Future PSP plans revealed at Comic Con

You wouldn't necessarily think that San Diego's annual Comic Con would be a hotbed of videogame news, but this year's event proved different, as Sony revealed a number of exciting future plans for the PSP. At a seminar called PSP University (man, we sure wish we could have spent our college years at that institution), company execs confirmed that the portable console will indeed work as a remote for the PS3, and that the upcoming firmware update will support RSS video feeds for the built-in web browser. Furthermore, Sony is apparently in talks with wireless providers to provide more Nintendo DS / Wayport-like hotspots for online gaming, and is also looking at ways to bring downloadable movies to PSP owners -- which sounds to us like another foot in the grave for the almost-dead UMD. Not all the news here is good, however, as those folks expecting a Sony-branded keyboard for their console will likely be in for a disappointment; in fact, the company has no plans whatsoever to improve text entry on the PSP at all. Other new info centered around games and demos, and since that's not really our bag, we'll leave those details to other fine publications like Joystiq and PSP Fanboy.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

[ryan @ Jul 23rd 2006 9:53PM]

hm, but still no games?


im returning my psp and all its sh*t tomorrow and buying a ds lite. sorry sony. nice try tho.

[jamminj @ Jul 23rd 2006 10:03PM]

I love my iPod, and I like my PSP. Want I want is combination of the two. I want my ipod to have a bigger screen or my PSP to have a 30GB drive. The whole UMD thing is a joke and was never going to become a standard.

[Extinction @ Jul 23rd 2006 10:05PM]

Actually at the same conference they announced more than 200 games before the end of this year. Pull your DS out of your ass and actually try a PSP and maybe you'd like it

[Veritas II @ Jul 23rd 2006 10:06PM]

There are plenty of games for both the DS and the PSP. There oughta be a Snopes page for this nonsense by now.

[Mike Smith @ Jul 23rd 2006 10:23PM]

Open Letter To Sony:

Lose the UMD, put a 60-100GB hard drive in the sucker, open up your firmware with APIs so 3rd parties can add on their own software and *presto*, there's your fabled "iPod killer." Its staring you in the face, yet you don't see it.

[Seanux @ Jul 23rd 2006 10:30PM]

man they gotta ATLEAST give us T9 or something close to it, my thumbs are hurting!

[unreal mccoy @ Jul 23rd 2006 10:36PM]

They chose Comic Con to make the announcement because they had the video game stage all to themselves. At every other conference, they're overshadowed by Nintendo.

[furtim @ Jul 23rd 2006 11:19PM]

"company execs confirmed that the portable console will indeed work as a remote for the PS3"

So how much will the latest feature bloat add to their delays? (Come on, you don't really believe they planned this from the start, do you?)

[John Doe @ Jul 23rd 2006 11:34PM]

Here's a wild and crazy thought. I know its really out there but stay with me now. How about for future PSP plans Sony, and I know this is really way out there, doesn't make the thing suck? A friend of mine lent me his for a trip last month. I had it a week. Slow load times and crap battery life both make for an unappealing gaming experience. (Watching movies on the plane was cool though.) Sony needs to wake the heck up and get their crap together for the PSP. As it stands I wouldn't touch on for gaming.

[John Doe @ Jul 23rd 2006 11:37PM]

"Actually at the same conference they announced more than 200 games before the end of this year."

Yah right. Is this the same announcement they have been making since day one of the PSP about how massive amounts of games were coming out. So far there are probably 4 I'd be interested in. We all know how reliable sony’s announcements are these days. When I can walk into a Best Buy or Gamestop and see 200 titles THEN and only then I will believe. Until then its BS marketing on Sony’s part.

[h0mi @ Jul 23rd 2006 11:38PM]

They chose Comic Con to make the announcement because they had the video game stage all to themselves. At every other conference, they're overshadowed by Nintendo.


Well aside from the much more significant and larger DS lite presence, for every PSP available to play there were 2 or more DS lites (though there were some PS2s also there... no xboxes though.)


"company execs confirmed that the portable console will indeed work as a remote for the PS3"


How? By wifi? I dont think that will work so good. Via cable? Hmmm ok, but not terribly friendly. Does the PSP support IR? I dont think it does bluetooth. Or are they talking about PSP v2 with bluetooth here?

[pcbb.david @ Jul 24th 2006 12:19AM]

i want to see some compatibility between the PSP and the PS3, i think its a great idea, my problem with the whole thing is how annoying the amount of space on the piece of junk. they need to make a hardware update and make like a PSP2 with a large hard drive. something we can actually use as a portable media device. ipod killer totally. and more software for it, besides games that is, id totally buy it if i could do more than broswe the internet.

[Rony Mirzaians @ Jul 24th 2006 1:28AM]

Great article!, I have a friend a comic con and she was telling me to expect an announcment from Sony

[anta @ Jul 24th 2006 1:34AM]

"How? By wifi? I dont think that will work so good. Via cable? Hmmm ok, but not terribly friendly. Does the PSP support IR? I dont think it does bluetooth. Or are they talking about PSP v2 with bluetooth here?"

the PSP DOES support IR if you didn't know (of course you would know this if you owned one) and the PS3 connection will work via Ad-Hoc so no need for Wi-Fi.

[Tech^CF @ Jul 24th 2006 1:43AM]

Keyboard and something for the homebrew scene please!

Thanks for the PS3 integration, thats the biggest reason that I still have my PSP

[ruel @ Jul 24th 2006 2:22AM]

Indeed, there's a lot to be desired regarding the hardware specifications of Sony's PSP and its other fixed consoles. They always seem to be a step behind when it comes to storage space and wireless capabilities. The engine is good, though. But, then again, the processor would be of little significance when it comes to downloading games or interacting with other players wirelessly. It's gamepad needs some serious re-engineering, too. It's a good thing that they made the announcement at Comic Con. If it were made in a convention solely for the members of the gaming industry, Sony's announcement might easily be dwarfed by its competitors.

[Frangible @ Jul 24th 2006 2:35AM]

Why don't you go buy Valkyrie Profile Lenneth and quit whining about "no games" for the PSP? Lenneth is better than any DS game I've played. Perhaps that's why used PSX copies of it were going for $100+ on eBay.

[StarLog @ Jul 24th 2006 7:34AM]

The PSP is an awesome device. Sony needs to improve by doing three items:
1. UMD - make it open standard for the masses.
2. WiFi - make a client for Voip
3. Keyboard - come on this should be a no brainer, implement a keyboard.

[Mr Ed @ Jul 24th 2006 7:51AM]

PSP UMD Memorystick, PS3 Blow ray, MiniDisc, Rootkit - Sony are a right bunch of tossles.

My PSP is lame and I'm not the only one to have figured out its all looks and no show. The number of second hand PSP's showing up at hok shops tells the tale. I paid AU$350 for mine and I'm tempted to trash it for cash (I can get $140) and its only 7 months old.

The reason PSP sucks:
(1) Looooooong Load times with the dumb UMD
(2) Games are all re-runs or just plain crap
(3) Innability of Sony to leave the firmware alone so we can make our own games (as they clearly cannot)
(4) MemoryStick - no big deal but SD memory is used in every other device I have except my mobile which uses mini SD (but can fit a SD converter....) SD is twice the speed and half the cost of Memory Stick.

BOTTOM LINE: Who cares about stupid sony movies and sony music - WISE UP SONY. WE WANT GOOD GAMES.

[JinKazama @ Jul 24th 2006 8:29AM]

Dear PSP fans:

Quit responding to the "PSP sucks crowd" you are never going to change their minds. If they don't like it, they don't like it...I will gladly buy their second hand PSP's with 1.5 on it to homebrew on.

Anyway, I am really excited about the PS3 and PSP. Even though I think Sony made a major gaffe in the price department, if it can do all it says it can well, those who can manage to get their hands on one will have a powerful piece of equipment. I personally plan to pair my PSP, ipod, and iMac together with the PS3 as my Media Center.

I will be absolutely sold if the rumors are true that the PSP can connect to the PS3 from any wireless connection. That way I'll have all my music, movies, etc available to me at home and when I am traveling.

Throw in some awesome gaming and I will be in heaven.

[jmo @ Jul 24th 2006 9:24AM]

I've had my PSP for a good bit of time now and I'm completely satisfied with it. The PSP can work as a remote for the PS3 since there have been people that could use the PSP as a remote for their TV. The only reason Sony probably decided to integrate this into the PSP and PS3 is because of M$'s announcement of their new player being compatible with the 360. Sony doesn't realize the potential this handheld has. So many people have done so much with the PSP. It makes it seem like much more than just a handheld gaming console. In my opinion, they should switch away from the UMDs. I've played games from a Memory Stick and then from a UMD and the load time difference is insane. Maybe if Sony started following up on some of these ideas people are coming up with, they could actually compete with the DS.

[WizarDru @ Jul 24th 2006 10:54AM]

Frangible said: "Why don't you go buy Valkyrie Profile Lenneth and quit whining about "no games" for the PSP? Lenneth is better than any DS game I've played. Perhaps that's why used PSX copies of it were going for $100+ on eBay."

While the PSP has several good games, I don't know if saying that it's better than any DS YOU'VE played really tells us much. If all you've ever played was 'Mr. Driller', it's hardly a basis for comparison, is it? Lenneth has received solid but not stunning scores (usually 80%, see gamerankings). One of the chief complaints against it is that the load times are particularly noticable (even when opening an inventory screen), and that it's a virtual exact port of the game from the PS1, with cut-scenes added and nothing else.

Some collectors pay top dollar for it, as it's a rarely seen game that was never produced in high numbers in the US. I mean, people pay a fortune for a used prototype cartridge of a game that was never released, so I don't know that I'd use that as a high water mark. After all, right now I see people trying to get hundreds of dollars for Suikoden II and Tactics Ogre, too. Rarity to collectors doesn't equal a good game...it merely indicates rarity.

The PSP needs games that aren't rehashes of games that people have already played, but actual NEW games; new games in a franchise (like a new MSG) are great...a rehash of a lot of PS1 games that weren't that popular the first time around? Not so much.

[Darth Poo @ Jul 24th 2006 10:57AM]

I got bored of my PSP and while opening it to plan for LED mods, I screwed a few buttons and snaped the backlight ribbon cable. But my friend gave me a DS, and I never looked back. Might get an iPod, though.

[Oddmanout @ Jul 24th 2006 11:05AM]

I hear a bunch of people chiming in and saying that the PSP has tons of untapped potential and Sony needs to wise up to it. I agree, and I'll through in my 2 yen.

There are as far as I can tell two main reasons why Sony is death on homebrew. 1) If you're using/playing with homebrew, you're not buying anything (extra) from them. 2) If you're messing with homebrew, in Sony's mind anyway, you are doing so with the ultimate intent of stealing something. Either way, they feel like the homebrew scene costs them and they don't like that.

Hey Sony, if you can't beat'em, join'em...and make a pile of cash in the process.

Enter the 'PSP Lite' (catchy name, no? :P). Just like the PSP...but NO UMD DRIVE (with the OS adjusted accordingly of course). This model will be strictly aimed at the homebrew/media/and retro PS1 (if they ever get those downloads going) crowd. I'm sure they could save a bunch of money per unit by not including the not so 'Universal' UMD drives, so the unit could be sold for less and still make at least $1 profit per unit out the gate. Or maybe you sell it bundled with a developers kit for the hombrew kids. You see, THOSE people don't want anything on UMDs (Movies or games) anyway...but everyone wants more battery life (the unit will be physically lighter as well...always a plus). BUT, with no way of reading UMDs, none of Sony's copywrited material is in jeopardy. People can still watch movies and play music on it via memory stick (handily increasing sales of those by the way).

Basically everyone gets what they want.

But what to do with all thet left over space from the removal of the UMD drive ? THE SKY IS THE LIMIT MAN!!!! Some have mentioned a HDD, not a bad idea. But I think 4gb - 8gb of flash would be a little more realistic than a 30GB+ hdd, not to mention easier on batteries. And at that, you could use the space for more batteries, or bigger batteries anyway.

Personaly, I think a CF slot would be great. It's proven, readily available technology, and it will allow Sony, Third party hardware/software developers, and homebrewmasters alike to do all kinds of nifty things and it STILL won't endanger any copyrighted material. Think of all the great peripherals Sony could easily license for use on the PSP (GPS, cameras, cellular broadband tranceivers, dial-up modems, video out, TV/FM/Satellite radio tuner, rumble pak, a module that will give the PSP the same (lame) haptic abilities as the PS3 controls in turn allowing the PSP to be used AS a PS3 controller with extra game information/output/secrets via the screen a la the Dreamcast VMUs, anything). Much like the Clie line of accessories, most of it could just be rebadged stuff with custom drivers, but that's perfect for a company in the financial trouble that Sony is in. They will only have to put in a minimum RD investement, since many of the the products already exist...all they'll do is slap on a label, jack up the price 20% and make money...

Well, this post ran a bit long, but that is how I think the 'PSP' label *could* be saved/revived and even become really cool. If Sony wants a do everything device then they should just go balls to wall and make one with some real utility. And if they're gonna do it, they'd better do it soon. Nintendo is God Emporer of the handheld world, and MS knows a thing or two about handheld electronics and looks to be stepping up in the portable entertainment arena with this 'ZUNE' line we've been hearing about. Sony could take all of that on without too much redesign efforts...but they'd have to swallow a lot of pride...

All in all 'Mike Smith' said it pretty well...

"...there's your fabled "iPod killer." Its staring you in the face, yet you don't see it."

Of course, maybe all of this (including a KB)is slated for a PSP successor of some kind that will come after the PS3 has an actual position in the market (good or bad).

That's really the only reason I can see for not releasing or licensing a KB for the PSP...they are afraid such would canibalize some other product.

We can always hope (sorry for the long post)...

[ipodfanboy @ Jul 24th 2006 11:29AM]

This recent psp news is pretty good to hear espicially for new yorkers,besides the psp only sells well in NYC then anywhere else in the Union. Either way im still keeping my ds and ipod nano. Screw you psp.

[CBG @ Jul 24th 2006 11:44AM]

Mr. Ed- LOL PS3 Blow Ray

[Frangible @ Jul 24th 2006 11:55AM]

"While the PSP has several good games, I don't know if saying that it's better than any DS YOU'VE played really tells us much."

I own a DS lite with pretty much every high rated DS / GBA game. Lenneth is better than all of them.

"Lenneth has received solid but not stunning scores (usually 80%, see gamerankings)."

That's because reviewers are retards. Siphon Filter Dark Mirror was rated higher than Lenneth, but Siphon Filter is just another mediocre FPS.

"One of the chief complaints against it is that the load times are particularly noticable (even when opening an inventory screen)"

The load times are insignificant and don't lessen the fun factor of the game.

"and that it's a virtual exact port of the game from the PS1, with cut-scenes added and nothing else."

So? The fact I played FF1 and FFIV before didn't stop them from being great GBA games. And I didn't even play Lenneth before due to the extreme rarity.

Anyway, I think Lenneth is the best portable game on the market right now if you're an RPG fan, so I'm going to call people on their "no good PSP games" bullshit when I see it.

[caller @ Jul 24th 2006 12:21PM]

The PSP has a lot of great games, as many if not more as the DS has. Here are some reviews of both systems games:

http://psp.ign.com/index/reviews.html

http://ds.ign.com/index/reviews.html

When people say the PSP doesn't have games or doesn't have many games or doesn't have many good games or anything of the sort they are in fact lying.

[Kyle @ Jul 24th 2006 12:48PM]

Hey Frangible, there is a keyword you said that makes all your rambling about Lenneth (which I've never even heard of for it being such a "great" game) completely worthless.

"Anyway, I THINK Lenneth is the best portable game on the market right now if you're an RPG fan, so I'm going to call people on their "no good PSP games" bullshit when I see it."

It's what you think. It doesn't make it fact or even something I'd waste my time on reading twice.

"That's because reviewers are retards."

I'm way mare inclinded to listen to the "retards" that get paid to play games and give me a unbaised review than some fanboy who plays a few games and thinks that his word is suddenly law...

Now excuse while I go back to using my PSP as a $300 paper-weight...

[Steven @ Jul 24th 2006 1:54PM]

I just recently bought the new Nintendo DS lite. It was a hard toss up between this and a PSP. I was very tempted to get the PSP because the graphics are great, the screen is great, I think it's cool that it can play movies, the games aren't that bad (contrary to what others say) but ultimately, there were three reasons I went for the DS Lite:
1) I didn't like the load times at all on the PSP (with portable systems I like to pick-up and play without too much waiting.)
2) The batteries burn out too fast.
3) Easily breakable and considering it's more expensive than the DS I'd cry if I dropped it accidently a week after buying it.

If 1 and 2 were taken care of - or - if it was around the same price as the DS I would have bought it instead.

It turns out that I am very happy with the DS Lite. It really is a very nice system. What the DS Lite lacks though is an analog joystick stick and at least slightly better 3D graphics. Why can't Nintendo put a little more effort into the graphics department? I know, I know, the games are very fun but I do like good graphics, too! Please Nintendo, for once give us really good graphics. I'll pay the extra $10 per unit that it would cost!

[Steven @ Jul 24th 2006 2:09PM]

Just as a clarification to my previous post. I stated, "I'll pay the extra $10 per unit that it would cost!". By that I meant I'd be willing to pay $139 instead of $129 for the DS Lite. I didn't mean I'd cover Nintentdo's cost for *all* units. :)

[minus_273 @ Jul 24th 2006 2:11PM]

Frangible:

Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is also a port. Many people dont want to play ports. When they say no games on the PSP, they mean there are no PSP games, just ports and movies.

[Night Hawk @ Jul 24th 2006 2:34PM]

Why don't they (for the text entry) just do the text entry system they had in Killzone. Where you move the D-Pad (or nubbin') to one side and use the Triangle, Square, Circle, X to select your letter or figure.
It's so increadibly easy to use and quick to put in.
Just my views.

[Frangible @ Jul 24th 2006 3:25PM]

"some fanboy who plays a few games and thinks that his word is suddenly law..."

If I'm a fanboy, why have I spent more money on the DS and own more GBA/DS games? There are more good GBA/DS games than PSP games, that I do not dispute.

"Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is also a port. Many people dont want to play ports. When they say no games on the PSP, they mean there are no PSP games, just ports and movies."

Really? And yet people go bananas about ports and remakes to the DS and GBA of classic games. The fact it's a port is pretty much irrelevant because the original was so rare very few people were able to own it.

And oh really, the PSP is all ports? I don't think so.

The PSP, the DS, both are means to an end. And that end is content. Your preference of the means does not invalidate the content, and I'm assuming everyone is an adult here with enough money to own both systems anyway. Surely that's more logical than lying as people have done and spouting deliberate contradictions in this discussion.

"No good games" ... a lie.
"Only ports" ... a lie.
"No one likes ports" ... a lie.

Care to lie anymore? Or will you actually learn to speak the truth?

Is your opinion so meritless it can only be supported by false witness?

[hardcorespotter @ Jul 24th 2006 5:05PM]

^^ one of those "hardcore" gamers that thinks a game is only good if it has blood and hookers in it.

[psp fw 1.5 @ Jul 27th 2006 5:44PM]

minus_273 wrote;

When they say no games on the PSP, they mean there are no PSP games, just ports and movies.

~Funny that Nintendo is the king of ports and re-releases. How many times can Mario and such be redone for each new system (console and handheld) that Nintendo releases?

Homebrew on the PSP is second to only the GP2X.

[hard-core gamer @ Jul 27th 2006 6:11PM]

I'm a hard-core gamer and an adult.
I have had both handhelds, the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP.

First I bought the DS when it came out in Japan along with Super Mario 64 game. It was great being able to play a 3d mario game (a first for a Nintendo handheld). I really bought into the whole dual screen and touch screen concept. I found it awkward and not fun to play using the stylus after a while.

Then the PSP gets released in Japan. I dumped the DS and jumped on the PSP wagon of wide-screen gaming and movie viewing. I have to admit, the umd from the get-go was a bad idea. An exclusive Sony format, which results in higher prices for games and movies, then again so is the memory stick pro duo that Sony uses. Instead of using cheaper more friendlier formats like SD, CF ms.

The biggest problem with loadtimes is due to the umd to motherboard internal connection that acts as a toll-booth and slows down data transfer. A situation first discovered by game designers at EAgames working on the psp. There is now a work around via homebrew, firmware and copying game image to play direct from the psp's ms. Games like GTA:LCS and MC3D plays much quicker and better via the ms instead of off of the umd.

In the end it comes to what gives you fun.