Oooh, PSP

[Ginza]

Sold.

Anyone claiming this will fail due to PS1/PS2 posrt want s to go look at the GBA catalogue.............

Those shots of the HUGE PSP have Photoshop written all over them.

Didnt think of that. Yeah definitely a possibility when it doesnt look anything like any of the other PSP pics published.

[delb3k]

Hmm, I`m not too sure so far, looks like it could be a bit tough to fit in the average pocket and the lack of a protector for the screen is causing me a little worry. On the plus the games look far better than anything else on the portable scene so that will be a definite plus. This seems reminds me of the old saturn / playstation launch, we have the 2D pusher in the GBA and along comes sony with a lovely bit of 3D kit. Wonder if history will repeat itself?

[Max M]

Those shots of the HUGE PSP have Photoshop written all over them.

I doubt Gamespot goes around making gags with photoshop.

[charlesr]

[charlesr]

Oh look. A home button and the same d-pad and layout and stuff.
No one gave a monkey's when this came out. How come everyone's jizzing themselves now?

And how are you going to play all those gorgeous 3D games with a digital pad?

[Londonner]

Image from earlier this year speculating size.

[Ravon]

The thing what is Ninty and Zodiac AKA cauldwell's POS (see above pic) gonna do to stop the PSP... Nothing!!!!

All will fall at its sides

Bring it on SONY!!!!

[Londonner]

Doesn't look so big ...

[EvilBoris]

the thing is, surely there are gonna be very few exclusive games for the PSP. Why would a developer bother making a game for the PSP when for a little more cash they can make it a full blown Ps2 game? The Ps2 market is gonna be bigger than the PSP market surely. And if they are going for the PSP/ Ps2 link up thingy, aren't they gonna too late for the ps2, and closer to the ps3?

[Londonner]

Ps2 market is gonna be bigger than the PSP market surely.

According to Nintendo, the GB franchise has been bigger than the PS franchise combined, with GBA outselling the PS2 in North America last year. So, portable gaming is a much more lucrative market (given that it broadens the demographic, from children, to older adults) and it's no surprise that Sony wants a piece of the pie. It's even more lucrative as the technology has finally caught up, allowing mobile digital video and audio which now (thanks to the likes of iPod's revolutionsing consumer psychology ) have mass market potential.

Ultimately, however, for Sony the Nintendo DS is irrelevant. Sony has bigger fish to fry. It's really about "convergence" and their race against Microsoft:

XBox + Windows Media Centre + Windows Media 9 DRM + Pocket PC + Smartphone + Pocket PC Intel powered mobile gaming + Licensing DRM technology to media empires

vs

PSX + Media Centre (Linux) + Magicgate DRM + CLIE (Palm OS) + Sony Ericsson (Symbian) + PSP + Owning a prominent film and music empire and licensing to itself

In fact, it's not even about portable gaming. It's about Sony having a device that allows them to sell you their property, whether it's a movie, an album or a game (those film tie-ins make even more sense) on another delivery platform which they own.

Unfortunately, despite their optimistic statements in their conference presentation, Nintendo will lose it's 100%. Sony does have a "mountain to climb", but the same could have been said when they entered the home console market. Nintendo will need a miracle to still be in hardware in 5 years time (assuming the Revolution is released next year and lasts a 5 year cycle). As the margins on software publishing outstrip their justification to remain the platform owner, Nintendo may as well become a multi-platform producer.

As for Sony, the pieces of the puzzle are fitting together now; just looking around my room, I see I'm typing on a Sony Vaio laptop and I just SMS'd a friend using a Sony Ericsson phone/PDA, on which I can also happen to listen to music ... on one of my Sony Memory Sticks (which I can also use to exchange data with my Vaio). All I'm missing is a PS2. And, now, a PSP! Oh, look, they also have Memory Stick slots ...

Disclaimer: I am a Nintendo fanboy, never having anything owned but Nintendo gear.

[Ady]

Sold.

Anyone claiming this will fail due to PS1/PS2 posrt want s to go look at the GBA catalogue.............

There are far more original titles than SNES ports on the GBA. I really don't know why people insist on clinging to this fallacy.

[Dirty Sanchez]

Sold.

Anyone claiming this will fail due to PS1/PS2 posrt want s to go look at the GBA catalogue.............

There are far more original titles than SNES ports on the GBA. I really don't know why people insist on clinging to this fallacy.

Which fallacy? It's a fact that ports from a full size console to a handheld are wanted/demanded by gamers. Don't be so uptight about the GBA/PSP, you sound too much like a N-Fanboy

[iloveannie]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/

These chaps have the details (tech specs) of the machinenfor those of you who don't know the site or are wondering about Sony inter-connectivity.

Edit: Do you have to hold it on its side to talk?

[Ady]

Which fallacy? It's a fact that ports from a full size console to a handheld are wanted/demanded by gamers. Don't be so uptight about the GBA/PSP, you sound too much like a N-Fanboy

If you were previously implying that most of the GBA's catalogue consists of SNES ports, then this is indeed a fallacy because it isn't true.

If (however) you were just saying that the GBA has some SNES ports then you are correct (and no-one would disagree with you), but it's stating the obvious.

The above isn't fanboyism of any kind; just a fact.

[Leon Retro]

The screen looks a nice size and altogether I give it the thumbs-up.