PlayStation Classic

[marurun]

Warhawk was a pretty interesting early game. It has lots of issues but was still pretty fun.

[SpikeSlania]

I have to admit I didn't get into PS1 due to Sony antics until I was working in the industry in 2001, but ever since I've really learned to like the PSOne+LCD combo which is why I sought one out again and have a small slow growing library for it. Because of that I know some games, quite a few really, but a lot due to the volume there i do not, and I really am not up on who owns what or why. That's why I wrote that last post open ended as I did as I really don't know what would fit. Had they had analog I would have easily concluded Ape Escape but that's out. Ridge Racers are all out because R4 is in. I do believe it's very possible that Tomba and Klonoa could make the cut, but also likely Mega Man Legends due to it being MM's 30th anniversary this year and them blowing stuff out with MM11. I'd like to think Castlevania SOTN but 50/50 on that due to that PS4 package, but if not that, Castlevania Chronicles perhaps? Konami has some solid options to pick from, even MGS if they wanted.

Now think if Sony included a LCD screen with the classic! Won't happen, but would be cool like the Switch and Neo Geo classic having a portable mode and big screen mode. But if Sony is cheaping out on Analogue controllers, we're definitely not getting a LCD screen. Otherwise with Konami are they done pretending Hideo Kojima doesn't exist yet? If not, I could see them going pfffft, and throwing a ps1 Contra into the ring just to spite Kojima

[GSZX1337]

I'm surprised that Sony is releasing a Mini retro console as there are so many other ways to play original PSX games that I'd imagine it would just saturate the market and cannibalize Sony's sales. Like others, I'm gonna wait and see what the hacking community does with this. If external storage has to done to make extra games viable, I might not bother as I'd rather just use emulators on my PC at that point. I don't really see anything that interesting so far either. My nostalgia lies in titles like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, both of which got good-looking remakes recently, and Metal Gear Solid. Being able to use a Dual-Shock 3 is a must for me as the only games I could stand using an original PSX controller with are 2D games which I don't think will make an appearance on this device.

[isiolia]

I'm surprised that Sony is releasing a Mini retro console as there are so many other ways to play original PSX games that I'd imagine it would just saturate the market and cannibalize Sony's sales.

I don't think that's really the case at this point. They still do offer PSOne Classics via the store, but those are for hardware they either no longer offer, or are winding down (Vita production in Japan ends next year, already done in other regions). Otherwise, they've got the PS4, which doesn't play them, and PSNow, which offers PS2-PS4, not PSX.

The Playstation Classic will pretty much be the only way Sony is currently selling the hardware and software to play PSX titles when it comes out. Preowned stuff is a different story - it's technically true of most micro-consoles (Star Fox 2 aside), but cost/convenience tend to outweigh that.

[Tanooki]

That basically covers MO in both your posts. Sony doesn't care about saturation, but they also do care about not chewing themselves off at both ends at the same time. They feel now like they're leaving money on the table because Nintendo. They proved a $60-80+ (and easily $100-110 with them on SNK) closed mini HDMI system can be done, honorably, profitably for little investment, and with little to no risk compared to a real console and all its parts and variables toward failure.

They don't have those PS1 games on their active system anymore and they've killed off their interests now and future (recent story they put out calling quits) for handheld devices as they were a loss for them. They put a lot of money into a gamble with PSP and Vita and it backfired badly enough it isn't worth it another time again. So, while the PS4 can run plenty enough PS2-4 stuff, the PS1 got left hung out to dry. Here you have a cheapo quality option with no optical delay and memory card costs, where they can peddle some great games licensed or not(they made) and make bank at little expense. So no, I'm not surprised. They've been the largest of the game companies since the 90s for successfully aping other peoples designs for their own needs and doing well off of it.

I'm still kind of tempted by it, the game list would seal the deal better, but the issue is I have a low use PSOne system and LCD on it, so they already look really fantastic on that specially tuned screen for playing so HDMI is kind of a non-factor. And with my specific tastes I don't have many games, but what I do, plenty enough have no chance of being on that thing coming out anyway. I'd rather slow buy stuff with random finds and enjoy it like a kid on an allowance than go all in with a locked device(or is it with that pop away rear piece??) with stuff I won't want to entirely use at all on it.

[Jagosaurus]

Is $100 too much for the impulse buy?

How many aunts bought their little nephew a $60 NES classic bc it was the same cost as 1 current gen game, etc? How many of those same shoppers see 3 digits and walk away? I think even putting it at $95 would've helped make it more of an impulse buy.

[isiolia]

While the difference is negligible, technically, the actual MSRP is $99.99. So, that marketing angle is probably already accounted for.

I think more of that comes down to supply though. The Nintendo micro consoles tended to be impulse buys more in the sense of "holy crap I have to buy this because they actually have one in stock" than the Cool Aunt™ cross shopping a micro console with Star Wars Lego kits or whatever that'd be in a similar price range. For as many kids may have gotten an NES Classic, many more likely would have if their relatives could actually find one without paying double (or more) on eBay.

If Sony can manage to have sufficient stock available, actually making this an easy option for Christmas, then they'll probably sell just fine at that price.

[SpikeSlania]

If Sony can manage to have sufficient stock available, actually making this an easy option for Christmas, then they'll probably sell just fine at that price.

That and what is going to be it's main hardware competition? The NES and SNES Classic have been out for awhile and the SNK Mini isn't going to hook any casuals. So it might be the only new shiny hardware this Christmas. Unless that Genesis classic is supposed to make the Holiday rush? And ATGames still has something coming out after Sega fired them.

[GSZX1337]

I don't think that's really the case at this point. They still do offer PSOne Classics via the store, but those are for hardware they either no longer offer, or are winding down (Vita production in Japan ends next year, already done in other regions). Otherwise, they've got the PS4, which doesn't play them, and PSNow, which offers PS2-PS4, not PSX.

I didn't think about the PS4's lack of PSOne Classics. Damn shame about the Vita ending production as it's quite a nice console.

[samsonlonghair]

I don't think that's really the case at this point. They still do offer PSOne Classics via the store, but those are for hardware they either no longer offer, or are winding down (Vita production in Japan ends next year, already done in other regions). Otherwise, they've got the PS4, which doesn't play them, and PSNow, which offers PS2-PS4, not PSX.

I didn't think about the PS4's lack of PSOne Classics. Damn shame about the Vita ending production as it's quite a nice console.

Wouldn't it be intriguing if SONY put Vita hardware into the PlayStation Classic? Come to think of it, the PlayStation classic has the exact same msrp as the PS Vita TV system. I bet the PS Vita TV would have sold a hell of a lot better if it was shaped like a PS1 and included 20 PlayStation games.

Unlikely, I know. Sony is winding down Vita manufacturing. A rockchip motherboard with an ARM processor is much more likely. It's fun to speculate though.