http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/ Engadget Comments for Sony bigwig hints at GPS-enabled PSP games http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 7:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 10:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/
Are you using the Jamaican phrase "I and I" or are you really comparing the PSP's "internet" to yourself? That isn't a fair fight. ]]>Jul 23rd 2008 10:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/
Like... "Arrive at your Destination"

Hard Mode: Arrive at your Destination Drunk
Extreme Mode: Arrive at your Destination Drunk (with your eyes closed)

That horse won't drink, monsignor.]]>Jul 23rd 2008 10:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/
Now if Sony wanted to,they could just keep the standard psp the way it is and make an "enhanced version,with a touch screen,internal memory for maps,etc,gps,and better speakers with built-in mic.An all-in-wonder of sorts.

At least that's the way it's gonna have to be in order for me use it as a truly functional gps.
I would like to hear what everyone else has to say about it.]]>Jul 23rd 2008 12:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Seriously, who's gonna buy that GPS add-on for a PSP?
---------
I did.
So did at least a few others who hacked their PSPs, running the homebrew app "MapThis!" on it. Now that Go!Explore is released for Europe, there's little reason for many Europeans to run MapThis!, besides cost.


Ace b @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:15AM
the reason why it wont be a success is because the psp doesnt have a touch screen.Im not trying to make an "insert i product here" mention but seriously,how many gps's have you seen that don't have a touch screen that actually work well.It's kinda of a necessity.
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A few months ago I cheekily tried the UK Go!Explore maps off the torrents out of pure curiosity. The interface and typing is done surprisingly well (on the 'smart' keyboard that blanks out letters for non-existent street names, etc).

It's quite fast, especially compared to the usual PSP numpad/keyboard interface (which infuriates me). I had my doubts about how well it would do as well, but I'm happy to say it's a joy to use. To top it off, the other buttons on the PSP are put to really really good, logical use moving around in the software. Overall, a good GPS hardware device (not exactly SIRF sensitivity, though) with good software (if using Go!Explore), and enough languages to satisfy most Europeans (of which I am not, so I continue to use MapThis! for basic location info when carrying my PSP).

They really did a fine job. Nav N Go and TeleAtlas maps.]]>Jul 23rd 2008 12:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/

The only way that GPS-enabled games (which is intriguing) would ever start catching on, besides coming up with some really clever ways of integrating that feature into the games, is if devices like the PSP have GPS integrated.

No developer is going to waste his time, money, and energy designing games to take advantage of GPS where he has to pin his hopes of game sales on a mere handful of people going out and buying some stupid, bulky GPS add-on. Few consumers are going to do that. GPS needs to be integrated.

People want convergence - everything integrated into a sleek, sexy device - not a bunch of stupid add-ons they have to carry and mess around with. People hate add-ons.

And while I'm at it, in addition to integrated GPS, the PSP also needs a bunch of other updates.

And here's where I switch gears...

The truth is, that although the PSP is a cool little device in some ways (I own one myself), it's on its way out. Soon, dedicated gaming machines like the PSP (and even the DS Lite) will just die off. Mobile phones will serve as the centerpiece of all our mobile gaming - that's where things are just beginning to find themselves, continue to head, and will root themselves, as our phones continue to evolve. We're not firmly planted there yet, but the writing is clearly on the wall for anyone with even the slightest shred of vision.

But for the time being, if the PSP has even the slightest chance of slowing its inevitable demise, it's in DESPERATE need of a complete overhaul. Sony will need to:

- '86 the UMD drive (which is a totally useless, battery-draining, and stupid way of delivering games)
- Add in GPS (with a good chipset, not just A-GPS) and with good voice-supported, TBT-driven software
- Add a touchscreen
- Add an on-screen keyboard (or at least a screen-sliding mechanism to reveal a tactile keyboard) for easier text entry (especially for when online)
- Add more OS memory (especially for rendering webpages)
- Keep ad-hoc WiFi, but add A2DP BT
- Integrate 16-32 GB of flash memory while keeping the memory card slot (and make it SDHC - get rid of Memory Stick)
- Reduce the size of the whole device considerably
- Do all this while maintaining or improving battery life

Sony is going to have to do this or the iPhone with its GPS and new found gaming capability (both of which need to improve, but undoubtedly will) will replace the PSP, and for some, already has... but apart from games, who even seriously uses the bulky PSP for movies, music, and photos? Eventually, Apple will undoubtedly release an updated iPod Touch with GPS (and its update already allows for the same gaming and most software capabilities as the iPhone 2.0).

If you could do everything on an iPhone or similar phone or iPod Touch (GPS, games, movies, music, photos, and even cellular and other wireless communications, PIM, productivity, etc.), for a similar price (or even a bit more), why would you ever need or even want a bulkier, lackluster PSP?

The truth is, Sony will have to make a mobile phone that can handle gaming like a PSP. That's how the landscape is being shaped. Soon, you won't even be able to enter the mobile gaming market place without your device doubling as a mobile phone. And that's where Sony's attentions really need to be, if they aren't already.

Don't believe me? Look around. This is where devices are headed, and although this is not about Apple, Apple happens to be the one who is not only raising the standards of convergence and how portable devices need to be, but they're the one who is seriously raising consumer awareness and expectations in regards to these things. And other manufacturers are catching wind of this and responding like crazy. And a silly little GPS add-on with a few games for an outdated PSP ain't gonna cut it in this landscape! Not to mention, most of the games for the PSP are lame. I don't even remember the last time I played the stupid thing!

Wake up, Sony!
]]>Jul 23rd 2008 6:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/
*SuperSexyErik (^_^) is pelted with zunes*]]>Jul 23rd 2008 12:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/
Sorry!]]>Jul 23rd 2008 12:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/
@ JohnTitor

That was why I put "Oh, crap" at the end of my post (ironic joke)...;-)]]>Jul 23rd 2008 12:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/

]]>Jul 23rd 2008 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/
Obviously the above are all irresponsible ways of implementing such features, but give me an example of a game using real world gps that won't cause issues? I'm having trouble thinking of any though that might just be my lack of imagination...]]>Jul 23rd 2008 4:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 10:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/the iphone at its core is just a phone, dont forget that.]]>Jul 23rd 2008 12:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/iPhone is a phone...but that's a small feauture, at it's core it's a mobile computer platform.]]>Jul 23rd 2008 12:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/
Idiot, making things have more features is progress! If the person who invented to wheel said "this is still just a rock, I better not forget that" we wouldn't exactly be doing to hot, would we?]]>Jul 23rd 2008 12:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Where u been bro??
I've been fighting these apple haters by myself ;(
:D]]>Jul 23rd 2008 1:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/the point im making is that people dont buy psp's for phone calls. not that they cant skype, but its not the main purpose.
@ who
seems we like to argue, i didnt criticize the iphones capabilities, but im just stating that the iphone isnt as capable as running games as a system designed specifically for that purpose. and as for your analogy, the concept of the wheel has remained much unchanged to this day disregarding materials and manufacturing techniques.]]>Jul 23rd 2008 2:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/ Japan has had the GPS and Camera add-on's for over two years.
We in the United States and Europe( if they haven't gotten both yet) are sick of waiting!

Signed,
Western PSP owners]]>Jul 23rd 2008 12:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Disover e-commerce and homebrew.

Signed,
Howard Stringer
Mapthis! forum mod and homebrew connoisseur]]>Jul 23rd 2008 12:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 1:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 4:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 3:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/
I know, that's what the 'Oh crap' was for... (it was supposed to be a joke) ;-)]]>Jul 23rd 2008 12:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/
Sorry!]]>Jul 23rd 2008 12:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 12:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/The cops didn't believe me...]]>Jul 23rd 2008 12:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Metal Gear Portable Ops supports the GPS addon ]]>Jul 23rd 2008 2:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 2:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/Jul 23rd 2008 3:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/sony-bigwig-hints-at-gps-enabled-psp-games/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov0I5kUrTcU&feature=related

The add-on costs 150€ with the software, which is pretty steep anyhow. The PSP + GPS bundle goes for 250€ which is much more acceptable though...

]]>Jul 23rd 2008 3:35AM