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Opinion: Sony’s silence concerning PSPgo sales data speaks volumes
Companies like to brag about good sales figures. When a new system - or new iteration of an existing system - is released on the market, companies want consumers to know how successful it is. It isn’t a bad idea, really. If people see a system or a console is a winner, then they’ll be more likely to jump on the bandwagon as well.
The thing is, we aren’t seeing that with Sony’s PSPgo.
The PSPgo debuted October 1, 2009. It’s been out for nearly two weeks and Sony has yet to start gloating about the system’s sales. There were no first two- or three-day sales figures reported. Sony hasn’t even released first-week sales figures. This leaves consumers to wonder whether or not the PSPgo is really doing all that well.
The first statement was one given to Gamasutra by Sony Computer Entertainment America on October 7, 2009, six days after the PSPgo’s debut. Sony indicated that PSP sales, in general, were up 300% and purchases from the PlayStation Store were up 200%. However, Sony did not mention any PSPgo-specific figures (at best they bundled it with the non-go PSP numbers). It’s odd, considering the handheld is new and one would think Sony would want to take any opportunity to build it up in the eyes of consumers.
Here’s what probably happened. PSP-3000 sales probably rose because people saw it as a better deal than the PSPgo which costs $249.99 and only plays downloadable games. A PSP-3000 Rock Band Unplugged or Gran Turismo bundle is $199.99, comes with a game, voucher and memory sticks, plays all existing UMD games and can play the downloadable games. The PSPgo suddenly made the existing PSP deals much more appealing.
As for the PlayStation Store’s sudden surge of popularity, it likely rose not because of new PSPgo owners, but because of existing PSP owners. 100 PSP games were added on September 30, 2009, and people who already owned a PSP most likely saw games that appealed to them and went on a buying spree.
A statement issued to GamesIndustry by Chart-Track, a European company that monitors the sales of music, videos, hardware, peripherals and software sales, also gives readers pause. When GamesIndustry asked Chart-Track for PSPgo sales figures, Chart-Track claimed that it wouldn’t reveal any information since “it’s a new format”.
A funny response, because it isn’t. The PlayStation Store has been offering PSP owners downloadable games for years and the PSP has been around since December 2004. And, even if one did attempt to claim that it’s a new format as a means to hide data, it seems like all the more reason to release sales data on it. That way, people can see how consumers are reacting. Sales data could even tell the world if a download-only handheld is ready to be accepted by the masses. It seems a bit suspicious that Chart-Track isn’t revealing the PSPgo sales data it has collected to the public, and perhaps a bit telling.
Then, there are the PSPgo sales figures that have managed to come to light. For example, there’s the information that Jeux Video Network dug up. In a recent story, the site proclaimed 8,000 PSPgos were sold in France in the three days after the system launched. The news from VGChartz is slightly better, as it reported the sale of around 30,000 PSPgos in America during the system’s first three days on the market.
Let’s compare that to the DS Lite. A GameSpot story from June 14, 2006 states that over 136,500 DS Lites were sold in the first two days after the system launched in the US. Of course, it’d probably be more appropriate to compare the PSPgo to the DSi, since both are fresh takes on existing systems. Edge Online reported 435,000 DSis were sold in the US in the first week the system was on the market. Quite a difference.
All of this information, put together, suggests that the PSPgo may not by the superstar Sony expected. What Sony isn’t the world about the PSPgo’s exact sales figures is the most damning evidence of all.
Read [Jeux Video Network (French)] Also Read [Gamasutra] Also Read [GamesIndustry]
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Perhaps if the downloaded games didn’t cost more than the physical games, people would feel it’s worth it. Kind of feels like a big old FU from Sony to have to pay more for a device that costs more for every game. Obviously Sony loves their own BS more than us consumers.
Caid.
on October 13, 2009 at 04:47 AM - LINKThat’s another great point Caid. Especially if you figure in the price of used UMDs.
Another good point that I didn’t mention is the PSPgo reinforces region protection. With my current PSP 2001 model unit, I can play games from anywhere, meaning I’m not forced to only accept what’s released in the US.
on October 13, 2009 at 11:29 AM - LINKOh my god. Let it go guys. What if Sony did charge 20% less for every game bought through PSN? Then this article would be called “People with no internet connections get the shaft having to pay full price for games on UMD”. And these comments would read “Oh thats a Big F U to consumers BLAH BLAH BLAH”.
So No, that was not a good point. Just another half truth disguised as one. Can’t we just say “If YOU personally don’t like it, don’t buy it”?
So thats it. If you pay $30 for a game on UMD or through download, you either own it forever OR you can trade it in sometime. Pros and cons to everything. No need to nit pick everything to death.
on October 13, 2009 at 01:21 PM - LINKHi Mark,
Actually, I made no mention of the UMD/game price issue in the article at all. Well, I did mention that the surge in PlayStation Store sales could be due to existing PSP owners buying and not PSPgo owners, but that doesn’t really pertain to the issue you’re discussing.
And the opinion article you suggested, “People with no internet connections get the shaft having to pay full price for games on UMD” would be quite difficult to defend. It costs more to sell a game that way, after all, and then the stores selling said UMDs have to make a profit. So it would actually make sense for UMD versions to cost more. (That isn’t the case here, since games are pretty much the same price new on both PSN and UMD after launch. Of course, there are the inevitable UMD price drops that tend to happen 3-5 months after a release, but lets not get into that. :D)
In a time like this, when many people don’t have a lot of spare cash lying around, price is going to be an important factor when it comes to buying games. That’s why I think so many people are quick to bring up the UMD vs. download issue. People purchasing UMDs do get a bit of an advantage. For example, the Prinny and SMT: Persona UMDs both came with soundtracks for $39.99. The digital releases don’t include the soundtrack. Doesn’t that seem unfair to PSPgo owners? Also, there’s the resale option, which would allow for the purchase of a new game.
You are right though - both sides have pros and cons and it’s a matter of personal preference as to which medium to choose. (Personally, I have a collector mentality so I’d always choose the hard copy over the intangible one. :D)
on October 13, 2009 at 01:36 PM - LINKwell i say because there are much uncertainties with the GO for now that makes it not that interesting.
wait until the homebrew people crack down the firmware and free up the device, then we might even see pirate app store coming. thats when id say the GO will be an awesome replacement.
their major failure is to not introduce PSP2 which offer significant upgrade instead so people have reason to venture into new environment.
on October 13, 2009 at 04:04 PM - LINKSorry Jenni. My comment was mainly directed at the 1st comment on this article. Alot of people are trashing the PSPgo just because they don’t see the benefit of having one, which is wrong. Take me for example: I actually really want the GO as it’s perfect for me. I’m after losing a 2gig and a 4gig memory stick because of switching between the two for what I’m doing (music/gaming). Now I just keep my 8 gig permanently in it. Also, I ALWAYS hated UMDs. I only download games as it is less stuff to carry around. A PSP itself is too much pocket space on most occasions anyways.
Finally that price point (and this is one thing I never see any news sites talk about) is not too bad. I paid $79.99+tax for my 8 gig stick. I just checked amazon.com and they list the 16 gig stick for $100 (right now its 33% off so its only $66 tho….pretty sweet) . The $250 system minus a $100 mem stick = $150 for the console.
So the article I would agree with. If the PSPgo was selling like hot cakes, there would be loads of articles saying so. I just want people to ease up on sony for making a bold move, as I’m sure I’m not the only person (the minority I’m sure tho LOL) who really wants one.
on October 13, 2009 at 08:21 PM - LINK@ lalala: I’m sure we’ll start seeing some effort by homebrew people soon. There are so many intelligent and ingenious people out there, it’d be ridiculous to think that any device is foolproof and secure.
I’m sure we will see a PSP2. I kind of think the PSPgo is a test by Sony. Perhaps the company is considering a download only portable for the next step, and wants to test people’s reactions with the PSPgo.
@ Mark: And no need to apologize. You did make some really great points and it was a well written commen that you left. :D
I think you’re right as well, that there is an audience for which the PSPgo makes a lot of sense and is exactly what some people want in a device. And I really liked the point you made about the cost of memory as well. When you factor that in and consider that, it doesn’t seem as outrageous. I still would have liked to have seen a game voucher tossed in, or the European PSPgo rewards program implemented worldwide. Just a little extra incentive. I know when I get a console, I like to get at least some game with it.
There probably are quite a few people out there who are eager for the PSPgo, and I’m positive it won’t be a total fail (ex. Virtual Boy.)
Personally, as long as Sony and companies still keep supporting the UMD PSPs, I’m happy. As long as I still have games to play, I’m good. I mean, I’m carrying a purse anyways, so tossing a few UMDs in with the PSP is no big deal for me.
on October 13, 2009 at 09:25 PM - LINK“Hack” / homebrew your old PSP. Buy the UMDs, rip them to memory card, and poof, you have a PSP Go minus bluetooth. This much I applaud Sony for trying to do—bring the convenience that people who have dumped their carts / UMDs to their flash cart / memory stick has had for years to the general public.
I personally think if the PSP Go was an entirely new system with improved graphics / battery / etc, it would have been a killer… but as it is, it’s just a more expensive version of a PSP3000. Definitely *NOT* worth an upgrade. Someone who doesn’t have a Go, maybe… Cost wise, it doesn’t make any sense. Seeing that the market’s already saturated with PSPx000s, i doubt the Go will move. (Get it?)
@Mark: You got tired of swapping / losing a 2 / 4 GB card… so you went out and got a PSP Go and an 8GB you leave permanently into a GO? But wait, you could easily just have gotten an 32GB card for your PSP? For the price of a PSP Go ($250 for 16GB internal + 8GB that you already have = 24GB), you could have gotten (bestbuy.com) 199.99 for 32GB. Factor in that you MUST repurchase any game you would like to play, plus accessories, cases?, etc. Are you sure you thought *your* cost-benefit ratio through?
Also, your $100 savings analogy considers the price if you bought it yourself. This is not the case with Sony. Building it in to the system itself is considerably cheaper, even for the fact you get volume discounts (plus you don’t need it as small / compact, plus you don’t need more complex interface circuits, etc). You also lose a disc drive, which should have saved them some money.
So why is it so much more expensive?
on October 15, 2009 at 03:27 AM - LINK@ Ivan: It does seem like Sony is trying to do that for the people.
You’re probably right as well - if the PSPgo was instead the PSP2, with all sorts of other enhancements and features PSP owners have been asking/begging for, then it would probably have done much better in terms of sales.
I think we all know why it’s so much more expensive :D
on October 15, 2009 at 12:04 PM - LINK1. It’s new.
2. It’s different.
3. Sony knows there are some people out there who will be willing to pay the price.