While not joining a broader boycott among some European retailers, ShopTo's comments in advance of the PSPGo's launch do not exactly encourage sales. "As a format it is almost dead before it has arrived," the ShopTo boss told Eurogamer.
Again, the gripe isn't so much about the new handheld's cost - $250 in the U.S. - as it is the format switch from UMD to download only. It effectively robs these retailers of the margins they reap on game sales. ShopTo's pissed enough that it's grudgingly selling the device without any real push to its customers. "We do have it listed on the site, but we are not concentrating any big marketing behind it," ShopTo chief Igor Cipolletta told Eurogamer.
Sony has decided to cut publishers and retailers for the software of the PSPgo and deal direct with developers, giving them a 70 per cent margin for any items sold on Sony PSN. I believe if they had lowered that to 50 or 60 per cent, and given the opportunity to online retailers, it would have enjoyed greater success and retailers would attempt to promote the console to the market.
Everybody's Favorite Analyst, Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan, thinks those who boycott selling the PSPGo, or publicly support such an action, are behaving self-destructively. "Refusing to carry them subjects them to the risk that Sony will bypass them for Gran Turismo or Uncharted, in which case they lose," he said. "Retailers have to face the fact that games will be increasingly offered over Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, and cope with the outcome."
ShopTo: PSPgo "Almost Dead" on Arrival [Eurogamer via Game Stooge]