If you have yet to purchase a Sony PSP here in the UK, or are looking to perhaps suppliment your exisitng PSP with a second unit, you’ll be pleased to hear that Sony are dropping the price of the PSP by £30 down to £129 (GBP) at the start of May 2007.

This can probably be seen as an attempt to stimulate the market during the slower selling spring and summer months. Its a tactic Sony are well used to using, making similar cuts to the price of the PSone and PS2 during their lifecycle.

“PSP is unique and is constantly evolving. It offers the widest palette of mobile entertainment, from gaming to video, music, photos and internet,” explained Ray Maguire, managing director of Sony Computer Entertainment UK.

“But now the exciting possibility of connecting remotely to PlayStation 3 makes PSP more relevant than ever. So what better time to offer a brand new price point, and the launch of five new Platinum titles?”

I’m not sure I buy this reasoning for the price cut – people buying PS3’s are hardly likely to buy a PSP at the same time, and I’m not sure many are in a position to afford one at whatever the price, given the slightly extortionate amount PS3’s are retailing for at the moment.

What is really pleasing for current PSP owners is the release of the first Platinum game titles for the device.

Platinum has always been Sony’s way of eeking out the lifespan of some classic games by re-releasing them at a bargin price. In this instance, the price is going to be £14.99 (GBP) and the titles available initially are:

• Ridge Racer 2
• Tekken
• Killzone
• Loco Roco
• Moto GP

To me that looks like a strong list of titles to be releasing on the budget label. I’ve either got or have played all five in that list, and apart from Moto GP, would have little difficulty in recommending all of them. My only reservation would be on Ridge Racer 2, but only if you own the first version.

I hope Sony keep up with this standard of budget releases, as there are plenty of PSP games that I’ve resisted buying because of the cost, but at £14.99 it might make them a reasonable proposition.