Debut of the PSP

[Ted the Poster 0]

From IGN.com:

 

May 11, 2004 - To say that Sony's PlayStation Portable handheld system dominated the company's E3 2004 press conference would be an understatement. Officially unveiled approximately 20 minutes into the presentation, the new game system was a big hit with the crowd and finally answered several of questions that most of us have been asking in the year since the hardware was first announced.

 

Scheduled to be launched in Japan at the end of the year (North America and Europe get it in the spring of 2005), The PSP is available in PlayStation 2 black with a 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD display that boasts over 16.7 million colors and a resolution of 480x272. Dimensionally, its numbers are 170mm x 74mm x 23mm with a weight of 260 grams. Basic portable functions like built-in stereo speakers, exterior headphone connector, brightness control and sound mode selectors are among the lineup of features, and the buttons mirror that of a PlayStation 2 controller almost exactly (Square, Triangle, X, and Circle face buttons, a digital pad, start, select, and an analog thumb stick populate the face, with two shoulder buttons on the top).

 

Additionally, the new system comes standard with USB 2.0 and 802.11b Wi-Fi wireless LAN connectors that allow for multiple PSPs to be simultaneously connected to one another. Data and software can then be downloaded either by using the wireless LAN connections or through the use of a Memory Stick Pro Duo. The PSP also adopts the small high-capacity optical medium Universal Media Disc, the UMD. This format not only allows for 1.8 GB of space, it also provides an extremely versatile format for games, music, and video. The press conference demo showed off the trailer for Spider-Man 2 (the movie not the game) as well as Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children which is coming to both the DVD and UMD formats. To protect the content, a robust copyright protection system has been developed which utilizes a combination of a unique disc ID, a 128 bit AES encryption keys for the media, and individual ID for each PSP hardware unit.

 

 

Design seems bland to me. Thoughts?

[LaParkaYourCar 0]

The design may not be flashy, but I like the setup.

[MrRant 0]

Thank god they aren't trying to make it into a cell phone.

[Ted the Poster 0]

Games announced so far(from IGN):

 

Note: All are only confirmed for Japan at this point, but there are some that are obviously crossing the Pacific.

 

CAPCOM

Vampire Chronicle (tentative name, fighting)

Devil May Cry Series (tentative name, stylish action)

Viewtiful Joe Series (tentative name, VFX action)

GENKI

Tokyo Xtreme Racer (racing)

KOEI

Shin Sangoku Musou (tentative name, action)

Strategy Game (tentative name, simulation)

Table Game (tentative name, table game)

KONAMI

Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim (tentative name, action-RPG)

Sports Game: Soccer (tentative name, soccer)

Sports Game: Baseball (tentative name, baseball)

Mahjong Kakutou (tentative name, table game)

Meikyu Tansaku Gata Monster Shooting (tentative name, FPS)

KONAMI COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN

Metal Gear Acid (tentative name, genre TBA)

CYBER FRONT

Koron (puzzle/action)

SUCCESS

Kumo nofu ~ Raibo ~ (communication/adventure)

Sho Mate (table game)

Zooo (puzzle)

SEGA

Puyo Puyo Fever (action-puzzle)

Project S (tentative name, genre TBA)

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT

Gran Turismo 4 Mobile (tentative name, driving)

Ape Escape (Sarugetcha in Japan, tentative name, action)

Tenken Chimon (tentative name, action RPG)

Doko Demo Issho (tentative name, speaking game)

Hot Shots Golf (Minna no Golf in Japan, tentative name, golf game)

TAITO

Puzzle Bobble (puzzle)

DORASU

Dorasurotto (pachinko simulation)

NAU PRODUCTION

Intelligent License (tentative name, puzzle quiz)

Onryou no Mura (tentative name translates to "Village of Ghost), horror/adventure)

NAMCO

T.O.E. (RPG)

New Ridge Racer (tentative name, race)

New Puzzle game (tentative name, puzzle)

NIPPON ICHI SOFTWARE

Makkai Wars (tentative name, simulation-RPG)

HUDSON

Tengai Makyo Series (tentative name, Japanese-style RPG)

Bomberman Series (tentative name, action)

The Tower of Purgatory (Sci-fi action/RPG)

BANDAI

Gagharv (tentative name, RPG)

Mobile Suit Gundam (tentative name, genre TBA)

BANPRESTO

Super Robot Taisen (tentative name, genre TBA)

FROM SOFTWARE

Armored Core Formula Front (mech game)

YUKES

Pro Wrestling (tentative name, sports)

WORK JAM

Tantei Shinguji Santarou (tentative name, adventure)

 

GT4, Metal Gear, Viewtiful Joe and Bomberman! Too bad it doesn't take a genius to know what an "unnamed" wrestling game from Yukes will end up being though.

[AndrewTS 0]

Conspicuous by its absense--the price.

[El Psycho Diablo 0]

..there's gonna be a Super Robot Wars game? Damnit, now I'll have to get one.

 

The genre would be turn-based strategy, btw.

[Lightning Flik 0]

Conspicuous by its absense--the price.

Most people are guessing same price as a N-Gage. Hell, even I'm saying it's close to 200.

 

However, that line up is pretty decent for a start. The most interesting game I find, is the one they tried to hide:

 

NAMCO

T.O.E. (RPG)

 

T.O.E.? What the hell is that? Tales of Eternia is the only thing I can guess.

[Guest SpiderFan]

Metal Gear, Devil May Cry, Bomberman and Viewtiful Joe? That's a better lineup then what PS2 launched with.

[Renegade 0]

Vampire Chronicle (tentative name, fighting)

Devil May Cry Series (tentative name, stylish action)

Viewtiful Joe Series (tentative name, VFX action)

Puyo Puyo Fever (action-puzzle)

Project S (tentative name, genre TBA)

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT

Ape Escape (Sarugetcha in Japan, tentative name, action)

Puzzle Bobble (puzzle)

Super Robot Taisen (tentative name, genre TBA)

 

Thats a pretty damn good list, but I hate that d-pad and the shoulder buttons...the cooky assed nintendo layout always bugged me. Buttons should always be on the right hand side.

[Downhome 0]

I want a face cover.

[Ted the Poster 0]

Don't worry DH. I think it's safe to assume that MadCatz or somebody like them will have one for you at or near the system's launch.

[Guest Vitamin X]

So how the hell does one play a DVD in that thing?

 

Or am I misinformed here?

[AndrewTS 0]

So how the hell does one play a DVD in that thing?

 

Or am I misinformed here?

You don't. You play "Universal Mini Discs" in it.

[HollywoodSpikeJenkins 0]

I'm liking this a lot more then the DS.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

I will only buy it if I have to take it apart to switch games.

[HollywoodSpikeJenkins 0]

Nice, Z.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Nice, Z.

Hey, I have a lot of time on my hands.

 

Is there any way it can take my calls and wipe my ass, too?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The wide format reminds me a bit of the Game Gear and its about the same size as the game gear (170mm x 74mm x 23mm to 200 mm x 100 mm x 40 mm). It might not even come close to matching the weight of the game gear which was heavy.

 

I can guarantee 2 things:

 

1 - this thing will suck down batteries just like the game gear did

2 - no way it sells for less than $200.

[Anya 0]

Thumbs up for Vampire Chronicle!

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

As one of the biggest detractors of the PSP (Only Nintendo knows how to manfacture handhelds IMO) what parent would spend over 200 dollars to have their kid lose on the bus?

[AndrewTS 0]

As one of the biggest detractors of the PSP (Only Nintendo knows how to manfacture handhelds IMO) what parent would spend over 200 dollars to have their kid lose on the bus?

A parent like Anyanka's.

 

Although Sony is convinced they can do without that market by marketing at only gamers, while charging more for their new handheld than any of the current consoles on the market.

 

Konami has released new images of its first PSP title Metal Gear: Acid, Hideo Kojima's latest working in the Metal Gear series. This time around the game is not a remake of either MGS1 or MGS2, but rather an all new stealth action saga with environment and characters similar to those used in the PS2 version. Also included will be new card gameplay elements.

 

Needless to say. Quite impressive for a handheld.

 

Hideo "This is the last Metal Gear game I'll be doing...naw, I lied again!" Kojima brings us yet another MG game, and this time we learn what Substance he was on making MGS2.

 

"New card gameplay elements," eh? ALRIGHT!! JUST WHAT WE WANTED!!! *explodes in excitement*

 

I'm not too interested. Although due to the McGuffin role the Metal Gear was reduced to in 2, maybe Hideo realizes that nukes aren't quite the frightening and relevant boogieman they were in the Cold War days unless you're in India or Pakistan, and maybe has decided to move in another direction. However, the title makes me doubt it.

[MrRant 0]

I hoping Metal Gear:Acid is actually Snake inflitrating a hippie commune in Northern California and eliminating them.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

As one of the biggest detractors of the PSP (Only Nintendo knows how to manfacture handhelds IMO) what parent would spend over 200 dollars to have their kid lose on the bus?

Have you played the PSP?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Well, this was from a Q&A session over at IGN with Nintendo's VP of corporate affairs Perrin Kaplan talking about the DS, but he brought up the PSP's battery life when asked what the DS' would be..

 

IGN: What's the battery life for DS?

 

Perrin Kaplan: Very similar to the SP and I think very different from the PSP. I'm not quite sure why Sony said "Two to 10 hours" [for PSP's battery life]. That must mean that it's two hours.

 

While I seriously doubt its 2 hours, even if its 6 or 7 thats not very good.

[BUTT 0]

I believe it's supposed to be 2 for a movie and 10 for a game. As for the new Metal Gear game, that article seems to downplay the importance of the card-based elements. From what I've read, the card-based elements are the biggest part of the game.

[Guest Ronixis]

Ok- lets see here.

 

10 Hours is not bad, but not the worst I have seen.

 

Since when Big N's boys gonna state the haterade party line on the battery life? Sony havent even released the Buisness Model, so why would N make assuptions?

 

As for the games coming out of this baby- if the handheld is $99 and the games $29, they have done the impossible- and will sell out the next month and half- and I bet you that is the plan.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Ok- lets see here.

 

10 Hours is not bad, but not the worst I have seen.

 

Since when Big N's boys gonna state the haterade party line on the battery life? Sony havent even released the Buisness Model, so why would N make assuptions?

 

As for the games coming out of this baby- if the handheld is $99 and the games $29, they have done the impossible- and will sell out the next month and half- and I bet you that is the plan.

There is NO way that the PSP sells for less than $200. In fact if anyone wants to take me up on a bet that it will launch for less than $200 (Even $199.99) then I'll take it in a milisecond no matter what the stakes are.

 

Secondly I cant see games selling for $29 either. Nintendo sells small little carts for $30 for the GBA. The PSP is running off a 1.8 GB disc slightly similar to the Gamecube discs. I can't see them pricing the games for the same price as a regular PS2 game ($49.99) so my guess is that they'll be $39.99.

 

And battery life would be an important topic and the 2-10 hours was apparently stated by Sony itself as the battery life. One of the reasons why the game gear failed was because the thing would eat through 6 AA batteries in about 6 hours. I actually had a game gear and it got to the point that I got tired of buying batteries for it so I just bought an AC adapter and hardly took it anywhere, totally defeating the point of a portable system. I liked the color screen and the ability to play it at night but it wasn't worth the 6 batteries about every week or so. I might as well have bought a Sega home console.

[BUTT 0]

Secondly I cant see games selling for $29 either. Nintendo sells small little carts for $30 for the GBA. The PSP is running off a 1.8 GB disc slightly similar to the Gamecube discs. I can't see them pricing the games for the same price as a regular PS2 game ($49.99) so my guess is that they'll be $39.99.

Well, the disc will in all likelihood be much cheaper to manufacture than a GBA cartridge, but the actual cost of making the game will probably be much more if the game is 3D and an original title, so titles like Metal Gear Acid will probably sell for around $40. Ports and 2D titles may sell for less.