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Sony exec says UMD-less PSP was "always the plan"
Well, it's no secret that plenty of folks have been talking about a UMD-less PSP since day one, but it looks like that's been the case behind the scenes at Sony as well, at least according to the company's head of product planning, Naoya Matsui. Speaking with GameBusiness.jp, he said that Sony has "planned to release a PSP model without a UMD drive since the very beginning," but that if "we'd simply released the hardware, there wouldn't have been much for everyone to enjoy," adding that Sony "needed to prepare the right environment for it first - things like the transferal of content with the PS3 and PSN, and PC software to manage content like music and movies such as Media Go." Matsui further went on to explain that Sony also had to wait until the "delivery of digital content was on par with the delivery of physical media," which it obviously thinks has now finally happened.[Via Joystiq]
PSP and 360 Chatpad hacked into laptop (albeit for very small laps)
We've seen our share of PSP mods in the past -- it sure seems like everyone has an opinion on how to improve the thing. Acidmods.com member Folklord36's innovation has been to place the device in a clamshell scrounged from a Joytech Visor. But the pièce de résistance? The working keyboard, which once belonged to an Xbox 360 Chatpad. This is a hack in progress, so we can expect to see this guy become even more refined in the near future. That said, there's been lots of work done here: speakers moved, LEDs installed in speaker holes and triggers, and of course the case itself. Kudos, our man. Kudos. [Thanks, Robin]
Video: White PSPgo hands-on
Sure, speaking with Sony's John Koller was great and all, but one of the real treats with the interview was some quiet hands-on time with a white PSP Go, unfortunately not turned on but with the same build quality and weight as its functional black model (also found tagging along to the Q&A). Our impression of the device is largely unchanged from the initial experience -- a sturdy build that's surprisingly light, although with this go around we didn't find the shoulder buttons to be more comfortable this time. Still, our interest wanes pretty dramatically when we're reminded of its $249 price tag, but enough with our chatter, hit up the break for an up-close video of all its nooks and crannies, and while you're there, stick around for more tidbits from our interview.
Sony working on "good will" program to give digital copies of your UMD collection
We just sat down for an interview with Sony's John Koller, who among many other interesting tidbits and factoids (more on those later) assuaged fears that our giant UMD library would be entirely forsaken. While light on details -- they're still figuring it out, he said -- there will be a "good will" program by which owners of current disc-based titles will be able to obtain digital copies for use on the PSP Go -- "a set number of titles for a set period of time," to be exact. He couldn't confirm all games, or at least all your personal collection, would be transferrable -- that might have to do with the number of digitized games they'll have at launch, which will be at least 300 but not the whole back catalog -- but despite calling it a short-term program he did say, should you receive a new UMD game later down the line, you should still be able to make the digital transfer. As for price, we're still looking to confirm something there, but they wouldn't be putting so much effort into the program if it wasn't at least for a discount, if not free. If you happen to like your discs, Koller said UMDs aren't going by the wayside so long as the PSP is still around, but he expects digital to start taking an increasing share. Looking to the future, he confirmed all first-party titles and most third-party titles (by the developers' own volition, not a mandate) will be available as digital downloads day and date with the UMD hard copies, and yeah, despite the reduced shipping and manufacturing costs, it'll be for the same price, too.
Nyko launches Type Pad Pro for Wii, gonzo Zoom Case for DSi
Oh, Nyko -- always keeping us on our toes. After showcasing the Wii Pistol Grip at CeBIT, the company is swinging big at E3 with a few new accessories. Starting things off is the abomination you see above, which sure looks an awful lot like some janky knockoff cellphone we peeked back in August. Officially, the Zoom Case for DSi protects your handheld and provides an 8x zoom for magnifying the external camera; never mind the fact that it makes your DSi infinitely less portable. Moving on, there's the Charge Grip Flex, a accessory for the PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 that sports a built-in rechargeable battery and a bonus gripping surface. For the Xbox 360, there's the SpeakerCom 360, which enables your parents to hear all those whining tweens brag in fantastically high tones about how they just "pwned you." Lastly, there's the Type Pad Pro for Wii, a wireless keypad (via USB) that makes typing in Opera or messaging your pals a heck of a lot simpler. Mum's the word on pricing and availability right now, but all that should change soon enough.
PSP 3000 hacked, with homebrew soon to follow
The intersection of PSP 3000 and Hack St. has thus far been a pretty lonely little place, so we're pleased to announce that the ChickHEN project is definitely gaining some momentum. According to one extra special YouTube video, hacksters are now able to run the TIFF exploit and boot into a homebrew enabler environment on a PSP 2003 and a PSP 3000 running 5.03 firmware. The code is seen surviving a reboot, and both the system software and MAC address can be changed. While not ready for prime time yet, this does pave the way for emulators, PSP uCLinux, and all of those other things that keep all you homebrew fans happy at night. Video after the break, if you dare. [Via Technabob]
PSP mod adds mouse, a touch of class to Sony's beloved handheld
Not all input devices are created equal. Some of us long for that old coin-op console joystick every time we bring up GalagaREMIX on the iPhone, while others can't imagine engaging in a first person shooter without the aid of his or her trusty mouse. To that end, PSP hacker TokyoDrift (not his / her real name) has wired an old PS2 mouse into his portable's serial port, by way of an ATMEL ATmega8 chip-sporting breadboard. The various PSP buttons can be mapped to the mouse's buttons or scroll wheel, and scaling and sample rates are adjustable. We know there are plenty of you out there that can't wait to try this one out for yourself -- so hit the read link, peruse the forums, and get inspired. [Via SlashGear]
UMD-less Patapon 2 officially released for PSP, another brick in the wall?
Joystiq reported back in April that Patapon 2's release would be a UMD-less affair, and now it's officially here. The followup game is now available as a digital download on the PSN, and as a redemption code voucher in retail locations. The sans-UMD format is a United States only test for Sony, and certainly leads us to wonder if that UMD-less PSP could possibly, potentially be in the works. The $19.99 title is available today, disc-less PSP available in your wildest dreams.
Sony patents PSP-controlled spy car
Check it out, all you budding G. Gordon Liddys -- if the usual assortment of spy gadgets isn't doing the job, Sony's got something in the works that should be right up your alley. According to a little site called Siliconera, Sony's European arm has filed a patent for a remote-controlled car uses the PSP as an interface. This bad boy is equipped with a camera that feeds video back to the hand held and allows the user to upload the footage to a website. If that weren't all, the patent makes mention of an augmented reality racing game incorporating virtual markers and paths that the players physically create -- that is, the junk in your apartment is incorporated into on-screen game play. Innocent fun, right? Well, perhaps -- at least until Iran gets involved. They're still pretty bent by the whole squirrel thing.[Via Joystiq]
PSP2 rumor surfaces once more, sounds awfully familiar
The PSP2 rumor mill has certainly been cranking overtime as of late, and it doesn't seem to be showing any signs of slowing down, even if it isn't exactly churning out many new rumors. This time, however, they're apparently be backed up by a developer source "close to Sony," who again says that the PSP2 (or PSP-4000, as it's also being called) will ditch the UMD drive and add a sliding screen that covers most of the controls when it's closed. According to the source, that would still let folks play games like LocoRoco that only use the shoulder buttons when it's closed, and Sony is reportedly keen to get developers to create more games that can be played in that state. No word on a release date from the latest source, unfortunately, although Eurogamer seems to be sticking to its earlier report that it'll launch by the end of the year.[Via GameDaily]
Sony, Nintendo and Nokia sued for making gaming devices that do stuff
While most folks welcome gaming devices that do more than simply play games, Texas-based Wall Wireless LLC seems to think that's a bit over the line, at least when it's not getting a piece of the action. More specifically, the little known company says that Sony, Nintendo, and Nokia are infringing on its patent for a "Method and Apparatus for Creating and Distributing Real-Time Interactive Media Content Through Wireless Communication Networks and the Internet," which apparently relates to someone distributing "messages having aural or visual content that is generated by the operator using handheld apparatuses such as mobile telephones." According to Wall Wireless, that patent not only covers the DS and PSP, but specific games like Mario Kart and Wipeout Pulse, and a whole host of Nokia's game-playing phones, including the N95, N93, and N82. As a result, it's seeking a permanent injunction against the allegedly infringing companies lest it be "irreparably harmed," as well as the usual damages, expenses, and attorney's fees, not to mention "pre-judgment and post-judgment interest."[Via Register Hardware]
Sony PSP2 rumors debunked, probably not for the last time
OK, guys and gals, we hate to break it to you -- John Koller, Sony's Director of Hardware Marketing has said it in plain English: "no plans for a PSP2 are underway." Apparently, the company is pushing developers towards the PlayStation store for their primary point of sale, a move that some people have taken to mean that the companies have been secretly developing games for some sort of new platform. Of course, in the light of some similarly "cryptic" statements we reported yesterday, some folks might continue to be gullible skeptical. Which is fine, as long as nobody asks us when the device pictured above will be released. 'Cos it won't be. Evar.
Apple's Greg Joswiak touts iPod touch as the future of handheld gaming
We speculated in our review of the new iPod touch that Apple had designs on more than just consumption of music and video, and now an interview with company VP of iPod and iPhone product marketing Greg Joswiak all but confirms that sights are set on the gaming market. In a conversation with T3, Joswiak boasts that the devices are breaking through as a viable alternative to established handhelds (such as the PSP or DS) due mostly in part to competitive software pricing and the company's content delivery system. While much of the interview focuses on iPod sales figures, it does delve into more detailed comparisons of platforms, with Joswiak stating, "The 3D graphic power here [iPod touch] is significantly greater than what you have here [picks up Nintendo DS]. So this allows people to do significantly higher quality games." While it's not unusual to hear Apple's honchos hyping their products like they just skipped across some water to heal a few lepers, it is a new trend to see the company aggressively going after gaming platform mainstays so directly. With Sony and Nintendo just getting up to speed on non-traditional content delivery, Apple may find an edge come holiday season with casual gamers -- the real question is whether the hardcore will bite.[Via Eurogamer; Thanks, Zach M.]
Apple poised to become a mobile gaming force
Welcome to last year, Business Week. Their writer Arik Hesseldahl has a story up about how Apple seems poised to take over the mobile gaming world this holiday. He's been playing with an iPod touch and the games available on the App Store, and he's ready to drink the Kool-aid: what Apple's assembled on their mobile devices rivals some of the experiences on the Nintendo DS or Sony PSP.Not really news to us here at TUAW, of course, but he's right about one thing: this holiday is all-important for Apple in finding a foothold with the iPod touch. Halloween's over, gift shopping is only a few weeks away, and Apple needs to prove why people interested in handheld gaming should pick up a touch before the DSi (and its App Store-style online store) or a new Sony device make their way to our shores.The good news for Apple is that the games are getting better, and that the touch brings a lot more functionality to the mix (iPod, utility apps) than a dedicated gaming device would. But then again, Nintendo and Sony are established brands for gamers, and even kids looking for a game machine from Santa probably won't have an iPod touch first on their list. We'll have to see how it all plays out.
PSP-3000 put under microscope, interlacing issue exposed
You know those complaints about the ugly, old-school looking interlacing lines that many (ourselves included) have reported seeing on the new PSP-3000? The specific issue has been uncovered -- but not by Sony. A group of concerned French gamers with a 40x microscope think it all comes down to that most mellow of colors: blue. LCDs are comprised of RGB pixels that, combined, form all the rainbow of hues in between. As you can see in the picture above, the PSP-2000's LCD (left) used pixels in a vertical orientation, and the blue pixels were fairly light in color. On the PSP-3000 (right), the pixels are now arranged horizontally, and the blue ones are far darker than before. The dark horizontal lines result in the heinous interlacing, an effect that any Command & Conquer player will tell you wasn't even cool in the 90's. Sony's already called this a "feature" and not a flaw, so if you absolutely must buy a PSP this holiday season the folks at Logic-Sunrise who took the above pics recommend you buy an older 2000-series -- while you still can.[Thanks Pierce]
Sony offers a PSP Entertainment pack for $199
Sony will sell the PSP in a new "Entertainment Pack" -- for $199, they'll include a silver slim PSP, Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters, a 1gb memory stick, a voucher for Echochrome, and a copy of National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets. Yeah, we know, the Nicholas Cage blockbuster really makes it.If you haven't grabbed a PSP yet, this could be just the deal you've been waiting for. Sony says it'll be in stores this fall.
Point: Uh, yeah, it totally will get redesigned
While we all think it would be totally rad if Nintendo issued either another redesigned DS model or a whole new handheld unit altogether, certain things must be considered first. Like, will it make Nintendo some money? Also, is there a demand? And, finally, is the DS as it is now outdated and no longer a viable option for the consumer?Let's look at the facts, folks: The original Game Boy released in 1989 and saw several revisions, including a color change in 1995, a smaller system in the Game Boy Pocket in 1996, the Game Boy Light in 1997 and the Game Boy Color in 1998 The Game Boy Advance released in 2001 and saw 2 revisions before it was officially retired, with the Game Boy Advance SP releasing in 2003 and the Game Boy Advance Micro releasing in 2005 The original DS was released in 2004 and since has received one revision, in the DS Lite, which released in 2006 But, this is not all that needs be considered. For one, the DS Lite is still selling incredibly well, and Nintendo might think to adopt the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" plan of attack on this one, choosing to sit back and let the thing sell as long as it possibly can. However, due to the lowering manufacturing costs and Nintendo's profit on each unit sold, a revision with newer features might be manufactured for the same, or a very similar, price. This would allow Nintendo to sell the new unit at a higher price than the DS Lite and make even more money on each handheld sold. There goes the answer to the first question.What about demand? Well, the demand for the existing DS Lite is there, but we'll be the first to tell you that, while we love the handheld , it's not perfect. Alterations in the best interest of the handheld may still be made, including generic improvements such as improving battery life and the like.If the people still love the DS Lite, we find little reason for them not to upgrade and froth at the mouth for something like a DS Liter.What about its use to the consumer? Does it still remain a great choice for the general consumer? Sure, but in technology years, the thing is like a Brontosauras with Jesus resting comfortably on top of it. What we're saying is, the thing is old. While its appeal may never go away thanks to the easy control scheme and mountains of amazing titles available for it, one cannot ignore the competition. As new features are released everyday for Sony's PSP system, the DS Lite is increasingly dwarfed by the technological wizardry capable with Sony's handheld. If Nintendo went with a new version of the DS, we'd like to see them implement some of the more standard technological features that exist in other handheld devices on the market.So will Nintendo release a revision to the DS? Sure, whether it's a new handheld entirely or a new DS, Nintendo would be crazy not to build on what they have with the DS Lite. Will we see it at E3 this year? This blogger thinks so, because, to be honest, what other megatons could they possibly drop on us? placeholdertext Back Not so fast there!
iPhone has the potential to take over handheld gaming
Roughly Drafted has a nice, long analysis of the iPhone as a gaming device, and they hit on a lot of great reasons why the iPhone seems destined to be a great gaming platform. Not only will it have the hardware chops to play games (including a few input devices that no other handheld gaming consoles have ever had), but Apple's SDK implementation, when it finally gets off the ground in June anyway, seems poised to let almost anyone develop any game ideas they have for the device. Throw in a great distribution platform and a relative lack of competition on the handheld platform (Nintendo is undoubtedly working on a successor to the DS, but other than that, there are no real next-generation contenders so far), and Apple apparently has the potential to do very well in the gaming market.In fact, the only problem that Apple might bump up against in building up in the iPhone as a gaming device is the cost -- at $400, it'll be the most expensive gaming handheld out there. But given that it's actually a smartphone, and thus actually benefits from an already installed user base (people who have the iPhone may very well be people who will have never purchased or used a handheld gaming platform before), the price may not be that big an obstacle to ownership.And if they can build up a respectable library of game titles, they could even brand an iPod touch/phoneless iPhone as a gaming unit, and sell that at a price that would compete with Sony's PSP and Nintendo's DS. Apple has never historically pushed for the forefont of anything in gaming, but if their showing at the SDK event is any indication, they may be lining up to make the iPhone the place to play handheld videogames in the future.[Via IMG]
Sony Ericsson to launch new phones June 14th?
Yes, Apple's iPhone is just a few mere weeks away from being released on the AT&T network in the U.S., but other handset manufacturers aren't sitting idly by. In fact, word on the street is that some major new handsets from multimedia-heavy handset maker Sony Ericsson will be announced next week on June 14th. Right now, there are no rumored specifics on models, capabilities or anything else -- but rumor has it that a "piece of equipment" related to the Sony PSP and a possible handset with a 5 megapixel camera are on tap. With the recent PSP phone patent by Sony Ericsson, does the company plan on a big announcement next week in that regard? Keep an eagle eye out to Sony Ericsson's website and more, as will we.[Via Boy Genius Report]
Sony's PSP-handset hybrid device patent
Is Sony working on a PlayStation Portable/cellphone combo? From a recent U.S. Patent Office filing, we're pretty sure the company is. While the prototype represented above is full o' buttons, we're salivating at the chance of having a PSP and higher-end Sony (Ericsson?) in one device. Past pure-play gaming handsets have not been that successful (N-Gage, anyone?). But, with a popular and portable gaming platform established already, Sony may have a winner should it choose to come to market with a device like this. Note to Sony: let's try to make it a tad more successful than the last try in this space by Nokia, mkay?[Via Howard Forums]
