I also tried out the white PSP Go behind closed doors. Since it was in private, I was able to play with the sliding mechanism and got a real feel for the weight of the handheld. I have to say that it felt even better to use without a huge metal brace attached to it to prevent theft. It was incredibly light, and the slider felt very smooth and automatic. Oh, and if you were wondering, the white PSP is actually the sexy one. The color is so vibrant that it really makes the Go stand out. I should also probably mention that during all of my hands-on time, I never noticed once that the screen is slightly smaller than the current PSP. I guess I was too busy actually having fun using the PSP to notice. That's amazing, especially when you consider that I haven't used my PSP in over 6 months.

It should also be noted that while most games will average between 600-800MBs, they may also be significantly smaller like Patapon 2, which averages around 400MBs, and PSOne classic Suikoden, which is even smaller than Patapon 2. The reverse is also true with some large games like PSOne Classic Final Fantasy VII, which takes up over 1 GB of space. It is nice to know that Sony isn't putting a limit on how big or how small a game can be.

Another valid question concerning storage is what happens when I run out of room on my PSP Go? Fortunately, Sony has provided several options for those with large game and media libraries. Every box of the PSP Go has a copy of Media Go software for PC. It functions as a sort of digital locker for all of your PSN content where you can buy new content and move files between your PSP and PC, so you don't have to be constantly re-downloading games. PSP users that also own a PS3 can peform the same functions on their console and use that as a locker and download hub. Unfortunately, Mac users like me are out of luck in terms of using the Media Go software. Thankfully, you can purchase content directly from the PSP, and you can re-download purchased content as many times as you need to on up to 5 PSP authorizations on your account. As long as PSN is around, you'll always be able to re-download your games.

We're in the midst of putting together a good will program. We'll be unveiling that soon [because] we actually think there's a significant group that will be upgrading from the 1000...In the past, we've seen a 20-25% trade-up factor, and I assume that's going to be the case here. We've modeled that. So we're looking at a good-will program- a short term good-will program that would continue for years afterward.

"When you introduce a new piece of hardware, you have the opportunity to say there is a certain premium that is associated with it, and we took that into account."

Even retailers hate the price of the device. A few British retailers have spoken publicly that they have no incentive to carry the device. It's easy to understand when they are doing all that they can to move their current stock of much cheaper PSP-2000's. Indie Game Retailer Chris Harwood, of Grainger Games said:

"It seems really high, especially the way PSP's going at the moment. The models they've got out now are struggling at basically 129 Pounds, pretty much [the] cost price, which we're putting them out at, and they're not selling through at that. We're trying to do some bundles just to push them through and the PSP just seems to have died as a format really... Nothing sells at the minute on PSP."

The thing is, even though I'm getting one, I'm not sure if I'd recommend getting a PSP Go. At its current price point, it would be a lot easier to recommend if it had an OLED screen, significantly improved battery life, or anything impressive and new that would justify the $250 price tag. If it were less than $250 dollars, I would definitely recommend it to consumers who, like me, really value portability and tighter controls. Unfortunately, Sony seems to be their own worst enemy in this case. Not only did they price it too high, but their PSP-3000 bundles are far more enticing and significantly cheaper. The PSP Dissidia Pack, for example, is a great deal for Final Fantasy fans. For $200 you get a PSP-3000, a UMD copy of Dissidia, a UMD of the FFVII movie Advent Children, and a 2GB stick. The best part of the bundle is that you can still play all of your old UMDs and still download games to Memory Stick Duo cards. If anything, current PSP owners are better off skipping this iteration and just buying a 16GB memory stick for less than half the price.

Wherever you stand on the PSP Go, the one good thing we can all agree on is that the platform is finally getting some great new games to go along with the launch of the GO. Not only that, but the entire PSP backlog of games and large number of PSOne Classics will be easier to play than ever before. Overpriced or not, I'm glad the Go actually has me wanting to dive into what the PSP has to offer both new and old.