PSP2 this year?

[cliffbo]

Now, since the PlayStation 3 launched in the USA and Japan, head of Sony's Worldwide Studios, Phil Harrison, has been going on about how 2007 is the “Year of Software”. It appears, however, that either someone’s not been inviting him to meetings, or the rising chorus that “the PlayStation Portable 2 will be here this year!” stories are wrong.

What looks like a rumour could have more to stand up on than hope, headlines and hot-air, however, if the sources we have spoken to are to be believed. While we are standing by the request for anonymity, it does appear that certain developers have already been given an inkling that PSP2 games should be in their budgets and on their schedules before the year is out.

So, what makes a PSP2? Well, two-screens (you’d be fool not to emulate Nintendo’s DS winning formula) and 8Gb internal flash memory. Also, according to Kotaku, the unit will retain the controversial UMD media format as well.

Bear in mind that Sony has categorically denied the PSP2 is coming... this year.


Yes, bear that in mind.

http://www.gametab.com/news/840900/

[Coded-Dude]

olol....no

Wouldn't that kind of make the PSP a wasted development.
Budgeting for games this year doesn't automatically mean a PSP2 is coming this year.
It could be next year of the year after.......

They may start releasing dev kits, targeted specs, libraries, etc.......but I still expect PSP2 to have micro-cell, which is not yet available.

[user friendly]

If this new one could play old psp games as well then I would definitely pick it up.

[Coded-Dude]

It would either be WAY more expensive than PSP, or they'd have to cut the PSP price considerably.
Either way, I'm still calling Bull$...

[cliffbo]

If this new one could play old psp games as well then I would definitely pick it up.

it says it supports UMDs so yes it will play older games

[Coded-Dude]

We may see some target renders at E3 for what they hope to accomplish, or even some playable demo's on a dev machine(I doubt it), but again.....don't expect a consumer product to be ready anytime this year - thats all I'm saying.

[Vegtro]

I'm expecting a PSP redesign in this year or next and not a PSP2 until probably 2010-11.

[Coded-Dude]

yep, Micro(or mini) Cell is still a ways out, and I don't think Kutagari would let PSP2 out without this little bugger in it.

[Olz]

Am I the only one to notice the "according to Kotaku" part of that quote? I can't help feeling that after their recent clash with Sony that:
a) Just around now they will start posting almost anything as news, including made up rumours to get attention again.
b) Their sources are going to be less inclined to tell them as much information.

Obviously the whole article isn't written by Kotaku, but I can't help feeling they might have been a source of some of the rumours involved. What do you guys think? Obviously PSP2 is inevitable, but not this soon. I cannot see Sony making a new piece of hardware (PSP2) that will almost be in competition to what according to them is "selling well" (PSP). It seems even more unlikely when you take into account the standard Sony 5 year lifetime for a PS before replacement. This is nowhere near up yet. I could understand a PSP revision, but not a full on PSP2.

[Luis]

Redesign? Maybe. New PSP? Not so soon.

[TimmyJ]

If it turned out to be a clamshell PSP with a non-ghosting screen then I'd be a happy chappy.

As for the flash thing, maybe there would be some sort of UMD caching system to extend battery life and reduce load times?

*sigh* I'll just stop wishing now

[Vegtro]

http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Pr...00409/04-048E/

This is what I'm expecting for the screen PSP redesign. OLED provides 10 times the contrast ratio, double the color, wider viewing angles, much faster response time, and lower power consumption.

[user friendly]

2 mem stick ports would be nice or a upgradable HDD. dual analogs of course, and a bit bulkier of a feel to it. I know they wouldnt want it beeing bigger but I get hand cramps if I play for more than an hour (rarely).

[Danji]

The statement "you’d be fool not to emulate Nintendo’s DS winning formula" is ridiculously retarded. Just because something is successful doesn't mean that someone is going to be successful copying it.

I haven't really looked into the mini-cell or OLED technology but I feel that it's still a while off. I expect a price cut this year though.

[Newboi]

A PSP2 wouldn't make sense this early.

Many recent PSP purchasers would be very angry and alienated.

Maybe in 2 or 3 years.

[Krad]

I'm with Aficionado on this one.

OLED is definitely a good way to go for the PSP redesign. Flash memory... very PSP2, in my opinion.

[Lucent Beam]

The statement "you’d be fool not to emulate Nintendo’s DS winning formula" is ridiculously retarded. Just because something is successful doesn't mean that someone is going to be successful copying it..

Yeah. I will be annoyed big time if PSP# ever has a second screen. There is nothing wrong with the tried and true format of one screen and if the PSP can't make itself sucessful without ripping a 2nd screen from the DS, then that's just lame.

That said, Sony would look rather foolish if "PSP2" came out so quickly as anything but a redesign of the current PSP. The system is only 2 years old stateside, and a two year life on a portable..... meh.

[Z]

two-screens (you’d be fool not to emulate Nintendo’s DS winning formula)

that is the stupidest thing I've read this month. not the idea of mimicking a 'winning formula', but the consideration of two screens as 'the' winning formula of the DS.
if the DS launches with half a screen it would still be a hit. the dual screens are only a small bonus to some- to others it is a nuisance.
DS real success lies in other reasons. if you can't see such obvious reasons, then you are either as blind as a bat, or as dumb.

about PSP2 this year; bullshit- for many reasons. may dwell into them if the discussion becomes worthy enough.

[Vegtro]

I don't think dual screens is going to be in PSP's redesign future.

[Danji]

if the DS launches with half a screen it would still be a hit..

This statement blew my mind for one reason. Having half a screen is like having half a piece of chalk...

I'm glad you agree Lucent. As for the redesign..I think a successor is going to take place before a redesign to be honest. The PSP is not attractive to developers for some reason (probably UMD + small RAM + battery life demands (from sony)) and they need to fix this before they can establish a viable platform for the portable market. The problem becomes how can they do this the Sony way without increasing 3D graphics to the point where making a portable game is ludicrously expensive on this platform and also incorporate Cell and other technologies to make the successor appealing? I think the next system is going to have mostly feature-rich improvements and improvements on the developer side too.

Really though..I'm gonna have to re-read the in-depth specs of the PSP that me and CPI were talking about and look into a mini-cell to see about what would be required to software emulate the PSP on a PSP2. I've been procrastinating this project for almost a year now..


edit: also another analog stick would really help