Just how “in-demand” is it?
This picture should give you some indication:
Those prices are for used systems!
Why is that shocking? Well, the Value Pack on the left normally goes for ¥25,900 and the Standard Pack on the right is usually ¥20,600. Yes, that’s correct, the used ones cost more than new ones.
About $130 more!
How can they get away with that? Quite easily, really, Since nobody has any new units in stock, they can sell used ones for however much they feel like. (This pic was taken at one of the Trader stores in Akihabara.)
The only systems you’re likely to see in stores are demo units put out so people can play them and realize just how much they’d like to buy a PSP – if only the stores had systems to sell. Consequently, most stores are very protective of their demo units and don’t want them getting stolen. Check out this one:
That one’s a bit of an extreme case, as it’s located on a stand outside the store (Sofmap #3 in Akihabara). Even so, I’m sure every store feels the same way about their demo systems, although they may not have to go to the same lengths to protect them.
Sony keeps promising more systems are on the way, and that’s good. I’ve no doubt they’ll be able to sell every single one of them. They really need to ramp up production though, as I think the gaming public is getting tired of seeing signs like this one:
