PSP Australian, NZ and European Launch

PALGN News | Date and price confirmed. Better start saving.....

Sony Computer Entertainment Australia & Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today announced the local launch date and price of their Playstation Portable handheld entertainment system.

The PSP will be released in both Australia and New Zealand in a single version 'value' package on September 1st 2005, at a price of AU$429.95 (€258) and NZ$469.95 (€282) respectivley.

The European launch date is also set at September 1st 2005, also available in a single version Value Pack, priced at €249 (£179) from the European press release. [Ed - €249 is exactly £169 under current exchange rates so one of these may be a typo on sony's behalf. £179 = AU$437.01 and £169 = AU$412.62]

If you think that price is high for a handheld, it is - even for the PSP. This price is signifigantly higher then both the USA and Japan launch prices. The US 'value pack' price of US$250 translates to AU$320 at current exchange rates. Even worse, the Japanese 'value pack' price of 19,800 Yen translates to just AU$239. So to get a PSP, Aussies and Kiwis have to pay the equivalent of AU$110 more then USA gamers did, and almost double what Japanese PSP buyers did.

A spokesperson for Sony in the UK has defended the increased price claiming that the US price was subject to local sales tax and that VAT in the UK was higher.

(The PSP's market rival, the Nintendo DS, had a launch price of AU$199.95, and was almost exactly the same price in all territories)

Hopefully PAL territories will get PSPs that use the higher quality Sharp-made screens of the Japanese models, rather then the dead pixel prone Samsung screens of the US models.

The single available package is the same as the US 'value pack' and includes the PSP console, a pouch, a 32Mb memory stick, headphones, AC adapter, wrist strap, and a demo disc with sample game demos, movies and music.

Additionally for early purchasers, a copy of the film Spider-Man 2 in PSP format will be available via redemption if the user registers their PSP at a new site set up by Sony - www.yourpsp.com.au (or www.yourpsp.co.nz for NZ and www.yourpsp.com for EU).

"PlayStation Portable will revolutionise portable entertainment, giving users the freedom to play full 3D games, watch movies, listen to music and connect wirelessly on their terms, wherever and whenever they wish to do so," said David Reeves, President of SCEE. "More than ever, today's consumer demands access to their personal entertainment outside the home, without compromising quality. With more than 100 PlayStation Portable game titles currently in development worldwide, and the ability to download and listen to music, and view feature films with breathtaking screen quality, PlayStation Portable lets users control their entertainment options, all in a single package."

Source: www.yourpsp.com

Australian Press release:
http://www.yourpsp.com/html/en_AU_press_release.pdf

European Press release:
http://www.yourpsp.com/html/en_GB_press_release.pdf

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27 Comments

mangaman

7 years ago

too expensive for now. maybe when it comes at a more bargain - ish price.

LeonJ

7 years ago

I don't understand how Sony came to this decision. The price is terrible and we are getting a very late. If we got it with the US, I'd put up with the price. Also I have heard reports that indeed PAL territories are indeed getting the inferior screen.

I hope the DS wins the war here in oz. At least it's affordable to the average Joe.

Bronze

7 years ago

Hah! It's $80 cheaper to import it NOW from Lik-Sang.

Sony are out of their minds if they think people are going to pay $429 for a PORTABLE, considering Nintendo's dual-screened wonder is only $199. I'm not going to take this crap, and I AM going to import my PSP instead.

oni

7 years ago

wasnt the ps2 released with a pricetag in the $700+ range?

we should be used to this crap from Sony!

Jeremy

7 years ago

Way, way too expensive....
But I reckon it'll drop within six months

Spanca

7 years ago

Ridiculous pricing. Good luck to them.

LordPaludis

7 years ago

lol.. and you cant really even justify buying it because it's portable, as its battery life is so short (or at least i heard it was, correct me if I'm wrong)

oh well handhelds don't really concern me anyway

Brendan

7 years ago

Isn't the Xbox Next rumoured to be $500 here? Hmm...

Jeremy

7 years ago

PSP battery life on average is 3-4 hours. That's barely gonna last a flight to NZ or a drive from Sydney to Coffs Harbour

Mark

7 years ago

Is the software compatable on all PSPs, as in no region lock? Because people would be better off just importing from Japan or America and will save roughly $100. Terrible marketing plan, especially around the Christmas time as well, since I don't think Sony will drop the price within a couple months of it's launch.

To expensive though. By the time September comes they'll be a price cut in either the American or Japanese PSPs.

Not a good start.

tanoshii

7 years ago

Yup there are no region locks on PSP games... there are however region locks on UMD movies (not that anyone would actually go buy UMD movies anyway esp when they're expected to be priced the same as a DVD).

Best to import I'd say... saves the 4 month wait + its the cheaper option. There's the risk of getting an import unit with dead-pixels though.

I wonder how much the games are going to be.... $60-70?

Bad move by SCE's part - NDS is definitely going to win over the market here in Aus unless they reduce the PSP's price. Not that Sony would really care since we're such a small market.

James

7 years ago

I added some info on the European launch

David

7 years ago

In The US, PSP games cost the same as full price console games. So I'd expect games to be AU$100, just like PS2 games.

So it looks like we'll be better off importing games, too. Although I'd be very wary of importing the system myself, it has such a high likeleyhood of needing to be returned....

But anyway, that probably means you'd be out over $529 to get the system and a game.

GroovySamurai

7 years ago

Man I thought the situation with dead pixels in the DS was bad... 16 dead pixels - now thats crazy!
I would import from Lik-Sang next month if it wasnt for this. Its to much money to be risking online.

As for the actual price of the PSP I dont think its to bad. You have to think about it. PS2's are around $230AU now and to get a LCD screen for it, they cost around $200. I know there expensive but thats how they make profit. And considering all the bonuses Sony is throwing in, it really isnt all that bad.

The actual Unit itself seems to be top of its class, well at least graphics wise. The Nintendo DS dosent have as expensive parts as the PSP and it didnt come with any thing really (Besides Metroid Demo and thumbstrap). And saying that the PSP has failed in sales compared to the DS is a little unjust. I think the DS has got its self a lot of hype. But Nintendo are making a stupid move bringing out there next gameboy so soon. Maybe Sony should be fearing that more?

Overall Im pretty sure the PSP is going to be a better seller than the DS.
It may not be original, but in games its really going to be more attractive.
And as for the price being to high for most people - I imagine that alot of people are going to be trading in stuff to EB very soon.

Hyperworm

7 years ago

Eve6 wrote

Nintendo are making a stupid move bringing out there next gameboy so soon. Maybe Sony should be fearing that more?

The only thing Nintendo have announced concerning further (portable) hardware is that it's still a way off. I'm not quite sure where you're getting that from.

Anyway, on the price, £170 (plus ~£80 for a decent 1GB stick) is definitely too expensive for me to consider getting a PSP. I would get so much more fun out of ~10 DS games.

(Though admittedly that's only an option because I've already bought the DS.

)

September ... 10 months after the Japanese release...?

Rush152

7 years ago

the next gameboy being shown (if any at all) at E3 is the next GBSP. NOT the next generation portable.

i'll say it once and i'll say it again... bloody rediculous.. 430 bucks HAH

Luke

7 years ago

Looking on ebay reveals you can get a game and a PSP delivered for $430 now..

GroovySamurai

7 years ago

Hyperworm wrote

Eve6 wrote

Nintendo are making a stupid move bringing out there next gameboy so soon. Maybe Sony should be fearing that more?

The only thing Nintendo have announced concerning further (portable) hardware is that it's still a way off. I'm not quite sure where you're getting that from.

Unfortunately Im back to 28k for a couple of days - so finding the article I read is a little difficult (I think it was from IGN, im checking now).

But In confrence Nintendo said they were aiming their next Nintendo Portable for release late next year (timing is probally acurate due to the rumored 2007 release of the Revolution). There was a lot of talk about the DS not being a gameboy early on, Thats when everyone started saying that the release was to close to the next gameboy as most of the 'good' games for the DS are planned for later release (either one of the portables could easily wipe out the other, competition against themselves if your getting me).

Tomorrow at school ill try and locate the article, it was seriously pretty intresting

Chris

7 years ago

Personally i'd recommend waiting - for the price to drop and for decent software to arrive. If you own a PS2/PSone then you've pretty much played all that the PSP has to offer at the moment outside of a few games like Lumines, so there's no real reason to spend $400+ on it at the moment.

Rush152

7 years ago

aaaaaaaaaa there is no GBNext coming out next year ><

*post marked for open flaming/braging rights when it does/doesn't come out*

back on track... 500 including a game HAH... Sony making big moves in their attempts for world domination

Brendan

7 years ago

In hindsight, it's really not a bad price when you consider people pay $400+ for MP3 players.

Now THOSE are overpriced.

Qbert

7 years ago

Jeza99 wrote

PSP battery life on average is 3-4 hours. That's barely gonna last a flight to NZ or a drive from Sydney to Coffs Harbour

I've allways wondered if you are allowed to play a PSP or DS on a plane. It's Ok to play unless you are playing wirelesly through multyplayer right? And my gran is in hospital at the moment and I was in the waiting room and I had my DS but I didn't play because I didn't know weather it did something or other to something or other. Anyway, anyone know the answers to these questions?

Hyperworm

7 years ago

Yeah; all they're worried about is the (remote) possibility of wireless signals interfering with their hardware.
As far as I know, the PSP has a Wi-Fi switch which makes it impossible for the hardware to transmit wireless signals while the switch is in the off position; the DS has no such mechanism, but all the same it doesn't transmit wireless signals unless you go into a mode that explicitly requires them (multiplayer modes, Pictochat, etc.), so you should be fine.

mangaman

7 years ago

Well, the size of the PSP is a bit wider then the original GBA, but what amazes me is the size of a disc. It's about the same size as a GBC cartridge. Imagine that!

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