Sony Computer Entertainment Japan announced that a limited edition PSP ‘Sweet Limited Package’ will become available on March 4, 2010, to coincide with the release of the new Blossom Pink PSP system.

Produced in collaboration with Jill Stuart, a highly popular women’s fashion brand from Sanei-International, the special package will be a limited offer at a recommended retail price of 21,000 yen.

The Sweet Limited Package comprises the PSP handheld entertainment system (PSP-3000) in an elegant Blossom Pink color, a special pouch and a cleaning cloth both designed specifically for the bundle pack by Jill Stuart and a 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo. The special PSP pouch comes in a champagne-gold color with crystal embedded shoulder chain strap, allowing users to coordinate with their outfit and carry around their PSP more fashionably. The glittering silver Jill Stuart logo is printed on the cleaning cloth as well as on the package with pink crystal motif design.

Concurrently with the release of the Sweet Limited Package, SCEJ will also release ‘PSP Value Pack’ comprising the PSP-3000 system in Blossom Pink, Piano Black or Vibrant Blue color, a 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, a pouch and a cloth, as a limited offer at a RRP of 19,800 yen.

Link to the original article…

The above picture is my Sony PSP UMD collection. There are about 22 games in the above picture – minus a couple that I’ve loaned out and the one in my current Sony PSP-3000. So in total let’s say 25. It’s a neat little pile of actual store bought UMD’s that Sony would rather I forget that I owned, push them all aside, purchase their new Sony PSP Go which costs $249 USD and then start the purchasing process all over again if I really wanted to purchase the Sony PSP Go.

While shopping this weekend, my 8 year old son saw the new PSP Go and in his curiosity started to ask a few questions. When my answers to his questions were that “The new Sony PSP doesn’t play the same games you’ve already seen around the house, you have to purchase and download each and every game…” and that answer didn’t phase him. He’s already gotten used a Nintendo DSi that also had the ability to play downloaded games alongside cartridge games. What did bother him though, was a question by him that led to this rant… “If you already have a lot of PSP (UMD) games, why won’t Sony let you download them onto the Sony PSP Go since you’ve already bought it once?”

“Good question son…”

Then it hit me. There’s no compelling reason to buy the Sony PSP Go for a Sony PSP UMD owner with a lot of games already. Zero compelling reason whatsoever. Is there a trade-in program? No. Is there a trade-up program? No. For each and every game you used to own… you’ll get nothing from Sony. They scrapped the trade-in program for the American market. Heck, they even don’t do anything special, if I wanted to, I could download games onto my Sony PSP-3000. Heck, the PSP Go has a smaller screen, they didn’t add a second analog thumb pad or even allowed the battery to remain removable.

Back to trade-ins, I don’t recall a trade-in program in Japan either where it’s sold rather poorly there. I mean, real poor. And the sales here in the US and European markets aren’t that strong either. So listen up Sony… my 8 year old son came up with a good idea. I’m sure my son won’t even mind if you use it…

Start up a trade-in program and send people a self-addressed and stamped cardboard box capable of slotting in a few UMD’s, all made of recyclable cardboard and for each and every UMD that you receive, send out a download voucher for that game. Don’t forget to include tracking for packages.

Allow people to just send the UMD’s, don’t require the boxes or manuals. Something I tend to do every now-and-then is go through the manuals of the games – I’m not a fan of online manuals all too often. Something about the tactile feeling of having some paper in my hand. But on downloadable games, why not try to capitalize on the people that like to read manuals. Offer it as a service. They download a game, add $2.99 for a manual… slap on a stamp and send it along.

Don’t let Gamestop and other stores pick up the slack that you left in the wake of releasing a $250 dollar machine to replace a $169 dollar machine that had a bigger screen and can still play downloaded games. Offer some real incentives for once. $50 bucks? Pfft. Let’s think this is a good negotiation. Bring out a $100 system trade-in program alongside the aforementioned game trade-in program.

See? It’s that damn easy Sony. Get off your high-horse. You dropped the price of the Sony PlayStation3… what happened? 8000% increase in sales during a friggin’ recession and you bring out an overly expensive game system that’s being outsold in each and every location you sell Sony products, including Japan. Same place that you were gaining ground on the Nintendo DSi that’s been outselling you each month for almost 2 years straight.

And it’s no wonder the three highest viewed stories on Remove The Labels are either about the 5.02 firmware [ view here ] or the 5.03 firmware [ view here ] or where the Sony PSP Go was hacked… sorta [ view here ] which all point to how people want to basically screw you back Sony.

Get a clue, stop screwing over your existing and potential customers, cultivate what little brand loyalty is left and try what I said above, it just might work. Even an 8 year old sees what you’re doing wrong. At least you’re still continuing with a rumored PSP-4000 that will keep the UMD.

No doubt brought forth due to the pending release of the Sony PSP Go later today (October 1st, 2009) [ PSP Go ], Sony has released the 6.10 Firmware for the PSP-3000 and so forth. Besides the typical “security” updates, Sony added SensMe:

SensMe channels is a new music application for PSP that uses Sony’s proprietary 12 Tone Analysis technology to evaluate music tracks that have been imported from Media Go application on your PC to your PSP. The application automatically categorizes the tracks into 12 channels such as “Relax” or “Newly Added”.

Media Go also got updated to 1.2 [ Free Download ] which finally brings the ability to export playlists to the PSP.

And If you’re into the homebrew and/or “other” uses of the PSP, I’d honestly say avoid until the scene provides a “fix” otherwise. Update at your own risk…

[ Sony PSP ] [ Sony Media Go Software ]