PSP World

Dutch Retailer Refuses to Sell PSP Go

A medium-sized Dutch retailer has said it will not stock or sell the upcoming PSP Go. The brick-and-mortar chain called 'NedGame' runs a number of retail stores as well as an online business and sells various kinds of media including video game hardware and software. It joins other similar retailers, mainly in Europe, who have protested Sony's plans to release a gaming device that only plays downloadable titles.

On its website, the company stated 6 reasons why is has decided not to carry the handheld (translated from Dutch):

1) Sharply higher retail price, 249 euros instead of 169 euros.

2) Only able to download games via Sony, resulting in higher prices and less choice.

3) No possibility of trading games and / or selling used games.

4) No chance of finding cheap games in the 'bargain bin'.

5) No possibility to import games.

6) When selling the device your 'virtually' purchased games will be almost worthless.

The company also said that it believes customers prefer to have a paper book and physical copy of their games, and thinks that it will not lose substantial amounts of sales by refusing to stock the machine.

All in all, we think that NedGame makes some good points, particularly about the loss of our favorite thing ever -- the bargain bin. We also would like to see the PSP Go debut at a slightly more reasonable price. On the other hand, this retailer's gesture is likely futile because they are fighting a rising tide of digital downloads not just from Sony, but every other video game device manufacturer. Nobody refused to stock the iPhone because of the App store. It is likely that smaller retail shops like NedGame will simply have to evolve their business models or face declining revenues as technology shifts under their feet.