Rumor: PSP-3000

[CosmicMonkey]

A new version of the PSP with built-in mic and a PS button. (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/rumor-psp-3000-adds-built-in-mic-ps-button/)

[heybtbm]

Good thing I didn't get suckered into buying a PSP-2000. Then again, I still don't see a reason to upgrade. Wake me up when they add another analog stick and touch screen.

[Oobgarm]

I don't believe it. It's too soon after their last 'refresh' to introduce new features into the system, possibly alienating people.

At least with the PS3, they're taking away...not that it's a good thing, but they're not adding new things that would make early adopters feel left out in the cold.

That said, the PS button does make sense, and the smaller "Scratch prevent the steel ring is" on the back seems like a nice aesthetic change if nothing else.

[Atari 5200]

There's been a lot of rumors for handhelds in the past few months. I call bs

[namzep]

I was just about ready to buy a PSP, too. I may go ahead, anyway, as it doesn't seem that the new model will be out for quite some time (looks to be only a prototype, so far).

[Trebuken]

Most hardware is in constant developement to reduce costs and to lead into the next gen so i believe this is likely just a prototype.

Gamestop's release list only has about a dozen games for the PSP the rest of the year which isn't much higher than the original Xbox and gives the impression that the PSP is dead....I do not think there are even any must haves on the list...something is up in PSP world...maybe we'll get something at TGS.

[CosmicMonkey]

I too am wondering what's going on with the PSP, especially with all these other rumors floating around regarding a PSPhone.

Maybe we're going to end up with a new style PSP with dual analogues, a built-in Mic and a touch screen along with a PSPhone with the same features. Sort of how the iPod Touch is an iPhone without the phone. But who knows?

However, if Sony are planning a PSPhone, surely the idea of including a UMD drive is beyond ridiculous. Games will have to be on solid state internal memory, same for the phone-less PSP version. That must be the direction Sony are moving in, considering the blatant PSP piracy situation. You buy your games online from either your PS3 or PC/Mac and then transfer them across to the PSP.

I'd be interested to see if Sony do decide go the whole digital distribution route for any new type of portable system.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

For Skype users, the PSP slim is already a pretty sweet Wi-Fi phone...

...though, I wouldn't mind a model with the mic built in.

I'm interested to see how this rumor takes shape ...

[Crzycarl7]

yea which is cool for the skype people. personally I want my psp2 with a harddrive.

[SpaceHarrier]

I too am wondering what's going on with the PSP, especially with all these other rumors floating around regarding a PSPhone.



I demand side-talkin'

[Icarus Moonsight]

SpaceHarrier, you are wanted on the Taco. LOL

/me puts money away. Phhew, I almost bought a GoW PSP there. Now back on wait status. I may just go back to the original plan and wait until these puppies are blown out of retail. May be able to snag a clearance price, you never know.

Are you guys serious about digital distribution for a Sony handheld? I mean, if you shop with the PS3 and transfer to the unit with one wouldn't that severely limit the consumer base for such a gizmo? Seems absolutely crackers to me. O_O

[Leo_A]

I don't understand why a rumor about a internal mic and a new decal for a button should be enough to make any of you wait on getting a PSP. Guess I'm missing something. :)

[Icarus Moonsight]

I was thinking that the slim would be the final run. Perhaps not... I only want to buy one once and I'd like it to be the best version. Spent too much on DS units between the two originals and the two lites I've bought anyways. Would like to skip that whole rigmarole this time. I've waited this long, whats a bit longer gonna hurt? Other than that I'd be all in.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

SpaceHarrier, you are wanted on the Taco. LOL

/me puts money away. Phhew, I almost bought a GoW PSP there. Now back on wait status. I may just go back to the original plan and wait until these puppies are blown out of retail. May be able to snag a clearance price, you never know.

Are you guys serious about digital distribution for a Sony handheld? I mean, if you shop with the PS3 and transfer to the unit with one wouldn't that severely limit the consumer base for such a gizmo? Seems absolutely crackers to me. O_O

Major misconception that one is required to shop/transfer on the PS3.

http://store.playstation.com/

Official PSN PSP store. Shop and transfer from your PC (with a MUCH faster download speed)!

[Icarus Moonsight]

Ok that makes a bit more sense. :oops:

[CosmicMonkey]

PSP 3001 hits the FCC (http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/14/unspectacular-psp-3001-outed-by-the-fcc/). No mic or Home button though? But at least this is confirmation that we're getting another model of PSP.

[zektor]

PSP 3001 hits the FCC (http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/14/unspectacular-psp-3001-outed-by-the-fcc/). No mic or Home button though? But at least this is confirmation that we're getting another model of PSP.

I know the newer models on Japan have a TA-088r3 mainboard which contains a new chipset that is apparently not allowing for Pandora usage (well, will not read the current IPL used). In other words, you cannot currently install CFW to these. Maybe THAT is what the 3001 model brings!

[Raedon]

Good to see the discussion of such things is up to date ... all is well with the world it seems. *hums to himself*

[Trebuken]

They current lack of upcoming releases for the PSP is an obvious clue that something is happening. I suspect that any revisions will address piracy. I am surprised that they would release another revision though instead of a new handheld, particularly with rumors of a new Nintendo handheld up and coming...

It seems the rule of thumb with handhelds is that they release a new version or new handheld when the sales of the current model have declined significantly...it's a way of renewing interest...

[josekortez]

Instead of a new model, they need to release more games. I've got both versions of the PSP and neither of them gets played much at all. Hell, Sony, just translate some of those Konami shooter collections or something...

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

It seems the rule of thumb with handhelds is that they release a new version or new handheld when the sales of the current model have declined significantly...it's a way of renewing interest...

It's been the top selling system in Japan for the better part of 2008.

So, yeah, strange.

Perhaps they've actually turned a big enough profit to warrant a new model designed for that region first and the US and Europe second.

[zektor]

Well, newer models that cannot use Pandora have been in distribution for a short while now (reports of these coming out of Japan and China) and we'll be getting these "piracy proof" models soon as well. Maybe this model number really is just this newer model. On the inside it is a new chipset/CPU from what I am told. I thought it would come in the form of the Madden pack, but someone I know already Pandora'd that one...so no. I do not think that this "new model" is something that was/is intended to get people hyped up. Just another revision...this time with an anti-hacker twist.

[Leo_A]

If its just a internal revision, we'll probably see them when the PSP holiday bundle ships in October with Ratchet & Clank and National Treasures 2 on UMD.

[zektor]

I was thinking that the slim would be the final run. Perhaps not... I only want to buy one once and I'd like it to be the best version. Spent too much on DS units between the two originals and the two lites I've bought anyways. Would like to skip that whole rigmarole this time. I've waited this long, whats a bit longer gonna hurt? Other than that I'd be all in.


Ohh, and if you want the best version, it would be any model slim RIGHT NOW. One that still can easily be modified. Not for iso warez mind you, but for the slew of great applications and emulators available for it. If you are any bit interested in this stuff, now is certainly the time. Who knows how long it will be before the newer models will be able to be "opened up" like this...if ever.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Yes, thankfully, it seems to be the time. GoW PSP here I come. :D Since I'll be starting out with 10 games... It may take me awhile to get to the emu/hb stuff, but it is definitely on the To Do List.

[PapaStu]

It's been the top selling system in Japan for the better part of 2008.

So, yeah, strange.

Perhaps they've actually turned a big enough profit to warrant a new model designed for that region first and the US and Europe second.

It's selling so well because of 3 games. Monster Hunter 2 (and its add on release), FF VII Advent Children and the new PSO game. It doesn't hurt the fact that the DS has hit market saturation in Japan and even the massive releases arn't causing much in the way of sales spikes now.

[GnawRadar]

Rumor confirmed:

http://kotaku.com/5039411/sony-announces-new-psp-model

[swlovinist]

I think that this minor revision is not necessary. I guess I wish that Sony would focus more on other hardware changes(load times, longer battery life, harddrive ) and start getting some more games on the system. The holiday lineup for the US is looking rather paltry. Rather than add features the standard portable gamers is not going to give a crap about, I guess I wanted more in a hardware revision, such as a built in hard drive. While the new bundles are great, I guess I just want the system to have some improvements such as a quieter drive, faster load times...not crap that I am not going to care about(shooter download...meh) I would love for them to start selling the PSP at $150 with a memory card(PSP without a memory card is worthless) As for people waiting to get a PSP, the current setup is more than good. Sony needs to realize that the system offered at a cheaper price is what is going to move systems. Selling a portable at $200 is too much, even in bundles. People at this time want value, at an affordable price. Until this happens, along with more software, the PSP is just going to get by. Just my ten cents.

[Sergeant Sega]

Heh... Well, well, I'm sure as heck not buying this, it's not gone a year since I "upgraded" to the slim&light version, and now they're expecting me to do this again? Who do they think they are? Nintendo? Hehe...

I would think about getting it if they at least added an sorely needed analog stick, and maybe doing something new with the design. But I will never use skype, and propably not the mic either.

[heybtbm]

I wonder if the PSP-2000 component and composite cables will work with the PSP-3000 model? The cables have disappeared from stores and I wonder if Sony just gave up on the idea of playing the PSP on a TV.

[Sergeant Sega]

I wonder if the PSP-2000 component and composite cables will work with the PSP-3000 model? The cables have disappeared from stores and I wonder if Sony just gave up on the idea of playing the PSP on a TV.

You got to wonder why they would want to connect a portable console to a tv, but one thing good about it is when you're out traveling, and have a hotel tv with composite input :)

[swlovinist]

I think the TV out idea was a good idea, even if it did not catch on. Great for systems with screwed up screeens.

[zektor]

I wonder if the PSP-2000 component and composite cables will work with the PSP-3000 model? The cables have disappeared from stores and I wonder if Sony just gave up on the idea of playing the PSP on a TV.


I went out the other night to purchase a new set of cables, and they are everywhere around by me (Target, Walmart, GS, even Coconuts)...so this issue must be in your area.

I am perfectly fine with the 2000 models. They provide everything I could ever want out of the PSP. Lightweight, awesome screen, tv-out (I use this often personally), and an overall great handheld experience. And as for the device being too much, well, I would have to disagree. For what you are getting in the form of a handheld multimedia powerhouse, I think it's a great deal. So much so that I own three of them (Star Wars, GOW, and the new Madden 09 models) and I am not rich at all.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

You got to wonder why they would want to connect a portable console to a tv, but one thing good about it is when you're out traveling, and have a hotel tv with composite input :)

I'm amused that you half-answered your own question.

When it comes to portable game systems, I believe that TV out should be a STANDARD feature.

History shows that there has always been a healthy demand for TV-output on all portable devices since the original Gameboy.

Yes, the devices are portable, that's a given. A majority of play time will be spent on the go ... but when there IS an option to plug into a larger screen and sit down with the device - WHY NOT provide that option? In most cases it's not going to add tremendously to the cost of production - the video and audio feeds are already happening in the device, it's just a simple matter of re-routing ... and in the case of audio, most if not all portable devices have headphone jacks, so it's not much more beyond sending that feed to stereo output cables.

The bottom line is that it's not about it being an overwhelmingly embraced feature, it's just that historically it's a feature that has been "added" to so many portable devices and/or sold to us as peripherals SO MANY TIMES ... it's really time for companies to get on board with this feature from the BEGINNING.

In the case of slim PSPs, they do some very nice things multimedia-wise, between music, movies, web-browsing and game-playing, it's really nice to be able to have all that in your pocket at a moments notice to plug into a big-screen TV while traveling, or just hanging out in your bedroom.

[kedawa]

In most cases it's not going to add tremendously to the cost of production - the video and audio feeds are already happening in the device, it's just a simple matter of re-routing ...

It really isn't that simple. There's also the issue of scaling the image and converting the data to an analog signal that a television can display. Most portable game systems simply don't use PAL or NTSC video signals internally, so some type of additional hardware is necessary in most cases.

[CosmicMonkey]

Here's a final picture of the PSP-3000 system. Seems it does have the 'PS' button and an inbuilt microphone. Also, the screen is highly improved and the TV out now runs 480i as well as 480p.

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/bto/20080820/psp-3000-1024-2_540x427.jpg

Screen Comparison

http://img.qj.net/uploads/articles_module/123348/psp-3000-2_qjgenth.jpg?436120
2000 top, 3000 bottom

Screen Comparison article (http://pspupdates.qj.net/Comparison-photo-PSP-slim-screen-versus-PSP-3000-screen/pg/49/aid/123348)

Original news post (http://news.cnet.com/crave/?keyword=%22PSP+3000%22)

[Trebuken]

I thought i heard as well that it would come with a 4GB memory card...

Doesn't explain why there are sop few PSP games coming out. I can't imagine developers held back for this...

[Overbite]

I was gonna pick up a PSP but now this. I'll wait I guess. I do hope they come in different colors like the slim does.

[CosmicMonkey]

It's confirmed there will be Piano Black and Mystic Silver versions available on release. I'm sure other colors will follow. Let's see how long it is before this model gets hacked.

[Oobgarm]

*shrug*