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First Sony PSP Pictures Revealed

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the and-it-fits-in-the-palm-of-your-hand dept.

iamhassi writes "Pictures of the PSP concept design have shown up on The Register. I'm impressed: when I first heard the screen was 4.5" I was afraid the device would be unusually large compared to the GBA with its 2.9" screen. Obviously those worries were unfounded." Update: 11/06 15:28 GMT by S : A section-specific post from yesterday provided the concept pictures from a different source.

42 of 257 comments (clear)

  1. daddypants seems to be broken.... by sweeney37 · · Score: 2, Informative

    just so there's no confusion this is the same story, with the same pictures that was run on Tuesday

    Mike

    1. Re:daddypants seems to be broken.... by aliens · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Of course this thing will be great to put in your pocket for easy carrying.

      Oh wait, no it wouldn't.

      --
      -- taking over the world, we are.
    2. Re:daddypants seems to be broken.... by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Taco must've borrowed the ring of duplication. Anyway, that was a sectioned story, this one isn't, more people will see it besides us game nuts. So I hope people realize this and don't bitch and moan about the dupe. I mean, not many have the ocular fortitude necessary to read the games page. =)

      Anyway here's my comment from that story:
      Disc format, which as I said elsewhere means moving parts. Also means certain tricks won't be easily doable(like rumble) and there's a chance the device will screw up during travel. We'll see if they can work around that.

      New format, which means I'd have to buy all new games for it. Not that big a deal, and I haven't been following it, but the GBA is backwards compatable. How many people own gameboy games and gameboy color games?

      Large size, just to accomidate everything.

      Going to be high cost next to it's competition. Simply because it's more advanced and will be newer.

      Probably memory cards, rather than on-cartridge memory.

      Will need to swap expansions rather than just swapping carts. The neo-geo stayed in existance for years because of the amount of hardware you could shove onto the cart.

      Slower load times, cart over disc usage. We'll see if they can work around that.

      Sony's console hardware has a history of breaking, oh, around just after warranty. I don't expect this to be different.

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
    3. Re:daddypants seems to be broken.... by _bug_ · · Score: 2, Insightful


      Slower load times, cart over disc usage. We'll see if they can work around that.

      Note the use of mini-discs. The load times are going to be on par with what you see from the Gamecube, which is not much at all.

    4. Re:daddypants seems to be broken.... by default+luser · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You forget that the Gamecube disc is continuously spinning, as is the case for most consoles.

      I wonder how Sony is going to deal with this concept: continuous motion would make their game loads more responsive, but would also drain the battery faster. Even with a smaller diameter, the spin-up for an optical drive is measured in seconds.

      Another problem everyone else overlooks concerning spin and power usage: isn't this thing going to waste a significant amount of power counter-acting rotation of the spinning axis?

      I always recall that old demonstration in my physics class, consisting of a bike wheel mounted on an axle with handles. You spin up the wheel, then try to turn it, and you HAVE TO DO SIGNIFICANT WORK to change the axis of rotation.

      Now, imagine a gamer with his hands changing angle pretty often, probably jittery hands plugging away at the buttons, and I can imagine even more power lost if the disc keeps spinning constantly. Every movement of the player's hands will cost the disc momentum.

      I am really curious how Sony is going to aproach this problem, because I am certain that a disc that spins down will be a blow to usability ( think slower than PS1 load times ), while a disc that spins constantly will suck battery life like nothing before.

      --

      Man is the animal that laughs.
      And occasionally whores for Karma.

    5. Re:daddypants seems to be broken.... by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 2, Informative

      Note the use of mini-discs. The load times are going to be on par with what you see from the Gamecube, which is not much at all.

      Beyond what the previous poster stated, Nintendo has occasionally stated that they try to work around the load times to make them appear much smaller than they actually are (ie pop up something for you to look at like an animation/FMV rather than just a loading screen). Not to mention that the GC discs are written from the outside edge of the disc rather than the inside to make more of the information available at higher speeds (since most optical drives read faster at the outside edge of the disc).

      Mini-discs actually cause more problems with loading times than they help, since there isn't as much of a distance between the outside and inside edges of the disc, so you have to spin the disc faster to get the same read-times from the outside edge of a smaller disc that you would get from the outside edge of a normal-sized DVD or CD. The only exception, of course, is that you can't put as much data on a smaller disc, so you can't have as much data to load (though, of course, no current console has enough RAM to buffer an entire GC disc anyway).

      --
      -PainKilleR-[CE]
    6. Re:daddypants seems to be broken.... by roystgnr · · Score: 2, Informative

      I always recall that old demonstration in my physics class, consisting of a bike wheel mounted on an axle with handles. You spin up the wheel, then try to turn it, and you HAVE TO DO SIGNIFICANT WORK to change the axis of rotation.

      You emphasized the wrong words there. I would have said that YOU have to do significant work. The bike wheel, on the other hand, keeps on spinning quite rapidly even with no further work input.

  2. Scale? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    These pictures have no objects that would indicate exactly how big these things are. How big can we expect this to be? I honestly believe the GBA is doing so well mostly because it's so small..

    1. Re:Scale? by Transient0 · · Score: 2, Informative

      yeah, but when you know that the screen is supposed to have a 4.5 inch diagonal, you can do some simple extrapolation for yourself.

      --
      lysergically yours
    2. Re:Scale? by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 4, Informative

      Using the screen as a guide (4.5"), the actual system comes out to about 6" by 3" if my 20 second measurements are of any use.

      --
      Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
  3. DAMN YOU SONY! by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 4, Funny
    DAMMMIT! I had finally organized my holiday wishlist, arranged it JUST RIGHT so that I had good odds of getting everything I wanted.

    Now they throw this into the picture and fuck everything up. Thanks a lot Sony. Bastards.

    P.S.
    Don't worry, you'll still probably be getting my parents money.

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
    1. Re:DAMN YOU SONY! by chrismcdirty · · Score: 4, Informative

      Don't worry until next year's holiday. It's not supposed to come out until late 2004.

      --
      It's like sex, except I'm having it!
  4. I dont care what they named it... by Hi_2k · · Score: 5, Funny

    But this thing will inevitably be called the Playboy.

    --
    When life gives you crap, Make Crapade.
    Sluggy Freelance.
  5. It reminds me of the Sega Gamegear by FrankGibson · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's also reminiscent of the Megadrive/Genesis "Mars" portable system. At least Sony has the cash to put behind such a product, unlike Sega did.

  6. Hm... by Worminater · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I have played extensively with gameboy from the first itteration to the current, and honestly, does sony expect to compete with that?

    Look at Segas Game Gear way back when. Yea that thing was sweet as a system, but could it hold its own against a plain ol gameboy, even though better gphx, backlit, and color?

    hell no, it got clobbered. Same with Nomad, and there the difference was even greater SYSTEM wise.

    I look at this, and I see a cell phone. No raised buttons... I like the screen though.

    I also like the integrated 802, meaning it will be easy to get a web browser on it :) If they release it to be competative with the GBA series price wise, I might pick one up just for the 802 support, whith the assumption that it will be hacked later(probably will wait for it though)

  7. Features by WhytTiger · · Score: 5, Insightful

    7.1 surround? MP3 Playback? Is it just me, or are these things unnecessary on a PORTABLE device that will only accept proprietary discs (no burning MP3's and playing them).

    --
    My Sig Beat up your Honor Roll Sig
    1. Re:Features by afidel · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Personally I think it's retarded that they spec'd a 664Mpixel/s. 33Mtriangle/s graphics core for a handheld with a resolution of only 480*272, at 60fps that means each triangle can be 1/4th of a pixel, or each pixel can be refreshed 5,000+ times a second, somehow I doubt their lcd refreshes that quickly! The one thing that would be cool would be streaming mp3's to the device over the 802.11b radio link, but somehow I doubt it would get decent battery life that way =)

      --
      There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
  8. Re:First Post?!?!?! by binaryDigit · · Score: 2, Interesting

    but no raised pad or buttons is awful.

    I thought that too when I first saw the pix, but then I realized that there is a translucent plastic cover over the front of the thing. Or at least I think that's what it looks like. Either that or the whole front has a glass/plastic layer with the buttons underneath (ala Mac Cube power button), I can't imagine that that is the case (literally and figuratively) though.

    Also don't expect this thing to sell for under $300

    Probably not at first, but don't be too surprised if it's not as far off as people expect. After all, if you think of it as a souped up Clie (similar feature sets, though different implementation of those features, the price savings of the smaller screen being offset by the optical drive), then it doesn't have to be a $700 unit.

    It will be quite exciting to see what it REALLY looks like and how it's priced.

  9. Looks good and all.... by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 2, Funny

    but will it feature Toy Story quality graphics?

    --
    Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
  10. Uh.. battery life? by Rinikusu · · Score: 4, Insightful

    2 MIPS CPU's, LCD backlit screen + oodles of other things, my guess is that you might be able to squeeze about 5 minutes from a quad of AA's..

    A portable game machine with a crappy battery life won't go too far.... I hope they have something up their sleeve, because even if they go battery-pak route, my experience with their laptop batteries is that they pretty much suck, too.

    --
    If you were me, you'd be good lookin'. - six string samurai
    1. Re:Uh.. battery life? by tuffy · · Score: 3, Informative

      Reportedly, the PSP uses rechargable batteries and gets 3-6 hours per charge. That means it'll need recharging twice as often as a GBA-SP with the side lights on. That's not a good sign for the PSP, but it isn't surprising given all the hardware involved.

      --

      Ita erat quando hic adveni.

    2. Re:Uh.. battery life? by tuffy · · Score: 2, Informative
      Reportedly? Reported where?

      Reported on IGN among other places.

      --

      Ita erat quando hic adveni.

  11. Founded on what? by hellfire · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I was afraid the device would be unusually large compared to the GBA with it's 2.9" screen. Obviously those worries were unfounded."

    As the article states, this is only a concept design, and that the final product may be less sleek. I wish people would pay attention, this is not the final PSP and its not coming out next week.

    I also wish /. would do more content proofreading but oviously those worries continue to be founded and unaddressed.

    --

    "All great wisdom is contained in .signature files"

  12. Some other pictures by I_l00P · · Score: 3, Informative

    This link has some pics that soh the psp side by side with the GBA.... http://www.outerspace.com.br/news/2003/novembro/06 a.asp

    1. Re:Some other pictures by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Hyperlink, anyone?

  13. Just a coincidence I'm sure... by DrXym · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ... that this mockup (and it's just a mockup) appears just as the NGage goes on sale. Personally I reckon the NGage is bulky crap having seen it working, but Sony looks like it is sowing a little FUD here.

  14. Lame Proprietary Crap by N8F8 · · Score: 2

    I wish Sony would quit with the proprietary media. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person who looks at this and thinks, "neato, but if I can't use the disc elewhere slese it is just eyecandy"

    --
    "God fights on the side with the best artillery." - Napoleon, Marshal of France - speaking truth to power
  15. Re:Memory Stick - Bend over.... by agby · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The device (as the pictures show) seems to take the new Sony UMD media. This looks lke a mini-DVD sized thing, similar to the Game Cube discs.

    Doing a search... reveals surprisingly little about what UMD actually is, other than a 1.8Gb DVD-like media, in a protective case.

  16. What's Missing. by Malicious · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Where are:
    The USB Port;
    HDD Size;
    Headphone jack;
    Battery

    All these things will take up a great deal of space, that their design hasn't incorporated. That design looks AWEFULLY hopeful...

    --
    01101001001000000110000101101101001000000110001001 10000101110100011011010110000101101110
  17. Sony gives Microsoft the finger by Ridgelift · · Score: 4, Informative

    It will support MP3, AAC and Sony's own ATRAC3 sound formats.

    Anyone notice the lack of WMA support? Obviously Sony is out to compete hard against Microsoft (who recently dropped to #3 in the console wars. Sony's still #1). And with the PS3 slated to include Linux support, maybe the PSP will be hackable too.

    --
    Ruby on Rails Screencast
  18. built in FUD? by Lumpy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The device in the top right corner is the PSP Universal Media Disc (UMD), a DVD-like dual-layer medium offering 1.8GB of storage. UMD comes with DVD-style region coding and copy-protection mechanism based on the Advanced Encryption System (AES). Each disc has a unique ID number too.

    unless they are planning on making the discs even more expensive, this is nothing but FUD.

    when you make CD's you have them pressed, and you cant make a sequential serial number in the discs as you press them.

    they can do it in printing, and maybe have the laser read a barcode, but in the pressing process? no way.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  19. Re:WOW by The+One+KEA · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You have a point. But if they can fit an entire x86 system onto a single die with only I/O and memory external to the die, then Sony can probably pull a Centrino and get away with the same thing.

    --
    SCREW THE ADS! http://adblock.mozdev.org/ Proud user of teh Fox of Fire - Registered Linux User #289618
  20. Dolby 7.1 by Gyorg_Lavode · · Score: 5, Funny

    Seriously, why in the world do you need dolby 7.1 on a hand held device. I'd be happy with stereo. Hell, I can't get over dolby pro logic in my home theater. What am I going to do? Wear a halo thats got 7 speakers w/ a sub strapped to my ass?

    --
    I do security
    1. Re:Dolby 7.1 by Zed2K · · Score: 2, Interesting

      They've advertised this so far as also being able to play movies. Add a digital out and video out and you have a portable dvd-like player.

  21. Re:First Post?!?!?! by KDan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How much free time does a real adult have to whip out a gameboy? And boy, doesn't THAT look professional!

    So, I'm curious, what exactly do you think the reason is why Nintendo came out with the Game Boy Advance SP, with its more elegant, office widget style look? For the kids? Hmm... Don't think so.

    The fact is there's a whole generation of people who grew up with Gameboys, who are now working, some of them in pretty good cushy jobs, possibly commuting, eg on the tube in London or in other large towns, and who want something cool to mess with while they're sitting on their ass waiting for the train to arrive at work. Some of them read books, but a lot of them want to be doing something else. These slick portable consoles are designed precisely for that market.

    Daniel

    --
    Carpe Diem
  22. Re:Just let me know when Chrono Trigger is availab by Medieval · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Diablo is an excellent RPG because it has swords, archery, dungeons and monsters.

    Diablo and its ilk are hack-and-slash. You kill stuff, you get money, you get experience, you buy better equipment, you kill bigger things, you level up. Not that there is anything wrong with this, its just not roleplaying.

    Real RPGs allow you to actually assume a role and play it out. Play Neverwinter Nights online some time with a good DM. Hell, play any decent tabletop RPG system, such as GURPS, D&D, possibly even Warhammer.

    I suspect you're a troll, but that's OK.

  23. Re:horrible design by Viol8 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Looks fine to me. Only an inch of finger space didn't the the Gameboys sales any harm. What do you have at the end of your arms , a bunch of sausages?

  24. Because they can by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 2, Insightful

    That's probably all it comes down to. Whatever sound chip they chose was probably capable of 7.1 as a side effect (seems even cheapie chips do that these days) so they advertise it. Does it matter? No, but like much else in the consumer world, what matters doesn't always drive sales. It's another feature they can claim never mind if it's useful or not.

  25. How may speakers??? by MhzJnky · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "The PSP will feature Dolby 7.1 multi-channel audio, with 3D sound"

    7 speakers and a sub-woofer kinda defeats the definition of portable.

    --


    "Failure is not an option, it's part of the standard package"
  26. more photos by i4u · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://www.i4u.com/article799.html

  27. Handheld Market could be hotting up soon by graveyardjohn · · Score: 3, Informative

    Although the GP32 is now not getting a launch in Europe, it still has a nice following, with a ton of emus available for it. And who needs to pay again for a copy of Super Mario 3 when you can use the rom on an emu for a handheld machine which is already available?

    Besides, the Zodiac Tapwave (info about the system) looks likely to be the next hackable, multi-purpose handheld...

  28. Interesting Feature: Repeat ordering system by count0 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Speaking of proprietary disks, the description of the UMD includes this nugget (along with a bevy of crypto/parental locking/drm)

    "Repeat ordering system"

    So my money's on a system that only allows you to play the game for a set time, and then you have to pay again. Interesting. If the original price point was low enough, it might even be worthwhile...particularly for things like trying out games. Maybe they'll learn from those self-destructing DVDs - rights-managed content has to be really really cheap.