The PSP Go is now ten years old

[Rotobit]

On October 1st, 2009, Sony released the PSP Go to the befuddlement of people around the globe.

The last new model to be released worldwide, it was smaller and lighter than its predecessors, with 16GB of storage with the option to expand and Bluetooth, allowing you to hook up PS3 controllers. This in conjunction with the cradle that included Video Out basically let you dock it to the big screen.

But the elephant in the room was always that it didn't take physical media at all, due to UMD's being massive noisy unwieldy beasts. Instead you had to download everything via the PlayStation Store, and to this day there are plenty of key PSP titles that aren't available through that method.

The little thing never really hit its full potential, but Sony did try for what it's worth, with numerous bundles in 2010 and a discount. Alas, in 2011 it was discontinued in North America, and Sony shifted its attention to the PlayStation Vita.

Did you have a PSP Go? Do you even remember it? Was it weirdly prescient, as we enter an age where digital content becomes more and more popular?

 

[MBS]

Most bizzare handheld ever released. Smaller screen, no physical options, basically locking you out of many titles not available digitally. Only reason they came up with this was to limit PSP piracy at the time.

 

[Jawmuncher]

As a legitimate device, it was pretty lacking with being digital only. But as a unit to hack with an additional older PSP to rip your own UMD's?
That little guy ended up being pretty cool and I still have mine with my favorite UMDs and PSN purchases.

 

[Deleted member 2180]

This thing was way ahead of its time, the only bad thing is probably how I never got used to hold it

 

[Kamala]

I remember disliking it due to the whole digital only thing, but now here I am only buying digital.

 

[Jegriva]

I remember seeing a PSP2000 and a PSP Go at 25€ at my local Blockbuster when it was liquidating everything. I bought the PSP 2000, but now I'm seeing the PSP Go claiming big prices on EBay.

I remember disliking it due to the whole digital only thing, but now here I am only buying digital.

Click to shrink...

Paradoxically, now you can't access PSN on a PSP anymore. The only way AFAIK is thru a Playstation 3 (THREE, not PS4) or a Windows PC. I bought Retro City Rampage when it came out on PSP and I went absolutely crazy on how to transfer it.

 

[signal]

Still use mine on vacations lol. Amazing handheld though pretty uncomfortable to use for extended periods of time.

 

[vestan]

The white PSP Go is so fucking nice looking. I think the white DS Lite is still the best looking handheld but the white PSP Go is seriously a strong contender.

 

[duckroll]

I'm sorry but I don't think we count age after death. Especially for those who were stillborn.

 

[Elven_Star]

The worst-kept secret of E3.

 

[nbnt]

Truly a device ahead of its time, the world was just not ready for such a machine. RIP in peace little fella.

 

[TheThirstyPrisoner]

One of my favorite systems ever. Such a lovely way to play lengthy rpgs. I finished so many of them thanks to the PSP Go alone. I still prefer it over the Vita and Switch at times when I want to travel light but still have some meaty games to play.

 

[ThatCrazyGuy]

It was an awesome device I thought. Wasn't the right time for it.

I have 2 of them, haha.

 

[Iwao]

The white PSP Go is so fucking nice looking. I think the white DS Lite is still the best looking handheld but the white PSP Go is seriously a strong contender.

Click to shrink...

I have both and I agree. The white Vita 2000 also a gorgeous looking one.

 

[Peek-a-boo!]

One of those very few gaming related items that was ahead of its time.

Has a (fantastic) d-pad that actually works too...

I remember playing 'Lumines' on the PSP Go before I went to bed — best portable puzzle game ever!

 

[dom]

It also could do TV out with a dualshock 3.

 

[Falus]

It's crazy that 10 years ago they included 16gb and today Nintendo is including 32 only with the switch

 

[Richardi]

It's crazy that 10 years ago they included 16gb and today Nintendo is including 32 only with the switch

Click to shrink...

Hilarious more like it.

 

[Deleted member 10737]

loved my psp go, one of the best consoles i've ever owned. that analog nub was placed where it was by a sadistic designer but i got used to it

It also could do TV out with a dualshock 3.

Click to shrink...

yeah, way ahead of its time. also the first major console that dropped physical media.

 

[Setzer]

One of my all-time favorite handhelds. I've been using mine for the past 10 years and while I've had to do some repairs(replace buttons, battery) it's still going strong.

 

[massoluk]

To this day, I'm still confused why this model is MORE expensive than the normal PSP.

 

[leng jai]

I'm still baffled as to why I bought one. The buttons are horrible, especially L1/R1.

 

[Darkstorne]

I LOVED this thing! I never understood the hate for digital gaming though. I was on Steam with a new PC by this point, and loved the benefits digital provided. It seemed like a perfect fit for a handheld, where travelling light was a big selling point for a digital library. Loved the sliding form factor and the screen size. And the games were stunning for the time (Monster Hunter and Crisis Core blew me away especially). I also loved having a portable PlayStation One machine thanks to the huge back catalogue =D

Mine randomly broke when I plugged it into a public transport charger one day. Must have been a dodgy socket. I've never used them since =/

 

[DrHercouet]

Bought one for 50£, hacked the s*** out of it and turned it into my own personal early 90's videogames archive. I don't really play it, but whenever I read about an obscure GBC or NES game, or whenever I realize a studio I like did a game I never heard about on Genesis or Game Gear, I head to my PSP Go and try it. I really use it as my own illegal portable video game museum. Also, its design SCREAMS late 00's and I just dig this aesthetics.

 

[Aniki]

Great device i spent, and still spend many hours with. This thing is so small you can just tuck it anywhere. It took some time getting used to how to hold it comfortably, but after i figured that one out it was smooth gaming ever after.

 

[345]

loved it, though i refuse to believe anyone ever finished peace walker solo on one

 

[Deleted member 4262]

It's a cool little device but it felt extremely cramped in my hands, and the buttons were way too small/shallow due to the slider design. Bad ergonomics.

 

[Vespa]

To this day, I'm still confused why this model is MORE expensive than the normal PSP.

Click to shrink...

Probably because it lets you use a Dual Shock 3 with it.

The dock is rare and hilariously expensive and is one of only a few ways to power the machine whilst simultaneously getting video out of it due to Sony switching to an all in one port.

 

[NSESN]

PSP Go was kinda of a sign of how sony would treat Vita imo

 

[Deleted member 16876]

I love it.

I keep it in my pocket because of the size and it always ends up being played. Outrun, Def Jam, Crazy Taxi, PS1/PSP games in general and a lot of emulated classic goodness.

 

[Dwebble]

The buttons are maybe the worst ever put on a mainstream gaming device.

I'm cramping just looking at them.

 

[Deleted member 59983]

I remember disliking it due to the whole digital only thing, but now here I am only buying digital.

Click to shrink...

I feel the same way though the differences now are:

A.) A platform didn't suddenly go all digital midway through a generation asking you to give up a lot to make the change.
B.) Platforms are better equipped to handle digital only to the point where more is available digitally than will ever be physically and if you stick to physical only you'll miss out on a huge chunk of the library.
C.) No proprietary memory formats being used artificially driving up the cost of storage making physical releases all the more appealing. Again we find ourselves in the opposite situation where you'll pay more for physical due to proprietary formats being used for physical storage (Switch tax).

Next generation I'm guessing many more people are gonna go digital only or digital primarily simply because it's easy, storage is cheap, and you can go that route straight out of the gate.

 

[Chackan]

Still have mine! It's an amazing retro portable machine!

 

[Fox1304]

The OG JRPG Beast. So many good titles to play on this, wether it's native or emulated. Form factor is incredible.

 

[Burai]

To this day, I'm still confused why this model is MORE expensive than the normal PSP.

Click to shrink...

Bluetooth + onboard storage + economy of scale.

 

[Infinity Times Two]

Fuck the world for not buying it.

This thing was truly portable.

 

[Beamerball]

Bought one as my first psp and was so disappointed that I couldn't buy games like LUMINES on it due to licensing

 

[OneThirtyEight]

I bouggt a white one. I LOVED it.

 

[Sylmaron]

Looks very much like the Sony Ericsson Playstation phone I had. Great little emulator thing that was.

 

[Dancrane212]

The 240p output and DS3 support for PS1 classics is still a fantastic feature. Love my Go for that.

 

[Nickerous]

Still have a black and white one...with matching cases. Never did get the dock, though. Walmart had a good many and I would look to see if they were discounted usually once a week back in 2011. One day, they were all gone.

 

[Success]

A beautiful handheld.

 

[yap]

No digital release of Birth By Sleep killed my interest in this thing fast, I remember.

 

[Hieroph]

I could have been interested in this for the form factor, but digital only? That's a No-Go.

 

[Shalashaska]

I loved my PSP Go, but mostly because I hacked it. Being able to carry all my UMD games as well as my PSN ones with me was amazing back when it came out. Definitely the best form factor the PSP had as well.

 

[Darkspineslayer]

Once you got CFW on it, and lost all of the negatives, it was a really slick system and probably one of my favourite portables.

 

[Flon]

I'm so sad that I sold my PSP Go. It was such a nice handheld and a perfect way to play PS1 games.

Lovely screen, form factor and a really nice d-pad too.

 

[Red Liquorice]

Never had one but always thought it was kind of gorgeous.

 

[krae_man]

Device would have been a monster if:

A) They hadn't priced it at $250 at launch
B) didn't use a new proprietary more expensive memory card
C) priced the software better.

I love my PSP Go. I carried it with me every day until the button lock button broke due to overuse.

The suspend game feature the PSP Go had was amazing and 10 times better then what PS4 has now.

 

[-shadow-]

In hindsight, should've gotten one, but wasn't super into PSOne game back then yet. Oh well...