Sony just announced on February 3rd that its new anticipated handheld gaming console will be released in the U.S. on March 24th for $249 and only as a Value Pack. In this news, it was seen that there will not be an option to purchase the Standard Pack at all like there was in the Japanese launch. After reading several posts in gaming forums, you can definitely tell that there is some animosity among the masses about this decision from Sony. The Value Pack definitely comes with a lot of useful stuff, and is worth the price tag. Yet, shouldn't we as Americans, get the same options as the Japanese? What are they going to do with all of the extra Standard Pack boxes that they printed out and are sitting around the factory? OK, I guess that's not important!!
I understand in this day and age that we feel that we should always have options as a consumer, and that we should always show our feelings of such with our wallets. Well, its kind of hard for a company to see eactly how you feel when there is such hype for a product that people will go out and buy it no matter how much it is. The gamers that decide that the $249 price tag is too much for them will soon realize that there are lots of things in this world that we overpay for, but that's why there is such a thing as supply and demand. Nobody had a problem with the $232 price tag for the Value Pack in Japan, and we are getting a cleaning cloth and Spiderman 2 UMD for $17 more! That looks like a good deal to me!
If you actually stop and look at the capabilities and possibilities of the PSP, the price tag of the less than $200 price of the unit itself (minus the Value Pack accessories) seems like a better deal than the $400 camera cell phones, iPods, PDA's, and video players that are everywhere. It has the abilities to view movies, pictures, listen to MP3s, and don't forget, it plays games at almost a PS2 level! With future firmware upgrades, it could have the ability to be used as a cell phone, calendar, spreadsheet viewer, word processor, internet browser, and who knows what else. Has anyone noticed that it has an infrared port on top? Just wait until there is 3rd party software that enables that to be a remote control.
The PSP could be an incredible all-in-one device that could be attractive to just about everyone in one way or another. The only problem I could see would be the flood of other portable media devices and gaming handhelds that perform the PSP's functions easier, better, and cheaper. Now all I can say about that would be, "Good luck with that!" To me, for the Value Pack, the price is right for what you get.
I'll be sitting outside my local electronics store on that eventful March 24th day along with many others who feel the same way as I.
- bspate -
I have been a gamer for only about 6 years now, but particularly in the past 3 years, I have seen myself changing.
I used to enjoy playing the games I read about everyday, but now I can't stop continuously thinking how the game was made, and what politics were involved in getting the game from a concept to 'gold'. It now seems that you can't play a game without already knowing who developed and published it. I now find myself visiting the Gamespot news section about 50 times a day to get the latest scoop on the gaming industry. I spend a lot less time playing games now and a lot more time just reading articles on gaming sites, scanning gaming magazines, and scouring gaming forums. There have been many times where I will say to myself that I will sit down and play a little Battlefield Vietnam, but not until I go and read this little review of this particular game that I wouldn't play in the first place. I just have an addiction to read some writer's work and critique it in a way that makes me wonder if he's really being honest or is he watching what he is saying in order to not burn any bridges in the industry. Also, it has become like a challenge for me to see a decent game produced by a small developer and try and guess which large gaming corporation is going to buy out the particular studio and when. I definitely see there eventually being only about two or three developing studios in the future as they will buy out anyone who can create a decent game.
In this day and age, it seems that there is no form of entertainment that hasn't been changed or even ruined by big business or politics in one way or another. I also see the situation getting worse in some ways and better in some ways everyday as long as money is to be made.
The future of gaming will be interesting to say the least. Just watch how the next generation of consoles will bring about a different way to play games; creating an experience that will bring gamers to a whole new level of the feeling "in-depth gameplay." .............and I can't wait!!
- bspate -
We all know that the PSP will end up being the most pimp mutimedia device to grace the world as we know it. I also know that soon after, there will be a huge explosion of third-party accessories and most importantly......software!!
Sony hasn't really announced whether the PSP will be able to play games from a memory card or if public made software will be able to work as well. If someone figures out how to make both of these things possible, then I believe that the PSP will immediately be the talk and desire of every techno-geek guy and gal around. I believe the possibilities of web surfing, streaming TV, calculator, messaging, calendar, etc. will make even the non-gamer want a PSP. The abilities of the PSP, hardware and software wise, will make every programmer and hacker want to experiment and get its upmost potential out of it.
On the day of the U.S. release, I for one will be in line to get my hands on what I think will be a device that will change portable entertainment from here on out. Just imagine what the future of mobile gaming and multimedia will be, and it is all because of the PSP.
See you in line at the local gaming store on that wonderful day in.......March?? 
- bspate -
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