PSVita (Successor to PSP, was PSP2 then NGP)

[CMcK]

If the Sony NGP has as good a control pad as the real NGP there would be reason to be excited.

[Neon Ignition]

Hardware wise, trying to think of flaws with the PSP2... still the only one I can think of is the dpad though I've gotten used to the notion that it will likely universally be an issue for Sony formats for the rest of time.

[Team Andromeda]

I'e always heard good news on the software prices coming in at below $40, so that's not has bad as I 1st thought SONY have well and truly delivered this time

Shame we have to wait until Christmas

[Corranga]

Hardware wise, trying to think of flaws with the PSP2... still the only one I can think of is the dpad though I've gotten used to the notion that it will likely universally be an issue for Sony formats for the rest of time.

In the photos, the d-pad does look more concave than previous efforts so it might be better.

I've never been a fan of Sony's recycled controller design, especially the convex analogue sticks, which I don't think feel as good as the 360 concave ones, or wii convex with a line around them ones. I wonder if Sony's reluctance to redesign their controller will ever come back and bite them...

Having had a night to think about it though, the complete package sounds amazing. It does everything the PSP did at launch better again, and also adds much more stuff. The positively ridiculous options for control should hopefully cut down the novelty games using the novelty controls (since Sony won't be pushing it in the same way Nintendo did with the touch screen on the original DS). Hopefully that comment won't backfire and land us with a Krazy Ivan style 'you must use all of the controls at the same time' style game

Chris

[Sketcz]

Everyone's frothing their monitors with excitement, and I don't feel like trawling 50 pages in case it was mentioned somewhere briefly, so maybe I'll just have to say it a bit loudly.

Any word on region locking?

[abigsmurf]

Bad news if you were hoping to resist buying this for Uncharted as they've confirmed to GameInformer that it's a completely new game. They've also announced that it's developed by Sony Bend but under the direction of Naugty Dog so it should end up being a proper Uncharted game.

That is simply terrible news!

->Open Spoiler<-

for my wallet

I'm intrigued by the new D-pad design, it's much more + like than anything Sony have ever produced for their consoles. Hopefully this is an example of good iterative design.

Sony can still mess this up but at the moment, the console is sounding amazing.

4-5 hours beats the 3DS (which looks 3.5hours typical usage based on Iwata's quote), the games look amazing... It all comes down to price. My gut tells me it'll be &#163;250 which feels the right price but it's hard to know.

As digital foundry say, the new chip probably uses less silicon than the current PSP chip (may have a much lower yield though) and is likely a SOAC design which'll mean that side of things is surprisingly cheap but... 5" non-standard OLED screen + 2 touch elements + Wireless-N + blutooth... a lot of expensive components.

only thing that worries me: pinch controls.

the NGP will be the first piece of electronics to use this. I hope it isn't overly milked like the DS' touch screen was initially .

[Brad]

Not sure if this has bee mentioned here already but 3G compatibility is optional much like it is on the iPad.

I can't imagine I'd really be wanting 3G as I get free WiFi connection from around 800,000 hot spots which I've not had any problems with so it'll be a bonus to have a choice if I do end up getting one.

Also, there's ?102 difference between an IPad with 3G and one without so a bit of a saving would be nice.

This. My android phone has wifi tethering already (I can connect my PSP this way already) and my service plan includes data so a cheaper non-3g NGP would be welcome.

[Neon Ignition]

Everyone's frothing their monitors with excitement, and I don't feel like trawling 50 pages in case it was mentioned somewhere briefly, so maybe I'll just have to say it a bit loudly.

No word as yet, but I'd say it's likely

[bash]

I'm intrigued by the new D-pad design, it's much more + like than anything Sony have ever produced for their consoles. Hopefully this is an example of good iterative design.

The new D-pad looks a million times better than the last gen(s) Really looking forward to this machine getting hacked and allowing portable coinops/FBA on a 5" oled.

T'would be AAAAAMAZING!

[Brad]

Agreed, I reckon I could perform a dragon punch with that. I liked the PSP Go's d-pad anyway though and never had any problem with the d-pad on the dual shocks.

Is it xmas yet?

[Neon Ignition]

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/285883/news/psp2-out-in-at-least-one-territory-by-christmas/

Tretton says that though they'd aim for a worldwide release it would prove difficult in time for the holiday season so they'll try to get at least one region out.

Basically, PAL release will be Easter 2012.

[davek22]

Easter 2012, now that puts the cat amongst the pigeons. 12 month 3DS headstart. That's the product lifespan of IOS devices so 12 months use before NGP is good enough in my books

[Brad]

This is only my opinion BTW but I don't think the PSP was actually a success.

Depends what you call a success I suppose. If Sony's goal was to beat Nintendo in the handheld market on their first attemtp then they failed. If they wanted to establish a brand and make a handheld that turned them profit then it was probably a success. 65 million consoles sold and 40 titles selling over 1 million units. PSP hardware has outsold NES, SNES, Xbox, 360, PS3, N64, Genesis and Gamecube.

Original Xbox was annihilated by PS2 and MS were forced to abandon it early and put out the 360 but I still consider original XBox a great success. It did what Microsoft needed it to do.

[Flabio]

Placeholder pricing fail...

What a bargain!

[Brad]

Thanks mate, just pre-ordered.