Sony PSPgo on sale October 1

The Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) family gains a new member this Thursday, the PSPgo (model number PSP-N1000) . And Sony released a few enticements for both new and existing owners of PSP device, which will retail for $449 – only $50 less than Sony’s new PS3 Slim (though you’d be hard pressed slipping a PS3 Slim into your pocket – you’d need yourself a pair of MC Hammer ‘Can’t Touch This’ pants).

PSPgo purchasers who register their sparkling new handheld digital entertainment machine within the first 10 days after launch are able to download a free copy of the Gran Turismo game, which is also being launched for PSP on October 1.

Existing PSP owners – that is model numbers PSP-1000, 2000 or 3000 – who own at least one game on UMD disc, are able to, upon registering their new PSPgo, download 3 free games from the PlayStation Network. This is Sony trying to get on the right side of old customers, as the PSPgo will not play their old UMD disc-based games, instead all games for the new machine are via download the the PSPgo’s 16GB flash drive. The 17 games from which you can choose your 3 free games from are:

  • Killzone Liberation
  • MediEvil
  • WipEout Pure
  • Buzz!: Brain Bender
  • Buzz!: Master Quiz
  • SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo
  • Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (PSP)
  • Everybody’s Golf
  • Resistance: Retribution
  • Syphon Filter Dark Mirror (PSP)
  • Lemmings PSP
  • LocoRoco
  • Patapon
  • Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow (PSP)
  • Echochrome
  • Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice
  • Daxter

To obtain the 3 free games you need to:

  1. Turn on the PSPgo, and connect to PlayStationNetwork and activate your new or existing PlayStation Network account for PSPgo Rewards
  2. Start up your current PSP and connect to PlayStation Network
  3. Login using the same PlayStation Network account, and launch PlayStation Store
  4. Pop one of your UMDs into the drive of your current PSP and register on PSPgo Rewards when prompted
  5. Download a PSPgo theme
  6. Wait for your email voucher for your three free games
  7. Choose and download your free 3 games

PSPgo specifications

  • External dimensions: Approx. 128 x 16.5 x 69 mm (width x height x depth) (excludes largest projection)
  • Weight: Approx. 158g / 5.6 oz (including internal battery)
  • CPU: PSP CPU. System clock frequency 1-333 MHz, Main memory 64MB
  • Display: 3.8 inches (16:9 ratio) full-transparent type, TFT drive, 480 x 272 pixel, Approx. 16,770,000 colors displayed
  • Sound: Built-in stereo speakers, built-in microphone
  • Main input/output: Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11b) (Wi-Fi); Bluetooth2.0 (EDR); High Speed USB (USB2.0); Memory Stick Micro (M2); Analog video out; Microphone
  • Main connectors: Multi use connector (DC in / out, USB, video output / input, Sound input / output); Headset / Microphone connector; Memory Stick Micro (M2) slot
  • Key / Switches: Directional buttons (up/down/right/left), analog stick, Action buttons (triangle, circle, cross, square), L/R buttons, START button, SELECT button, PS button, POWER/HOLD switch, WLAN switch, display button, sound button, volume (+/-) buttons
  • Power sources: Lithium-Ion rechargeable internal battery pack; AC adaptor; USB power supply
  • Internal memory: 16GB (Flash Memory)
  • Supported profile: PSP Game
  • Access control: Region code, parental control
  • Wireless communications: Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11b) (Wi-Fi) (Infrastructure mode / Ad hoc mode (connect up to 16 consoles)); Bluetooth2.0 (EDR)
  • Supplied accessories: AC adaptor, USB cable, CD-ROM (Media Go)