Topic: Sony just announced a new, budget-priced PSP at Gamescom

And get this: It doesn't have Wi-Fi.

It will be release in Europe only, for 99 euros.

So what's the point of this exactly? The current PSP is $130, which is a very reasonable price. Plus the Vita is coming out next year. So releasing a new PSP this late into the system's life just seems desperate.

And releasing it only in Europe is retarded. Sony really knows how to fracture their market, and potential profits. What if Nintendo only released the DS Lite in Japan?

Gameboy Micro? Why not get the budget crowd. The PSP has a huge and developed library, and this is a great way to get some extra beans on a cheap to make system and get rid of whatever stock of games is still on the shelves (and make even more cash on downloads).

It's a pretty nice-looking console. Not as nice as the PSP Go, but not bad.

The matte finish is a plus, but I'd rather skip it and get the Vita. If only the Vita had a nice matte finish too D:

It's not the ideal handheld, but I can see it having at least modest sales. Between this and the decent selection of $9.99 and $19.99 games, people on a budget who always mildly wanted a PSP but deemed it too expensive should be into this. It's the basic package, but also tied with DS Lite for the current cheapest portable. I reckon the people picking this wouldn't be interested in the Vita (immediately, anyway).

Oh ho ho ho that's funny. I only see about 10 PSP games on the shelf at Walmart, and they don't even get their own space, they are below the PS2 games. Retailers have done a terrible job marketing the PSP; yes it's also the retailer's job to market systems. If they don't dedicate enough shelf space for games, then consumers will overlook them.

Wait...huh? No wifi?? so that means no downloads....so does it read UMDs? I assume not given how small it looks. So.....how does one get games onto this thing exactly??? Very weird move and weird timing.

This thing does play UMDs and downloads. MediaGo allows you to put downloads on any PSP, including this. It has access to the PlayStation Store, so owners only lose the convenience of connecting straight off the handheld.

It uses UMDs, and it can connect to a PC and download stuff from Sony's Media Go software. No Wi-Fi means no multiplayer, no level sharing in Mega Man Powered Up or LittleBigPlanet, no Monster Hunter quests, etc.

Yes, I agree it's a fail.

True, but you lose multiplayer functionality. No Monster Hunter quests, no level sharing, no web browser support, etc. This thing renders many PSP games useless, since many titles relied on multiplayer.

And yet it's still better with online thanks to wired connection to MediaGO than the 3DS <_<

I wouldn't say many PSP games rely on multiplayer. It's more of a single player handheld.

I updated my original post. Apparently this new PSP will only be in Europe.

[facepalm]

I don't know any PSP games that rely on multiplayer.

If you didn't think the system was good anyways shouldn't that be a win that it's only released in Europe. I don't understand your ways tendoboy1984.

Why facepalm? Because Sony isn't releasing a product you weren't interested in anyway in the US?

Ever consider that perhaps that product was deemed appropriate for market conditions in Europe, where economies are completely floundering and people are looking for bargins, and not for the US, where the economic climate is somewhat better?

Excuse me while I go and have a cry that Green Tea flavoured Kit Kat is available in Japan but not Australia. And I think I'll have a facepalm or two over the fact I can't buy imported North Korean beer anywhere around here.

@WaltzElf

I didn't realize that the economy in Europe was worse than ours. Still, Sony would see more potential profit if they released this worldwide. The PSP could use some market growth, and for Sony to limit this to one territory doesn't do them any favors.

Greem Tea-flavored Kit Kat? (barfs)

That's the best PSP design I've seen. Looks miles better than the other PSPs and the new Vita and EVEN looks portable, as in being able to fit in my pocket.

To bad I've already owned a PSP and played what's on it.. Which wasn't all that much for me sadly. Could have been such a great handheld. Hopefully the Vita will be better.

I would love it if they made a second Vita console that looks as sleek and small as this one. I'd definitely get it.

The Vita looks fine. It's really not as big as the pictures make it look. It's around the same size as the PSP-1000 (the original model).

@WaltzElf

I didn't realize that the economy in Europe was worse than ours. Still, Sony would see more potential profit if they released this worldwide. The PSP could use some market growth, and for Sony to limit this to one territory doesn't do them any favors.

No. That's the same ridiculous falacy that the twits behind Project Rainbow got behind. Not every product belongs in every marketplace. It's expensive to launch something in a market, and you don't just do it because it's done somewhere else in the world.

Greem Tea-flavored Kit Kat? (barfs)

Point proven.

(It's actually nice).