PSP Final Specs and Launch Titles
Via Joystiq, the official PSP site has the final specs on the U.S. PSP console and its launch titles. And some nice titles they are, including an Ape Escape game, Metal Gear Acid (the card battle game), and one of most of EA's sports franchises. The system releases here in the states on March 24th.
The US is getting a rev2 PSP with the current problems (X button and UMD ejection) resolved. The release price is slightly more expensive than the Asian one. I'd hate to think the US consumer is paying for Sony's hardware fixes...
Most that I looked at cost $39. The only one I looked at that was $49 was NFS Rivals. The two I'll be buying at first, Ridge Racers and Wipeout Pure, are both $39.
Still below 300 for a full game plus PSP value pack. After a while, the PSP will be available by itself for $199 without the value pack. Due to supply issues, they have to supply it in the format most people are going to buy anyway.
Who's going to buy that tight ass screen without a cover for it?? Where are you going to store your gamesaves? You need a memory stick.
It's true, Sony has pulled out all the stops for the US release. With the possible exception of Lumines, nothing on that list interests me personally, but it's a damned good list for appealing to the "mainstream" gamer.
It's a sad fact that the US DS lineup is growing too slowly, primarily because games are taking so long to cross the Pacific. In a few days, Japan will have Meteos -- arguably a killer game -- in addition to highly-rated titles such as Another Code. NOA needs to push those titles over here fast, but (i.e.) Another Code isn't even announced for US release yet.