The PSPgo has finally arrived in stores today. It is the fourth version of Sony's PlayStation Portable handheld gaming system to come out since the PSP’s creation in 2004. While the previous versions offered little changes to the hardware (slimmer form, brighter screen, etc.), the PSPgo is slightly different and offers huge modifications in the way the system looks and works.

Most noticeable among the changes is that the PSPgo no longer supports a UMD drive and instead only plays digital content, which can be downloaded off the PlayStation Store or transferred over from another device.

Also, the PSPgo is capable of being in a closed or open position as the screen slides up and down (like many new cell phones). When in a closed position, the screen, Home button and L and R buttons are all accessible, but when open, the classic PSP controls are revealed and able to be used (analog stick, D-Pad, four face buttons, Start and Select). The system continues to function even when closed, which is useful for watching a movie or listening to your music. Some games like ‘LocoRoco: Midnight Carnival,’ which is coming soon, can be played by using only the L and R buttons and are playable when the system is closed.

Since the system just came out today and many might not know about it, I have provided below some common questions, facts and information about it for those looking to either upgrade from a previous version or looking to buy a PSP for the first time.

When can I buy a PSPgo?
The system will be available on Oct. 1, 2009 in North America/Europe and November 1st in Japan.

How much will it cost me?
The PSPgo will retail for $249 in North America, 249 Euros in Europe/PAL territories and 26,800 yen (including tax) in Japan.

Where can I buy a PSPgo?
You can get a PSPgo at all major retail stores and online stores.

What does it come with in the box when I get it?
In the box you'll find the system itself (available in either piano black or pearl white), a proprietary USB cable and an AC adapter that plugs into the USB cable for charging via a power outlet.

Are there any new system bundles available to buy?
Not at launch time. Sony promises that there will be bundles available sometime in the future. Currently, only the basic box with the system, proprietary USB cable and AC adaptor will be available.

What are the new hardware specs?
The screen is 3.8 inches and features a 480x272 resolution. The size of the screen is a little than previous PSPs, but the resolution is exactly the same. It has 64MB of RAM and has 16GB of internal flash memory for storing games, videos, pictures and anything else you want to load on it.

For connectivity, the PSPgo has built-in Wi-Fi (802.11b) and Bluetooth 3.0.

Other hardware Specs:
• External dimensions: 128 x 16.5 x 69 mm (width x height x depth)
• Weight: 158g
• CPU: PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1-333 MHz, Main memory 64MB
• Display: Approximately 16,770,000 colors displayed

Can I still use a mini-USB port for transferring my stuff?
Sort of, instead of having separate ports for power, USB and video-out, the PSPgo uses an all-in-one proprietary connector that will handle all of those things. A USB cable comes in the box, as well as an AC adaptor that plugs into the USB cable to allow you to charge it. The video-out cable will be sold separately.

Does the PSPgo have the ability to do video-output?
Yes, the PSPgo utilizes an all-in-one connector that's used for USB transfers, charging and video-out. As such, you'll need a different cable than what was used with the previous PSPs, and this will be sold separately.

Have the buttons on the system changed locations?
Yes, they sure did. Although the D-pad, analog stick, face buttons and triggers are all relatively in the same place, the volume buttons, display button and sound button have been moved to the top side of the hardware. The Wi-Fi switch is now located on the left side of the system.

What extras/peripherals are going to be available to me?
The USB cable and AC adaptor that come in the box will be available in stores for purchase in case you need an extra set. You'll also be able to get a composite AV cable, component AV cable, a cradle and a protective film screen cover. There will be branded Memory Stick Micros available for purchase.

Will I be able to play my collection of UMD-based games on the PSPgo?
No, the PSPgo doesn't feature a physical UMD drive, so the games will not be able to be put into the system. Unfortunately, Sony has also confirmed just recently that no porting solution will be put into action for those wanting to copy over their collections of UMDs into a digital format.

Wait!! UMDs aren't supported? So how do I get my games onto the PSPgo?
Over 225 full games are now available for purchase and download from the PlayStation Store, and as time goes on the number available will increase greatly. All future PSP games will be available in retail stores and via download, and Sony promises to continue to release UMDs for the older systems since the PSP-3000 is still going to be available for purchase.

How many games will I be able to fit on my system?
That is going to depend on the size of the games. UMD discs hold a maximum of 1.8GB, so if you were to store games that were at the max UMD space (which many titles do not achieve) you'd still be able to hold close to nine games at a time just with the internal storage of the system. It really depends on the game’s size, but you should probably expect to be able to hold around a dozen or more full games at one time on it.

I want more storage capacity! Is this possible?
Yes, Memory Stick Micro (M2) flash cards are supported by the PSPgo. As of right now, they are available in sizes up to 32GB. When you save content to the system, it will ask before saving if you want to save it to the built-in storage (16GB of flash memory) or a Memory Stick Micro (M2) instead if you have one inserted.

Is there still a standard headphone jack I can use?
Yes! Just like the previous PSP models, the PSPgo comes with a headphone jack so you can plug in the best headphones you own and crank it up!


Hopefully that answers some of your questions you may have had about the new PSPgo and perhaps you now have enough info about it to decide whether or not it’s something you want to pick up. The PSPgo definitely has some neat changes in it that are quite nice and might make it worth getting (built in storage, Bluetooth, compact size), but it also has a few cons that you need to look at before making a decision (no UMD support, slightly smaller screen, high price tag).

I am really quite a bit turned off by the complete lack of any UMD support which really stinks for existing owners of previous systems (like myself). Also, the price tag of $250 which is $50 higher than other PSP’s makes it a tough sell for those looking to upgrade since on top of the price of a new system you would basically need to re-purchase your complete library of games for the PSPgo. One good thing is the downloadable games available online will be able to be used on previous PSP systems, so if you have a big enough memory stick in your older systems you will be able to download and play games without the need of a UMD.

I am still a bit on the fence about upgrading and think if Sony decides to come out with a transfer solution for those with UMDs and lowers the price a little bit then I will probably go ahead and get a PSPgo. That being said, I am going to stick with what I have for now and wait until they come out with the next big thing.

So, did you go out and pick up a PSPgo or do you have anything else you want to know about it? Post in the comments section below any questions or feedback you may have and I will do my best to get you an answer. Let me know your take on the PSPgo. I can’t wait to see what you think.


Til next time, keep on gaming!!

Labels: Gaming, New, PSP, Sony, This Week

This entry was posted by James Dumas, on Thursday, October 1, 2009. You can leave your response .