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

He need to cut the ego.

2 years ago

GreyWolfJai wrote

I don't really see the big deal. At 2Gb a game this is an option for most gamers.

The problem is the last part: most gamers. Most gamers don't really give a **** about the PSP as it is, let alone a bung version which is going to require them to hook it up to the Internet, have a way to pay for a game, and have the patience to sit around and wait for a game to download.

People can use Steam as a justification for digital distribution, but Steam is so superior to what Sony is offering here that the point is moot. Steam regularly has sales, the method is simple because it's PC based - something that the people who would use Steam are familiar with, some games are cheaper than RRP. Does the average Joe Blow 1-console-and-a-few-games-a-lifespan know about Steam, or even give a ****? Steam is structured more towards PC gamers and it suits their lifestyle perfectly. As a console gamer, I don't find Steam appealing in any way bar a few indie games like Audiosurf that I've bought out of curiosity. My mates are the same.

Digital Distribution is great for certain people, but it's not great for general consumers. It's a great way to aquire old games and games that aren't given a chance to sell at retail (WiiWare, XBLA etc.) It has its place, but I doubt it will be very successful if used in a way like PSP Go.

el_rezzo

2 years ago

He need to cut the ego. wrote

Steam regularly has sales, the method is simple because it's PC based - something that the people who would use Steam are familiar with, some games are cheaper than RRP

The vast majority of games are cheaper on steam than grabbing instore, most of the time they matchup to what you would pay for import PC games. It's very true that the average consumer doesn't know about steam or importing. If they did then our domestic videogame sales would be a tenth of the current levels. I just bought Red Faction Guerrilla for the PC from cdwow.com.au for $35. The differences in pricing is ridiculous. I don't expect Sony to sell games for the PSPGo at anything less than current RRP and have my doubts they would have bargin sales like steam. The Go will have a tough 6 months ahead of itself.

Island_Wolf

2 years ago

Don't forget some ISP provides unmetered downloads for Steam *grins*.

I wonder if Sony will do any of those sort of deal with an ISP...

Dropbear

2 years ago

Note that about... 5% of people have anything near adequate broadband in the first place. I'm lucky to get about 100kb/s from servers overseas, 500kb/s local. (arguably, it's faster as I'm using my wireless figures and not my LAN, but anyway) Also, if you're part of that unlucky group that don't get unmetered downloads, you will be looking at your cap and wanting to upgrade it if you've got anything below 10gb.

TL;DR: If you're not a gamer and internet nut, too bad, no PSPgo for you.

unlachs

2 years ago

as if download-only games aren't the way of the future of portable gaming. kudos to you sony.

i don't see why eb don't just stock the damn thing. heck, with their inflated prices, they're sure to make a tonne of profit on the thing anyway.

el_rezzo

2 years ago

unlachs wrote

i don't see why eb don't just stock the damn thing. heck, with their inflated prices, they're sure to make a tonne of profit on the thing anyway.

They make the majority of their money through pre-owned games though. Selling the PSPGo would be like Cinemas training people to download movies from the internet for a fee. Once that initial sale is made they will never see the customer again for that platform.

azazelx

2 years ago

As much as I dislike the fact that EBGames is basically an upscale pawnshop, I'm not on board with forced digital downloads for games. I don't mind DLC in most circumstances (Rock Band/GH songs a la carte) or some extra crap for other games, but I do like having physical copies of most things I pay for.

Steam is a partial exception - for Valve games there's no point buying a retail box obviously, and while I own a ton of games on Steam, I really only buy them when they're heavily discounted. Otherwise I again prefer a disc version with packaging, lendability and so forth. Most stuff on steam is, as others have pointed out, available bloody cheap from the UK etc, so I skip 90% of the stuff they sell.. and if something requires Steamworks, well, I wait for the inevitable huge Steam sale - FEAR2, DoW2.. etc.

But console games? Discs all the way baby. Physical disc versions also come with their own storage medium - the discs. No need to worry about HDD capacity etc (look at the 360 with it's laughably small HDDs, with 120gb a max limit. Until MS bring out a 200gb or 300gb drive for only 8 times the price of one you could buy yourself - as much as Sony's various console tactics annoy me, the PS3 having a user-expandable notebook HDD slot is a point in their favour.

FlaminDave

2 years ago

at least you can sell or trade a disc game, you cant sell a digital copy. only good thing about EB though, is the pricematch, i constantly lie to them, to get my games cheaper, they dont check it up

Peveus

2 years ago

FlaminDave wrote

at least you can sell or trade a disc game, you cant sell a digital copy. only good thing about EB though, is the pricematch, i constantly lie to them, to get my games cheaper, they dont check it up

It depends on which EB you go to and how busy they are, their mood, etc. I had a manager who ALWAYS checked. ALWAYS!! Multiple times per day always!

john_solids

2 years ago

el_rezzo wrote

but if you think about it, alot of stores do sell stuff at a loss just to get customers in the store, hoping to make other sales.
i dont see them not selling it as a good business move, say you have a customer come in and ask for a psp go and they say we dont sell them, and this customer being someone who doesnt regularly play games (or not play games at all) then think ok then this is meant to be a game store but they wont sell a well known brand, im not coming back here again, go somewhere else which will sell something this store should be selling.
its a way to lose potential customers very easily.

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