Sony Launches PSP Go Console, PSP Minis Downloadable Games

Sony has released its digital distribution-only PSP Go portable console, which is being sold by North American retailers for US$249.99. Along with the new system comes the launch of the PSP Minis program, which offers small download-only games for the portable system. The Go is similar in capability to previous PSP models, but is smaller, includes 16GB of internal flash memory, and features no optical media slot. It comes in black and white versions, and is pre-loaded with Sony Japan Studio's Patapon 2. The standard PSP is still being sold for $169.99. To commemorate the launch, Sony launched by far the biggest content update for the PSP's PlayStation Store to date, including over 90 existing retail PSP games which have been converted to download form, and some brand-new download-only PSP titles like PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe. There are also seven PSP Minis titles currently available, with prices ranging from $5 to $10. All downloadable PSP games are compatible with both the PSP Go as well as previous PSP models. The Minis games are as follows: - Creat Studios' puzzle action game Alien Havoc ($5), which the company has also announced for DSiWare. - Brainpipe ($5), Digital Eel and Shrapnel Games' psychadelic on-rails PC game, apparently ported to PSP by Hands-On Mobile. - Subatomic Studios' tower defense game Fieldrunners ($7), already a considerable success on iPhone. - Solus Games' Funky Punch ($5), a fighting game previously released on iPhone. - Gameloft's hack-and-slash Hero of Sparta ($7), also originally an iPhone title. - Electronic Arts' take on Sudoku ($5). - The latest version of Tetris ($10), also from Electronic Arts. Finally, Gamasutra sister site GamerBytes points out that Square Enix and Game Arts' shoot-em-up Thexder Neo fits nearly all the criteria for being a PSP Mini -- but since it includes online multiplayer, it is ineligible for the program and thus is available in the standard section of the store. Plus, along with Alien Havoc, it would have the distinction of being the only other game on this list not yet available on another current system.