The PSP wasn't exactly setting the world on fire with sales before...frequently trailing the DS and PS2 in the NDP charts. There would be an uptick in sales with a launch, so boasting a 3X increase over something that was flatlining is hardly impressive.

David Delisle - Out of curiosity regarding your comment, I looked at last month's NPD numbers and if the PSP actually increases its sales numbers by 300%, it would be selling more than any other console. And you don't think that's impressive? Of course, I doubt that it'll be able to maintain that 300% increase for the entire month, but it's still nothign to shake a stick at. Also, technically a 300% increase is 4 times the sales not 3 times. 100% increase means double, for comparison.

David: Uh, at 50 million units worldwide, the PSP is Sony's best-selling system (factoring in time in market, of course). Relative performance analysis (e.g. "PSP sales vs. DS sales") is a really naive way to evaluate things since it ignores many important market factors.

Sony's problem with the PSP is not hardware sales, it's software sales. And if you look at how Sony is positioning the Go vs. the 3000 and their big software push across 2009 and 2010, it appears that's exactly what they are trying to solve.

You make a good point, Peter. Hadn't thought about it that way, but the Sony always seems to make sacrifices to get things done. It's a weird way to do it, but that's their thing.

The PSP go, like the PS3, will eventually redeem itself for the users...

Robert....week over week...meaning they tripled sales compared to the week prior. It's too generous a claim, IMHO. The PSP has been around for 4.5 years, so the sales rate would be relatively tame after that length of time, so comparing a launch week to the prior week of an older model is too easy for Sony to claim success. While technically accurate, it's just a bit misleading to gauge success in that fashion.

I am with David. A 300% increase in a pretty sweet repackage of a four year old system doesn't exactly scream 'shocking'. We need to wait to judge the new system a success, specifically when the repackaging changes their distribution to download-only. Let's see the sales numbers of the software first.

If nothing else, this thing is certainly a better rehash then the DSi!

I think what David is saying is that while the percentage sounds great, the raw number of actual units sold might not be as impressive as the percentage might suggest.

Well here in england it had something like a 120% boost so I think David has hit the nail on the head. It's basically spin on what is a very poor showing for the new console. Some people here have also missed the point that the 300% isn't for PSPGo. It's for the entire PSP line. For all we know, the release may well have boosted sales of the old PSP once people stopped screaming from the price shock of the Go.

"If nothing else, this thing is certainly a better rehash then the DSi! "

At least the DSi is backwards compatible.

Jerome:

Yeah, the DSi, with tons of new features is a rehash. The PSPgo, with LESS features and a higher price...is great!

Let's remember that, usually, sales go down the previous weeks while waiting for the discount. How about that UK. Remember when PS3 sales went up almost 1000% when the Slim launched in UK? Knowing the previous week PS3 had sold 4500 units puts everything into perspective.

Hmmm, I predict PSP Go Price drop imminent. Why buy a less featured device for more? Yes, it looks way cooler and it's the first time I'm interested in the system, but c'mon!

Whereas the new PS3 Slim is cheaper, the PSP Go is more expensive????

Wait for the price drop.

The point I'm trying to make here is that the Go does not need to fly off the shelves to be a "success" in Sony's business plan. If that doesn't make sense to you, it's probably because you are one of the "gamers" posting here.

You need to think about not just the Go, but also how the Go pairs up with the 3000 and how both of them impact PSP software marketing. All of them are linked. "PSP" is not a hardware platform, it's a brand. The Go, the 3000, and all the software are all part of that brand, and each unit serves a specific purpose. Right now, the Go is priced at early adopter pricing, but it also serves as a marketing vessel to boost 3000 sales as well as software sales. If the Go sells only to early adopters this season, but 3000 sales increase, you think Sony gives a flying crap if you guys think the Go was a "failure"?

None of this is new, and these business practices are quite common in other industries.

@Peter

Actually, Sony wants sales from their store. They want to maximize their margins. So lets say the Go does only drum up some 3000 sales, if those folks buy mostly used or even new UMD based games, Sony loses. Given the reviews of the Go I've read, I wouldn't take it if they gave it to me.

And I think in the end, Sony will consider the Go a failure.