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PSP - Peripherals, Pride, And Prejudice

Posted by simoniker on from the oodles-of-o-s dept.

Thanks to Gamesindustry.biz for reporting that Sony have confirmed their PSP portable has mobile phone and digital camera peripherals planned for it, separately of its 'main functionality' as a handheld console/media device. Sony executives also discussed the 'complicated' nature of "...copy protection measures in the hardware" for this new UMD optical disc-compatible handheld, saying "...software piracy won't be a problem if the protection system is as complicated as the one planned for PSP." In a related story, a ZiffDavis Wireless columnist takes Sony to task over the handheld's UMD format, concerned that "...Sony will hobble the forthcoming product's broad standards support in some bizarre proprietary way", and therefore miss out on making the PSP an "exciting and versatile media playback device."

7 of 38 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Nonsense!! by Txiasaeia · · Score: 2, Insightful
    The Gameboy does one thing, and it does it well: play games. I don't want my GBA SP to play movies, TV, music, or any other such crap. I want it to play games, and for what it does, it's terrific.

    Various add-on products, such as gray-area flash GB carts, add on compatibility in these areas, including the ability to play Nintendo (original) games. Now *this* is a feature that the GBA should have!

    But I digress. All it'll take for Sony to beat the GBA is the following:

    1) Cheap hardware

    2) Cheap software, preferably in a non-proprietary format (mini-cds, mini-discs, for example)

    3) GOOD (fun, good looking) games running on GOOD (fast, good looking) hardware

    That's it. Oh, and compatibility with GBA carts would be nice too. That's

    --
    Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
  2. Re:Nonsense!! by MBCook · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Cheap software, preferably in a non-proprietary format (mini-cds, mini-discs, for example)

    Based on the pictures of the UMD, it looks abit like a mini-cd/dvd, only in a cartridge to protect it from scratches (not unlike a mini-disc). I don't think it's any more proprietary than a normal PS2 disc, a GameBoy cartridge, or a GameCube disc.

    That's the problem I have with the idea that it's a bad idea to go with this new format. What other choices do they have? Rom? That's getting old and doesn't have the storage capacity of an optical disc. Mini-CD? Doesn't hold much. Full DVD? WAY to big for a portable. Minidisc? Doesn't hold much (under 300MB, IIRC). Mini-DVD? Could get scratched. So you put a mini-dvd in a cover (sorta like a minidisc) and you make it a proprietary filesystem (like all consoles seem to use) and you're set. Like I said above, I think this is what the UMD is.

    But, all will be answered when the system is revealed. I can't WAIT to see it.

    --
    Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
  3. Not enough information, yet by Kris_J · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Much as I've ignored Sony's MP3-era portable music attempts because they don't actually directly support MP3 and I've been a little upset with their use of the (unnecessary) DMCA-protected "Magic Gate" technology in their PS2 memory cards (Datel 16 Meg PS2 memeory card owner here), I think it's a little soon to be raggin' on the PSP for being proprietory.

  4. Peripherals... by evilhayama · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The PSP already sounds like it's going to be a biggish device with the umd discs, and now you're going to have to add things to it to get a phone and camera attached to it? This thing is going to be huge after all that, hardly pocket sized. The only advantage would be that I no longer have to have 3 pockets on my pants to carry mobile, camera and GBA at the same time. Now I need one HUGE pocket for the PSP.

    1. Re:Peripherals... by quecojones · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Dude, I understand what you're saying, but the point is that you'd only get those peripherals if you feel the need/want to get them. I'm sure countless people will be perfectly happy to get a PSP striclty for gaming with the occasional music/movie disc (assuming anything worth getting is ever released in the UMD format).

      As for size, the discs don't look to be much different from the MiniDiscs and they've been able to make devices that use those small enough. The deciding factor for the size, I think, will be the screen/controls. I'm just kind of put off by the fact that it will only have two shoulder buttons instead of four... for some crazy reason, I think that they should still try to work the four in there. I have no idea as to how to go about that and maintain a reasonable size for the device, but I still want it. I just keep thinking that whatever PS1 classics get ported over to the PSP won't feel quite right without those two extra buttons... maybe I'm just too picky. ;)

      Personally, I'd get the phone/camera peripheral only if it were a combined thing (like the current camere/phones). Other than that, the only thing I'd go for is whatever connectivity device they come out with for hooking it up to my PS2 (and in the future PS3) and maybe whatever adaptor it would need for hooking it up to a regular TV for when I'm away from home, but at a fixed location for a while.

      All of the above is dependant on the price of the peripherals and that of the PSP itself though.

      --
      "PROFANITY is the inevitable literary crutch of the inarticulate MOTHER FUCKER." -- some PC user
  5. Re:Umm... by Anonvmous+Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    " It's not amazingly useful, and not the best/cheapest camera you can get, but it's handy enough to sell more phones and attract the gadget crowd."

    I understand your point, but wanted to nitpick your comment about the camera phones. They serve a very useful purpose: assuming you have one of these phones, it goes everywhere you do. This is in stark contrast to most digital cameras. You've got it, but only remember to bring it on trips etc.

    Does this defeat your point? No, it strengthens it. I think NG's being a little too cynical here. I don't want to carry both a PSP and a dvd player on a plane. I carry enough shit with my laptop etc. If I can buy a movie or two for the PSP, then I'm set for that trip.

    At least I think this supports your point. Sorry for the nitpick, but I got into it with somebody the other day claiming camera phones were completely worthless.

  6. I have one and only one thing to say by Guppy06 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    My purchase of this device relies solely on one thing: the games. If the games are good, I'll get one. If not, I won't. I couldn't care less the kinds of whiz-bang features the put into it when I'm shoping for a handheld game system.