Smash my PSP: katana claims victory over Sony handheld

While a bevy of gadgets have been laid to rest for 15 seconds of YouTube fame, Sony's PSP has somehow eluded the brutal beatings that the iPod, PlayStation 3, Wii, and other highly coveted gizmos have suffered. Unfortunately, the PlayStation Portable has now received the same off-kilter treatment as the electronics that have come (and gone) before, as a couple of rowdy youngsters with a faux katana laid the smack down on a helpless PSP. Interestingly, the device seemed to hold up fairly well to the bashing it took, but we can't help but wonder just how sharp the sword was that was used in this melee. Seriously, we know how bad you want a PSP2 to finally surface, but we promise that getting medieval on your current rendition won't encourage those Sony execs to move their plans along any faster. If you dare, click on through for the ruthless obliteration.

[Via PSPFanboy]

[LukeA @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:27PM]

That place is a mess.

What kind ofdork owns a katana?

[NiGhTmArE @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:42PM]

Care to explain why owning a Katana would make someone a dork?

[LukeA @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:27PM]

You know what I meant.

[Grant H @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:29PM]

Slow news day?

[tgernon @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:29PM]

talk about expensive trends...

[Dolla Dolla @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:33PM]

A perfectly good waste of some of the best homebrew/hacking hardware on the whole damn planet.

If he was a true beast with the kitana, like say, Jubei Kibagami, it would've taken only one slice.

[NiGhTmArE @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:46PM]

Most likely the PSP was bricked or damaged somehow and the Katana was no doubt a show peice.

I believe that the Xbox takes the award for being the best homebrew hardware, but the PSP being best homebrew *handheld* would indeed be a true statement.

[mastershake916 @ Jan 22nd 2007 5:08PM]

Best homebrew/hacking hardware?
Clearly you have never heard of the Gamepark GP2X.

[JON BLAST @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:50PM]

There are two types of people who own katanas.

1. Ninjas

2. People who have die cast dungeons and dragons pieces, listen to bands with names like Dragynfyre, have Star Wars avatars in Second Life, and drive their mom's 1999 Ford Windstar to Best Buy to camp out for WoW Expansions. These people are also known as "dorks".

I'm guessing the guy in the video belongs in category number 2.

[JON BLAST @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:50PM]

There are two types of people who own katanas.

1. Ninjas

2. People who have die cast dungeons and dragons pieces, listen to bands with names like Dragynfyre, have Star Wars avatars in Second Life, and drive their mom's 1999 Ford Windstar to Best Buy to camp out for WoW Expansions. These people are also known as "dorks".

I'm guessing the guy in the video belongs in category number 2.

[mark @ Jan 22nd 2007 5:27PM]

What about a normal PC?

[NiGhTmArE @ Jan 22nd 2007 5:39PM]

I posted a reply about my comment but its not showing up?

Anyway, my choice of hardware was based on systems not orignally designed for homebrew, shame I can't edit and clarify that.

[Nipponese @ Jan 22nd 2007 5:17PM]

JON BLAST, you mean to tell me that Samurais didn't carry katanas? Seriously though, I think you should learn how to respect and handle the weapon if you're going to own one. Although being Japanese, I chose to learn Chinese weapons. Straight sword, spear, three section staff, and the northern staff are my choice weapons.

[Septimus @ Jan 22nd 2007 5:26PM]

Moron.

People who train in Bushido also own Katana's, other blades.

I have Samurai's made for me in Japan, does that make me a dork as it is part of my Martial Art?

Basically STFU, I doubt you could afford a real Katana (which the one in the video obviously isn't, you wouldn't disrespect it in such a way).

[Richard Lai @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:54PM]

I so wish the PSP's battery had blown up right in front of them.

[Johnny @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:57PM]

"While a bevy of gadgets have been laid to rest for 15 seconds of YouTube fame, Sony's PSP has somehow eluded the brutal beatings that the iPod, PlayStation 3, Wii, and other highly coveted gizmos have suffered."

False.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLremCU6J-U

[Veritas II @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:58PM]

Actually the PSP did get the SmashYourX treatment awhile back. As I recall they smashed it with a hammer, dragged along on a string for awhile, and then smashed it with a hammer some more.

[A @ Jan 22nd 2007 5:04PM]

I think the broth recipe playing on te TV in the background was more interesting.

[v_dogg @ Jan 22nd 2007 5:05PM]

wow these idiots need to clean their apartment and put away that sword. oh and I'm not sure how this made it on engadget...

[Veritas II @ Jan 22nd 2007 5:03PM]

That's the one I was thinking of, but I found another one while looking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S0MhDBjx4U

[Tom Reinke @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:07PM]

I own a gun.

I win.

[Ignacio @ Jan 22nd 2007 8:54PM]

"being Japanese, I chose to learn Chinese weapons. Straight sword, spear, three section staff, and the northern staff are my choice weapons."

Why, are you afraid some ninja is going to sneak into your house and try to kill you? You know, a regular thief would probably carry a gun... See http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082971/
;-)

[Alex @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:03PM]

You have Samurai made for you ? So there's someone who makes people for you ? I didn't know that was possible. Bwahahaha.

[SpaceButler @ Jan 22nd 2007 8:16PM]

He said ninjas, which in case you're just arrogant and/or retarded, you would assume also meant everything else associated with martial arts or eastern swordplay practices. Sorry he didnt bother to list everything off so you couldn't rush in and play the game of bitchy semantics.

If you're so disciplined in a martial art, which is about honor, why are you posting "STFU" on a blog, then implying the guy can't afford one? It's probably because you're some mouthbreathing supernerd who buys weapons that you will never EVER use in real combat. It's a nice hobby, but don't think that suddenly you're going to be some epic hero as a result of your training, and likewise stop thinking that suddenly you're in a position of power. You're an internet nerd like every other poster here, stop pretending otherwise.

[Lawrence @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:27PM]

Not necessarily. It has been proven that a katana can cut a fired bullet in half. And anyone that knows how to use a katana properly could very well f*ck you up before you had a chance to get a shot off.

Nevertheless, guns are fun.

[Foamator @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:23PM]

SmashmyiPod was funny, but after that it just got boring.

[Jeff @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:25PM]

"There are two types of people who own katanas.

1. Ninjas"

Of all the people who have ever owned katanas, ninjas are not among them. Ninjas carry an entirely different type of sword.

Samurai and eventually regular old enlisted army foot soldiers carried katana. They were in regular use in the Japanese armed forces until the end of WWII. (They were then banned under the same US-drafted law that outlawed guns - a pretty effective piece of legislation, actually.)

The point being, you don't even know enough to talk about it. So you may as well just be quiet.

I can't get this video to work (probably my work internet connection) but if that PSP doesn't slice open cleanly at the first whack, then that's not a real katana. A real katana will slice open a stalk of bamboo (which is much harder than the shell of a PSP) so cleanly that it barely even moves. These are swords made specifically for cutting, as opposed to stabbing or hacking. They are extremely sharp and carry a lot of cutting force when swung properly.

This is most likely a replica sword without an edge; that's the most common kind of "katana" sold in this country (or Japan, for that matter, given that the real kind is illegal to carry).

[Tom Reinke @ Jan 22nd 2007 6:55PM]

I don't really want to start an argument, but first off, I would really like to see someone block a shot fired with a sword. You'd have to have reflexes that are faster than 755 feet per second... Secondly, even if you did cut the bullet in half, the bullet would split and you'd possibly have two half sized entry wounds instead of one.

[August @ Jan 27th 2007 5:06PM]

Yeah.

I'd love to see you cut a .308 round in two when I'm lying prone 200 yards away and have you still manage to miraculously "fuc k" me up.

Or a simple a 9mm from 15 yards away.

[Lawrence @ Jan 22nd 2007 7:00PM]

It's not an argument, just info. Of course they shot at a stationary katana...but they're ridiculously sharp.

[hemmy @ Jan 22nd 2007 10:38PM]

So. Dumb.