Sony 'Actually Expected a Lot More Negative Responses' From Retail for PSPgo

The PSPgo has had something of a contentious beginning, from its $250 price tag to retailers in Europe and Australia refusing to carry the system. Still, despite the cool reception some retail partners are giving the portable system, the U.K. PSP product manager Claire Backhouse said she expected more negative feedback than she got from retailers.

"We were very aware of concerns when we went into it and I actually expected a lot more negative responses than we actually got," said Backhouse to GI.biz. "They were really quite fine with it. They see it as a way of getting people into the store because it's new interest, a new product. And they've had such strong sales as well of PSP 3000 almost off the back of it. If you bring out a new product, people aspire to that but they might not buy it, they might buy the PSP 3000 instead. Especially if they're part of a family - dad might buy the PSPgo but the kids might get PSP 3000s. I think that works quite well for us."

Unfortunately for Sony, they appear to be dealing with negative backlash from gamers as well, with online multiplayer missing from the Minis to a lack of a UMD conversion and "rewards" program in the U.S. If Sony's intention was to increase the interest in the PSP-3000 model, then mission accomplished.