Sony: PSPgo Overpriced, But we Don’t Care
After all the outrage from many retailers regarding the PSPgo (namely the fact that it has no physical media, thus nothing for the stores to sell), Sony has hit back with an interview in GamesIndustry.biz.
Claire Blackhouse, UK product manager, responded by saying that the PSPgo is an “aspirational” product, and that it will make people go into stores. Even if they can’t afford to buy the PSPgo. Sony seem to think that if person ‘˜X’ who has no money, goes into the store looking to buy the PSPgo, they’ll see that they’re poor scum who don’t deserve a real PSP. They’ll then see the PSP-3000 (you know, the one with MORE FEATURES) and pick that up for a reasonable amount of money. They’ll go home with their lesser PSP, wishing they had something more than beans on toast for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Sony in their infinite wisdom is acknowledging that the PSPgo is overpriced, but it’s OK because it’s an “aspirational” product. They’re then happy for you to buy the lesser version, thus making the new model obsolete. The big S is intentionally pricing the PSPgo out of the market of people who want to buy it. Sony have of course justified this with the “early adopters” angle, which basically means that they predict low sales initially, but the people that do buy it are in the “hardcore” fringe.
Blackhouse also states that the ‘œPSPgo is more for the older, 16 – 34 year olds, more like iPhone users’. Although presumably iPhone users have utterly no use for an extra device that can play games and watch movies on, ‘˜cos you know, that’s why they have iPhones. She continues to mention the fact that Sony expected much more of a backlash from retailers, which is obviously a big middle finger to stores.
The way I see it Sony has firstly a product that is a step back in the cycle. The PSPgo adds so little when compared to the PSP-3000 that it’s hard to see why you’d buy one. They’ve also marketed what the PSPgo is so awfully that they need to explain explicitly who they are aiming their products at. And then there’s that price, which is just insane. If you’re a regular Negative Gamer reader (and you should be, we need our caviare baths refilling) you might have noticed my trend of reporting stories relating to Sony. Just so you know I have nothing against them, nor am I Microsoft fanboy. But Sony, they just can’t help themselves…
Via: Joystiq
News Tags: Facepalm, fail, PR, PSP, PSPgo, Sony
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Yes, because that “more expensive is better” strategy really worked well for the PS3 when it launched.
Sony seems to still have delusions that it’s still the top console/handheld maker and can get people to put up with their bullshit. Must be nice to be stuck in 2002.
Wow @ Sony.. At this rate, I’m going to likely skip them completely this gen, both mobile and home console.
I’m thinking it is more than a middle finger to retailers, why not give everyone the middle finger.
Maybe it’s part of their new marketing strat: First we’ll poop on ‘em, and then second, it’s time for the middle finger.
Wow.
@ouched: they really won’t learn will they? It’s like they righted their ship slightly with PS3 SLim, and now they have to add a little more “crazy” to balance things out.
I keep recommending the PSP-3000, to friends but I warn them that I’ll mock them mercilessly if they go ner the PSPgo.
The fact that they sell it as ‘aspirational’, and not because it’s any good. When have they ever tried to highlight the features that distinguish it?
“Yeah, it’s expensive you know, so you’ll want it”.