AfterDawn: News

Sony drops PSP-3000 bundle

Sony America has announced it will be dropping the 4GB Memory PSP Entertainment Pack that had been previously scheduled to be released in the US.

The company made the decision "following discussions with our retail partners."



The latest move means consumers will but one choice for purchasing the new PSP-3000, and that is the Ratchet & Clank Size Matters PSP Entertainment Pack.

PSP director of hardware marketing Jon Koller added that the bundle was dropped because they expected low sales from the bundle after hearing feedback from retailers and customers.

The 4GB Memory Stick Duo will be available separately for $45 USD.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Oct 2008 21:34

• Previous article

• Wal-Mart lowers MP3 prices

• Next article

• MTVMusic.com videosite launched

• 11 comments

• aw2600

  I'm sure that the retailers would rather sell consumers a Memory Stick separately. After all, accessories (memory cards, cases, etc) always have a higher margin than the game systems.
  
  I'd wager that the retailers convinced Sony to exclude the Memory Stick.

  28.10.2008 22:23 #1

• DXR88

  Only major change is the screen and mic. im curios as to see if the PSP-3000 lcd Connections are the same and can fit in a PSP-1000 lcd bracket

  28.10.2008 23:50 #2

• locobrown

  These orders will most likely suffer from screen interlacing issues. Look at the pics here. http://pspupdates.qj.net/PSP-3000-interl...g/49/aid/125164 I wouldn't buy one just for that mere reason. When I heard the news that a new model of the PSP was going to be released, I went out and bought 4 PSP-2000 models just in case. It might sound like a waste of money but at least I'll have homebrew functional models for many years to come.

  29.10.2008 01:03 #3

• DXR88

  Interlacing is a GPU feature is it not.Maybe there is a hardware flag that will toggle between Interlacing and progressive modes.
  
  people are too quick to jump the boat.

  29.10.2008 01:38 #4

• lxhotboy

  Had a PSP when they first dropped. Loved it. Is Homebrew still capable on these newer models?

  29.10.2008 08:36 #5

• pirkster

  Originally posted by aw2600: I'm sure that the retailers would rather sell consumers a Memory Stick separately. After all, accessories (memory cards, cases, etc) always have a higher margin than the game systems.
  
  I'd wager that the retailers convinced Sony to exclude the Memory Stick.If the memory stick is $45 alone, then the feedback from retailers was that the bundle would be too pricey to attract buyers. Price alone, not a general preference to unbundle, was the likely driving factor.
  
  The last thing retailers would want in a tough economy with lower holiday sales projections is a high priced bundle that collects dust on their shelves.

  29.10.2008 09:53 #6

• Vr0cK

  Quote:If the memory stick is $45 alone, then the feedback from retailers was that the bundle would be too pricey to attract buyers. Price alone, not a general preference to unbundle, was the likely driving factor.
  
  The last thing retailers would want in a tough economy with lower holiday sales projections is a high priced bundle that collects dust on their shelves.I believe the 4GB bundle was suppose to go for $199. So if a 4GB stick is $45 and the piano black PSP-3000 is at $169 then itd be $214. So the bundle wouldve actually been cheaper. I was actually looking forward to this bundle because i wanted the black PSP-3000 but i had my doubts due to the screen issue. But now that its cancelled i now have no doubts =P. I think Sony should just have the $169 PSP with a memory stick for free. Even a 1GB or 2GB stick for free because those are like dirt cheap anyways.

  29.10.2008 13:14 #7

• pirkster

  Quote:Quote:If the memory stick is $45 alone, then the feedback from retailers was that the bundle would be too pricey to attract buyers. Price alone, not a general preference to unbundle, was the likely driving factor.
  
  The last thing retailers would want in a tough economy with lower holiday sales projections is a high priced bundle that collects dust on their shelves.I believe the 4GB bundle was suppose to go for $199. So if a 4GB stick is $45 and the piano black PSP-3000 is at $169 then itd be $214. So the bundle wouldve actually been cheaper. I was actually looking forward to this bundle because i wanted the black PSP-3000 but i had my doubts due to the screen issue. But now that its cancelled i now have no doubts =P. I think Sony should just have the $169 PSP with a memory stick for free. Even a 1GB or 2GB stick for free because those are like dirt cheap anyways.Contrary to popular belief on this board, companies and retailers do try their best to satisfy consumer demand. Obviously, the retailers didn't see enough demand at the bundle's price point to warrant offering the second bundle. From their feedback, one bundle was enough - there wasn't enough interest in the second to continue the idea. Perhaps if this were the only bundle offered, results would have been different. Timing is everything, and it appears that the target price point of that bundle is currently saturated. Had there been more interest(demand), it wouldn't have been dropped. Unfortunately that wasn't the case.

  29.10.2008 13:29 #8

• locobrown

  These are the TA88v3 and TA90's don't forget, my reason of purchasing four PSP-2000. The screen issues has to do with its on board graphics chip, I don't think there is a switch that allows you enable progressive and interlaced screen modes. Sony will need to redesign the mobo in order to solve this.

  29.10.2008 18:22 #9

• DXR88

  Originally posted by locobrown: These are the TA88v3 and TA90's don't forget, my reason of purchasing four PSP-2000. The screen issues has to do with its on board graphics chip, I don't think there is a switch that allows you enable progressive and interlaced screen modes. Sony will need to redesign the mobo in order to solve this.True but there also has not been a FW update ether, theres a switch just not the firmware to flip it with yet.

  29.10.2008 20:10 #10

• locobrown

  @DXR88, I hope you are right, my grandpa gave me a present and it turned out to be the 3000. He brought it from spain. The lcd switch my not be a FW issue, take a look.
  
  http://pspupdates.qj.net/Here-s-your-pro...g/49/aid/125625

  30.10.2008 20:30 #11