EB refusing to stock PSPgo?

PSP Rumour | Lack of UMD drive is putting EB off.

Sony's updated handheld console, the PSPgo, is due to arrive in stores on Thursday next week - but it looks like you won't be able to purchase it at one of Australia's biggest gaming chains, EB Games.

According to Kotaku Australia, after speaking to many EB stores in the Sydney area, none could be found that had the PSPgo available in the company's database. It's not on the company's website, either. Further enquires to EB's head office in Australia were met with a 'no comment'. Sony did comment on the matter, though, but didn't specify whether or not the rumour is true.

"Many retailers will choose to range both PSP models side-by-side, as we continue to offer expanded choice for the consumer for the handheld device platform," said a Sony spokesperson. "As with any new product, there will be continued discussions with retail partners to continue to expand reach over time in line with growth of the entire PSP platform."

If this is confirmed to be true, EB wouldn't be the first retailer to refuse to stock the PSPgo - leading Dutch retailer Nedgame is also refusing to stock the PSPgo, citing the lack of a UMD drive (and hence potential software sales) as the primary cause. Sony has put a large mark-up on the PSPgo for that specific reason, but apparently it's not enough for all retailers.

GAME and JB Hi-Fi have both been confirmed to be stocking the console. We'll have some more concrete news on the situation as it becomes available.

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34 Comments

Michael Kontoudis

3 years ago

Retailers are going to have to prepare for the coming storm that is digital distribution. Sure, we're a long way off from a 'no-disc-future', but it's where we are inexorably headed, surely?

Charly

3 years ago

Its a centralised system. No matter how many stores you call, you get the same answer. Sounds like someone just wasted a whole bunch of time.

Dick Smith are also confirmed as stocking the PSPGo. Latest catalogue had it advertised for $428.

@Michael Kontoudis: Will be a sad, sad day.

Nick

3 years ago

It's weird. I like my music digital but not my console games...

Slashee the Cow

3 years ago

The go is, IMO, a hard sell for anyone who already has a PSP. Hell, I got a PSP-1000 the day it came out and haven't seen any reason to replace it. Unlike Nintendo, where each new version has an appreciable even if not particularly useful (I didn't buy a DS Lite... but I did buy a DSi) difference, this is the first PSP that has a real difference (I probably couldn't tell the 1000, 2000 and 3000 apart at first glance, unlike the various DS's)... and it loses functionality.

RhysDeschain

3 years ago

Its a waste of time anyways. At only $50 cheaper than a PS3, and the same price as a 360 (not to mention more expensive than a Wii...), as if you would buy a PSPgo over another console, especially seeing as the PSP has more or less failed to make an impact here in Australia.

Moistflaps

3 years ago

It may work in a different market but we just dont have the internet infrastructure to sustain Download Only. Sure it may get there in the future but it just doesnt seem feasible right now imo.

arbok

3 years ago

exactly what i was saying a few weeks ago.... and yeah not surprised EB Games not stocking it... in fact i wouldnt be surprised if they didnt stock the PSP all together and concentrated all their effort on the DS. The PSP section in stores is getting smaller and smaller.

The future is in downloadable titles like the apple shop but EB Games are going to hold out as long as possible until they work out a workaround - which will be anything where they can sell pre-owned games.

trixSTAR

3 years ago

EB not stocking it doesn't worry me, I won't shop at EB, when the ps3 first came out EB used to be great then they went down hill and after them giving me the run around a few times I won't be going back. And its not like EB carried a huge range of games for the psp anyway.

As much as I don't like digital distribution (no resale value, download speed and quota etc etc), I would say about 50% of the content I have brought recently has been by DD (ps3 games, DLC and all of my PC content comes through steam).

I have had a psp since the psp-1000, I honestly would have expected the price to have come down by now, not going up with the latest iteration, but I guess when you compare the price of the 16 GB ipod touch and the 16GB pspGo there isn't that much difference in price. As for the gaming quality, I would pick a psp game over an ipod touch game for quality - GoW:CoO, R&C, Resistance, syphon filter etc etc

The psp is a good all round package (games, movies, music, video output, remote play etc), Sony just needs to support the psp more in the gaming department, the upcoming titles are a good start.

Cian

3 years ago

Makes sense.

I'm pretty sure GameStop in Europe are against it too, and EB are part of the same company...right?

I still have my obese PSP and don't plan on changing anytime soon. My ISP can't handle game downloads otherwise I'll end up capped. I can't see this launch being successful tbh....that said, the Sony fanboys will probably buy it like drones.

Xcell

3 years ago

I might import one from the U.S. It comes to only $285 after conversion, plus shipping from whomever and I could probably have one for 300 bucks! I just have to wait and see if there are any region locking issues before I order.

Zhou

3 years ago

Nick wrote

It's weird. I like my music digital but not my console games...

1 X single ~ 3min. If that.

1 X psp game? Lets just say they use some kind of awesome compression and get it down to 1.5-2gb.. Then factor in sony's 'quality' content servers...

RXWAG

3 years ago

Could they put a games "vending" machine in at EB almost like what is at Sanity for cds? You know pick your game connect up the go and it gets transferred?

Sony have fucked up here IMO, cutting out the stores and almost cutting out price competition? It's a monopoly on themselves and it can only end badly.....

bigjimmystyle

3 years ago

Cian wrote

Makes sense.

I'm pretty sure GameStop in Europe are against it too, and EB are part of the same company...right?

.

The store you are referring to is called Nedgame, based in Holland, and has nothing to do with Eb Games.

Vervain

3 years ago

Zhou wrote

1 X psp game? Lets just say they use some kind of awesome compression and get it down to 1.5-2gb..

What? The maximum size a PSP game can come in at is 1.8gb on the UMD and most of them are between 300mb and 1gb. So with "awesome compression" they could probably get it down to a decent amount below that.

I'm glad EB have refused to stock it though and wished all the other retailers would do the same thing. We are paying $390 US for this whilst it costs $250 US in America. I want to know where the hell the $140 US markup came from Sony.

Pixie

3 years ago

RXWAG wrote

Could they put a games "vending" machine in at EB almost like what is at Sanity for cds? You know pick your game connect up the go and it gets transferred?
Sony have **** up here IMO, cutting out the stores and almost cutting out price competition? It's a monopoly on themselves and it can only end badly.....

That's an idea.... The store I work at is a Nintendo hotspot (although it's out of action atm

) and the amount of people that visit us really suprises me since everyone seems to have wifi now...it also increases sales. Nintendo pay for the conncection so I don't think Sony would be interested even though it's a win for both parties since EB are out of the GO game.
Any how we're stocking it. My sony rep did the sell thing upon me when ordering and glamourising it with "new and improved, and even though we've taking out the UMD, we are releasing point cards for PSN. Which is great because it'll help with repeat sales. But they won't be available on launch day....maybe a few weeks after."

Now that helps now doesn't it.
I am a little of a sony fangirl but...c'mon Sony...you might have answered our PS3 pricedrop call, but this? Bit of a backpaddle.
I guess we will wait and see. I'm still selling the 3000's even though there is Promos for the GO in the PSP section. Either people can't wait a week, or they just don't see the value.

GreyWolfJai

3 years ago

I don't really see the big deal. At 2Gb a game this is an option for most gamers. We have the bandwidth and the download limits to support downloading games. I have 90Gb a month and it gets used on Steam for much bigger downloads than this.

I don't think the time to download is a concern either. 2G is about 1hour at 600kb/s. No big deal. While it's recharging get it on wireless and away it goes.

EB needs to pull their head out of the sand. Just like Kodak had to. The times are changing. DL content will be the way of the future. I'm just wondering how you pull down 20-50GB for BluRay games.

RXWAG

3 years ago

GreyWolfJai wrote

It's a big deal in the counrty where internet connections are pretty average in some towns....not that I care im not getting one but you know...

redemption

3 years ago

^ yeah, Country/rural gamers don't get the kind of connection there city counterparts get. I've recently done some work for a computer company, and i was suprised to find quite a few places that still can't get a broadband connection.

arbok

3 years ago

RXWAG wrote

Could they put a games "vending" machine in at EB almost like what is at Sanity for cds? You know pick your game connect up the go and it gets transferred?

Sony have **** up here IMO, cutting out the stores and almost cutting out price competition? It's a monopoly on themselves and it can only end badly.....

well they can - but im sure EB Games isnt supporting it because its trying to do its bit to kill off downloadable games...

moonhead

3 years ago

I wouldn't be surprised if the likes for JB Hi-Fi and Game stock this for the initial big sales push, try and throw in a few crappy accessories and warranties to make some cash, then drop it once the sales die down. With such a slim margin and very little repeat business I can't see any reason for them to stock it (especially at $450!)

lapzod

3 years ago

Vervulus Maximus wrote

I'm glad EB have refused to stock it though and wished all the other retailers would do the same thing. We are paying $390 US for this whilst it costs $250 US in America. I want to know where the hell the $140 US markup came from Sony.

It's not the first time this has happened though. It's always been cheaper to buy things overseas. Not just this generation, but generations before.

Sinthesys

3 years ago

GreyWolfJai wrote

Maybe because not everyone has (or is willing to put down) the $80+ a month for their internet connection to get the 90gb limit that makes the PSPgo convenient. Its fine if you live at home and the parents pay your bills for you, but internet in this country is still far from cheap and affordable if you're talking about those sorts of limits.

el_rezzo

3 years ago

GreyWolfJai wrote

At 2Gb a game this is an option for most gamers.

What games come in at 2GB? I know I'm helping your argument more with an argument but I'm more interested in finding out why everyone thinks PSP games take up so much room? Most games would be around the size of a downloaded movie rip. The only thing I don't like about the Go is the fact is it 428 godgamned dollars. Without a UMD drive. I thought taking out the drive would make it cheaper? wtf? I love my PSPslim and would love a Go but it makes absolutely no sense to pay out the nose for a PSP that can't play any of my games or the current range of great games you can pick up for $10 to $50. Games for the Go will be at RRP and I don't see them being a good option. Maybe in 2 years or so Sony will adopt a steam like approach, most games I buy on steam are only when they get discounted.

grim-one

3 years ago

Vervulus Maximus wrote

We are paying $390 US for this whilst it costs $250 US in America. I want to know where the hell the $140 US markup came from Sony.

Our price is likely based on the European price of EUR249 - or roughly AU$421 at today's exchange rate. So the other PAL regions are getting screwed too... EUR249 is US$368 and still a US$118 markup.

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