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It still isn't $40 and bundled with Final Fantasy Tactics, but gamers critical of Sony's expensive handheld can now confirm what they've been saying all along: the PlayStation Portable was just too expensive.

Originally sold as a $249.99 "Value Pack" bundle, the PSP received it's first price drop when the package was cut down to the $199.99 "Core Pack" containing only the PSP, a battery, and an AC adapter. This move was criticized by those who noted that the price of the handheld itself remained virtually the same, as a memory stick still needed to be purchased in order to use most of its functions.

Finally, Sony seems to have realized what the rest of the world has always known: if they want the PSP to compete with the $129.99 Nintendo DS and it's massive developer support, they were going to have to do something about the price. Effective immediately, the PSP Core Pack will retail for $169.99, but, this time, without a hit to features or accessories.

Industry analysts have greeted this news happily, generally affirming what seemed like common sense to the rest of us... Things sell better when people can afford them.

Source: GameSpot

I've toyed with the idea of getting a used PSP somewhere along the line, but now I'm wondering if this will dry up the supply even more. Currently, a PSP trades in at Game Stop/EB Games for something in the neighborhood of $40, and we just don't see very many people who wouldn't rather just keep the darn thing. Since the new price is now less than Game Stop's preowned price, the trade-in value is going to have to dip even lower... You'd have to be an idiot to put up with it when eBay is right there.

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Veni, vidi, dormivi.

This is pleasing news to me, but it also makes me wonder if it's going to go down any further. There's some uncertainty about the PSP's future success, and another price drop might be forthcoming later this year if Sony gets a little more desperate. Bottom line: I'm definitely more interested in getting one now, because there are quite a few PSP games I want to play, but not yet. Maybe later.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
END SPOILER

That, honestly, still does not convince me to buy the PSP. Sure, it may be cheap, but basically like buying a $200 paperweight for me. I'm happy with what I have and I'm even more happy knowing that Sony is having a hard time getting rid of these things. Also, recently, Sony had announced that its PSP sales have dramatically decreased from last year and that they've shipped out even less PSPs to stores.

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"You underestimate the strength of a Jedi's mind, Brejik. A mistake you won't live to regret, " -Bastila Shan(Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic)

It's a smart move on Sony's part. I think it might get them higher on the red line and closer to the black line, but I don't think it'll push them into the green line.

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Join the Army, see the world, meet interesting people - and kill them.

~Pacifist Badge, 1978

i dont think the price cut extended to Europe

although I have seen one or two retailers selling the core pack for £99 now

The price is still... pricey. Mainly because there's only two games that I really want for the PSP. Final Fantasy Tactics is the main one. I also like the Hot Shots Golf series, so that gets a bit of a draw from me as well.

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Oh sure, I don't have to get kicked in the junk to activate it, but I like it anyway. -- Thief commenting on the difference between Throw and Blue Magic.

I see I still have a while to wait before I will be getting myself the Castlevania X Collection and the revised version of Final Fantasy Tactics.

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

I just heard the news today that Sony has confirmed the base pack will be £130.
and the platinum games will be now £15.. it maybe not the ps3 but still good enough.

This post has been edited by Toxiedogg on 25th April 2007 14:19

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FF7- 10/10
FF8- urr.. i thought the ending was great.
FF9 9/10