PlayStation "minis"

[JP]

Hi, um...Brick!

I'd been reading about that somewhere else, I really hope they don't start supplying the dev kit for free as I've really had enough of collections of fart simulators, beer drinking Apps and Mr T samples on the iPhone.

I do like the idea of a Sony assessed supported model though so that genuine individuals & teams get the chance to work on games wouldn't be able to otherwise.

Anyway, I'm sure they aren't as good as the Halfbrick games but, the Toy Bot Diaries 1, 2, & 3 have now been announced as getting a mini release.

Looks quite interesting, this is obviously the iPhone version though.

[JP]

Interesting article in develop where Sony state that the "most successful" minis titles could also get PS3/UMD versions.

The experiences will remain different. PSP Minis have a 100MB limit, and they won?t necessarily look like a million-dollar-budget PSP game developed for UMD.
I think that many Minis titles wouldn?t necessarily hold up well at retail, which is a completely different environment.
However, the most successful Minis titles will probably transition onto UMD. I think that a package of multiple Minis games on a single UMD is a real possibility at a later stage, where even a studio or publisher will put a collection of their own games on a single disc. We?d be open to that.
Right now we do have games that deliver experiences suitable for both PSP and PS3. The first thing that springs to mind is Super Stardust HD, which started life on the PS3 and was ported to the PSP.
I do think that one thing that?s key on this particular initiative is that PSP Minis will be snack-sized experiences, and we?re looking at when PSP players are looking for that instant ten-minute game ? such as when they?re commuting.
These games wont need to necessarily be built for the home console, and I think these games will find their true life and identity in those micro-bursts of play.
But I do think there?s a possibility that Minis could find themselves on other consoles down the line.

[Spatial]

Rumour is that PSP Mini's will soon be playable on the PS3

http://www.console-arcade.com/2009/12/05/rumour-psp-minis-to-be-playable-on-ps3/

[Ajay1986]

Is there actually any worth playing? The whole concept seems to have died on it arse.

[MikeRox]

It does? There are new ones being added each week. I think it's more they're trying to make sure each game gets it's time in the limelight rather than flooding the market (much like the XBLA model where games have been known to have been completed for months before they get a release slot.)

[MisterBubbles]

Echoes great game, Stand O'Food awesome addictive game, kahoots awesome game, Dracula great game been playing these more than LBP on psp, so theres plenty to play.

[Spatial]

Confirmed for next firmware update and dated

http://www.console-arcade.com/2009/12/08/cat-wont-go-back-in-the-bag-psp-minis-confirmed-for-ps3/

[Family Fry]

I don't know if this is good or not.
Another way to play I suppose and gives devs extra people to sell to, we shall see in time.

[Spatial]

It's not good news for the PSP Go. There's one more reason not to bother with it now.

If there was ever a classic example a system that was sent out to die, it's the poor little Go.

[Family Fry]

Yeah poor lil bugger, design wise it really is spot on but alas that seems where the benefit ends.
Im disappointed with Minis generally, thought there would be nice selection of games on a weekly basis but the choice is poor, 1 or 2 a week it's not exactly encouraging me to buy more.

[JP]

It's nice to see it's finally been confirmed as it's been rumoured for a while now.

Although it's nice to have the option I'm not exactly sure if I'd want to play my minis on a HD screen. Just had a look on wiki and it says the maximum resolution on the PSP is 720x480, I didn't realise it was that high so it may not be too bad and it outputs progressively too.

It'll be interesting to see if standard PSP games also get the same treatment at some point as there was talk of that a few months back too.

[MikeRox]

They really should make PSP games playable on the PS3, some games would be great on the big screen too, infact, I'm contemplating getting a PSP Go AV cable as yeah I know, the resolution is low and it won't look great on a HDTV, but some of these games are ideal for longer stints than I'd normally sit playing a handheld game for.

I love the PSP Go, think it's a great bit of kit. It's a shame Sony seem hell bent on sending it to an early grave.

[JamesS]

It'd be really nice if they'd do that. The problem with using an AV cable on a PSP is that there's no scaler in it, so you get games playing in a tiny window in the middle of the screen, plus the aspect ratio is a bit off. If they played on PS3 they'd be able to scale them up nicely.

The AV lead is a nice idea - particularly on the Go where you can use a PS3 controller - but in practice the resolution problems and the fact it disables AV out when you sleep and wake up the PSP (so you have to quit the game to enable it again) make it a bit worse than it should be. Also, on the Go, the AV out and power sockets are combined so you can't plug it in when playing through the TV.

[wakka]

Also, on the Go, the AV out and power sockets are combined so you can't plug it in when playing through the TV.

...

wat

[Brad]

Also, on the Go, the AV out and power sockets are combined so you can't plug it in when playing through the TV.

Yes, this design is ludicrous. That said, I watched the whole of Coraline thru the component leads Sunday morning and when it was finished the battery meter still showed 3 bars so in practice it's not actually been a problem. Still stupid though!