110 quid or 199 bucks for PSP

**SOMAN** · 4th October 2004

According to a scan doing the rounds claiming to be taken from Official PlayStation Magazine, Sony has released a series of pricing plans for the PlayStation Portable or PSP in the US.

Should it prove genuine, the mag, which is essentially an extended arm of SCE�s marketing division, claims the following bundles will go on sale:

PSP Package 1: $199.99
PSP console
1 Rechargeable battery
1 Charger (for the battery)
32MB MemoryStick duo

PSP Package 2: $299.99
PSP console
1 Rechargeable Battery
1 Charger
64MB MemoryStick Duo
Strap with built-in Headphones
Camera

PSP Package 3: $ 349.99
PSP console
1 Rechargeable battery
1 Charger
256MB MemoryStick Duo
Strap with built-in Headphones
Camera
Aluminium Case
GPS Device
Translation Software (TalkMan)

The mention of the battery as a stand-alone unit will cause speculation that the machine�s power cell is external � not good news for proponents of the machine, especially at this time of complete power information blackout at SCE.

We have placed a request for information with Sony Computer Entertainment in Europe who said that if the scan is real, it is likely from the US version of the magazine, "...considering they're giving a $ only price. As it's the US mag, it'll be up to their press office to speak with them." A representative continued, "...it's pure speculation and is in no way officially endorsed."

We'll bring you clarification when we get it.

**MsDG** · 4th October 2004

LOL!

Sony do not know the meaning of "exchange rate"

$199 will almost certainly mean �199 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ABCMan · 4th October 2004

the battery is internal, its just that you can buy an extra one (or 3 if you want psp to last for an entire journey). its telling you that it comes with 1 so you will know to add the cost of either the extra ones or the gamegear style external battery pack in order to keep it running. although i guess you could play on it for a couple of hours then switch to your DS for the rest of the journey and the journey home

**maltloaf** · 5th October 2004

Originally Posted by ABCMan

then switch to your DS for the rest of the journey

lol u dont ever miss an opportunity m8

ABCMan · 5th October 2004

Originally Posted by maltloaf

lol u dont ever miss an opportunity m8

and you are telling me that it isnt exactly what you'd do? of course it is, as soon as the psp died you'd be straight onto your nguage or ds and you know it

and so would most others here (well those that bothered taking the psp at all)

**zapiy** · 16th October 2004

I'll second that, hell i will even have to buy a small portable bag to carry all my handhelds in....lol

ds, psp, ngage, gp32, gizmondo, tapwave....

oh yeah

**Porthos** · 17th October 2004

LOL! Sony do not know the meaning of "exchange rate" $199 will almost certainly mean �199 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sad but true. If I import one through a mate in America will it work fine here or are they region encoded?

**harryb** · 21st October 2004

region locked i'm sure...this IS sony

**Goldberg** · 22nd October 2004

No need for a handheld to be regionalised but unfortunatley been Money Grabbing Sony it will as you say.

DS = Value for money, very good pick up and play games = PSP killer :thumbs

**tiagoneves** · 27th October 2004

I like the package 2, and i already have a 128 mStick, hope to do useful stuff with the psp...

ABCMan · 27th October 2004

Originally Posted by tiagoneves

I like the package 2, and i already have a 128 mStick, hope to do useful stuff with the psp...

looks like you'll be buying anoter then as the psp uses memory stick duo and then of course it depends which memory stick you have? white? blue? red? all work differently for different applications / hardware i know one is for their net walkmen and the red is for aibo, they all look similar but you cant stick a nice (cheap) blue / white memory stick into an aibo that is expecting a (dammned expensive) red one.

**debug77** · 28th October 2004

www.play-asia.com have posted confirmed details of packages available at lunch in Japan. There's just two of them.

The PSP� handheld is available as either Model PSP-1000 (which includes the PSP handheld, a Battery Pack as well as a 100-240V AC Adapter) or as Model PSP-1000K (which additionally ships with a 32MB Memory Stick Duo, a Headphone with remote control as well as a soft case and hand strap).

They're flogging the 1000 for $219.90 and the 1000K for $269.90. They're the first figures that I've seen from a retailer as opposed to being from Sony. Not suggesting that that's the cheapest btw, before anyone orders...

They also say that it's region locked. Think I'll be waiting for the UK release with the rest of the casual gamers

Anyway, the remote on the earphones looks nice.

**Goldberg** · 28th October 2004

Region locked hmmm I would wait until it is officially released and tested.

Overall they are losing the battle against the DS already here. Negative things coming from this post towards the PSP and none towards the DS.

**debug77** · 28th October 2004

Originally Posted by Goldberg

Region locked hmmm I would wait until it is officially released and tested.

Overall they are losing the battle against the DS already here. Negative things coming from this post towards the PSP and none towards the DS.

In the end it'll all boil down to marketing regardless of the quality, or price, of the machines. You know full well that Sony will market the PSP with a multi million pound budget and be in your face 24/7. Where as Nintendo will put a half page advert in the Official Nintendo magazine and that'll be that. Having said that, the Donkey Konga advert is quite funny...