PSP Price and Release Date

[CamFu]

Alright DsH I'm going to go ahead and go through your post here. I agree with some of what you said some I don't. I'm bored and this is a forum.

Originally Posted by DeathsHand

But the problem is that it isn't as simple as it being a "new handheld"... You have to look at what you're getting... Which is more, and something better (technology-wise)...

Better Technology-Wise? Nah, that is just a matter of opinion. The DS is a pretty sweet little machine itself. The only thing that the PSP has the DS on is graphics. And a larger screen. I will agree with that much. But Nintendo has released a product that you are able to play MP3's on and watch MPEG4 (I think thats the format). I know that its only been released in Japan, but that is what importing is for... if you want to watch movies and listen to music that badly. And I'm pretty sure that it can be used on the DS. But ontop of that, with the GBA, there is actually a TV adaptor that you can use so you can watch some TV on the GBA. There are so many little things you can pick up for the GBA, that it can be used more then just a handheld.

it being in the "value pack" adds like 50 bucks to the price... Like I said, Sony would be completely stupid not to sell it sold seperately for a lower price (around 199.99)... I have a feeling they might be selling it ONLY in the value pack to begin with simply because they know people will buy it... Is that nice for consumers? No, but if spending 250 bucks isn't you're thing, then don't spend it... wait until you can get it cheaper...

Agreed.

So when the PSP is sold seperately (like I said, to me it seems inevitable that it will be, but maybe Sony will be dumb and will keep it value pack only, if they do that then I think they're crazy) and costs around 200 bucks... You're paying 50 bucks extra for a machine with much better technology, the ability to play music and movies, a damn sexy screen, among other things...

By the time the PSP is launched, I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo did one of two things. One, drop the price of the DS like $20 and you could buy that adaptor that plays movies and music (wish I could remember the name of that stupid thing, I'm too lazy to look it up). Or Two, Nintendo annouces that this adaptor will be released in the US and will come with DS for a price of $200. Thats it, I'm going to find this stupid adaptor thing so I don't sound like I'm talking through my a$$. Ok, here it is. It's from IGN Music & Movie Adaptor. Hasn't gotten rave reviews, but then again they haven't fully tested it. They also haven't seen it on the DS.

Of course, not everyone's going to care so much about the ability to play movies and music... But the same exact arguements were brought up in the "next-gen" (meaning this gen) console wars, and we all know how that went...

I'm half and half with you on this one. I can see the music side of it being huge. But movie playback... no, you have to get a special UMD for that thing. In the console wars, it played normal everyday DVDs. Ones that everybody already had. Nothing extra to buy. Maybe people will start forking out the money for a movie they already have so they can watch it on the PSP.

This is where I think Nintendo's Music/Movie adaptor has a better shot of being more popular. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but it's too my understanding that both Music and Movies can be downloaded to a SD Card. So if you want a movie, go ahead and copy it to your card, when you are done, delete it, put another on one. Repeat process. I would rather own 1 or 2 SD Cards that I can use for more then just movies, then 20+ UMDs that only play on a PSP. Just my opinion.

What I'm trying to say is that nobody should be convinced that PSP will fail... this 250 value pack only deal sounds to me like a mistake... If they keep it past launch, they will most likely be doing harm to longterm sales...

However if they sell them seperately shortly after launch, who knows what'll happen...

I doubt they are going to fail. Even if they decided to keep the Value Pack long term.

As for games... I havn't really heard much in the way of impressions of games, however looking at the lineup, Ridge Racer, Twisted Metal, and Dynasty Warriors are games from successful franchises... Metal Gear Acid is too, but that's a completely different kinda game...

and in the latest issue of PSP, they say that apparently a GTA game is in the works set to be released shortly after launch...

A port of Mario 64... And Feel the Magic...

vs.

Ridge Racer, Twisted Metal, Dynasty Warriors... With Metal Gear Acid and ATV Offroad Fury (fairly popular series) being maybes...

And a GTA game on the horizon...

I think anybody who says DS's lineup (and future lineup) looks better than PSPs either hasn't taken a good enough look, or are only looking for games named Mario, Zelda and Metroid...

of course both handheld's future lineups seem kind of scarce... I'm expecting there to be some big announcements on both sides come E3...

As I have said before. I don't own a DS or plan on getting a PSP. So I'm going to go ahead and agree with DsH on this one.

[Xantar]

Like CamFu, I don't think the movie playback is going to be a big deal at all. Unlike CamFu, I don't think music playback is going to be a big deal either. It costs about $60 to get a 512 MB memory stick from Amazon.com (surely you're not going to store your music on the 32 MB card that comes with the package). You won't be using that entire space for music either since you will have game saves as well.

And of course then the problem becomes $200 PSP + $60 Memory Stick = price of an iPod Mini with more space and longer battery life. Will people replace their iPods so that they can play games on the PSP? Sony seems to be betting that some of them will, but I'm not so sure.

Again, it's a gutsy move, but it also ensures that Nintendo is not getting pushed out of the handheld market any time soon.