So few executives can carry a cool relaxing presence and Mr. Tetton is one of them. Gametrailers posted an extended interview with him asking a few questions regarding some Sony E3 reveals. Each question that is thrown his way, he handles it with ease. I certainly enjoy all of Jack’s interviews and he seems to be a good face for Sony as well.

My initial thoughts on the PSP Go weren’t great. I didn’t like the look of the device in leaked pictures and just wasn’t all that impressed.  After seeing countless hands-on videos and reading the specs I am left really wanting one but being slapped in the face for having such lust for the device. Apparently, Mr. $250 does not want me to get the device.

Hardware

Sony has sacrificed some features such as the larger screen for overall portability. If I didn’t own a PSP 2000 this would not be an issue but since I do, it is kind of hard to downgrade in screen size, but all the impressions of the screen are positive. My next thought moves into touch screen territory. Unlike many who have expressed interest in touchscreen for this device, I am not looking to play games with the screen. As a system that hides its controls through a sliding screen, what could provide a more friendly user experience than being allowed to control your media through the  touch screen interface? As it stands now, you will need to continuously open and close the device to navigate around the system. None of the hands-on impressions I have seen tested out using the shoulder buttons but it is a question I have submitted to Sony.

I then have to ask why are they still using 802.11b? Why not upgrade the system to 802.11g for wifi connections? Where is the navigation add-on we were promised a year ago? Where is the camera? This may not be a true PSP successor but these are certainly additions that could demand the premium they are asking for the device.

Software

As far as games, the line-up is ever so impressive but what about everything else? During E3 Sony released Media Go, an iTunes like application that allows you to manage your PSP media, games, music and access to the PSP PlayStation Store. While Media Go certainly seems to be more responsive that the previously used Media Manager, I still run into one glaring issue; I cannot queue downloads. For a device that allows the user to be on the “Go”, if a user downloaded a demo or purchased a game, their PSP or store visit will be halted until  said download is complete. To expand on this the downloading of content from the Store requires the PSP be connected. Certainly not a big issue but to the average iPhone, iTunes user who is accustomed to downloading to their hearts is content and syncing later, this does present somewhat of a inconvenience.

Price

Everyone has made it fully aware about what they think of the price. Sony claims that price is not a barrier of entry and that the PSP Go is positioned to be a premium product. Sony is also trying to rid themselves of the rampant PSP piracy while also pushing digital downloads. So why is the PSP Go priced $80 over the standard model which comes in a bundle? One could assume that they are building a better pricing structure that benefits retailers much more. One again could also assume that the Go is no more expensive to make than the PSP 3000 due to a smaller and lighter packaging with removal of various parts such as the UMD drive.

Overall

It seems Sony has not learned their mistake with the $599 PS3 fiasco. “Value” seems to be a word they have used often but unfortunately for them consumers do not walk in a store with a check list to determine the value. In one step Sony has has announced a product that could make headway in digital distribution and cut down on the rate of piracy for the PSP while simultaneously providing an expensive barrier of entry that will do nothing to help DD, or piracy.

During the E3 conference I started to fall in love with the device. I love that it has blue-tooth support for tethering as I can now access the PS Store from my mobile phone. I love the new memory support and the large on-board memory. I was set to upgrade to the PSP Go this fall and give my 2000 to my brother but that isn’t happening now. The value just isn’t there. A trip to Dell’s website can net me a PSP for $119 while another trip to Amazon can get me 16gb memory for $40.  For now, the PSP 2000 is good enough and does everything the Go can do and at a cheaper price to boot!

Check out extended footage of the GOW3 demo shown at E3:

Here are a few tweets I posted today:

	tirminyl: Life With PlayStation receives update. Check out post: http://bit.ly/kL1J3 #sony #ps3 [#] — 8:49pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Check out extended demo footage of God of War 3 http://bit.ly/k2Qus #E3 [#] — 4:05pm via Twitter

This has been a news filled week indeed so let me give you a recap of some noteworthy items released on the PlayStation Store during E3:

PS3 Games

• CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars ($9.99)
• Trash Panic ($4.99)
• Wolfenstein 3D ($4.99)

PSP/PS3

Demos

• CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars Demo
• Fight Night Round 4 Demo
• Overlord II Demo

Of course be sure to check out massive amounts of trailers, developer videos, and E3 conference videos on the PS Store!

Here are a few tweets I posted today:

	tirminyl: Uncharted 2 MP Demo is now yours to download! #uncharted #ps3 [#] — 2:58am via Twitter
	tirminyl: Gravity Crash for PSN announced: http://bit.ly/Dj0Kx #e3 [#] — 4:51am via Twitter
	tirminyl: Check out .detuned for PSN: http://bit.ly/199whX #e3 [#] — 4:52am via Twitter
	tirminyl: Check out the Heavy Rain Dev walk through http://bit.ly/GCglY #e3 #heavyrain [#] — 10:24pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: God of War Kratos in SoulCaliber for PSP http://www.gametrailers.com/player/50353.html #e3 [#] — 11:58pm via Twitter

Here are a few tweets I posted today:

	tirminyl: Star Wars Republic Cinematic looks amazing! http://bit.ly/azOjy #E3 #BioWare [#] — 6:35pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Another new Metal Gear is coming: Peace Walker for PSP: http://bit.ly/EpITk (via @edgeonline) [#] — 7:34am via Twitter
	tirminyl: New Super Mario Bros for Wii. http://twitpic.com/6gxld (via @giantbomb) [#] — 9:26am via Twitter
	tirminyl: I would love to see what this Wii Vitality Sensor would tell us about Nintendo fans right at this moment #E3 (via @stephentotilo) Really? [#] — 10:02am via Twitter
	tirminyl: More mario news. Super mario galaxy 2. (via @giantbomb) [#] — 10:05am via Twitter
	tirminyl: Nintendo announces Project M. A new Metroid game. [#] — 10:26am via Twitter
	tirminyl: Uncharted 2 is up… Multiplayer beta goes live tonight #E3 (via @stephentotilo) [#] — 11:23am via Twitter
	tirminyl: GT PSP looks gorgeous in trailer. Launches Otober 1 #E3 (via @stephentotilo) [#] — 12:06pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: 50 PS1 titles coming to PSN. FF7 TODAY!!! (via @PS3Nation) [#] — 12:07pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Lost Planet 2 is coming to PS3 (via @PS3Nation) [#] — 12:20pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Agent, a brand new exclusive game from Rockstar coming to PS3! #playstation http://twitpic.com/6hc4r (via @SonyPlayStation) [#] — 12:21pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Trico will be called The Last Guardian! #e3 [#] — 12:53pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: An amazing video of Gran Turismo 5!! #playstation http://twitpic.com/6hfo2 (via @SonyPlayStation) [#] — 1:01pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Sony tweaks the PlaySation store look, check it out! [#] — 4:12pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: New Uncharted 2 trailer on the PS Blog http://bit.ly/tyZ6L #e3 [#] — 4:45pm via Twitter

Check out the quick bits of information I posted today!

	tirminyl: New Wipeout pack announced. 8 tracks and 3 new game modes! [#] — 1:49pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Free Joker dlc in Arkham Asylum for ps3. [#] — 4:00pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Digger and Mushroom Wars announced for PSN. #E3 [#] — 4:37pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Timed exclusive for MW2 360 dlc. I hate exclusive dlc. #E3 [#] — 6:01pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Crackdown 2 trailer. Features cops and …. Monsters? From ruffian games (via @stephentotilo) [#] — 6:10pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Splinter Cell is up. Exclusive for 360. (via @giantbomb) [#] — 6:23pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Left 4 dead 2 november 17 only for 360 and pc (via @stephentotilo) [#] — 6:23pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Halo Reach. 2010. (via @giantbomb) [#] — 6:34pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Metal Gear Solid Rising coming to Xbox 360. Kojima: development is currently underway (via @stephentotilo) [#] — 6:54pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Microsoft copies Nintendo then dissed the waggle. Right… [#] — 7:08pm via Twitter
	tirminyl: Xbox live games on demand coming this Aug. #E3 [#] — 8:25pm via Twitter

E3 is here and this week is set to give you a case of information overload. No fear, I won’t deprive you of where to receive that information:

Big 3

• Microsoft Conference | June 1st @ 1:30pm ET
• Nintendo Conference | June 2nd @ 12pm ET
• Sony Conference | June 2nd @ 1pm ET

Read It Live

• PS Nation Sony Conference Live Blog
• Gaming Vice Live Blog

Watch It Live

• GameSpot
• G4TV
• GameTrailers

Every year it feels as if I should put myself on a E3 blackout. Why? Well, there are always company leaks leading up to it. Typically, I hate surprises because a surprise to me is actually a setup or trick from a friend which puts me into a moment of rage but I digress. When it comes to big events such as E3, I want to be surprised about what the company will talk about. I want to be surprised at what the company will show, even if I may think they will show it. What depresses me is when people start leaking product information, or start recording practice conferences so they can leak to Youtube.

Why do I hate company leaks? It’s because I then lose appeal, and lose excitement in the actual event. Companies don’t restructure their plans or presentations based on leaks so you find yourself say “Is that all?” Because everything was spoiled for you ahead of time, you then come to expect something more grand or outrageous to be announced. That’s really not how it works…in most cases.

If I was a company trying to keep certain projects under wraps until that big moment, I think I would threaten everyone who is involved first child. If the janitor sees something and leaks it to the news before we are ready to announce, I will take everyone on the projects first born. I would then continue with outrageous threats and follow through with them if things are leaked. I wonder if that is how Apple does it? Does Steve send his ninjas to take out anyone who leaked information, or does he just chain everyone to their desk not allowing them to leave, or talk to anyone until their project is complete and ready to be announced? Even then, some things still leak.

There really was no point to this than to really express that I dislike when company leaks happen, especially before big presentations when you are supposed to be shocked and awed, because the excitement is done and over with as soon as I finish reading my RSS feed.