PSP Release Date and Price

[dethink]

allegedly from PSM:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/Voidler/PSPscan.jpg

Basically three packages:

$199 - PSP and 32 meg memory stick
$299 - PSP and 64 meg memory stick + headphones + digital camera
$349 - PSP and 256 meg memory stick + GPS attachment + chrome case

A GPS attachment? Bundling with memory sticks? I dunno...

[EDIT: made the title as clear as possible since this topic has been poste five times today! - Joe]

[Oobgarm]

$199 for a PSP and a memory stick? I could live with that.

[Nez]

What magazine is this from?

[Oobgarm]

PSM. Unofficial Playstation magazine. Not 100% trustworthy, but not totally unreliable.

[Nez]

Thanks.

It looks like everyone was right about the prie point though. Who could of known that it would retail at 349 and 199?

[NintendoMan]

And it's only in the hot lead section of their magazine. It's kind of like the "Rumor Mill" of EGM.
Definately is unreliable, but who knows??

[Jive3D]

I'm still going to play the DS Fanboy here and say that Sony has yet to give me a reason to want a PSP - I think it's really going to boil down to if I like Wipeout Pure from a playtest - other than that I'm not as interested as I am in the DS.

I'm not a Sony-Hater. I'm a huge fan of the PS family brand and all that goes with it - but in this portable war, we can't simply have portables with better graphics and handheld versions of console games - it's gotta do something cool, and I already have a digital camera and a dvd player - so what else ya got Sony? We're listening...

[dethink]

honestly, the supposed online plans for the DS with warp pipe are much more intriguing to me than the PSP, but for someone like me who only really wants a PS for one game (GT4), this is a much more intriguing prospect than having a whole other console around for one game.

early reports made it sound like an AV out for connecting it to a TV was a definite possibilty as well, so for someone like me that has a passing interest in the system, this might be the way to go. i'm sure lots of arcadey stuff that never makes it to the PS2 on these shores will find it's way to the PSP as well...

[kainemaxwell]

Still not sold on the PSP.

[Speedy]

I like the idea of the GPS module, it's a shitload of money then for a handheld console, but if it could be a travelassistant also then it's a more intresting object. Hopefully then it will work with standard navigation software (stuff that's also on the PDA's)

[Predatorxs]

Still not sold on the PSP.

Neither am i, I think i'll go for the DS first, although if the PSP turned out to be something special, i might brake out the cash! :P

http://www.xs.dsl.pipex.com/avator/ms_ufo.gif..XS

[petewhitley]

If Sony can launch the PSP at $199, Nintendo will be pissing in their pants. PSP has the cool factor with the general public, something the Digital Press community likes to avoid thinking about ...

[Ed Oscuro]

Yes.

$199 and they're covered by their "proven track record" (disc games, I mean...we've yet to see about the PSP, but most people won't know until told that the PSP uses small discs, I'd imagine).

[zmweasel]

PSM. Unofficial Playstation magazine. Not 100% trustworthy, but not totally unreliable.

This appears to be a bogus Photoshopped mockup, as reflected by the tons of typos: "Playstation" instead of "PlayStation", "cant" instead of "can't", "conveniantly" instead of "conveniently", and on and on. If this actually saw print, PSM's proofreader is a drooling idiot (or a former IGN employee).

-- Z.

[Jibbajaba]

PSM. Unofficial Playstation magazine. Not 100% trustworthy, but not totally unreliable.

This appears to be a bogus Photoshopped mockup, as reflected by the tons of typos: "Playstation" instead of "PlayStation", "cant" instead of "can't", "conveniantly" instead of "conveniently", and on and on. If this actually saw print, PSM's proofreader is a drooling idiot (or a former IGN employee).

-- Z.

I agree. I just read it and noticed the same things. Also, the title font seems "off" somehow, and is way too black compared with the faded look of the rest of the page. This is a total forgery IMHO. I also find it hard to believe that Sony would A: make a GPS attatchment for their PSP and B: sell it as a bundle. Remember these are the same people who took over 3 years to come out with a hard drive for the PS2.

Chris

[Aussie2B]

Hey, don't insult drooling idiots by comparing them to IGN employees. :P

[Oobgarm]

PSM. Unofficial Playstation magazine. Not 100% trustworthy, but not totally unreliable.

This appears to be a bogus Photoshopped mockup, as reflected by the tons of typos: "Playstation" instead of "PlayStation", "cant" instead of "can't", "conveniantly" instead of "conveniently", and on and on. If this actually saw print, PSM's proofreader is a drooling idiot (or a former IGN employee).

-- Z.

I didn't look at it too closely, only a brief once over of the body text. The typos never struck me, but after looking closer at the images on the bottom, I'lll have to join in the 'fake' crowd as well.

Where did you acquire this, dethink? You scan it yourself? If you found it elsewhere I'd have to call bullshit.

[Ed Oscuro]

I agree. I just read it and noticed the same things. Also, the title font seems "off" somehow, and is way too black compared with the faded look of the rest of the page. This is a total forgery IMHO.
D'oh! Good catch guys.

Any chance you could let us in on image source, dethink?

[dethink]

a writer from GamesDomain (or yahoo! games or whatever it is now)...

note my use of the word "allegedly" up front. ;)

[dreams]

PSM. Unofficial Playstation magazine. Not 100% trustworthy, but not totally unreliable.

This appears to be a bogus Photoshopped mockup, as reflected by the tons of typos: "Playstation" instead of "PlayStation", "cant" instead of "can't", "conveniantly" instead of "conveniently", and on and on. If this actually saw print, PSM's proofreader is a drooling idiot (or a former IGN employee).

-- Z.

Add on top of that, the "A" at the beginning of the article isn't big enough for the space left for it and the first sentence of that first paragraph totally goes into the margin. Another rule of thumb for good journalism is introducing your acronyms. Not done here. Hyphenating the word "beast"? That's a no-no. Inconsitent spelling: memory-stick versus memorystick.

All that along with poor word choice and sentence structure and missing punctuation scream fake to me. Either that, or someone is about to lose their job.

[Ed Oscuro]

a writer from GamesDomain (or yahoo! games or whatever it is now)...
Did you get the picture in exactly the same format we're seeing it in now? Is this person able to get ahold of a bigger scan?

That'd be awesome.

[dethink]

he's saying it looks iffy too...i'll see what i can get.

[Jasoco]

They're still gonna have to give me a shitload of good games I'll want to play.. Until then, I still don't give a crap. It could look all pretty and be made of gold, but until I want to play the games, I can't justify even paying $199. "Death Jr." isn't a game I want to play. "GT4 Portable" isn't a game I want to play.

Meh.

[SoulBlazer]

I actually hope the prices and bundles are close to this. It would make sence for Sony to offer some different bundles at different prices, to help offset the high prices we know the hardware is going to go at and give consumers options on what to buy. I doubt this is real, but let's hope that it will be close to this. And yes, if the PSP CAN launch for $200, it's REALLY going to give Nintendo a challenge. Since the DS is going for $150 itself.

[Drammy]

Dear Sony,

I do not need an MP3 player, nor a "mini" DVD player. I have a camera already, as well. Please find something innovative to do with your gaming device.

Signed,
Peter

[badinsults]

Although I still believe that the PSP will retail at $199, the article does have many glitches as mentioned above.

Let us start with the first sentence:

"After Playstation Portable blew away E3 this year we were left with many unanswered questions, mostly concerning PSP's battery life and it's price, which were conveniantly forgotten at E3.

This is an awful sentence. There should be a "the" in front of Playstation Portable and PSP. There should be a comma after "year". "Conveniantly" should be spelled "Conveniently". "Playstation" should be "PlayStation".

The rest of the article is just as atrocious. They keep referring to memory incorrectly. For instance, they say "64mb" when they should refer to it as 64 MB. In the third paragraph, they stuck in a very unnecessary "of course" that ruins the entire flow of the first sentence. In the fourth paragraph, they don't put a space between "memorystick".


I would say this is completely fake.

[racecar]

allegedly from PSM:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/Voidler/PSPscan.jpg

Basically three packages:

$199 - PSP and 32 meg memory stick
$299 - PSP and 64 meg memory stick + headphones + digital camera
$349 - PSP and 256 meg memory stick + GPS attachment + chrome case

A GPS attachment? Bundling with memory sticks? I dunno...
so are they the sony only(magicgate) memorycard ???
i'll think about it .................no !!
i'll hold out until first price drop or maybe boxingday(wake up 5am to wait at bestbuy to pick up some door crashers haha)

[Ed Oscuro]

Some folks write 64MB. It's almost always capitalized, but whether you lump that right after the amount seems to almost be a matter of personal choice. Then there's 512kb...that's valid, too.

In fact, if you look at an actual Sony Memory Stick, you'll see it's written all together - just like this: 256MB.

I'd agree on the grammar bits, though.

[Jasoco]

Waitaminute.. Digital Camera? Do they mean an attachment? To make it a DC? How many Mega Pixels.

And waitaminute.. GPS? Doesn't that require a service fee? How much is a subscription to GPS anyway? Actually, that's tempting. I get lost all the time.. That feature might make me buy it... unless there's a GPS unit for the GBA or DS.. then I'll pass.

As I said, it'll take a bunch of good GAMES to make me want to buy it.. oh, and a lower price. The only two expensive things getting my money this holiday are a DS and the PSTwo.

[kai123]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/10/27/screens_6111570.html?page=1

Here you go guys, it is going to have memory sticks packaged with it. Price isn't that bad either. Only $40 off from the DS. Nintendo better watch their ass on this one. It could be trouble for their monopoly.

[Satac]

And waitaminute.. GPS? Doesn't that require a service fee? How much is a subscription to GPS anyway? Actually, that's tempting. I get lost all the time.. That feature might make me buy it... unless there's a GPS unit for the GBA or DS.. then I'll pass.

GPS is subscription free - but I don't know why an handheld should have this feature...

[TheSmirk]

another site with info....

http://www.techjapan.com/print.php?sid=629

I dunno yet on this one 4-6 hours battery life still ain't too hot..

[edit: shorter linkage]

[omnedon]

Not too shabby.

Battery pack a la Nomad I wonder? Smaller than Nomads likely, but looks external...

[gamegirl79]

Dear Sony,

I do not need an MP3 player, nor a "mini" DVD player. I have a camera already, as well. Please find something innovative to do with your gaming device.

Signed,
Peter

Add me to the undersigned. I have a 30 gig mp3 player, 4 DVD players, and a 3.2 megapixel digital camera. Why the hell would I need another one? Just give me something that plays games!!! :angry:

[toddst]

The current list of games for the PSP looks awful when compared to the games aleady announced for the DS. I'll choose quality/catalog of games over quality of graphics any day...

-Todd

[Tank]

One question I still dont have an awnser too, does the PSP have online play through routers just like the DS? Anyone care to explain. Also, has it been announced whethere the PSP will have a region lock?

So far I think that Sony has a good idea doing it with the three package deal.

[The Manimal]

This thing looks VERY appealing. I want one! :D

[Mayhem]

Region lock for PSP will be similar to the Xbox. It's there, but up to publishers to implement and use it if they want to.

Of course if publishers follow how they've gone with the Xbox, then most/all PSP games will be region locked (only a few Xbox games are region free).

Guess we'll have to wait and see. Least the DS is region free. Just have to see if different region games communicate okay that's all.

[Overbite]

The listed games for the DS look awful compaired to the ones on PSP. The DS has no good launch games that I saw at Gamestop. a port of mario 64, some sports games, rayman, and the sims. im annoyed that wipeout pure isnt a PSP launch game though. I wanna play it!

HERE AER MOER STUFF


PRESS RELEASES
http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/041027ae.pdf - Main
http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/041027be.pdf - Value Pack
http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/041027ce.pdf - Launch Games

PICS
http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/041027a.html - Main box
http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/041027b.html - Value Pack Box



the value pack comes with this stuff

- PSP
- AC Adaptor
- Battery Pack
- Memory Stick Duo 32mb
- PSP Remote Control/Headphones
- Softcase and hand strap

[le geek]

I'd like more battery life, but 4-6 is acceptable (especially if the recharge time isn't bad).

Price is competitive.

Still wonder what happens if you drop one :P

It should come down to the games then. In that regard, I'm still leaning towards DS for Feel the Magic and later Wario Ware. I know I 'fanboi'ed out when the PSP was revealed, but i think the PSP has an excellent chance of capturing a large share of the portable market at the very least.

Note to Sony: a new ICO or Silent Hill game for PSP would be nice. I already own Ridge Racer V...

Should be interesting to watch the horse race...

Ben

[EricRyan34]

I will wait a while after the PSP is out, and look out for reviews of it, and if they are good, I will prly fork over the money to get it 8-)

[Pedro Lambrini]

Stop press: Sony in competitve price scandal! That'll be a first! I'm guessing they are selling at a loss a la Xbox...Still not interested though. Most of the Jap release titles seem to be puzzle and table games (2 Mah Jongs I think!). I know this list is peculiar to Japan but still...

I have a question: Why did the dodgy geezers fake the magazine article if the facts were correct?

[goatdan]

I have said it before, but the PSP needs to get something innovative before it will capture the market. That's where Nintendo went right.

The DVD feature is the dumbest idea in my opinion -- why do I want a portable DVD player that needs a special type of media? If I have a choice between paying $10.00 for the PSP media and $15.00 for the DVD media, I'm going to go with DVD every single time.

We'll see about the rest, I guess... I hope it does okay, but I really don't see it right now :(

[Tank]

So when do we estimate a US relsease?

[Querjek]

The listed games for the DS look awful compaired to the ones on PSP. The DS has no good launch games that I saw at Gamestop. a port of mario 64, some sports games, rayman, and the sims. im annoyed that wipeout pure isnt a PSP launch game though. I wanna play it!

I totally disagree with this but completely agree with this:

The current list of games for the PSP looks awful when compared to the games aleady announced for the DS. I'll choose quality/catalog of games over quality of graphics any day...

-Todd
Almost all of those PSP launch games seem to be old standard mediocre games. I'd rather play sometinhg that is innovative than play some tired old port of Tiger Woods.


Oh, and I'm estimating that the PSP's smallest model wil launch at US$200, a better price than I had expected but still not so great. Do we have an estimated price for the PSP's games yet?

[petewhitley]

The DVD feature is the dumbest idea in my opinion -- why do I want a portable DVD player that needs a special type of media? If I have a choice between paying $10.00 for the PSP media and $15.00 for the DVD media, I'm going to go with DVD every single time.

You don't because you live in America and you get to drive everywhere you go. If you lived in Japan, or various other parts of the world, where you faced an hour-plus commute by train everyday, an all-in-one entertainment device that plays movies would be alot more attractive. Wait folks, this thing is gonna take off in Japan.

[Tank]

Yeah, the Japanese are gonna eat this up.

[goatdan]

The DVD feature is the dumbest idea in my opinion -- why do I want a portable DVD player that needs a special type of media? If I have a choice between paying $10.00 for the PSP media and $15.00 for the DVD media, I'm going to go with DVD every single time.

You don't because you live in America and you get to drive everywhere you go. If you lived in Japan, or various other parts of the world, where you faced an hour-plus commute by train everyday, an all-in-one entertainment device that plays movies would be alot more attractive. Wait folks, this thing is gonna take off in Japan.

Actually, I take the bus and I wait around for the bus for probably forty-five minutes on an average work day. I drive to work but commute from the parking lots to the buildings. Even so, having to spend more money to get the PSP version of something doesn't sell me on it.

On top of that, who says that movie companies will release their movies this way. If only Sony owned movies are being released this way, I don't see this being a huge selling point. I can understand the MP3 player option, but not this...

[Pedro Lambrini]

It was Sony that pushed the DVD format and now look where we are. Do you nkow anybody who hasn't at least watched a DVD movie? As far as 'obscure' formats go the MiniDisc is still kicking even though it's piss...Like it or not Sony will NOT let the PSP fail, they'll just market the thing to fuck until every 'cool' person and their dogs kill for one (even if it ends up sitting in their house gathering dust). Very few people who come into my shop ever ask about the DS. In fact, most people haven't even heard of it. They all seem to know about the PSP though...

I really want the DS to succeed - I will always back innovation over hype - but I do think the PSP will make a serious dent in the Nintendo monopoly.

[Jasoco]

The point is that the PSP will NOT play "DVD's". It will require you to buy the movies AGAIN to play them on the PSP. They may have pushed for DVD, but people aren't going to throw away their DVD players to upgrade to a newer format so soon. That's just insanity.

[Pedro Lambrini]

The point is that the PSP will NOT play "DVD's". It will require you to buy the movies AGAIN to play them on the PSP. They may have pushed for DVD, but people aren't going to throw away their DVD players to upgrade to a newer format so soon. That's just insanity.

And yet Sony will not let it fail. They'll just release special versions and limited releases etc. Or they'll do the whole Sony Exclusive thing but with movies this time - you know, Out now on UMD, Out in 3 Months on DVD...there's a whole load of things that Sony can do to differentiate UMD releases from DVD (Music Vids, niche anime, yadda, yadda, blah). Even Ninty have succeeded to a certain extent with the GBA cartoon carts.

[bargora]

How long after the the PSP release will it take for hackers to come up with a way to copy DVD movies onto PSP minidiscs? Or will the technical issues prove insurmountable?

[SoulBlazer]

Some comments --

One, don't forget that this launch date and price is JAPAN only. We STILL don't know when it's going to be released in North America, and for how much.

Two, there is usually a little difference in prices between Japan and the US. Normaly it's more expensive over here. I imagine that Sony will sell the basic kit for $200 and the bundled one for $250. The DS will still do better in sales because of the cheaper price, the better launch game selection (IMHO), and being out around four-six months before the PSP.

Third, Sony, if they are smart, will realize that Americans don't NEED 'all in one' devices. Yes, that will go over very well in Japan, where things are more expensive and people spend a lot more time in the commute grind. But most people here will want a cheap system that just plays GAMES. Sure, release a second bundle with extra options on it, but it won't sell as well as the basic game playing PSP.

Four, the battery life is still kinda low. A third to half the life of a GBA SP or DS. Hopefully, a good rechargable adapater will be released, that has the energy to last about 10-15-20 hours.

Fifth, I share the concerns about the mini DVD idea. :roll: And who knows how reliable or fragile that it will be? Nintendo has kept the right idea keeping carts for handhelds because CD/DVD drives WILL wear out after heavy use and I can see the PSP as having many of the same problems as the PS2.

Unlike the DS, I'll take a wait and see aproach on this.

[Jasoco]

The point is that the PSP will NOT play "DVD's". It will require you to buy the movies AGAIN to play them on the PSP. They may have pushed for DVD, but people aren't going to throw away their DVD players to upgrade to a newer format so soon. That's just insanity.

And yet Sony will not let it fail. They'll just release special versions and limited releases etc. Or they'll do the whole Sony Exclusive thing but with movies this time - you know, Out now on UMD, Out in 3 Months on DVD...there's a whole load of things that Sony can do to differentiate UMD releases from DVD (Music Vids, niche anime, yadda, yadda, blah). Even Ninty have succeeded to a certain extent with the GBA cartoon carts.Heh. I pity you. You don't see it, do you? "Out now on UMD, coming soon on DVD"? That would never happen because Sony knows not everyone has a Beta player.. I mean a UMD player. Sony doesn't release every movie ever made. (Actually, do they even release any movies? I'm confused here.) Other companies do. And those other companies will release DVD's because that's what people play. I don't know how to make it any more clear. But you really REALLY have high hopes for a UMD version of [Insert newest movie being released on video], don't you?

I guarantee that Sony's attempts to topple DVD with yet ANOTHER format will fail. Guaratee. And that's something I don't do all the time. But I feel so confident that it won't work that I will GUARANTEE it. UMD may stick around for a little while, probably eventually become a niche, but until every company adopts the format and makes UMD players, (And let's hope Sony decides to open up the format this time. And let other people make Beta.. I mean UMD players.) UMD will not replace DVD. And I for one will NOT go out and try to find my favorite movie yet AGAIN on another format.

GUARANTEE!!!

[postulio]

in regards to the MiniDisk: Sony is the only company still associated with them, Sharp and Panasonic dropped it years ago. MD is as dead as Elvis.


another thing people seem to be forgetting is that the DS can play Gameboy games, and there are some pretty kickass gameboy games. which gives the DS an instant library of over 1000 games.


personally ill be getting the DS on day 1 and the PSP when i see some kickass RPGs (thats almost all i play).

[Jasoco]

As much as I love Puzzle games when they're easy enough to pick up and play, the PSP will need some really kick-ass platformers. MAYBE if there was a Jak, Sly and Ratchet game on it. Which I assume there will be eventually, but only if they're not just ports.

Mario 64DS is enough to make me buy a DS on launch day. Nothing I've seen is enough to get me to buy a PSP on launch day.

[ianoid]

another thing people seem to be forgetting is that the DS can play Gameboy games, and there are some pretty kickass gameboy games. which gives the DS an instant library of over 1000 games.


Are you certain that DS plays Gameboy/GBC or does it just play GBA and DS games?

ian

[Jasoco]

Only GBA games sadly. Most likely their way of saying "The DS is not the new Game Boy". In some ways, I wish the DS WAS the new Game Boy.

[postulio]

oh sorry. i thought it did play GB/GBC, but still it doesnt matter, there are hundreds of GBA games which people own and are great.

a thought about UMD vs DVD. UMB is around 2gb vs DVD's 10gb (rounded)
this works for the portable, because of the much lower resolution, but stick that on a big screen, and it looks like legos having sex.


you know what? Screw the DS and PSP, im going ngage! PWNED!!!!


actually the ngage is a good example of people not wanting all in one portables.

[kai123]

Sony doesn't know movies? Sony has more control now over movies and distribution rights than some of you seem to think. They recently purchased MGM. Get your facts straight before you bellow off about how sony has no control over movies. MGM made all of the James Bond movies and Pink Panther just to name a few of the thousands they now own.

http://promomagazine.com/news/breakingnews/sony_buys_mgm/

[postulio]

he didnt state it, he asked whether or not they did. chill on the flame thrower.

[link1110]

And yet Sony will not let it fail.

Agreed. It'll be like XBOX and sell poorly for years, then maybe when one or two games worth buying come out (don't expect any until 2006 at least) then it'll sell a little better. But expect to see 5 million copies of Pokemon for DS sold while only 500,000 PSPs sold total.

The one game im interested in for PSP MIGHT be that tengai makyou game. If it's a remake of Tengai makyou The 4th Apocalypse, I'll get a japanese (Knowing Sony, the PSP will be region locked) in order to play it. Until then, I'll be enjoying my DS.

[goatdan]

Sony doesn't know movies? Sony has more control now over movies and distribution rights than some of you seem to think. They recently purchased MGM. Get your facts straight before you bellow off about how sony has no control over movies. MGM made all of the James Bond movies and Pink Panther just to name a few of the thousands they now own.

Who are you talking too?

So because they now own MGM, Sony will distribute special PSP only versions of all of their movies and stop releasing DVDs? Or Sony will release crappy DVDs to make their PSP releases seem way better?

Either way, being an exclusive format won't work unless the media is WAY cheaper. Or you get it for free with a DVD (but then what's the point?) The idea is nice, but without it being able to play real DVDs, I don't think it will ever become popular. Maybe, as someone already pointed out, it will become popular with cartoons and anime... but that's about it.

I've been thinking about picking up a next gen system because of my daily commute, and the features of the DS seem to be usable, while the features of the PSP look to be a marketing thing that won't catch on. I'm planning on holding off on both until next year, but right now I'm thinking that I'll end up with a DS. And I have no great love for Nintendo, it just seems that their product is more solid. I would love to see Sony jump in and take over a big market segment so that the level of portable competition remains high (you'll notice the DS is the biggest power leap in a Nintendo portable. Maybe it has to do with the fact that they will be competing with Sony...) As of right now though, I see the two systems as Nintendo = innovation, PSP = portable system I already have.

If the general public sees it the same way, Nintendo will continue their dominance and we'll be stuck on DS-level hardware until 2018 or so...

[Pedro Lambrini]

EDITED:
The DS will still do better in sales because of the cheaper price, the better launch game selection (IMHO), and being out around four-six months before the PSP.


I seem to remember the same thing being said about a certain Sega console before the PS2 was released (please, Gods don't let the same thing happen again :)

Jasoco: Don't pity me man. I don't have high hopes for the PSP, I'm dreading it! Don't get me wrong, I don't think that the UMD format will replace DVD but I do think that Sony will find a use for it.

I do think it's uninspired and I do think the thing will break easily and quickly but I also think the same of the PS2. The general public love the POS though!

As for MiniDisc - As a pre-recorded format it is dead but I know just as many people with MD players as with MP3 players and you can still buy them in high street shops right beside the blank discs - at least here in the UK you can!

[kai123]

You all are clearly not getting it at all. They are not replacing DVDs with the UMD format. They will try to replace Dvd with Blu-ray. That is what you should be comparing it to.

I didn't hear anyone complaining when the GBA video carts came out. People were all for it. You couldn't record your own videos to it. So how is this different? They aren't forcing you to buy the movies, it is just an option after all. Besides what true inovation is the DS bringing to the table? Aside from touch screen and the new "map screen"?

If I remeber correctly the PSP had wireless multiplayer long before what we even knew what a DS was. The PSP is here to stay as far as I can see. Given the power it has I suspect the games will be more varied as well. Just wait for a true port of FF 7 to turn the tide just like when the PS fought the N64. x_x

In the end it is just the evil that is Sony that is turning the "hardcore" from it.

[ianoid]

OK, let's get this out in the open. I have never gotten into Gameboy. Not GBC, GBA, SP. I like the little thing. It's cute. I just can't seen to get comfortable playing it or find a game that I can handle staring into the tiny screen at.

That being said, I'm very interested in a larger screen handheld (no, not TWO small screens.) I am very into Lynx (no, not the entire library), and PSP isn't too far from that by screen size, although it's probably smaller overall hardware wise. And I'm interested in a handheld that plays more sophisticated games. Bad 3D doesn't qualify for me, sorry (GBA.) If I can play GTA3 type games on a PSP it will go far for me, because then I can play them around my children.

Oddly, I'm not pushing for Nintendo in the handheld market, I'm pushing for Sony. Nintendo are the kings of underpowered handhelds. Their utter lack of competition has allowed them this luxury.

But then, I'm also pushing for XboxNext and Nintendo's next console platform over PS3. I enjoy my PS2 immensely, but I think that it's a somewhat stale, even underpowered platform. No matter, Sony's controllers can't be beat, and backwards compatibility is a huge asset. I just would hate to see other companies destroyed in a certain market (such as Nintendo, all around current console generation sales losers), when competition breeds innovation in this market.

[postulio]

well it has 2 different wireless modes, ability to play demos at stores through wireless before buying, a touch screen, uses gba carts as well which is GARANTEED to bring in development (there are dozens of emulators for the gba, with the power of the DS, it can easily emulate all 16bit systems)

[goatdan]

I didn't hear anyone complaining when the GBA video carts came out. People were all for it. You couldn't record your own videos to it. So how is this different? They aren't forcing you to buy the movies, it is just an option after all. Besides what true inovation is the DS bringing to the table? Aside from touch screen and the new "map screen"?

I think that's because the GBA didn't flaunt the video carts as a HUGE selling point of the system. When the PSP was announced, they trumpted the fact it would play movies. I don't see that being overly impressive.

Considering the fact that those GBA carts are being blown out now, I think it is a perfect comparison though.

[petewhitley]

You all are clearly not getting it at all. They are not replacing DVDs with the UMD format. They will try to replace Dvd with Blu-ray. That is what you should be comparing it to.

Exactly. Why does anyone think that UMD media is intended as a replacement for DVD media? Show me where Sony has implied this. This isn't even up for debate. Blu-ray media is explicitly intended as the replacement for DVD media.


Two, there is usually a little difference in prices between Japan and the US. Normaly it's more expensive over here.

Actually launch prices in Japan are typically higher. The PS2 launched in Japan at 39,800 yen.

[SoulBlazer]

But you KNOW Sony is losing money on it at that price and they also know Americans have more money to spend right now. Hence, $200 and $250 for our launch prices.

And they better get it out SOON less the DS rack up a impressive line up of games.

[Pedro Lambrini]

Boy, is there a lot of emotion in this thread! :) People seem to be quite disparate over the PSP. In the threads that have appeared regarding the DS most people seem to be thinking along the same lines but the PSP seems to get people worked into a lather.

Everyone seems to think (except Ianoid) that either the PSP or the DS will be wiped out. What about the GBA - an even cheaper, dedicated games machine and already has a massive installed user base - where will that sit in this? I don't think any machine will die. If the home console market can handle 3 formats why not the handheld market too. The games market is growing faster than any other industry just now, that means there are more people able to buy different consoles and allow all of them to prosper.

BTW: Did you know that last week there were more sales of the DS (obviously advance purchases) in Japan than PS2's? (From Games magazine) Just thought I'd mention it :)

[Pedro Lambrini]

I was just looking on Lik-Sang and they say that Sony has announced that the PSP will be region-free. At least that's something positive about it.

[goatdan]

Ironically enough, the PSP was on the front page of the business section of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel today. Of note:

- The big thing that the picture said was that the PSP could play movies and would also be able to play games. Again, this is the wrong stance to take when it is a propreitary format and will bite them the same way that BETA and DIVX (was that it?) bit their respective companies.

- The price point will be $165.00 according to Sony, which is "much lower than analysts expected." It will launch "early in 2005."

I still think that the more that they trumpet the movie thing, the worse it will do but at least the price point is good. Now they just need some unique games for it...

[postulio]

the price is 200, not 165. the newspaper is a bit off. regardless:


we are not arguing that UMD will replace DVD, we are saying that there is no place for 2 movie formats for gamers. many of us already bought DVDs (and will continue to do so) and i for one WILL NOT buy the movie again on UMD, and if its out on both DVD and UMD, i will obviously pick up the DVD version.


that is why we are saying UMD is doomed as a movie media.

[goatdan]

the price is 200, not 165. the newspaper is a bit off.

Well, we'll see. I haven't seen anything that confirmed it at $200.00 that I trust. I do tend to trust the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as they don't usually screw up their facts too badly. Besides that, I wouldn't be too surprised if Sony lowered their cost to take on the DS on a more even-leveled playing field.


we are not arguing that UMD will replace DVD, we are saying that there is no place for 2 movie formats for gamers. many of us already bought DVDs (and will continue to do so) and i for one WILL NOT buy the movie again on UMD, and if its out on both DVD and UMD, i will obviously pick up the DVD version.

that is why we are saying UMD is doomed as a movie media.

I agree with that, and that's what I'm saying. It's just that propreitary formats have always had the disadvantage no matter when they came out:

There wasn't room for Beta and VHS.
There wasn't room for Mini-Disks and CDs.
There wasn't room for DVD and DIVX.
It seems that there wasn't room for those Nintendo video cartridges.
It follows that there isn't room for DVD and UMD.

I just think it's crazy that the thing that Sony seems to be making into the biggest selling point of this portable system will require you to buy new media for it. If I want a portable system to play DVDs, I'll get something like this:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1082519264550&skuId=6628697&type=product

Not just is it the same price, but I would have millions of things ready to play on it, I already have a DVD library and I can hook it up to my TV. Sony's flaunting of their movie tech needs to stop soon, or it is going to put them at a very competitive disadvantage.

That, and considering that Nintendo will have the holiday season to start the DS sales...

I just don't see this as a really smart move for Sony. I see the PSP as a sort of Game Gear that will hang around for a long time, but never actually become mainstream. As I've said, I would rather they do well because Nintendo has never put together a powerful handheld until the PSP was threatened, and it was obvious they had the ability to (by it's longer battery life and two screens). I hope that Sony continues to push Nintendo to make better hardware and vice versa. And then that better games follow both systems around.