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Leading Dutch Retailer Not Selling PSPgo
Leading Dutch retailer Nedgame has announced that it won’t be selling PSPgo when the new handheld launches on October 1.
While the company will continue to support existing PSP models, it says that the drawbacks of the UMD-free PSPgo include its €249 price point, as well as its inability to support physical media and hence game trade-ins and second hand sales.
The front page of Nedgame’s website features a detailed explanation of the company’s decision not to stock PSPgo. According to a Google translation, it reads: “We hope you understand our decision. Most gamers still want a box and booklet in their game, or at least the choice between a physical product or a download. The PSP GO! Sony cut the consumer choice and thus creates a monopoly on the PSP GO! game sales. We see this as a very bad development for both the consumer and the retailer.”
Eurogamer is also reporting that other Dutch retailers have opted to shun the PSPgo and that some Spanish retailers may follow suit.
While the PSPgo is expected to be sold at all major game retail outlets across the UK, independent chains like Chips and Grainger Games have expressed concerns about the viability of stocking the new handheld.
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England and Wales company registration number 2008885
I can't say I'm surprised at this, it'd be commercial suicide for a specialist retailer to sell the PSP Go even if it was more reasonably priced; which it isn't.
I understand their point of view, but retailers need to get ready for this new reality.
Internet speeds are getting faster and faster everyday. There will be a day (not that far off) that EVERYTHING will be direct download. I'm talking about games, movies and music.
Will they stop selling TV sets or iPods when this happens? I don't think so. Why should they stop selling the PSP Go?
These guys talk shit about bad for the consumer. It's bad for them as they get cut out of the game retail loop. Well at least this goes towards answering the whole digital distribution question. How many people say consoles won't have physical media soon?
they realized it'd be too funky to play monster hunter on, smart guys
There is no money in hardware. Of course sensible retailers won't support such a system.
For myself? it`s a psp model TOO far. Rumours still going around Sony planning a UMD equipped PSP 4000. yet where was and still is the software support for the format. Had my PSP:phat since launch and as far as software goes? sony left us in the wilderness, whilst chucking out the slim, then 3000. As soon as the over priced GO appeared on the scene? They suddenly decide to start getting Big name titles out.
Mind you, finding it Laughable the much hyped PSP:GT game has NO career mode.
A lot of UK ISP restrict you to a Fair usage policy, have traffic shaping etc etc. The infra structure just is`nt there for this yet.
And even after forking out for a title, we do not own anything physical. i cannot lend it to a friend, sell it on, give it to a charity shop, p-x it on a new title etc.
Our "right" to lend games is actually as tentative as this whole thing, we only have the "right" to play the content on the disc, we have no more ownship claims on it than we do with the music on a CD or a movie on a DVD - we own the rights to listen/play/watch.
Only if you're a complete tool. Otherwise most nations have realised that if you buy something you own it and have the right to lend it or sell it.
Of course software companies do want to kill that off as their wares are often over priced for the quality but only a mongoloid would give up his right to ownership of something he's paid for.
If you give lawyers the chance and the right to redefine your 'rights' along with lobbying firms, they'll they'll decide what your RIGHTS are.
Laws can be illegitimate - and it's totally illegitimate when companies dictate to me I CAN'T LEND GAMES OR SELL THEM TO SOMEONE ELSE. To hell with that - if that's the law, then it needs to be revoked right now and these companies need to be put in their place and realize this is a two-way street here - it's not 'hey I fork out 40 quid for a game, and the company saying to me: ' you as a little unworthy consumer can be happy if you can play it you little shit'.
And people shouldn't put up with all this crap and baloney about intellectual copyright and all - realize there are massive lobbying firms dictating to governments and their judiciaries what consumers are allowed to do and can't do - and get in the fight so you can get some of your rights back or at least come to a decent middle ground. And no, this isn't solely about videogames or else it would be petty.
I wasn't saying that I think the situation is right, I largly disagree with interlectual property as something you can copyright. The way i see it is that nothing is original only arranged in a slightly different order.
I actually tend to agree with them in this case - and of course this retailer is just saying that because their whole future hinges on real palpatable products you can hold in your hands, but that doesn't make their statement any less true.
Let's look at it - you have all these games now being sold in stores - Marvel Vs Capcom 2 for PS3 just as an example - and the box is EMPTY - it just contains a download voucher. That's quite the shaft, IMO - would it kill them to include a disc somewhere inside that case as well - so, like, you actually have a product inside YOUR HANDS? Now it's just a privilege if you can download it from their servers.
That's what this whole development is about - taking ownership outside your hands. This is DRM except worse - you buy a product in the store, and you just get a 'waiver' allowing you to download it one time - and maybe another time when your PS3 gets broken. Anyway, you can't swap it with a friend - you can't even sell it.
So yeah - I'm against it as well. And I won't sell my PSP-2000 any time soon for this thing - no physical storage medium? No sale - it's quite simple.
the type of gamer who wants a download only psp go is probably internet savvy enough to find another retailer anyway. I don't think I've ever bought a console from a game store. I usually get them from the big department stores, as they tend to do price-matching, and are a lot better with returns and stuff.
Still, it's a big chunk of PSP Go advertising gone, i guess.
What department store would that be? I can't imagine Debenhams price matching, and my one experience with returning a product there was one of the worst customer service experiences I've ever had to endure.
debenhams and john lewis both price match any non-internet offer. All of my consoles have come from John Lewis, and their customer service has been excellent, replacing my PS2 once, and 360 twice, with no fuss.
"Most gamers still want a box and booklet in their game, or at least the choice between a physical product or a download" tell that to the millions of iPhone game downloads.
I'd like to wager that a high majority of those downloads are cheap, flassid attempts at a "game" designed to make a quick buck with bored iPhone users. You can't compare that to standard UMD games.
That doesn't condone it by any chance. IPhone is IPhone - IPod is IPod. It's a videogame player device secondary - it's not their core business.