I’m not sure I understood the reason you are laughing in your “friend’s faces”…
Anyway, why not do some research first? It’s not “PSP V2”, it is firmware v2 and firmware upgrades are indeed free, they are akin to downloading a bios update for your motherboard or something along those lines… You can directly download with the PSP’s online capabilities or download it on your PC and transfer it to your PSP as far as I’ve read.
And what’s the problem with the GBMicro? The GBA is probably the most widespread console atm (perhaps second to the original GB), I see nothing wrong with improving the design of it for new buyers - though I do believe that it’s a tad expensive.
But still, it’s nothing wrong or different than what has been done in the past. Gameboy Pocket, PSOne, PS2Silver or whatever it’s called… And other more subtle examples like the original American Saturn controller which was later replaced for the much nicer Japanese original controller. The same exact thing happened with the X-Box as well. And I’m sure we’ll see more of it happen. The fact is there’s nothing to be against here. It doesn’t claim to do anything more than what it actually does. Plays GBA games and is smaller and more stylish. End of story. Either you like it, or you don’t…
I don’t think (m)any people will feel the need to buy a GBM if they already have one of the previous GBA models since it doesn’t offer something new in regard to its specs/games and it also even requires different accessories. It’s an extra option for new buyers and I see nothing wrong with it. In fact I’m looking forward to a DS redesign in the future as I’m really not fond of the current one and while I’m thinking of eventually buying a DS (if several good games come for it, I’m talking about half a year from now or something, if I decide to go ahead with it) I’ll definitely chose a new and more stylish design over the current one even if it means paying a little extra…
And I’m sure people would like to see a PSP redesign as well, a new model that would remedy the flaws of the current one… Ie battery life among other things…
Sure some people may feel bad if a new model is improved in such aspects but the fact is they have a PSP now and they are playing the games now and it was their decision to buy it. So that’s the benefit over someone who doesn’t have a PSP now and will buy one in a year from now when a new model may have been released.
I mean, even if a new model isn’t released the new buyer will get it for say $50 or more lower than the early adopters. Does that mean people should never buy anything and always wait just a few more months for a new version or price reduction? Hardware (and software, heh) always advances and either comes up with new and improved models or the older models grow cheaper because of cheaper manufacturing costs or whatever… Not just in the console world but especially in the PC world. It’s a known fact and I feel most buyers know it when they decide to purchase something, it’s no laughing matter or whatever, it’s weighting pros and cons and seeing what’s best for one’s self…
It also doesn’t only happen in games related things, look at all the different cell phone models… It’s everywhere technology plays a factor, and it’s normal.
I admit it would suck if a new model of something only appeared say 1-3 months after the original and in the same price as that model but I don’t think similar to that has ever happened. Except perhaps for different available colors or something.
As for older accessories not working on new consoles, well that’s pretty normal too. I mean, did your Mega Drive controllers work properly with your Sega Saturn? Or your Sega Saturn controllers with your Dreamcast? Or your SNES controllers with the N64? Etc… Sony was pretty much the first and only manufacturer to have such extensive backwards compatibility to accessories, controllers, etc.
