Summary
- A classic PSP is being offered as a prize in a mall arcade, causing nostalgia among PlayStation fans but also concerns about its age and practicality.
- Prizes in arcade machines often just have the box, with the actual prize stored elsewhere; gamers also are worried about the battery in the PSP potentially causing a fire or damage.
- This is not the first time gamers have found time capsules of gaming prizes; one player found discontinued Pokemon TCG collections on a cruise.
A gamer found quite a surprise in the form of a classic PSP being offered as a prize in a mall arcade. While many PlayStation fans responding to the image have expressed nostalgia regarding the PlayStation Portable, many others have shown concern and even annoyance at its presence at the mall.
The PlayStation Portable was Sony's attempt to compete with Nintendo in the portable gaming market, which the latter had largely dominated. The system went through a number of revisions before being discontinued, initially launching in 2004 and being succeeded by the PlayStation Vita in 2011. This, combined with the other items seen in the game machine, makes for something of a time capsule.
Reddit user BigEyedFish_41 shared an image of their local mall arcade's prize machine with the PSP dangling inside. A copy of SOCOM is bundled to it, and an unclaimed iPad Air can be seen next to it. BigEyedFish_41 noted that they didn't try to win the console for themselves, though they were considering going back for it at some point. Several players noted that these prize machines are often difficult, if not impossible, to win from, and the ages of the prizes seemed to cement this. While some fans were intrigued and pointed out that a classic PSP in-box could go for a high price on resale sites, others were caught up on the practicalities of the age of the PSP and the fact that it was still in the machine.
As pointed out by several users, prizes at arcade machines like these are often dismantled, with only the box being put in the machine to tantalize players. The actual prize would likely be stored elsewhere in the mall for safe-keeping, with BigEyedFish_41 expressing doubt as to whether it was actually even still around. Gamers were also extremely concerned about the battery in the device, wondering if it was swollen and potentially a fire hazard. Some also expressed how their own PSPs had swelling batteries later in their lives. In addition to the risk of a fire sparking, damage could be done to the system if the battery were to swell up.
While the fate of this particular PSP is unknown, it's not the first instance of a gamer discovering something of a time capsule of gaming prizes. On a Norwegian cruise, a gamer was surprised to find discontinued Pokemon TCG collections being offered as prizes in the ship's arcade. In this case, the player did bring home the prize, and trading card games don't pose any of the risks that an aging electronic does, making it either a great addition to the fan's collection or potentially a nice bit of cash if they sold it.
- Brand
- Sony
- Original Release Date
- March 24, 2005
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $249
- Hardware Versions
- PSP
- Weight
- 9.9 oz
The PSP, or PlayStation Portable, marks Sony's first leap into the handheld gaming space, usually dominated by Nintendo. Their compact system featured small discs and featured quite a few PSP-exclusive titles during its run. Its direct competitor was the Nintendo DS during the seventh-generation of console wars.
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