Go!Explore GPS system on French amazon.com: July release

by Andrew Yoon { May 13th 2008 at 10:00AM }

The Go!Explore pack looks to be a rather fun and useful addition to the PSP's lineup of features. The GPS system is hitting France (and perhaps other parts of Europe) on July 2nd, if amazon.com's French site is to be believed. There are packages bundling both a GPS and PSP system: giving brand new consumers the chance to jump on the PSP bandwagon. We hope SCEA will announce a similar program in the not-too-distant future.

[Via MAXCONSOLE]

Tags: go-explore, gps

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ryan @ May 13th 2008 10:05AM

Is it just me or is that a new XMB color?

pixelator @ May 13th 2008 12:01PM

The fact that SCEA has yet to announce a similar package for the USA market is precisely what I'm saying about Sony being the main reason the PSP is failing in this market.

FrankTheCrank @ May 13th 2008 1:13PM

Perhaps Sony's too wrapped up in marketing the PS3 that they forgot its little brother.

I recently purchased a PSP lite, after selling my launch unit a while back. I've got to say, I'm once again loving this thing.

As for the GPS, perhaps their waiting for the dollar to gain strength. It makes total sense their releasing this in Europe where the Euro is doing well. I don't know though, just saying.

If this comes out for more than $99 it's not going to sell well. Why bother, I can get a full blown Garmin with a window mount for about $137?

nomad @ May 13th 2008 9:47PM

sony just ucks

cathexist @ May 13th 2008 11:30AM

I've been waiting forever for a US release of the GPS...I really hope this means progress towards that.

Lars @ May 13th 2008 3:05PM

Me too. Ever since it was ANNOUNCED for Japan, I've been dying to get it here. If I had known it would take this long I would have just imported it and used my own maps. Oh well, almost here... I hope.

Guido @ May 13th 2008 11:46AM

I hate to sound like a broken record, saying how awesome Switzerland is and how I have everything you're looking forward to, but I got mine (maps: Switzerland, Germany, Austria) last week from here:

https://www.highdefinition.ch/product/Gaming/Navigation/Sony/Sony_Go_Explore_GPS_Empf_nger_Kfz_Adapter_Kfz_Halterung_f_Auto/141887.html

Nate @ May 13th 2008 12:23PM

This is by far the peripheral that I'm looking forward to the most.

And Pixelator - while I agree that Sony is dropping the ball with the PSP in the US (when's the last time you saw an ad for the PSP anywhere?) .... I don't know that this would necessarily draw all that many people to it. Sure, it's fantastic, but is Dad going to buy this instead of a Garmin for the summer road trip? I doubt it.

Lars @ May 13th 2008 3:10PM

I'm old enough to be a dad, and I would. Not sure what I'm trying to say other than "me want."

I have a Garmin handheld and it's ok, but getting the maps on it is not very elegant and if I want more maps or updated ones I have to pay for them. And I'd rather just be carrying around one portable. I hear that with the PSP GPS you can create and upload your own maps from Google Earth or something. I just hope you can enter waypoints on the fly.

pixelator @ May 13th 2008 9:54PM

Right Lars, plus if you have a car mount, you've got a movie player and MP3 player when you're not GPSing.

I'm 39 and I'd buy this. The display on my aging Magellan sucks and it has an annoying lag. I'd be happy to upgrade to a PSP based solution.

Alien @ May 13th 2008 1:20PM

Why wont they learn allready that games are what drive a sistem ? :(

Extinction @ May 13th 2008 1:21PM

Games aren't driving Wii's sales, it's library is rated as the worst console in recent (10 years) history. If anything, Wii taught companies gimmicks drive sales.

ohsee @ May 13th 2008 1:59PM

Explain the ps2 then. It wasn't stupid gimmicks that made it still sell units while even the 360 was out. The wii is a terrible example, only because it's different technology. The DS did well when all the touch games were out, and now that it's the same touch control stuff 3 years later, people are sick of it, and want good games.

You can sell some systems, but you will sell more if you put out good games.

Monster Hunter 2nd G is a great example. The Wii is not.

Lars @ May 13th 2008 3:17PM

When a system can do more than just games, people will buy it for many reasons.

Look at smart-phones. A lot of people I know buy those even though they get locked into a contract and pay $100 a month in service fees, when they hardly ever make calls on them. They use them for emails, internet, GPS, music, etc.

Also, I use my PSP just about every day, but only do gaming on it when I'm away from home for a few days --unless I get something that I just can't wait to play (such as GoW). I most often use it to stream podcasts or listen to internet radio or my music collection, and I surf the internet or watch TV shows when I get in bed but can't fall asleep easily.

Saigon @ May 13th 2008 5:32PM

"If anything, Wii taught companies gimmicks drive sales."

The Wii has sold millions of consoles using basically first-party games. Sony should learn from that and step up with some of their own games.

I'm going to be doing some traveling this summer, and I could really use the gps. When the heck is thing coming out in NA?

ClarkyCat @ May 13th 2008 6:57PM

It's been nothing but delays on this one, we were promised March the last time, they said June not over a week ago, now July? And beyond! I'm getting an N78 instead, I'm sure that will devastate Sony to know.

player54 @ May 13th 2008 10:01PM

But don't u need internet to work with the GPS?

spyker @ May 14th 2008 7:52AM

Come on! Come to US...

Alien @ May 14th 2008 11:28AM

GTA : LCS , MHP2G , MGS : PO ... all these games have probably convinced 10x as many people to buy a PSP than this bundle will so the idea that games are secondary selling points is flawed :?

bryansurvive @ May 14th 2008 2:08PM

i agree with lars. i didn't buy my sidekick to talk on the phone. im always on aim, internet, or txt.
My psp is mainly used in this order. music, games, video, internet. i might not use the gps to much but im sure id purchase one.
I tottally agree with alien comment as well. Games are #1 with systems.