Rumor: PSP2 Could Hit Stores in Time For Halloween

[Logan Westbrook]

Rumor: PSP2 Could Hit Stores in Time For Halloween

PSP2 will be the first truly first HD handheld, claims an anonymous source.

The rumors about the PSP2 keep coming thick and fast. Yesterday [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/106866-Rumor-Sony-Making-PSP2-Announcement-ASAP] came the news that Sony would make an announcement about the handheld on January 27th, and today we learn that it could be in stores as early as October.

The rumor comes from an anonymous, "high-level" source, who said that Sony had already consulted with publishers about release windows and getting content ready for the device. Apparently, Sony hopes to capture gamers' attention by being the first company to offer genuine high-definition portable gaming. This would align nicely with previous rumors [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105958-Source-Compares-PSP2-to-Portable-PS3]that Sony planned to give the device the comparative power of a PS3.

Sony is said to have specifically asked publishers and developers for rich, deep content in order to differentiate it from cell phone gaming. The source also said that while gamers would be able to download games to the PSP2, it would also make use of physical media in order to keep retailers in the loop. Interestingly, this information conflicts with rumors from last month, which said that the device would be download only.

At this point, it seems pretty likely that the PSP2 does exist, and a mid/late fall release date seems pretty plausible. It's a little harder to believe that it will be some kind of pocket PS3, but it certainly isn't impossible either, especially if Sony is indeed trying to snare gamers with graphics.

Source: MCV [http://www.mcvuk.com/news/42499/PSP2-as-powerful-as-PS3-set-for-Q4-launch]


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[LeonLethality]

As long as the release is far enough away from the 3DS for me to save up enough cash after shelling out enough on the 3DS then I don't mind.

That said it better have physical media, download only would make this a pass for me.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I just want to know if it's backward compatible or not!

And if my old memory stick will still work.

 

[LeonLethality]

I just want to know if it still uses UMDs, so I can tell if it's backward compatible or not.

I think they would ditch UMDs for something larger, since the UMD only holds 1.8GB and they would probably need MUCH more space if this thing is as strong as they say...

 

[Doomdiver]

I just want to know if it still uses UMDs, so I can tell if it's backward compatible or not.

I think they would ditch UMDs for something larger, since the UMD only holds 1.8GB and they would probably need MUCH more space if this thing is as strong as they say...

This doesn't necessarily mean it won't be backwards compatible. It might be possible to make something with the same casing as a UMD but uses a disc more similar to a smaller blu-ray. That's what I'd like to see happen but we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I just want to know if it still uses UMDs, so I can tell if it's backward compatible or not.

I think they would ditch UMDs for something larger, since the UMD only holds 1.8GB and they would probably need MUCH more space if this thing is as strong as they say...

Its not so much the UMDs. I'm more concerned with backwards compatibility, in general.

Like my PSN store games, etc.

 

[Delusibeta]

Calling it: digital downloads only. And it will (probably) be about as successful as the PSP1.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Well, too bad I just got me my own PSP...

You couldn't have spilled this last month, could you Sony? NoooOOOooo...

 

[LeonLethality]

I just want to know if it still uses UMDs, so I can tell if it's backward compatible or not.

I think they would ditch UMDs for something larger, since the UMD only holds 1.8GB and they would probably need MUCH more space if this thing is as strong as they say...

Its not so much the UMDs. I'm more concerned with backwards compatibility, in general.

Like my PSN store games, etc.

Yeah I would like that too, if at the very least I can use downloaded games on my memory stick.

I just want to know if it still uses UMDs, so I can tell if it's backward compatible or not.

I think they would ditch UMDs for something larger, since the UMD only holds 1.8GB and they would probably need MUCH more space if this thing is as strong as they say...

This doesn't necessarily mean it won't be backwards compatible. It might be possible to make something with the same casing as a UMD but uses a disc more similar to a smaller blu-ray. That's what I'd like to see happen but we'll have to wait and see.

He was wondering if they would use UMDs specifically, and I was just sharing my thoughts on it. I never said it would not be backwards compatible...

 

[BabyRaptor]

First thought: Too many buttons for a hand-held.

Second thought: Damn, that's a big screen.

Then I started reminding myself that it's a PSP, and I already have a DS, and...

 

[The Last Nomad]

The source also said that while gamers would be able to download games to the PSP2, it would also make use of physical media in order to keep retailers in the loop. Interestingly, this information conflicts with rumors from last month, which said that the device would be download only.

I hope this is true, about the physical media. Maybe rumors about DL only might be coming from the PSphone and getting mixed up along the way...

either way, I'm still pretty happy with my psp, Graphics don't really matter all that much to me on such a small screen, but if it actually has the power to have such good graphics, then it will also have the power to run bigger and better games...

 

[Rigs83]

Until a second analog thumb-stick is confirmed I am MEH.

Spoiler: If you perfected the game controller once you don't need to cripple yourself to be portable

 

[Ghengis John]

Good idea putting it out for Halloween, that way it'll be seasonable when the price scares people.

But I joke.

 

[Tom Phoenix]

Calling it: digital downloads only. And it will (probably) be about as successful as the Sega Nomad

Fixed that for you. The PSP1 was similar to the Game Gear in many ways (moderately successful, but a distant second behind the market leader), with the exception that it ended up being more successful due to more favourable circumstances (a more globalised market, cannibalisation of the home console market in Japan, battery life being less of a factor etc.). The PSP2, however, seems well on its way to being a royal flop by overserving the market in terms of graphics and being poor in all other regards.

For a company that managed to find success in gaming by carefully observing Nintendo's and Sega's errors in the home console market, I find it amazing how many of Sega's mistakes Sony has been repeating in the handheld market. If this keeps up (along with Sony's other woes...), they will be forced to leave the market just like Sega was.

 

[Sean Strife]

Calling it: digital downloads only. And it will (probably) be about as successful as the Sega Nomad

Fixed that for you. The PSP1 was similar to the Game Gear in many ways (moderately successful, but a distant second behind the market leader), with the exception that it ended up being more successful due to more favourable circumstances (a more globalised market, cannibalisation of the home console market in Japan, battery life being less of a factor etc.). The PSP2, however, seems well on its way to being a royal flop by overserving the market in terms of graphics and being poor in all other regards.

For a company that managed to find success in gaming by carefully observing Nintendo's and Sega's errors in the home console market, I find it amazing how many of Sega's mistakes Sony has been repeating in the handheld market. If this keeps up (along with Sony's other woes...), they will be forced to leave the market just like Sega was.

The only difference between Sony and Sega is that Sony has a LOT more money than Sega has ever had. Sony can afford a few failures here and there.

With that said, if it's backwards compatible with the PSP, I'm behind this 100%. Otherwise, I'll have to think about it.

 

[The Hive Mind]

It says "in time for halloween" like that is THE time when everyone whips out handheld consoles and plays the shit out of them.

Besides that, the iPod touch can handle graphics as good as what the PSP could handle, so I'm expecting a PS2-level console at the very least.

 

[Tom Phoenix]

Calling it: digital downloads only. And it will (probably) be about as successful as the Sega Nomad

Fixed that for you. The PSP1 was similar to the Game Gear in many ways (moderately successful, but a distant second behind the market leader), with the exception that it ended up being more successful due to more favourable circumstances (a more globalised market, cannibalisation of the home console market in Japan, battery life being less of a factor etc.). The PSP2, however, seems well on its way to being a royal flop by overserving the market in terms of graphics and being poor in all other regards.

For a company that managed to find success in gaming by carefully observing Nintendo's and Sega's errors in the home console market, I find it amazing how many of Sega's mistakes Sony has been repeating in the handheld market. If this keeps up (along with Sony's other woes...), they will be forced to leave the market just like Sega was.

The only difference between Sony and Sega is that Sony has a LOT more money than Sega has ever had. Sony can afford a few failures here and there.

That's undeniable, although given how poorly Sony seems to be doing right now (as in Sony as a whole, not just Sony Computer Entertainment), I doubt they can afford many more failures.

 

[nickpy]

Well, I have some additional information....
I work as a technical advisor for a major UK retailer, the Sony rep was in today and I managed to glean the following nuggets out of him

1. The PSP2 Exists (not much of a revalation, but hey).
2. It will be nothing like the PSPgo. In his own words "We learnt our lesson". My interpretation of that will be that there will be physical media, and it will not be a flip-out screen. Whether it will be UMD or similar to UMD I don't know. Personally, I think that an extension of UMD would be the best option in order to keep things backwards compaitable - like the blu-ray variant of UMD Doomdiver mentioned. I don't really see why tech sites give UMD such ire, I think it's actually quite a good format. Plus I love UMD Video and I am royally annoyed that they've stopped releasing new films but meh, i'm rambling...
3. Sony are not abandoning MemoryStick, and it therefore seems likely the PSP2 will make use of one or more of it's variants.
4. The PSP2 will be released sometime this year.

I also know that our store is dropping the PSP Games Chart in the coming month; for now it will be replaced by extra space for pre-owned, but I suspect that this space is reserved for PSP2 games.

EDIT: also, as a response to The Hive Mind: Basically, the PSP *is* a PS2 in terms of hardware capability. You compare the specs; the PSP is a a PS2 with a screen attached. This is why most of the decent games for PSP are ports of PS2 engines (Jak & Daxter: Lost Frontier; GTA Vice/Liberty Stories; Gran Turismo etc). The main problem the PSP had was not power but lack of a large library of decent games(read: non-shovelware), which annoys me, but I also know it's not the console's fault. Therefore I would expect the PSP2 to have even better specs.