Sony Expected More Negativity For PSPgo

[John Funk]

Sony Expected More Negativity For PSPgo

The digital-distribution-only PSPgo has come under fire from various retailers, but Sony's fine with that - in fact, the company expected more negativity from retailers than it actually got.

Up until now, it wasn't all that hard to imagine some collars being frantically loosened at Sony HQ over the impending launch of the PSPgo. Thanks to the handheld's digital distribution plan for games all but cutting retailers out of the loop entirely, various specialty retailers in Australia [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/94745-Biggest-Dutch-Retailer-Rejects-PSPgo] have announced that they will not be stocking the device at all.

Bad news for Sony, right? The people whose livelihoods depended on this thing doing well would be a bit nervous about the whole shebang, don't you think? Apparently not, though - Claire Backhouse, the product manager for the PSP in the UK, told GI.biz [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/pspgo-sonys-plan-for-its-new-handheld-interview?page=1] that Sony had actually anticipated more retailer backlash than what was actually happening:

[blockquote]We were very aware of concerns when we went into it and I actually expected a lot more negative responses than we actually got. They were really quite fine with it. They see it as a way of getting people into the store because it's new interest, a new product. And they've had such strong sales as well of PSP 3000 almost off the back of it. If you bring out a new product, people aspire to that but they might not buy it, they might buy the PSP 3000 instead. Especially if they're part of a family - dad might buy the PSPgo but the kids might get PSP 3000s. I think that works quite well for us.[/blockquote]

You heard it from the horse's mouth, folks - retailers like the PSPgo because it'll help sell the PSP 3000. At least, that's what I think she's saying.

(Via VG247 [http://www.vg247.com/2009/09/30/sony-expected-more-retailers-to-be-negative-about-pspgo/])

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[Teh_Doomage]

Seems to make sense, I'll not buy either the PSP or the PSPgo, but as most people say, even bad publicity is good publicity.

It'll be interesting to see how the PSPgo pans out.

 

[Treblaine]

I don't know what is more amazing, that CEO's can tell such convoluted lies or that a respected publication like Escapist would swallow them with no critical consideration.

 

[Hitman 43]

Fan of the PS1, PS2 and the PS3, but not any type of PSP.

 

[DrunkWithPower]

So.... why release it if it's going to do bad. I mean you lose the advertising and what not but the shipping costs has to be higher.

 

[Frankydee]

good to hear a massive conglomerate like Sony is finally embracing it's own mediocrity.

 

[Pendragon9]

I KNEW IT! They planned it all along just to bring up the PSP 3000 to a better light compared to the other Sony alternative.

Very sneaky Sony. BUT I SAW THROUGH YOU LIKE TISSUE PAPER. >:0

 

[AceDiamond]

Basically the suits at Sony talk and all I hear is this.

 

[roel23]

so let me get this right...
they don't like it when they get negativity all over them but
when they don't get much negativity they don't like it either?
when are they satisfied then?

 

[scotth266]

What to get out of this is:

SONY: We're selling the Go to people who absolutely must have the latest new device. Everyone else... well hey, the Go will give us a reason to advertise PSP as a brand name, so maybe we'll get some 3000 sales out of it.

 

[MajoraPersona]

Just like Sony to anticipate fire-bombing and receive their product not being stocked instead.

Bringing us fine things like the PSPgo, the Apocalypse back in 1309, and the Cold War since all life went extinct 65 million years ago.

 

[Woodsey]

You know, I want to believe that Sony's CEOs are akin to God in the sense that we're not supposed to be able to fathom their master plan.

Unfortunately, I think this whole generation for them will end in a huge "told you so!" from just about everyone.

 

[Low Key]

My guess is she's just saying that to make it seem like the still available market will buy it. Just because a store stocks it doesn't mean it will sell.

 

[Pirce]

I don't trust companies enough to support the PSPgo, or digital distribution for that matter.

 

[Captain Pancake]

What sort of games are they offering on the PSPgo anyway? Is it what we should expect from handheld games, or is it a little more basic, due to the whole downloading stuff thingymabob.

 

[Boober the Pig]

I bought my PSP for God of War and it goes unused for months at a time. The PSPgo got me excited about increased digital distribution for the PSP. I have actually bought Crash 3 for it just to try the new Sony Digital Distribution network. The PSP doesn't have enough buttons to work with all PS1 games and the tiny screen doesn't really work for games that were meant for the living room. I hope that the real reason for the PSPgo is to copy XBLA and push smaller, cheaper, games that will make the PSP worth having and carrying around.

 

[Mrsoupcup]

I dislike the psp simply because the anolog system is beside the control pad. SERIOUSY WHO THOUGHT THAT UP?

 

[Skrapt]

I don't know what is more amazing, that CEO's can tell such convoluted lies or that a respected publication like Escapist would swallow them with no critical consideration.

Hey don't blame the espcapist for that. Due to the society we live in it has become the norm of news suppliers to strive above all to be unbias and 'present both sides'. Unfortunately it has gone so far that if a reporter actually attempted to debunk some of the crazy crap/figures/whatever spread by certain people the reporters would be attacked for taking a side.

Although could you elaborate your comments a little? Sony seem justified in this area, as physical games are a large chunk of retailers profits and Sony would have rightfully expected a backlash to selling a product that did not require such a distribution channel. And although their idea that PSP3000 sales will increase due to the release of the PSPGo sounds a little too hopeful to me (Although I do agree that it certainly is possible, just not to the extent that Sony would hope), generally I don't see stuff in their that could be clearly defined as a lie.