PSP To Have PS2 Connectivity, No Shovelware Conversions?

Thanks to GamesIndustry.biz for its article discussing Sony's confirmation that its forthcoming PSP portable will feature connectivity with the PS2 home console. According to remarks from Sony's Fumiya Takeno: "This feature would allow games to be played on the home systems, with save games being moved to the PSP so that play could be continued on the handheld system - exploiting the fact that the PSP's hardware is broadly similar in specification to the PS2." Although "...it is known that porting code from the PS2 to the PSP is extremely easy", it's also been confirmed that Sony "..is placing a heavy emphasis on the development of new titles for the PSP, rather than the porting of existing PS2 software", meaning the company is likely to be harsh in the approval process regarding 'shovelware' PS2 conversions.

Comments

controller

[SkunkPussy]

I know, why don't they make it so you can use the PSP as a controller for the PS2?

oh.

Re:controller

[rylin]

I'm not sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if the big N had a patent on this (think gba<->gcn).
To me, it seems as if Sony are just following Nintendo's lead, and are trying to reach into the handheld market.. to which I'll say "Good luck, Sirs".

Re:controller

[chrismcdirty]

With one key difference... the gaming media thinks it's new and exciting! Where Nintendo "hasn't gone" or has done badly, Sony will triumph!

I'd like to see it not get filled up with a bunch of shovelware. That's what they say now, but I'm sure it'll be given rehashes out the wazoo.

Oh no,

[cL0h]

This sounds terrible. Now I'll never do anything except play games.

why PS2 connectivity?

[incubusnb]

the PSP is scheduled to launch in 2005 alongside the PS3 from what i understand, what exactly is the point of having any sort of Connectivity with the PS2 if it will probably never get used? i sure hope they plan on it connecting to the PS3 or they'll have a feature that will never be used except by the very few companies that will still make games for the PS2.

by that time all the really good titles will already have been announced for PS3.

Re:why PS2 connectivity?

[rrace]

Could be, since the PS3 is supposed to be able to run ps2 and ps1 games it would also be able connect to the psp. The library of games sony will have with the ps3 will just be amazing.

Re:why PS2 connectivity?

[wheany]

I would guess that they will use USB to connect PSP to the PS2, and I assume the PS3 will have USB ports as well. (IDNRTFA)

Re:why PS2 connectivity?

[Anonymous Coward]

INFORMATIVE MY ASS!

You have absolutely no basis for which to state that! Are you basing it on the outstanding launch that the PS2 had? Because, in case you forget, both the PS1 and the PS2 had absolutely awful launch titles.

Powerful system != amazing games.

GBA competition

[The_Real_GooberMan]

Looks like the competition they'll be providing for the GBA is complete. The only thing the GBA did that the PSP didn't do was connectivity with another console.

Re:GBA competition

[FlipmodePlaya]

That and have a library of several thousand games, and a userbase of several million... As well known as 'Playstation' is, I'll argue that 'GameBoy' is even more infused into pop-culture. Sony can't rely on its brand name to compete, this time. It will take a killer app such as GTA or a 3D Madden to get the masses to turn to it. The price will also need to be competative, in comparison to the GBA. If people are given the option of a PS2, or a PSP at twice the money, I think they'll go with a PS2. If absolutely necessary, they can strap a portable screen to it.

Re:GBA competition

[lucas teh geek]

competition for the gba? that like saying that the playstation was competition for the snes. by the time this thing finally comes out it'll probably be competing with the Nintendo DS and the sucessor for the GBA

Re:GBA competition

[Anonymous Coward]

How can something that doesn't exist yet do something?

Shovelware Definition?

[Babbster]

Would a PS2 port automatically be considered shovelware? If it's a good game and the conversion to handheld is effective, isn't it just a port? The term "shovelware" implies that the end product is no good.

Re:Shovelware Definition?

[lucas teh geek]

just cause its being shoveled, doesnt make it shit

Innovative Goodness :)

[polyp2000]

The main crux of this statement, for me is the heavy emphasis on developing new titles for PSP. I dont think Sony are ruling out some ports, as what would be the point in having memory cards/game-saves transferable to the PS2.

However, It is about time we saw more original and new games out there. I am of the Sony faithful crowd. But of late most games are NG ports of things that have come and gone before. To a certain extent this can be said for most consoles. Although stuff like monkey-ball shows the GameCube to be a ground for fresh ideas.But i shouldnt forget Socom and EyeToy :) My preference for dark and disturbing games keeps me with PS2.

I think that its a good idea for Sony to push innovation card a bit more because the games/console market is getting saturated with half-assed ports released on all 3 consoles. Two's company, Three's a crowd so to speak! Id certainly like to see more single platform licenses out there. Right now there is little difference in any of the three consoles where new games are concerned. Its mainly brand loyalty that joe average uses to choose a console. Having a killer app/must have game available only on PSP, is the thing that will get those units sold en masse!

Nick

Re:Innovative Goodness :)

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't believe you just said eyetoy.

If you just glace at a PC, you would see this idea has been out for a very long time.

That's spiff.

[josh glaser]

Lets hope they make better use of connectivity then Nintendo seems to be doing. Even in games where connectivity is required for each player, it doesn't seemed used very well...you use the GBA to manage your items! Ooh! I'm sure the PSP/PS2 link will be more successful, as those systems are of comparable power, and the PSP could run ported games. However, you'd have to buy two copies of the same game, which people might not want to do.

Re:That's spiff.

[chrismcdirty]

No offense, but do you really think they could make a handheld system right now that is comparable in power to the PS2 while still retaining a halfway decent battery life? I surely don't.

I'd say it is probably more comparable in power to the PS1. Possibly more powerful, but not close to PS2.

It's just the marketing machine rearing it's ugly head. Remember when N64 was in development, Nintendo said it'd be as powerful as an SGI workstation? Remember when PS2 came out, Sony claimed it was fast enough to be a supercomputer with one processor? I'd really like to see them fit a supercomputer into a 4"x2"x.5" package.

Re:That's spiff.

[socode]

The PS2 is fast enough to be a supercomputer, just not a contemporary one, since it's a moving target. Unfortunately, so are marketing people.

Re:That's spiff.

[josh glaser]

Judging by what Sony has said, and a bunch of pure speculation, I think it will have, eh, about the power of a Dreamcast, maybe a bit less. Like I said, comparable to PS2. But yeah, marketing folks do exaggurate specs...but that's all we have: marketing talk. So obviously, since we really don't know much about the PSP, all thoughts of mine certainly aren't written in stone or anything.

And on the battery life: well, I'm crossing my fingers.

Re:That's spiff.

[chrismcdirty]

The exageration gets you far, though. Remember the Xbox-GCN wars before they came out? Microsoft gave out untextured, unfilled, unenhanced polygon counts. So their numbers were through the roof. Nintendo gave out realistic gaming specs and were slammed by the media [and have been slammed ever since].

I'm hoping the battery life is good, too. I'll definitely give it a chance. Here's hoping.

Re:That's spiff.

[Anonymous Coward]

I believe Sony did the same thing with the PS2 hype. They listed the number of polygons that could be pushed through the system if each polygon was the same size and shape with no lighting, effects or texture. Now that we see just how efficient the system really is, I want my Dreamcast back. :)

Re:That's spiff.

[Rallion]

Multiplayer Crystal Chronicles WITHOUT the GBAs would be maddening. "Okay, guys, I need to switch items, get ready to pause!" "Oh, me too, so pause again right after!" Ugh. I would stab somebody so quick....if I didn't get stabbed first.

Re:That's spiff.

[Deliveranc3]

"You'll never need more than 512k of memory",
"Who would want a computer in the house?"
"One Day computers will be small enough to fit in this room."

Welcome to distinguished company. It really sucks having a technological revolution with people from the 80's kicking around. Here's hoping you all die and we get some people with vision and enthusiasm.

-Out

Re:That's spiff.

[chrismcdirty]

I'm not saying that it will never happen. I'm just saying since my laptop can barely run for 3 hours on battery alone, I'd like to see something more powerful than it run for longer than that.

Don't get me wrong... I'd LOVE for them to prove me wrong. It'd be a geek's wet dream. And I really hope they do some day. Preferably sooner than later.

Re:That's spiff.

[DeadScreenSky]

But that problem is more because Square-Enix chose not to design an effective interface for such things. You could easily do a minimal transparent item changing interface to pop up in the corners (one for each player) of the screen, for example. You could even just shrink the main screen view for a little bit instead, allowing the game to still be played by others. Sure, it wouldn't be as immediately intuitive as the current interface, but that really doesn't matter in a game that is intended to be played for quite some time. And it would be easier to see what is still going on in the game. A nice quick tutorial should be more than enough, considering how basic the RPG system aspects are anyway. The better control ergonomics alone would make it a great tradeoff.

Re:That's spiff.

[DeadScreenSky]

Remember the Xbox-GCN wars before they came out? Microsoft gave out untextured, unfilled, unenhanced polygon counts. So their numbers were through the roof.

But that is how things are done in the gaming world. You will also notice they also then gave out specs for textured, lit, etc. polygons in the same articles/papers. The same thing was done with the PS2, PSX, N64, Saturn, Dreamcast, and various 3D arcade hardware platforms. Pretty sure Nintendo did it too for the GC.

The Xbox (and PS2, I believe) can push more polygons than the GC does - it isn't like this is some lie MS made up. The GC is exceptionally good with textures, and is cheaper hardware - potentially worthy tradeoffs that Nintendo chose to make. And if Nintendo is getting slammed by the media for it nowadays (which I don't buy, unless you mean media as in "some 12 year old posting on a Gamefaqs message board"), it is because they really don't struggle to make most of their games look all that better than what they had on the N64. Exceptions to this, like Metroid Prime or Wind Waker, are certainly praised for their visual artistry by the media and gamers alike. But really only the two Star Wars games by Factor 5 show what the Gamecube hardware is truly capable of, with a couple of various additional exceptions (like F-Zero to some extent), so it isn't surprising that people criticize the GC's graphics capability.

Devs (especially Nintendo's own) need to be encouraged to actually show off the graphics capabilities of the GC.

Re:That's spiff.

[drinkypoo]

If the specifications of the hardware remain fixed the system indeed is closer to the PS2 than the PS1. The PS1 has a single MIPS R3000 core, around 30 or 40MHz. (I always forget, and this time I have a headache so I'm too lazy to look it up.) The PSP has two MIPS cores (64 bit RISC) which run at 333MHz each; one is used for a CPU and the other for a vector unit. Seems to me like it's about half as powerful as a PS2, maybe a little better than that. This puts it at 10-15 times the power of a PSOne :P Actually the PS2 has an R3000 in it too, which while not in use by a PS2 game (I forget what purpose it fulfills in the PS2 besides backwards compatibility) is used to run PSOne software, to eliminate the need for dynamic recompilation (which is sure not to work right) or emulation of the CPU.

The N64 IS as powerful as an SGI workstation, say, an Indy - Though it's a little light on the ram, it actually uses faster memory than the indy, and has (IIRC) about the same amount of bus bandwidth. And the PS2 IS as fast as a (low end) supercomputer of its time with only one processor, though that "processor" actually has three processors in it; one normal CPU with a 64 bit MIPS core (which also supports 128 bit data types) and two vector coprocessor units in the same package.

The PSP is at least half as powerful as a PS2 (I'd say more like 2/3 speed - again, based on current specs.)

Re:That's spiff.

[Anonymous Coward]

When hardware specs were being bandied about in the hype stage of this generation, Sony and MS released polygon counts in the several tens of millions, numbers that obviously couldn't be attained in an actual game. Nintendo estimated that polygon counts in a GC game would be between 6 and 9 million depending on the type of game, effects used, etc. Yes, most of the slamming was done by 12 year olds on message boards, but plenty of journalists didn't bother to check facts and printed the numbers fed to them.

"And if Nintendo is getting slammed by the media for it nowadays . . . it is because they really don't struggle to make most of their games look all that better than what they had on the N64."

Would you care to qualify that with some examples? Because I doubt you can name any GameCube games that look like N64 games, let alone games developed by Nintendo themselves.

Re:That's spiff.

[Anonymous Coward]

But that ignores the fact that you're not necessarily supposed to share the information on your GBA screen. Each player gets a different version of the minimap with different information, for one thing, and there's no rule that says they can't use that information to hog all the treasure chests or avoid being the first to run into a monster. There's also the bonus. Artifacts are handed out after a battle according to how well you do at the bonus objective on your GBA screen. The other players shouldn't need to know what you're trying to do, especially if there are rare artifacts at stake.

Re:That's spiff.

[Quobobo]

I would disagree, there's a lot of games that truly push the Gamecube's graphics, just think of Resident Evil 1 and 0. My jaw dropped when I first played RE 1 on the Gamecube, it looks absolutely amazing. Capcom was a huge advocate of the Sega, and now they've moved on to Nintendo.

Re:That's spiff.

[chrismcdirty]

unless you mean media as in "some 12 year old posting on a Gamefaqs message board"

Actually, I'm referring to GameSpy and IGN. I don't read GameSpy too much, but IGN's Gamecube channel constantly second-guesses Nintendo's decisions and says that they're making bad decisions without even seeing the end product (DS).

Re:That's spiff.

[Anonymous Coward]

I wouldn't totally discount the possibility.

http://www.gamemarketwatch.com/news/item.asp?nid =2 787

Less chips + smaller manufacturing process = less power usage. Considering the PS1 was made into a portable by some home user without too much difficulty, it should be slightly more difficult (but possible) for an electronics giant such as Sony to put out such a portable console. My guess is that it will be able to run the same code as the ps2, but maybe won't have quite as much power. That way power isn't wasted on such a tiny screen where the details will never be seen/noticed, and the developers will be nice and comfortable with programming for the system. Think about it. Nintendo may want to hurry with that direct competitor for the PSP... Not this N DS stuff.

Re:That's spiff.

[Anonymous Coward]

Er ... the PSP is not going to be more powerful than your laptop, and it certainly isn't going to use more power. It has no HDD, no bloated Pentium processor, no bloated GPU, and potentially no backlight (assuming they use OLED displays). The comparison is baseless.

Re:That's spiff.

[DeadScreenSky]

I think it is hard not to second-guess the DS at this point - that is just good, honest journalism. Nintendo has done a terrible job on selling the system to the public, basically just announcing it with a few weird details, sans any game info, then telling everyone to wait for E3. They have similar problems with the connectivity angle - Western journalists just didn't find the idea very favorable, no matter the publication. Neither does the public, really. Nintendo hasn't done a good job selling these ideas, so they are right to see some skeptism.

And IGN also features a huge amount of articles that are more than a little heavy in the "ra ra Nintendo yea!" factor (especially compared to Gamespot or Gamespy). For example, in the latest letters section, the editor says: "But, good, timely ports usually sell comparably or better on GameCube compared to Xbox and PS2." This is simply a gross exaggeration, and is the exception rather than the rule - the only big game I can think of it being true for is SCII, and the GC version was far superior in terms of the popularity of its bonus character (and the Xbox port was nothing to write home about, being intentionally cripped as well as being just an ugly, glitchy game to begin with).

Re:That's spiff.

[DeadScreenSky]

RE1 and RE0 are mostly prerendered, with the exception of the monster/character models. It would be like saying a DVD of Toy Story or Final Fantasy looks great on my Xbox, proving how powerful it is - it has nothing to do with the system's graphics capabilities whatsoever. Every other console, probably including the Dreamcast, could do RE1 or RE0. The same essential technique was used for the original RE on PSX!

I got nothin..

[sheiqck]

I doubt its anything to get excited about, Nintendo already said games with better gfx isnt the future. I rememeber a few years ago when PcPoweplay was good, and 500mhz was front page material.. i really dont think shiney bump mapping does a whole lot for me. Add to that the fact that sony is always on the bottom in the grapics department makes me wonder why they dont try and make the psp a communal device like the big N wants to.
I like sony, my MD works great.
I just wonder whether the PSP is something that will ever have any must have games (Halo, Mario Kart, Goldeneye, HL type stuff).

Re:I got nothin..

[Acidic_Diarrhea]

" I doubt its anything to get excited about, Nintendo already said games with better gfx isnt the future."

So because Nintendo said it, it's got to be true? Here's something to consider: PS3 games, for the most part, will look better than PS2 games. Shocker huh? I think you misread that interview. The point isn't that graphics technology isn't improving, the point is that in order to impress and entice gamers, there are going to have to be improvements in other aspects of a game, rather than just graphics. You should have linked to the interview where you believe someone at Nintendo said that graphics don't matter.

"i really dont think shiney bump mapping does a whole lot for me."

Hey, I bet you can pick up an old Atari at a garage sale soon. Enjoy!

"Add to that the fact that sony is always on the bottom in the grapics department makes me wonder why they dont try and make the psp a communal device like the big N wants to."

Sony is always on the bottom? I guess you're basing this on the PS1 and PS2. I don't think two consoles - I'm not even going to discuss whether both of these are in fact, on the bottom - makes a performance indicator.

"I like sony, my MD works great."

Isn't it nice to like multi-national corporations? I'll ask Sony in study hall if he likes you too. Ooooh, I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about you two going steady.

"I just wonder whether the PSP is something that will ever have any must have games (Halo, Mario Kart, Goldeneye, HL type stuff)."

I'm guessing that Sony hopes so. Please don't post here anymore.

Re:I got nothin..

[Anonymous Coward]

I haven't posted yet, and I don't know who's speaking here, but I'd guess it's Acidic_Diarrhea's pomposity that is the root of all this -1 discussion, in which case I'd like to request that he take a nice long breath and learn not to be so abrasive, both in presenting his own ideas and in responding to others' innocent posts.

Diplomacy, even in anonymity, has its merits. People of intelligence should be expected to understand these merits well enough to apply them.

Re:I got nothin..

[Anonymous Coward]

shut the fuck up, moron.

Re:I got nothin..

[sheiqck]

Pity the PSP isnt going to have gfx like the PS3 then isnt it?
Real big pity that.
I know 2 isnt a trend but im afraid 100% of their consoles have been beat in the face with the ugly stick. The most popular, but still the ugliest. Not that you even bothered discussing it, seeing as its true.
I know they dont care about whether i like them or not, i was trying to show the fact that im not just another zealot.. something you forgot in your post?
The only game i can remember gettng uber hype for ps1 was gran turismo, and i bought a ps1 just to play the second one. I think ill stick with my GBA instead of picking up an atari, but thanks for the idea.
Then again, anyone who wasn't broken into console gaming a sony would understand where im coming from. I guess we'll see in a year and a half =\

Re:I got nothin..

[Acidic_Diarrhea]

"Then again, anyone who wasn't broken into console gaming a sony would understand where im coming from. I guess we'll see in a year and a half =\"

What are you trying to say here? This doesn't parse correctly. Are you making the assertion that my first console was a Sony one? That's laughable.

Aimed at Asia

[Evil Schmoo]

Sounds to me like this is something designed mainly for the Oriental market, especially Japan and S. Korea. With the associated costs, and the release of PS3, few people are going to purchase a PSP without already having a PS2 (ie, for standalone use). And given the choice between a PSP/PS2 combo and a PS3 -- that's a no-brainer. (Despite the myriad possibilities presented by newer and better Tingle Tuners.)

So the only market I can see this really applying to is the gadget-crazy market -- like my roommate, God bless him, and the denizens of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.

I'm sure they won't have GTA 3

[Smack]

I'm sure Sony will stand by this principle and not release any of their more popular games as "shovelware". Not Sony.

Re:I'm sure they won't have GTA 3

[gl4ss]

"their"?? since when is gta3 sonys game(sure they had an exclusivity deal for it for a while).

however, I'd be betting hard that the approval process is just the usual "hand us the money" type of a deal, so I'd be very surprised if they really turned down any rehashes there was a publisher willing to pony up the cash for.

Sold separately or in a single package?

[Xian97]

In order to use this system, developers will have to write compatible games for both the PS2 and PSP, and it's unclear whether Sony is proposing that these titles should be sold separately or in a single package.

If the latter is true, that would be a major selling point of the PSP to me, buying a game and having the ability to play it at home or on the road without having to buy both PS2 and PSP versions.

*cough*Ripoff*cough*

[FortissimoWily]

I wonder how many of the people who said Nintendo's handheld to home-console connectivity ideas were bad and would never work will now be saying stuff along the lines of "That's a good idea.", and giving all the (undeserved) credit to Sony?

Re:*cough*Ripoff*cough*

[TechniMyoko]

Nintendo has only used it to unlock stupid little things like extra suits in metroid. Or a map which couldve easily been on screen in the corner like in previous games. Crystal chronicals couldve done without it, as Dungeons and Dragons for Xbox plays the same and did without. Four swords isnt out yet, however that and pacman (shudder) are the only games thaat truly require the gba. Albeit pacman couldve done without but wouldnt be the same

Re:*cough*Ripoff*cough*

[StocDred]

Crystal chronicals couldve done without it

So how would they give each player a secret mission? Ask the other 3 players to close their eyes? How would they give each player a different sub-screen and therefore different responsibilities in the dungeon? How would they allow 3 players to simultaneously restructure their command lists, while the 4th player moves the party, without cluttering the screen?

Go ahead, I want to hear this.

Re:*cough*Ripoff*cough*

[Anonymous Coward]

Careful, you're A FUCKING IDIOT.

Have you even played multiplayer Crystal Chronicals yet? Didn't think so.

Re:*cough*Ripoff*cough*

[TechniMyoko]

I have, Ive also played it in D&D for Xbox. The 'secret' mission doesnt have to be a secret nor is it required.

Re:*cough*Ripoff*cough*

[Anonymous Coward]

No you haven't, otherwise you'd see the incredible usefulness of the gba connectivity.

I mean, I just love watching other people shop around for fifteen minutes, then getting into battle and watching them switch their weapons and spells and having the screen change and the flow of the game interrupted every five fucking seconds. That makes for fanfuckingtastic gameplay, wouldn't you agree?

Re:*cough*Ripoff*cough*

[Anonymous Coward]

It's worse than you think - they're also planning to design the system so that you have to take out the battery to switch games.

COME UP WITH SOME ORIGINAL IDEAS, SONY.

Re:*cough*Ripoff*cough*

[StocDred]

Or a map which couldve easily been on screen in the corner like in previous games.\

And another thing. The whole goddamn point of having a map on the GBA is to get it off the goddamn screen. No need to pause to see the map. No map covering up a corner of your view. No clutter. It's there on the GBA, always on, always useful. When I played Splinter Cell and Wind Waker, it was an incredible help.

Why in the world would you be against something like that?

Re:*cough*Ripoff*cough*

[buffer-overflowed]

What? Playing FF:CC w/o the GBA connectivity would be awful.

It would take 5 times as long to set up your command list at the start of a dungeon(there always seems to be that one guy who takes twice as long to do it), you'd have to pause whenever you wanted to swap things out, drop things, or restructure your command list.

The secret missions would no longer be reveal at your own option. The cooperative aspect of play(each person has a different map) would be gone. Plus you'd have to pause whenever you wanted to check the map. That sucks.

Shopping in towns would be a PITA and take 5 times as long.

It would(and does in D&D) make the game crawl in comparison.

You obviously have never actually played FF:CC.

Re:*cough*Ripoff*cough*

[TechniMyoko]

if you wanna make blind/slashdot accusations I can turn on my tv card and capture some video of me playing in multi

Im sorry but after playing other games like it that dont use it, it doesnt seem neccesary

Re:*cough*Ripoff*cough*

[TechniMyoko]

as I said to the other guy, if you wanna make blind/slashdot accusations I can turn on my tv card and capture some video of me playing in multi

just because I dont like/agree with something doesnt mean I never used it.

Re:*cough*Ripoff*cough*

[Anonymous Coward]

do it faggot

Going to work with PS2

[superpulpsicle]

I can't imagine going to work with a handheld PS2. It's one thing to have 16bit quality mario games on gameboy advanced.

It's another to have a game of PS2 quality at work.

Re:Going to work with PS2

[Anonymous Coward]

PS2 quality: Wow, check them graphics out.

And that statement in itself is deeply sarcastic.

Re:controller [OT]

[Azathoth!EDC]

>> Remember: The old adage "fight fire with fire" does not apply to non-metaphorical fires.

This is inaccurate.

In the case of large-scale brush fires, a second fire will be intentionally set in the same area as the first to choke out the oxygen supply, thus canceling both fires.

*cough*Fanboy*cough*

[Scrameustache]

I wonder how many of the people who said Nintendo's handheld to home-console connectivity ideas were bad and would never work will now be saying stuff along the lines of "That's a good idea.", and giving all the (undeserved) credit to Sony?

Sony had a hand-held that connected to the PSX back in the 90's. It was pretty much the same thing as the Dreamcast VMU, except it came out before and had a lil' screen protector.
It wasn't much, but its not like this is their first time, and Nintendo didn't do it before them.

Re:*cough*Fanboy*cough*

[FortissimoWily]

"Sony had a hand-held that connected to the PSX back in the 90's. It was pretty much the same thing as the Dreamcast VMU, except it came out before and had a lil' screen protector."
I know, though I would class the PocketStation more as a memory-card-with-a-display than a real handheld, hence why I didn't mention it initially. But even back then, people gave Sony undue credit for the idea, which was nothing more than a ripoff of the Dreamcast VMU's which had been around for some time beforehand.

Incidentally, Nintendo did do a link-up between a home-console and a 'proper' handheld (with the GC and GBA) before Sony ever did. That said, the concept was first done by the Neo Geo Pocket Color and the Sega Dreamcast, although due to how the NGPC vanished and Sega dropped out of the hardware business, nobody ever really got to see it put to use.

Re:*cough*Fanboy*cough*

[Anonymous Coward]

It wasn't much, but its not like this is their first time, and Nintendo didn't do it before them.

Nintendo had the transfer pack for the N64 prior to the Pocketstation (or the Wonderswan connectivity, I believe), which allowed you to connect between a handheld and a console.

Re:*cough*Fanboy*cough*

[Anonymous Coward]

No, it attached a Gameboy cartridge to the controller's memory card port, allowing the transfer of Pokemon game save data. That's it. There was no linkup to a Gameboy system at all, and no support for games other than Pokemon.

Re:*cough*Fanboy*cough*

[Scrameustache]

I know, though I would class the PocketStation more as a memory-card-with-a-display than a real handheld

It has buttons, it has games, its held in the hands.

But even back then, people gave Sony undue credit for the idea, which was nothing more than a ripoff of the Dreamcast VMU's which had been around for some time beforehand.

8th October 1998 - Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced the December 23 launch in Japan of PocketStation, a miniature PDA* which will greatly enhance the gaming experience and enjoyment of the PlayStation. By spring 1999, 31 titles compatible with PocketStation are scheduled to be released by several publishers including SCEI.
*PDA = Personal Digital Assistant
Product Name SCPH-4000
Product Name SCPH-4000 "PocketStation(TM)"
SRP 3,000 Yen (excluding tax)
Release Date December 23, 1998

The Dreamcast was released in 1999.

No Kingdom Hearts on PSP?

[WebGangsta]

At Disney's shareholders meeting in Philadelphia today (at about 3hrs 10mins through 3hours 15mins into the meeting for those of you who want to listen at Disney Investors) they announced that Kingdom Hearts 2 is coming in 2005 for the PS2 and a version of Kingdom Hearts for Gameboy coming out later this year. No mention of a version for PSP or PS3.

I do not think that word means what you think it m

[drinkypoo]

"Shovelware" does not mean "hastily ported software". I don't know where you got that impression but it is entirely incorrect. Shovelware is software (or media) included on a CD or DVD-ROM in order to use up some of that extra space. Typically it consists of demos for other like content, or related software. For example the shovelware on a driver disk for a USB camera might include webcam and photo retouching software, plus a slide show maker that puts your pictures on a cube or something, and costs $39.99 to register. On a clip art disc about cars there are probably clip art samplers of houses and pets or something. That is shovelware. A crappy port is only shovelware if it's thrown in with some other software, just because it would fit on the disc.

Re:controller [OT]

[Anonymous Coward]

Are you sure? I always thought the purpose of the second fire was to remove the fuel supply from the primary blaze, preventing it from advancing through the scorched area.

Re:CO$ Googlebomb

[Anonymous Coward]

Now now. No mention of that cult is complete without a link to Operation Clambake.

The trusty shovel.

[August_zero]

company is likely to be harsh in the approval process regarding 'shovelware' PS2 conversions.

Um, no offense here, but Sony is the king of Shovelware. Half of the PS2 library falls under that classification and honestly, it is one of the reasons that they lead the console market. People are more likely to buy a system with a bazillion titles no matter if the quality of 6 kajillion of them is akin to single-ply recyled orphanage-grade toliet paper. I think this is one of those cases that the slashdot readership forgets that it is in general a little more tech-savvie than the average Joe/Joanne.

Re:The trusty shovel.

[metamatic]

People are more likely to buy a system with a bazillion titles no matter if the quality of 6 kajillion of them is akin to single-ply recyled orphanage-grade toilet paper.

c.f. Microsoft Windows vs Apple Macintosh...

Re:The trusty shovel.

[Babbster]

So THAT'S why everyone has CP/M on their computers!

WHOOOSH

[metamatic]

Yeah, if the PSP was really PS2-like hardware, where would they get the juice to power the vacuum cleaner fan?

(Yes, I have a PS2, and a Gamecube. Guess which I prefer from the hardware point of view?)

Re:*cough*SomeoneGetSomeCoughDrops*cough*

[FortissimoWily]

"Product Name SCPH-4000
"PocketStation(TM)"
Release Date December 23, 1998

The Dreamcast was released in 1999."
You are quite correct in saying that the Dreamcast was released in 1999 - but this was only in the United States and Europe. The Dreamcast was released in 1998 in Japan, on November 27th. As is customary in the games industry, all the hardware (including the VMU's) had been announced and shown some time before that.
Furthermore, the VMU's were available to purchase some three or four months prior to the console. This was done in order to promote one of the Japanese launch games - a Godzilla title - and to build hype for the Dreamcast itself. Green-coloured Godzilla-branded VMU's (which came with a Godzilla virtual pet pre-installed) were sold in Japanese cinemas, during the run of a Godzilla movie that was out at the time.
It's actually very well-known that Sony based the PocketStation on Sega's Visual Memory Units (or Visual Memory System, as they were known in Japan).

Shovelware from other systems

[MMaestro]

meaning the company is likely to be harsh in the approval process regarding 'shovelware' PS2 conversions.

What about 'shovelware' from other systems? I know Nintendo and Microsoft would guard their franchises by locking them in the closet or by throwing money at them, but what about PC shovelware and Xbox/Gamecube games made by third party developers?

EA... well I don't think anything needs to be said about them. Konami will probably jump on with the proper incentive (a handheld Contra?) SquareEnix might join, but thats doubtful unless Sony starts shipping them packages of money. Chances are we'll see SOME kind of 'shovelware', even if it isn't from the PS2 library.

Or Sony could be an ass and start making 'shovelware' PS1 games saying "well we said no PS2 shovelware, but we didn't say anything about PS1 shovelware."

Re:*cough*SomeoneGetSomeCoughDrops*cough*

[Scrameustache]

The Dreamcast was released in 1998 in Japan, on November 27th.

Back that up.

Re:*cough*SomeoneGetSomeCoughDrops*cough*

[FortissimoWily]

"Back that up."
Ok. Take a look here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. And for more plenty more links to back it up, Google has you covered. Hope that helps.

Animal Crossing

[Anonymous Coward]

Animal Crossing IS an N64 game. They just didn't release it on the N64 because it was too late in the cycle.

Brief port, total hit.

Re:Animal Crossing

[Anonymous Coward]

If the graphics are really N64 quality (which I can't comment on, having not played the game), then that's one. Not a trend. It doesn't suggest that Nintendo's dev teams aren't using the GameCube's full potential.

Re:*cough*SomeoneGetSomeCoughDrops*cough*

[Scrameustache]

I stand corrected, 1998 it is. I was sure it had been released in early 99 in japan and of course, on 9/9/99 in NA, that date is easy to remember : )