Yuna_Firerose 0 Report post Posted June 29, 2003 Credit: Official Playstation Magazine, August '03 THE FUTURE IS NEARLY HERE... Ken Kuturagi explains his vision for world domination Since Kuturagi strolled onstage at E3 and introduced his "new baby", the PSP, Sony's plans for the Playstation in coming years have gotten much clearer. As past hints have implied, Sony brass doesn't view the Playstation as simply a gaming platform, but rather as the center of a wide world of digital entertainment. "The PSP is built from completely new processor technology," Kuturagi explains, "making it capable of smooth graphics that can even outclass the Playstation 2, as well as three-dimensional sound. To that we added Memory Stick support, letting users enjoy applications beyond videogames." With the systems support for the AAC audio standard (also the basis for Apple's iTunes Music Store content), the PSP really is the all-singing, all-dancing multimedia device "they" have been telling us about for years. Play music, watch movies, play games--all on the same portable device. PSP will also use a proprietary new storage technology, the Universal Media Disc (UMD), which is the key to differentiating it from other handheld devices. The UMD makes PSP very different from the cartridge-based Game Boy Advance (which is clearly in a different category) or upcoming PDA-based game devices like the TapWave Helix, which uses Secure Digital cards like those found in digital cameras. "This format easily stands up to the cutting edge of media design; it can hold 1.8GB--three times what a CD can hold--and it can store two hours of DVD-quality video," Kuturagi beams. "Since our E3 announcement, we have received strong declarations of support from many developers and publishers, and the security system we are introducing to the PSP has attracted serious attention from the movie industry. We at the Sony Group want to continue devoloping the system in assorted areas with all of this content in mind." Still, as we go to press a month after E3, these "declarations of support" are jsut that and nothing more. A number of publishers and developers we spoke to said that Sony remains secretive on specific details about the PSP. Some even mentioned that the details changed a number of times. The biggest question, though, is price. How much will the system cost? How much will the games cost? Publishers still don't know how much Sony intends to charge them in liscensing fees or for manufacturing UMDs--and yet the machine is set to launch in 2004. Early rumors indicate that Sony is looking to produce the core machine for an unbelievably low retail price. While machines like TapWave's are set for a staggering $299, we've heard from several sources sources that Sony's target is to match the Game Boy Advance SP at $99. You can just imagine the conversations happening at Nintendo right now. "Er, guys...do you think we should be working on a new Game Boy?" "But the old one has been doing so well for so long!" "So, have we got something we're working on or what?" "Er...well, we've been working on a better backlight." PSX: Playstation Extraordinary Beyond the delights of a portable system that will entertain you in any way you please, true insight into Sony's plans to infiltrate your home can be found in the PSX. "I would like to introduce our second product born from fusion of game and electronics, the PSX," Kuturagi grinned s he announced the new machine in Japan. "This is a combination of game console and consumer appliance that makes use of the PS2's engine and processing technology. The 'X' refers to the crossover of games and electronics, but it also stands for 'extraordinary' since we want to make this the best product possible." "First off, the PSX is capable of replaying and recording CDs and movie DVDs," he noted. "There is a 120GB hard drive inside the system (a TiVo has an 80GB hard drive, and the upcoming PS2 hard drive is likely to be 40GB), so you can record and replay off the drive or copy media from the hard drive onto a DVD. The system also includes Memory Stick compatibility, all types of connectors, EPG (electric progam guide) support built in, a tuner built in, and a network port built in. We're developing this system as a single product that includes the features every company is developing as seperate products." Essentially, this means you can buy a PSX to replace your TiVo, your DVD player (and your DVD writer too, if you were a putz who plopped down a grand for one), and your PS2. Plus, it looks damn fine: The sexy white box is exactly twelve inches square. "The energy we're devoting the most energy too is the design," Kuturagi stated. "The system may be placed horizontally or vertically, and the disc drive is now slot-loading. The concept here was to make a product that would go well with flat-panel displays, an interior product that could be accepted as part of anyone's lifestyle. The PSX is a complete departure from the digital consumer electronics and DVD/HDD recorders we've seen up to now. This device is possible because of the ability to use the PS2's engine and the many devices Sony Group has created." "We are starting to enter the second wave of digital electronics," he continued. "With this fusion of games and electronics, we want to introduce a new digital appliance to users. PSX development is continuing somoothly with an eye toward finishing it in time for the end-of-year battle. As the PS2 continues to be the core product of our game division, the PSX will be more than just PS2-compatible--I think it has the power to change the way you see all digital appliances. Also, with the PSP, you will be able to enjoy many types of appliancations outdoors. We will continue to support not just the heardware, but the content as well." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MarvinisaLunatic Report post Posted June 29, 2003 You know, Sony is awfully cocky about this PSP. a) Theres no way they can get this out for $99...more like $199 or $249. b) Sony's target audience will not care for a handheld system that much. Why pay $250 for a system that will be inferior to the PS3 in every way but portability when it comes out? You can just imagine the conversations happening at Nintendo right now. "Er, guys...do you think we should be working on a new Game Boy?" "But the old one has been doing so well for so long!" "So, have we got something we're working on or what?" "Er...well, we've been working on a better backlight." Nintendo didn't just manage to dominate the handheld market for the last 14 years by sitting on their laurels. Of course, how many companies have claimed that they were going to put Nintendo out of the handheld business only to fall on their asses after releasing crap. The bottom line on the handheld market is this - handhelds are specifically targeted towards kids. No parent in their right mind will buy their kid a $250 PSP and have it broken in a matter of days after the kid drops it 5 times. Cartridges are a better format for handhelds because kids can drop them and they will stand up to the abuse that kids will put them through. I don't know how many CDs I've seen that have been ruined because a kid decided it would be fun to scratch the cds up. The price point might be about the same for the games (You can get new GBA games for $20, I doubt PSP games will be more than $30.) Not to mention that there are litterally 1,000s of games available for the GBA. Not to mention that it is economically easier to have a Gamecube and a GBA which allows for Nintendo to market games that have crossover functionallity between the two. Sony will not be able to take the handheld market from Nintendo. And Im sure that Nintendo is also working on a new portable device themselves. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest AndrewTS Report post Posted June 30, 2003 Nintendo didn't just manage to dominate the handheld market for the last 14 years by sitting on their laurels. Of course, how many companies have claimed that they were going to put Nintendo out of the handheld business only to fall on their asses after releasing crap. Sega's battery draining Master System--er, Game Gear. Atari's Lynx. Neo Geo's various portables. Game.con Didn't Tiger make a portable system beyond their single game portables? Nintendo may be in 3rd for consoles, but I think if Sony and Nokia try to outdo them in the portables, I think they'll be in for a big surprise. Many of the big GBA sellers are the 1st party games. Sony and Nokia are going to be just hardware, not a game developer themselves. So they'll probably just have a bunch of mediocre 16-bit ports or maybe ports of existing GBA games. Plus, the GBA plays GBA games, GBC games, and original Game Boy games. That's a crapload of games available, and Nintendo may continue the trend when they actually release a new portable that's more powerful. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted June 30, 2003 "First off, the PSX is capable of replaying and recording CDs and movie DVDs," he noted RIAA will not be happy. I bet the PSX will break in 9 months just like the PS2. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
