PSP Go Hands-on
- Posted June 5th, 2009 at 07:36 EDT by Eric Blattberg
- 62 Comments
The worst kept secret of E3, the PSP Go was ‘officially’ revealed at Sony’s E3 09 press conference -- as if the Qore episode detailing exactly what the new PSP would offer wasn’t “official.” Despite the widespread lack of surprise from everyone in the crowd, a tangible amount of excitement remained in the air when Jack Tretton revealed that the Go would be available to check out in the Sony booth. Of course, I had to get my hands on the machine.
For those that haven’t remained in the loop, the PSP Go is not the PSP2. Though it has slightly different hardware specifications than other PSPs, games will be released on UMD for older models, and via the PlayStation Store for the PSP Go.
You already know that, however. What you don’t know is how the Go feels in yours hands. I do, and I’m happy to report that it looks and feel great. The Go is incredibly light, with a sliding screen that can be closed while watching media, which further decreases the size of the already small portable device. There are some buttons that run along the top, so you’ll still be able to control certain aspects of the machine, like volume, while it’s in the closed position.
The face and shoulder buttons feel wonderful, as does the analog nub, which initially appeared awkwardly placed. I expressed concern in an earlier article about the placement of the analog nub, but I retract that statement; once the PSP Go was in my hands, I discovered that the new placement actually feels far more ergonomic than the analog nub of old. Just to clarify, that’s not from a few seconds of holding it – I played nearly an hour of Gran Turismo PSP and LittleBigPlanet PSP on the Go. It’s simply in a more natural place.
Everything else remains largely unchanged. As I said earlier, it’s not the PSP2. Since it will run the same games as earlier models of the PSP, Sony couldn’t add any new features that would alienate current PSP owners.
As a result of the time I spent with the portable, I’m genuinely looking forward to the PSP Go’s release later this year, and plan to get one as soon as it becomes available. Away we Go!
Comments
-
-
-
-
-
Kurosaki
- 7:55am BST - June 5th, 2009
- 5
not worth it. although its nice and all.. it should;ve came out sooner. but who can blame them.. no one is perfect.. I just hope they meet our demands for PSP camera, GPS and keyboard if not then for PSP2.. I hope they give us exactly what we have been waiting for.. PSP, PSP Slim, PSP -3000.. this is just ridiculous.. how many PSPs must I buy? there is no major changes with it.. just a lttle by little of changes made for each PSP.. its seriously ridiculous. buying a PSP2 will be good enough.
-
jickdarapper
- 7:56am BST - June 5th, 2009
- 6
I mainly use my first gen PSP to stream movies and TV shows from my NAS server in the basement via my PS3 when lying in bed... Will the Go add anything for me? Doesn't look like it...
-
-
GranTurismoOwnsPs3
- 8:15am BST - June 5th, 2009
- 8
What the heck man now it will feel like im playing with a paper with buttons. Its just way too small like how the SixAxis was when it first released. I got used to it but this is just ridiculous.
-
-
-
opusnocturn |
OpusnocturN- 8:33am BST - June 5th, 2009
- 11
I like it. I have yet to buy a PSP, but now because of MGS: Peace Walker, I'll get one of these.
-
-
WonsAuto |
WonsAuto- 9:33am BST - June 5th, 2009
- 13
The same question rages, however: What the fudge do I do with my UMDs if I upgrade??? I'm not keeping two PSPs, and I like the idea of not having to carry UMDs around. I also dislike the idea of throwing away the money I've spent on games to this point.
-
-
-
Sir_Jizzwacker
- 11:12am BST - June 5th, 2009
- 16
Hmmm. Go or xbox???? Ill go with the xbox and save a few bucks
-
-
O_G_H
- 11:31am BST - June 5th, 2009
- 18
I gotta tell ya, I'm gettin' one of these.
@13 - I'm in the same boat man. Maybe there's some way we can sell off the UMDs and get their counterpants of the PSN? I'm selling my UMD PSP cheap, but I'll sell my UMDs for the cost of downloading the digital counter part...
@16 - I understand wanting an Xbox360. Really, I do. But what's the point of getting the one with no HDD? I don't understand that. That bare bones one is for kids, that's why it's $200 (and why it's the one that sells). Besides, there are officially more games coming out on the PSP right now that I wanna play than on the 360, which is the saddest state of affairs for my 360 there is...
-
-
IONIXX |
IONIXX- 11:46am BST - June 5th, 2009
- 20
yeah, i stopped using my psp when i bought my VAIO, obviously carrying a blackberry sized devise around to play music on is alot easier, but, the main thing that made me drift away from the psp, was it's total lack of supporting differant file formats,
anything vid i put on it didnt work, and to find normal video's that are optimized for psp compatibility was SUCH A LONG PAIN IN THE ***. so in the end i just gave up, threw it into my crammed-full-of-crap-that-i-have-no-room-for cupbaord and havent used it since, and whilst i'll deffinetly buy the GO! ( mainly cuz i simply can resist )
if sony pull the same trip with this psp like they did with the 1, 2 and 3000 series a.k.a a total lack of content and features, ( for ***** sake even hackers can upgrade it faster and better than sony can ) then i'll sure as **** throw this one in that cupboard with my first one aswell.........
-
tristan88888888 |
Tristan88888888- 12:27pm BST - June 5th, 2009
- 21
i never bought a psp because of the games barrier. there wasnt enough games and i dont really think physical copies are that great for a portable console. lnow that both of these problems are fixed i might just get one.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Jk-Sin |
Rik02- 2:22pm BST - June 5th, 2009
- 28
unlike many ppl, i actually like the design. i might just buy this psp just b/c of the 16gigs flash memory. does any1 know if the lcd screen is better than the 1st fat ps1 one? i still have the fat one, but i might buy this if the screen is better. the first always flet like the screen's response time was slower.
-
-
-
1solidsnake |
solid1snake67- 3:25pm BST - June 5th, 2009
- 31
i'm buying it! Gran turismoi 5 here i come.
-
-
-
bracomadar |
bracomadar- 5:14pm BST - June 5th, 2009
- 34
As much as I'd like to have one; I could buy that, or I could buy 4 new PS3 games for the same price. To be honest, I don't like handheld gaming because it always seems to make my neck hurt from looking down at a screen, or arms hurt if I'm holding it up in front of me. I do like the fact it's much lighter than the original PSP
-
-
PLAYSTATION_Cipher
- 5:35pm BST - June 5th, 2009
- 36
As an owner of the PSP-1004, I think its time for me to get an upgrade. :D
-
hillybilly |
apeh- 5:37pm BST - June 5th, 2009
- 37
Picking up PSP Go, not primarily for the games but because it seems like a great thing to watch movies and music while on journys, as well as games inbetween - which is perfect for a person who travels alot like me hence the Go name :D
-
-
netherdragon |
netherdragon- 6:08pm BST - June 5th, 2009
- 39
i want this but i will only buy if i can transfer my old games from umd onto the inbuilt flash memory somehow, surely sony has to release a way of doing this right?
-
-
-
-
FatherOfOne
- 9:28pm BST - June 5th, 2009
- 43
I realize that Sony couldn't do what they needed to but:
No second analog stick, price increase. No purchase. Sorry but my money would go to a new iPhone first. "If" this device was say $150 then I would strongly consider it. I wish it well though...
-
-
Intervention
- 11:33pm BST - June 5th, 2009
- 45
I'd love to get one, but never for the price they are asking.
-
TRMario
- 11:38pm BST - June 5th, 2009
- 46
I'll be getting this because my bro claims that the one we have is his -_-, and it's all good because I'll be getting my own games and with LBP and GT5 along with the past titles, it will make the perfect travel kit! Also, I got my iTouch stolen so, this will replace it. Nice Sony, I love it!
-
-
-
-
Advertisement