heavy liquid Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050203/sfth050_1.html Available through retail outlets on March 24, the company continues its consumer-centric legacy with the release of the PSP Value Pack for a suggested retail price of $249.99 U.S./$299.99 CND. Well, there we go. More expensive than I thought it would be. Launch titles announced, too: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050203/sfth051_1.html Ape Escape®: On the Loose, Sony Computer Entertainment America ATV Offroad Fury®: Blazin' Trails, Sony Computer Entertainment America Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower, Capcom Dynasty Warriors®, KOEI FIFA 2005, Electronic Arts Gretzky NHL®, Sony Computer Entertainment America Lumines, Ubisoft Metal Gear Acid, Konami MLB, Sony Computer Entertainment America MVP Baseball, Electronic Arts NBA, Sony Computer Entertainment America NBA Street Showdown, Electronic Arts Need for Speed Rivals, Electronic Arts NFL Street 2 Unleashed, Electronic Arts Rengoku: Tower of Purgatory, Konami Ridge Racer, Namco Smartbomb, Eidos Interactive Spider-Man 2, Activision Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®, Electronic Arts Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix, Activision Twisted Metal: Head On, Sony Computer Entertainment America Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade, Sony Online Entertainment Wipeout® Pure, Sony Computer Entertainment America World Tour Soccer, Sony Computer Entertainment America A fantastic launch line-up if you ask me. I'm a bit disappointed that Mercury isn't in the list, however. Hopefully it won't take too long to show up. Also of note: Consumers can expect Sony Computer Entertainment America's software titles to range from as low as $39.99 SRP. I don't like that $39.99 is the low price. I suppose this means we can expect $50 PSP games. I won't be buying as many PSP games as GBA or DS, at that price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelley Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Too rich for my broke ass, but I'm sure I'll buy it because I'm a sucker :rock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Daisy Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Well, they priced this new papa out of buying a PSP. $39.99 as the low price really does seem to indicate the same pricing structure as the PS2. I'd guess $39.99 for the 1st party and $49.99 for the rest. Too rich for my blood. Glen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbert Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 It's more expensive because they're not selling the barebones machine, you have to buy the "value pack" which includes: 32 MB Memory Stick Duo, headphones with remote control, battery pack, AC adaptor, soft case and cleaning cloth, movie/music/game video sampler UMD disc including multiple non-interactive game demos, and for the first one million PSP Value Packs shipped, a special UMD video release of the feature film Spider-Man 2 from Sony Pictures Entertainment. In Japan, there was this same "value pack" & a "basic pack" just the machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris F Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 MUST. NOT. CAVE. MUST. NOT. Ok, I caved. Pre-Order'd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 I'll probably put one on my 2005 Xmas list. Maybe by then the bugs will be worked out, and there'll be plenty of feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretvampire Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Ouch, I don't like being forced to buy the bundle AT ALL. I thought this would be an automatic buy, but I'm going to have to think about it a bit now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavy liquid Posted February 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 I agree. I'd feel much better if they announced the stand alone PSP for $50 less. I don't really need or want all of those other trinkets in the "value" pack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnemaEms Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Well, no go for me. I am not paying more than $200 for the unit and I am not paying $40-$50 for games. March just got a lot cheaper. -Dean- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry the Clown Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 a special UMD video release of the feature film Spider-Man 2 from Sony Pictures Entertainment I am most curious to see how a 2.39:1 ratio film like that is presented on a format with such a small display device and whether they'll actually make it an open matte transfer at a 1.78:1 ratio instead of retaining the intended aspect ratio. The value pack does seem to include some decent accessories to justify the price I think. I wonder if Europe will get the one purchase option too? Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainl Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 To be fair, I think most people would be wanting the memory stick, at least. It's necessary to save any game progress. Given that it doesn't fold, and shows up the slightest scratch or fingerprint, the carrycase is pretty damn vital, too. The headphones aren't terribly good, but you need to buy them to get the remote control, which didn't come in the Japanese basic pack. As for the price being more than you expected, blame the fact your currency is worth less than a can of Coke at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camp Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 A cleaning cloth!? Oh, yea, I'm totally buying into the 'Value' Pack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romier S Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 I'm there. :rock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris F Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 My probables at launch (pending decent reviews, of course): Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower, Capcom Metal Gear Acid, Konami Ridge Racer, Namco Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®, Electronic Arts Twisted Metal: Head On, Sony Computer Entertainment America Wipeout® Pure, Sony Computer Entertainment America :rock My possibles: Dynasty Warriors®, KOEI FIFA 2005, Electronic Arts MVP Baseball, Electronic Arts NBA Street Showdown, Electronic Arts Need for Speed Rivals, Electronic Arts NFL Street 2 Unleashed, Electronic Arts Spider-Man 2, Activision Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®, Electronic Arts Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix, Activision Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade, Sony Online Entertainment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 A cleaning cloth!? Oh, yea, I'm totally buying into the 'Value' Pack. Everyone needs a handy wipe with their hand held, don't they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romier S Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 The Value Pack along with Lumines and Darkstalker Chronicles will be my purchases at launch. Wipeout Pure will follow shortly after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan FB Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 As for the price being more than you expected, blame the fact your currency is worth less than a can of Coke at the moment. You're just bitter because they'll probably release it there for the low low price of ?199. That's just like $250, innit? Seriously though, with all the early speculation about base PSP prices being $300-500, $250 isn't that bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romier S Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 $250 isn't that bad. I think most of the disdain comes from HAVING to purchase the value pack and not getting the option to get a barebones system. Some folks are not interested in most of the extras that are packaged in with the system and you can't really blame them. I personally would have ended up buying a memory card anyway so it's inclusion is useful to me. If I want a bigger one later, I can drop the cash for it. The carrying case is fine by me as well (though there may be higher quality cases at launch yet I'm forced to essentially pay for the one in the pack anyway which is a bit disheartening.) The remote/headphones are unnecessary to me as is the UMD Demo disc and the extra Spiderman 2 disc but I've been looking forward to the system for a very long time and my want to finally play Lumines (along with games like Mercury, DarkStalkers, Wipeout, Medievil PSP etc.) are enough to make me take the dive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavy liquid Posted February 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 I think most of the disdain comes from HAVING to purchase the value pack and not getting the option to get a barebones system. Some folks are not interested in most of the extras that are packaged in with the system and you can't really blame them. Very true. And looking up the Japanese price for the Value Pack, the NA price is about right: 24,800Y = about $237 US. I'm a bit disappointed they're not offering the base unit separately, as they did in Japan. As for the memory stick, I could order a 32MB stick on it's own for about $15, but I'd rather put that towards a bigger one. Oh, well... I'll probably be getting at launch (if I can afford it): Ridge Racer Metal Gear Ac!d Lumines Wipeout Pure Darkstalkers And maybe , Untold Legends and Rengoku if the reviews are good and when I get more money... sheesh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelley Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Personally I'm starting to think about holding off and just importing a non-value pack one from Japan once the import price drop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris F Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 I'd not heard of this Lumines game before today. I want it now too. Thanks Romier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavy liquid Posted February 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Personally I'm starting to think about holding off and just importing a non-value pack one from Japan once the import price drop. I was thinking about this as well, but you should be careful if you decide to go this route. Even though Sony has said that the games won't be region coded, I think this has not been the case. For instance, the Japanese version of Lumines is region 2, so it won't be playable on the NA PSP. If some of the NA games turn out to be coded for region 1, you probably wouldn't be able to play them. Best to wait and see if the NA games are region coded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretvampire Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Keep in mind it is looking more and more likely that game prices will be $40-50 each. That is a lot of bones for a handheld game. Now, I'm no fanboy, and I lust after every new piece of gaming hardware that comes out, but the price of entry here is getting really high considering there are full blown next gen systems hitting the shelves near the end of the year (maybe). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 the price of entry here is getting really high considering there are full blown next gen systems hitting the shelves near the end of the year (maybe). This is a good point. A handheld bundle entering at $250 with games at $40-50 a piece means a next gen console will be what, back up at $400? And games will be $50-70? I hope the prices come down soon, or I'm just going to have to start a garden and be done with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenMonkey Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 32MB Mem card : what a joke. I just bought a 512MB Compactflash card for $27 shipped from newegg (for use with my GBA flash cart - NES emulation rocks, and I can dump movies on it). 32MB is silly. At least on a bigger one you could actually fit a movie on it. How about packing in a 128MB one at least. Carrying case: lame. Rather get my own. Should be free since the damn thing doesn't have any way to protect the screen Remote: WTF do I need a remote for a handheld for? Headphones: Eh. Moderately useful. But we already have like 2-3 sets of headphones around the house. Why add another one? Spiderman 2 UMD: I haven't even shelled out the $20 for the Spidey 2 superbit yet...so kind of cool, but that's a movie that screams to be watched on my projector with my surround sound, not on a little LCD screen. And I begrudge $30 for handheld games! $50? No way. Looks like a DS is still the extra handheld in my future. Hell, my Xbox ($120 used) + I could have bought a Nintendo DS for $127 this past weekend at Meijer = $250. New Xbox + New Nintendo DS = $300. Hmmmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.