PSP-XXXX (Strider2)

PSP-XXXX (Strider2)
Model-Code	03-TSP16x0H
Motherboard:	TA-094 (0-ST2-001)
CP-Board:
Factory Firmware:	6.00 / 6.20
Firmwares:
Type:	06g
SoC Revision:
eMMC size:
Product Subcode:
Hardware Info:
MAC OUI:
Units made (approximately):
unused

"Strider2" is the codename for the never released second revision of the PSP-N100x aka "Go". There were 12 additional special colors planned next to the normal black and white versions.


A new mainboard revision called "TA-094" was created as well. Since it was never officially released the normal firmware updates are missing the specific 06g modules and are not working!

The Validation Stage can be identified by the serial. If its in the 4xx range its most likely PVT.
According to the mainboard numbers approximately 500 units were made per Validation Stage.

DVT2

Date: 2009-09
Firmware: 6.00
Motherboard: 0-ST2-001-A2

PVT

Date: 2009-11
Firmware: 6.20
Motherboard: 0-ST2-001-U4

Anonymous Statement

PSPgo is a special PSP with a first sliding control panel that doesn't have a UMD drive, released in October 2009.
It is a short-lived game machine of only a year and a half until sales stopped in 2011.

At first, PSPgo had 2.5g develop-code.
Because it was between 02g and 03g as the timing of the idea.
In the information before the release, PSPgo was developed versus DSLite and it was a game machine for folding for the purpose of entering the pocket.
At that time PSP was pushed by Nintendo DSLite and it was hard to improve sales.
SONY thought that the reason why the PSP could not be sold was that size, and they thought that it would not sell unless it folded and entered into the pocket like DSLite.
I think that PSPgo is a model specialized for download sales, and that has an aspect of countermeasure against illegal copies. 
In the initial story, thinking about putting it in the pocket, absolutely they had to abolish UMD drive.

But when it was actually released, the user could not accept it because of the style only download sale at that time that the internet environment was not prepared enough yet and the main unit price exceeded 25,000 JPY, PSPgo was remained unnoticed.
I thought that PSPgo is a wonderful game machine from high-grade feel but that didn't sell at all on the market.
Moreover, as soon as PSPgo was released, Nintendo made DSLite larger and released DSiLL (DSiXL).
I think that DSiLL (DSiXL) is not a handheld game machine but a desktop game machine, however DSiLL (DSiXL) sold quickly.
Since then, the screen of a handheld game machine has been made bigger at a stretch.
Ironically, the PSPgo, which went against this wave, totally lagged behind and it would be left out of people's memory.

However in 2010, SONY planed to make color variation of PSPgo as a matter to expand sales of PSPgo.

https://engadget.com/2009/11/11/survey-reveals-potential-new-colors-for-psp-go/


As initially planned, they had prepared three models of red, blue and yellow.
But suddenly it was judged as "no prospect of profit recovery" just before the release, and the color variation was canceled.
In the second lot of PSPgo, only white and black color machine were sold in June 2010.
 
PSPgo remained unnoticed for long time, but Total_Noob released 6.20 TN-A (HEN) to Christmas 2010.
From this time,the hacking quickly progressed in an instant, and backuped ISO boot at PSPgo finally became possible.

PSPgo sold quickly in the twinkling of an eye among mania(enthusiasts), and  it was loved as an ideal hacking machine.
PSP 3000 also sold like hot cakes with the popularity of Monster Hunter, and it became out of stock at once.
At that time when the production of smartphones became large scale, smartphones took the production line of PSPgo's LCD monitor, and it was difficult for PSPgo to obtain liquid crystal monitor parts.
Used PSP was traded at a higher price than the new one at the second - hand game shop in the town.

And in March 2011, SONY produced the third lot of PSPgo.
All the production was done in China and they were going to import it to Japan.
However, in the third lot, only 150,000 black color machine were produced, and thereafter the sales stopped.
That is, in PSPgo the second lot produced in June 2010 is the final of the Japanese model, and the third lot made in March 2011 remains as inventory.
I think that the white color machine will be valuable as they stopped production of white at this point.
Although it was because of 6,20 TN that the third lot ceased to be sold, it was in the end of March 2011 that Sony began to make a noise.
Of course, I suppose that the people in part of the company already noticed that PSPgo was hacked.
But they decided to increase production with instruction by the upper-level management  "Produce marketable items".
Also It was true that they couldn't keep cool with cause by corporate factors such as the threat of 3DS and supply shortage of PSP 3000.

Immediately after the production of PSPgo began, the East Japan great earthquake occurred.
It was taken a stop to import to Japan at that time.
It was at the end of March that the acceptance system in Japan was in place,initially they planned to make it in time for the fiscal year-end settlement of that March. 
However, at last that did not make it in time, it was carried over to the management policy meeting of April.
Finally they found a hack at 6.20 TN.
The judgment of the top management was the discontinuation of PSPGo sale.
They said, "We will take decisive steps about the case that PSP is not using originally intended."
However, they had been already decided to sell PS VITA.
Therefore, within the company there was the opposite opinion that it is an act of denying the base market for download sales.
The upper-level management decision was that "PSN download sales are down despite the fact that PSPGo is on sale, which is failing as a business model."
They said that further download sales would take over with PSP 3000 without problems.
Thus Go didn't come out to the world.
In the last FW update, there was a view that putting countermeasure FW on PSPGo and issuing the third lot ... 
but it seems that it did not come true.

In this way, PSPgo has finished its role as an unlucky visionary PSP. 
According to rumors, it is said that these color variations are still sleeping somewhere now…