Sony Playstation 3 and PSP Sony PSP Go handheld games console

Sony PSP Go, £225

The Sony PSP Go is essentially a download-only version of the PSP 3000. As it doesn’t have a UMD drive, the only way to get software for the PSP Go is by downloading it from the Online PlayStation store. While outwardly the PSP Go looks and feels totally different from the PSP 3000, the actual games look identical.

Sony PSP Go features

As well as getting rid of the UMD drive, Sony has made several other changes. For starters, the Go is lighter than the PSP 3000 – 160g, compared with the 3000’s 189g (claimed). This makes a lot of difference, as the PSP Go does feel truly lightweight and slips easily into a shirt pocket.

The Memory Stick Duo slot has been replaced by a Memory Stick Micro slot, so you no longer have to use Sony’s own memory sticks. This means you could use your camera's memory stick in your PSP Go, for example, or transfer photos from your PSP Go's hard drive to a friend's memory card.

Sony has also added 16GB of flash memory for storing your downloads. As with the PSP 3000, it’s Wi-Fi enabled, but also has a Bluetooth connection.

On the downside, the Go’s screen is smaller – 3.78 inches diagonally compared with 4.3 inches for the PSP 3000 – though this shouldn't affect gameplay too much.

Unlike the PSP 3000, the Go doesn’t have a removable battery. With the PSP 3000, you can carry a spare battery for long journeys, or change the original battery if it develops a fault. If your Go’s battery gives up the ghost, you’ll have to send the whole device back to Sony. 

However, the Go’s battery life is longer, according to Sony – you’ll get four to six hours of gameplay compared with four to five hours on the PSP 3000.

You'll need to download games for your PSP Go from the Playstation Store

Downloading games for the PSP Go

As there’s no UMD drive, you must download games directly from the PlayStation store. You can do this directly using the PSP Go’s Wi-Fi connection, or you can download games onto your PS3 and then transfer the files to the Go.

Alternatively, you can download directly onto your computer using the supplied Media Go software and then transfer your files to your PSP Go. 

Whichever method you choose, the process is straightforward and hassle free – in fact, downloading games is easier than going to a shop. The only problem is that you can only buy games from Sony, so you’re forced to pay the price Sony wants.

There’s another potential problem with the PSP Go. With UMD discs you can trade games in and buy titles cheaply second hand, but you won't be able to do this with PSP Go games, as you'll have only a soft copy.

Sony Go!View

If you’re going to be travelling a lot, it might be worth signing up to Sony’s Go!View, a video download service for the PSP powered by Sky.

There are three subscription packs: Sports, Entertainment and Comedy. They cost £5 for one pack, £8 for two packs and £10 for all three, with additional TV and movies available to rent. While there is a decent range of content, it's not as large as you might hope, with very few newly released movies available.

The Sports pack is probably the most appealing. With Sky’s dominance in this area, there's a huge amount of content available, covering all the major sports including Premiership football highlights. 

The system itself is easy to use and there's a one-month free trial available, so you can see whether you like the service before parting with your cash. 

There's no contract and you pay on a monthly basis, so if you can cancel your subscription should you find you’re not getting your money’s worth.

Sony PSP Go vs PSP 3000

Sony's PSP Go is a download-only version of the PSP 3000

If you already have a PSP console

If you already have a PSP 3000 or one of the older models and are considering upgrading, bear in mind that you won’t be able to play your UMD games and films on a PSP Go. The other consideration is cost, with the PSP Go currently retailing at £225, which is nearly £100 more than the £137 you’d pay for a PSP 3000.

If you don’t yet own a PSP console

If you’re new to the PSP range, it’s all about what’s right for you. If you want a small, lightweight gaming console that will fit in your pocket, then the PSP Go is an excellent choice.

However, if you're not so concerned about having the smallest PSP on the market, then the PSP 3000 would probably suit you better, since you can also download games directly to a PSP 3000’s memory card and still have the option to play UMD games and films. It's also considerably cheaper.

It's worth remembering that you can already get 16GB memory sticks, so you could store a similar amount of software on both the Go and the PSP 3000. We say similar as, although the PSP Go has 16GB of memory, you’ll notice that you only have 14GB free when you first turn the console on – the rest is eaten up by the system software.

Gameplay and ease of use

You can soon see, after a quick side-by-side comparison of the two consoles, that the menu structure is almost identical. When it comes to gameplay, there’s nothing to tell the two apart graphically, although you are looking at a slightly smaller screen on the PSP Go.

The PSP Go probably feels a little more cramped in comparison with the PSP 3000; the slide-up screen makes it hard to rest your fingers comfortably on the shoulder buttons. 

The control stick is, by necessity, located towards the centre of the console with the cursor pad to the far left, so your thumb has a tendency to hit the down and right cursors, which could be a problem where they’re used as secondary controls.

Verdict on the PSP Go

The PSP Go: the ultimate portable games console

Overall, the PSP Go is a neat, but expensive, evolutionary step for the PSP. Its classy looks set it apart from the crowd, but there are some questions that need to be answered, especially the transfer of UMD games and the ability to sell on old games.

So, if you want cool looks and the ultimate in game console portability, then the PSP Go is for you. However, if you already have a PSP 3000, you should consider carefully whether you need to upgrade.

Sony PSP Go specs

What’s in the box?

Sony PSP Go console, charger, USB lead, Media Go software.

Extras worth considering

To make the most out of your Sony PSP Go games console, you may want to think about getting the following extras:

• Memory Stick Micro (M2)
• Carry case.

Find out more about Sony PSP accessories.

If you’re going to be travelling a lot, Sony’s Go!live might be a good option as it lets you download TV programs, sports and movies. 

File types

The following file types can be played / displayed:

• Image: jpeg, tiff, gif, png, bmp
• Music: MP3, ATRAC, MP4, WAV, WMA
• Video: MPEG-4, AVI.