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Gadgets What Sony Has In Store For PSP
Brandon Hill (Blog) - July 24, 2006 7:16 AM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 29 comment(s) - last by bjacobson.. on Jul 25 at 9:15 AM
"Yeah. Uh, did you get that memo?"

Sony is taking its fight to the streets in the ongoing portable gaming market. While Nintendo hold the lion's share of the market, Sony has a few tricks up its sleeve to make the PSP experience a better one for gamers.

During Comic Con 2006 at Sony's PSP University in San Diego, the company announced that the PSP can be used as a remote for the upcoming PlayStation 3 console. Other shared functionality will be available between the two devices, but no other details were given. Sony is also in listening to users wanting more WiFi access and is in deals with services providers to provide more hotspots for the PSPs. Sony is also planning to bulk up its online Sony Connect service by adding movie downloads to the equation. This would be in addition to UMD and the MemoryStick Entertainment Pack.

The company has also announced a number of upcoming games coming to the platform including US Navy SEALS and Gangs of London. Interestingly enough, the company is still supporting its failed UMD format. The company announced that two cult favorites are coming to UMD: Office Space and Napoleon Dynamite. Other notables include RSS Video feed support in an upcoming firmware update and the company’s decision not to add improved methods of text entry or external keyboards for the unit.

All in all, it looks as though Sony is doing its best to make the PSP more visible and make it an even better platform. The fact that UMD is still kicking around is a bit surprising given its plans for the MemoryStick Entertainment Pack and online movie downloads, but stranger things have happened.

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How about retirement?
By jskirwin on 7/24/2006 9:09:18 AM , Rating: 4
I love games and technology - but I've never seriously considered this unit. Sony has never focused on the unit. The games have been 2nd-rate ports of existing PS2 titles. The UMD format is "iffy". Plus the unit is too fragile (at least the screen is) for everyday use and its overpriced.

Worse, I don't have a compelling reason to buy it.




RE: How about retirement?
By MrSmurf on 7/24/2006 11:10:37 AM , Rating: 2
I concur with the lacks of games but the technology and the price for what you get is not all that expensive. I think the PSP would be a steal if Sony focused on games and made them $30. I can't justify paying $40 on a portable game (same with the DS, I stick with the $20 titles, lol).

I don't know what you mean by it being fragile. Like anything, you shouldn't be dropping it!


RE: How about retirement?
By dagamer34 on 7/24/2006 12:16:49 PM , Rating: 2
It's people like you that keep Sony in business.


RE: How about retirement?
By dagamer34 on 7/24/2006 12:17:22 PM , Rating: 2
Oops, wrong person, meant for the person below.


RE: How about retirement?
By rykerabel on 7/24/2006 4:38:50 PM , Rating: 1
I've dropped my PSP many times. My 9yr old has dropped it many times. My 1 yr old has dropped it many times... along with chewing on it.

... it works fine.

As for UMD. I love the UMD movie's I bought. Granted I have a 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo that I copy other movies onto, but the UMD's are worth it for me. UMD + 4GB memory stick = movie/game heaven.

Only thing more I could ask for is Video output for display on a TV.


RE: How about retirement?
By Scrogneugneu on 7/24/2006 8:43:50 PM , Rating: 2
I wonder if that old story about companies buying people to post on forums is still true, sometimes...


RE: How about retirement?
By vision33r on 7/24/2006 11:12:44 AM , Rating: 1
There's no compelling reason to listen to people who don't actually play console games..

I have a DS Lite and PSP, by far the PSP is the better suited handheld for adults. I can easily make a class action lawsuit against Nintendo for this unbelieveably painful egonomics to adults.

I don't mind UMD movies or games, as long as prices are good. UMD movies should be priced less than DVD, since it is shrunk down format.

SF Alpha Max for PSP is the best handheld Street Fighter game.

Lumines is the best handheld puzzle game, gives old tetris players, something new to play.

My DS Lite is only playable with stylus games and brain challenge games. Otherwise the controls are painful to my man hands.


RE: How about retirement?
By bldckstark on 7/24/2006 12:58:30 PM , Rating: 2
Maybe you could sue your momma for giving you such a small and poorly located joystick to use your man hands on too.


RE: How about retirement?
By rykerabel on 7/24/2006 4:43:39 PM , Rating: 1
lurk more noob.

post less.

maybe people won't realize you have severe mental disorders.

It amazes me when people flame with no point what so ever to their flame.

If you are going to flame someone, at least be relavant to the topic.

To add to my post above, I would also like more games. But that is not Sony's fault directly. More developers need to make the games.


That would be expensive
By PurdueRy on 7/24/2006 7:40:12 AM , Rating: 3
Hm...So a $500-$600 and a $200 "remote" to go with it. This is getting pretty expensive.

Now, of course I recognize that it is more than just a remote. But in all honesty, I had heard the stories about the load times and kind of ignored them figuring it was just the people exaggerating. I went to BB(yea I know) one day and turned the system on. I could not believe how long it took just to get to the game itself! Perhaps Sony should work on that 'minor' problem first before they try to make the world's most expensive PS3 "remote".




RE: That would be expensive
By Wink on 7/24/2006 8:04:29 AM , Rating: 2
Doesn't matter to me. The PSP's standby feature makes continuing a game a breeze. I've turned on my PSP from being fully off about ten times since I got this a year ago. Every game supports the standby feature, and some games, like Daxter, resume instantly (I flick the power switch and am running around in the game within one second). Others take up to 7 seconds to reload data into RAM. The minute it takes to turn on the PSP from fully off to playing a game rarely ever occurs in actual use unless you swap out games every 20 minutes.


RE: That would be expensive
By Xavian on 7/24/2006 8:47:44 AM , Rating: 2
The DS lite also has this function, as soon as you close the DS lite, it automatically goes into standby instantaniously, it also comes out of standby instantaniously. I guess having solid state memeory for your games has its advantages eh?


RE: That would be expensive
By Xavian on 7/24/2006 8:48:19 AM , Rating: 2
sorry the DS and the DS lite have this function it is not exclusive to the DS lite.


RE: That would be expensive
By MrSmurf on 7/24/2006 11:04:49 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
I guess having solid state memeory for your games has its advantages eh?


When did this become a DS vs. PSP debate? They both have their ups and downs.


RE: That would be expensive
By TheDoc9 on 7/24/2006 12:12:25 PM , Rating: 3
The format hasn't 'failed'. It's niche like minidisk. This is obviously sensationalism be the author of this news post.

BTW, you can buy all the UMD's you want on amazon.


RE: That would be expensive
By bjacobson on 7/25/2006 9:15:49 AM , Rating: 2
You're right, the PSPmote doesn't make sense.

It would make sense, however, for Nintendo to allow the DS to be used as a remote. Touchpad would be perfect for DVD menus and skipping forward (and of course browsing the web using the Wii as the router if you don't have one).


Doesn't know when to quit...
By Xavian on 7/24/2006 7:42:20 AM , Rating: 2
I can't believe Sony is still trying to push the UMD format, its failed and virtually no retailer will place them on the shelves anymore.

As for the remote thing, it was shown at E3 in their rather boring press conference, people were not impressed then let alone now. But the PSX emulator would be great... but theres a problem, you cant exactly download 650MB-2GB (in the case of FF8 and 9) onto your PSP from your own CD, since that could constitute being illegal by Sony, so i reckon Sony is gonna supply a UMD version of the games and charge a crazy amount for them.

Nintendo is in a much better position to provide such emulators, the file sizes for the N64 ROMS (which would be the largest files to download) are around 80MB, much smaller and doesn't require you to buy it off the shelves. Unfortunately i believe Sony has fell for what they said they were NOT doing (from last years Press Conference), and thats 'gimmicks'.




RE: Doesn't know when to quit...
By Vertigo101 on 7/24/2006 9:55:49 AM , Rating: 2
The PS1 emulator will be tied into PS3 functionality: expect the PS3 to package a PS1 game into a custom executable, and be signed. The current pitch is that you can play your current games, and you'll be able to pay to download some classics.


RE: Doesn't know when to quit...
By Fnoob on 7/24/2006 9:59:13 AM , Rating: 2
"virtually no retailer will place them on the shelves anymore."

I've seen these at every Wal-Mart/Sam's I've had to visit...


RE: Doesn't know when to quit...
By Xavian on 7/24/2006 10:38:55 AM , Rating: 2
but how many are on those shelves? plus its only a matter of time before walmart stops selling them (notice i said virtually all, not all)


RE: Doesn't know when to quit...
By MrSmurf on 7/24/2006 11:07:28 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
but how many are on those shelves?
As many as there was before. Every store I've been to still as just as many (or few) UMD movies on their shelves as they did this time last year. (Probably because they haven't sold a single one, lol).


SONY - what's up with the keyboard man???
By Enoch2001 on 7/24/2006 11:54:01 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Other notables include...the company’s decision not to add improved methods of text entry or external keyboards for the unit.


I...HATE...SONY...for this. Do you know how cool it would be for me to actually surf the web/forums/email by using an actual wireless or even wired keyboard with my PSP? Text entry is *ASS* on the PSP.

I swear, Sony is dumber that a box of rocks. Do the keyboard thing, man!!! Why are you holding back?




By Blackraven on 7/25/2006 7:55:17 AM , Rating: 2
In my POV, here's how I see SCEI's perfections and flaws based on the article:

Perfections (or pros)
-PSP connectivity with PS3 is a plus
-PSP being autovolt means that it is 100-240 V (in short, I can plug it in any electricity socket around the world w/o a need for coverter/transformer)
-Though exorbitantly expensive five years ago, the Memory Stick is still good equipment.

Flaws (or cons)
-UMD movies are useless (ain't buyin those)
-this one seems worse...Movies on Memory sticks. I like mem sticks but to add movies in them?!?!? Then what, the movies can't be deleted (read-only)?

Useless.... I didn't know what Sony was thinking with that one.

-PS3 had at least two features that I was eyeing on removed: multi-ethernet and dual 1080 p output
Suggestion to Sony, next time if you want to make a hype feature, make sure it comes out in the final version.
-Black PS3 not shiny anymore. During E3 2005, it had the super-shiny "Piano Black" clearcoat finish that made it look like the best thing ever. Now look, it just looks like my PS2.

Dammit Sony, release the Piano Black version NOW!!!! If you don't, then I won't consider buying a PS3 at all and only settle for XBOX 360 Asian version + Wii.

/end comment


PSX
By Visk on 7/24/2006 7:33:15 AM , Rating: 2
hmm...IMO, the only feature that's really worth getting excited for is the Playstation emulator. That would revitalize my PSP experience




So anything new???
By akugami on 7/24/2006 1:01:10 PM , Rating: 2
I'm really not seeing anything truely new in this announcement. I'm also not seeing any "tricks up Sony's sleeve" that isn't available, already announced, or can be done by Nintendo's DS.

Seriously, the PSP is a fine system but it's single largest failure is it's lack of compelling games. Most of it's features are available on the DS or are better implemented in smaller task specific units like dedicated MP3 players. It's also quite large and somewhat unsuitable in the average pants pocket. Unless all you wear is cargo pants and shorts or you're carrying a purse or man purse.

Aside from a game like Lumines, I can honestly say that no PSP game has garnered more than a passing interest from me. Two games does seem promising though, that game with the wierd blobs (forget it's name) and Ghoul's and Ghost. Strange that the two most interesting games to me coming out on the PSP also seems to be two of the least realistic.




Doesn't fix main problem....
By sintaxera on 7/24/2006 7:31:51 PM , Rating: 2
Loading....
Please Wait.....
Loading....
Loading More....
Loading Even More....

LOW BATTERY!

Unit Powering Down......




PS3 & PSP
By Clauzii on 7/24/2006 11:02:12 PM , Rating: 2
A game for PS3 could come with a BR Disc AND a UMD for the PSP. Imagine playing a Flying Fortress Bomber Team, One as the Pilot on the Main screen, and a gunner/navigator with the PSP. It could be possible with some sort of syncing the two :)

Or a Rallygame where the PSP guy/girl gets the map on the screen. Etc. Etc.

THAT would be nice gameplay, I think.




...
By Soviet Robot on 7/25/2006 5:22:17 AM , Rating: 2
I just got done watching Office Space, on my PSP. For free.




By Sharky974 on 7/25/2006 7:38:22 AM , Rating: 2
LOL, where? Only in Japan. They consistently lose on USA sales to PSP, and probably Europe (the two biggest markets). We dont have sales numbers for Europe so I say "probably".




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