WHAT THE F@#$!!!!

[ringsyde]

You know, I've never cared much for Sony because they are the most money-hungry gaming company out there. Before anyone argues, the PS2 AND the PS3 have 2 controller ports (Sony execs have confirmed the PS3 info), and the only valid excuse given to folks in the sales side of the equation is that because it allows them to generate margin dollars with multitap sales.

Now, these clowns have revealed that the PSP will sell only in a bundle FOR $250.00(?!!). This is dangerously close to console costs.

To their credit, I've played an import PSP, and the machine is far and away the best handheld to ever grace the market. At $250.00 and with games retailing for $50.00, it's going to be tought to justify buying this thing right away (NOTE: The videogamers out there who've had issues with Sony products know the first run of products are ususally flawed), and although they have a great list of launch titles, it's still not enough to drop $500.00 (the cost of most MANDATORY bundles being sold by EB, Gamestop and other places).

I'm curious if anyone else is (or was) planning to buy the PSP, and what their reaction is to the price revelations.

NOTE: I was just informed (literally) by my import connection that FirePro will soon be available for the PSP, and since there's no regional lockout, it can be played on either the domestic or import system. How does this nugget of info influence things?

[nwo]

I was one of the few people that I know bought a ps2 in this manner when it first came out. No surprise, this coming from Sony.

[Mike M]

Haven't heard much about it, but I haven't been paying much attention to the console market these days.

As far as Sony being the most greedy outfit, I personally think that Nitendo always gave them a run for their money, especially if you think back to the days before PSone.

[brettj]

Well I am not sure about this I have not herd much about the PSP.

But as for your comment about sony being the most greedy I would have to disagree. Microsoft the makers of x-box are the most greed.

Why I say this is take a look at there online play feature you have to pay to use it and if the game is one where you have to pay to play it you are paying double first to x-box/Microsoft to use there online feature and then to play the game. Now that is just greed there. I have a PS2 and have played many titles online for free as long as I have a internet hook up. So who is more greedy Sony who has titles that are free to play online and don't charge you to go online or Microsoft who even if the game is free to play online still charge you to use there online service.

[ringsyde]

Brett, you make this too easy; SONY!

While Microsoft asks players to pay to maintain what every gaming community in the world has rated the best console gaming online community, Sony lets you have what's considered pretty below-average online play for free (for now!!). Additional costs come from game development studios, and all of them have declared that they don't make you pay on Sony because you already get hit up for a network adaptor, hard drive, and in many cases, extra memry cards before you ever go online. The development community seems to be too embarrassed to add to Sony's substantial fees.

By the way, who profits from Sony network adaptors ($40), Hard Drives ($100) and memry cards ($25)? SONY!

According to Electronic Arts, Activision and Ubi Soft, a chunk of the X-Box Live money goes towards paying for development fees which helo them make online content for games like Madden, Tony Hawk and Splinter Cell. Sony apparently hasn't dropped one dime in that till. These companies continue to do business with Sony because (up to now) Sony has been the biggest name in sales.

Interestingly, a huge lawsuit over controllers, a growing number of game developers who aren't as eager to sign on with Sony as they were in the past, and a fan base who's grown tired of things like only two controller ports (asw opposed to the four ports on N64, Dreamcast, Cube and X-Box), problems with scanners, drives and readers (for every defective X-box, there are 7 defective PS2's according to NPD marketing research) and no onboard memory expansion or storage is starting to hurt Sony. Yet, they still plan to take a "money & profits" approach. From a business standpoint, this makes great sense. However, from a relations standpoint, they're digging their own grave, and soon, it will hurt business. Some would argue the recent firings of virtually everyone up to the president of Sony of Japan is a sign of things to come . . .resulting from an era of greed.