drool.
It is laughable and pathetic than a company with the resources of Sony would spend any amount of time coming up with product like this.
You know how people look at something and say "I could have come up with something better than that". Usually that isn't the case because you don't know the complexities of the process involved in creating said product.
HOWEVER, In the case of the PSPgo this is totally true. How long did it take the wizards of smart at Sony to say, "uhhh Let's just put controls on the Mylo and call that the new PSP." What a load of shit. I hope this product is an EPIC fail and Sony is punished for this ineptitude.
I was really getting fired up and excited for the new PSP and then they pull down their pants, squat over the ground and give us this?
It looks like it was designed to accomodate two sticks with those symmeterical depressions - the start and select buttons (which looks out of place) could then move to the blank area just above.
I can't belive that it doesn't have dual sticks! Very disapointing. I stopped buying new games 3 years ago because I kept buying games that would have played much better with a second stick. I felt like my money was being wasted because I never played those games. And I will not be buying this new PSP. Who cares if it slides open, and is 50% lighter. The only thing that cripples the psp is the lack of full controls. They've had pleanty of times to fix this problem, and its still not fixed. If they want to secure the top spot in handheld gaming, they need to smarten up. The games can be fantastic on the PSP if you had a way to control them.
And I just want to through in that I can't believe that people think that the iPhone is going to be a stong contender for handheld gaming. for really casual, simple games it is perfect for. But for serious games, NO WAY! again, you need a way to control them, and to be able to feel the controls so you can tell where you are.
Very disapointing Sony. Stick a second stick on there, and I'll be first in line to buy one. Until then, I refuse to buy any more psp games.
how can anyone look at this thing and not say its fake?:P it looks EXACTLY the same as the Mylo 2, its only moded slightly, this would be easy to fake!
Altho, it may be real and in that case Sony really sucks seeing how it dosent have 2 anolog sticks, the ONE thing everybody wanted...
Apparently, the original design fell off a sony jet into a ugly tree... hitting every branch on the way down... landing next to the ugly tree... where several years passed and the tree grew around the design... thus becoming part of the ugly tree... until recently being carved out.
PSP Go is "Fools Gold"! Don't worry tech dudes, PSP 4000 will "bring the sexy back" in all of its touch screen Oled glory! So hold on to that 3000 and keep the green powder dry!
It's no uglier than that Palm Pre everyone seems to be oogling over. PSP go looks great to me and I'll be getting one first day they are on sale here in Japan.
(Unverified) (May 30th 2009 12:16PM) - Highly Ranked
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Awww, no dual analog sticks!