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Sony PSP Concept Revealed, PS2 Colors Diversified
An anonymous reader writes "1UP.com has posted a concept image of Sony's PSP handheld, as shown at a presentation about Sony's transformation and restructuring plan." The article analyzes the in-progress design: "Most conceptions of the PSP have envisioned a clamshell design like that of the Game Boy Advance SP, but this concept obviously favors a simpler, one-piece, horizontally arranged design. The Universal Media Disc loads into the back, and there's a loop for a handy carrying strap in one corner." Another article on 1UP shows new PlayStation 2 colors as part of a Japanese-only price drop/bundle announcement, including a special-edition "ceramic white" PS2 bundled with Gran Turismo 4 Prologue, and a Gundam bundle that includes a gold-colored PS2.
With the screen exposed like that, and not even recessed, I would be worried that it would get scratched easily. I'm worried about the power button's placement, and I hope that it has to be held for a half second to turn the thing off so you won't hit it accidently.
My guess is that the directional buttons/pad is/are analog, because I would think that putting an analog stick on a handheld would tend to break off or get damaged. There also don't seem to be any shoulder buttons, so if they plan to port PS1 games, some might not be easy (although some games never even used 'em).
Putting the discs in cartridges is a good idea, and they have expirence (MiniDiscs) and it being Sony I bet it will have good battery life (unlike, IIRC, the Lynx), but I wonder if it will be built in rechargable or AA(A)s (my guess is LithIon).
I guess my last comment is the screen. It's widescreen, very cool. I think that will play well with many types of games and if their "watch movies on it" idea ever takes off, that holds good.
OK, this is the REAL last comment. Wouldn't it be cool if they released a rewriteable disc for the thing and some kind of little DVD->PSP conversion unit or software or something so that you could "copy" your DVDs to it to watch on the go, so you wouldn't have to buy movies twice? It will never happen, but maybe some 3rd party will do it!
Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
Woo! Lithium ion battery! I guess the days of having battery eating handheld systems are finally gone. But 'regional code system'? Uh oh.. 'Shock proof'? I don't think they understand the kind of stress gamers put their handhelds' through.. 'Expansion port'!? Uh oh, this means they'll end up releasing some kind of add-on(s) in the future. Maybe a mini-hard drive?
An expansion port is needed if the PSP is going to be able to compete with the unique little gizmos that Nintendo can put on GBA cartridges, like the Boktai sun sensor, the Kirby Tilt & Tumble sensor, etc., as well as any future innovation in wireless technology that requires some new piece of hardware similar to the Bluetooth expansion packs that are being added to the GBA right now. In short, it's just insurance so that Nintendo doesn't think up something ingenius and leave Sony thinking, "Dammit, I wish we could do that". Gamesharks and other third party add-ons are probably a concern, too.
I agree about the region coding thing, though. The GBA has been a great system for world travellers like ship-bound navy personnel that have been able to buy GBA games in most of the countries in the world and the lack of regional controls certainly hasn't hurt the GBA's sales or third party support. I wish that Sony would just learn that region controls are ridiculous and let people buy whatever games they want. It would also slash the margins of mod chip makers by eliminating all of their legitimate clientele that just want to import foreign games.