Wednesday, October 27, 2004

PSP News

It looks like in Japan, Nintendo DS is going to have a tough battle against the Sony PSP.

"After months of analyst speculation that the Sony PlayStation Portable might not make it out this year, Sony Computer Entertainment today dispelled these notions when it announced that it will, in fact, release the PSP in Japan on December 12. The next-generation handheld gaming device will be priced at 19,800 yen ($185), which is fairly close to the already-announced price point of the Nintendo DS, which is slated to hit Japan on December 2 for 15,000 yen ($140).


Of further note, the PSP will be available in a number of different packages. The normal edition PSP package will include the handheld itself, an AC adapter, and a battery pack. The PSP will also be offered in a value pack that's 5,000 yen more expensive at 24,800 yen ($232), which, in addition to the accessories included in the normal package, will come with a 32MB Memory Stick Duo, a set of headphones with a remote control, and a carrying case.

The accessories, of course, will also be available for purchase separately. The 32MB Memory Stick Duo and headphones with remote will be offered at 2,800 yen each ($26), and the carrying case will be offered at 2,000 yen ($19). Additional rechargeable batteries will cost 4,800 yen ($45), and a spare AC adapter can be purchased at 3,500 yen ($33).

In addition, today Sony Computer Entertainment finally made an official statement concerning the battery life of the PSP: The handheld's rechargeable Lithium Ion battery will allegedly last for four to six hours for gameplay, on average, and four to five hours for movies, on average.

Also, the PSP's wireless connection, which follows the IEEE802.11b standard, can allegedly reach up to 30 meters indoors at 11Mbps, and 91 meters at 1Mbps. Outdoors, it can reach up to 120 meters at 11Mbps, and 460 meters at 1Mbps. The range will decrease if there are obstacles in the vicinity or strong electronic frequencies nearby, such as from microwave ovens or power lines.

Twenty-one PSP titles will be released during December, although SCE hasn't clearly stated as to how many of those games will be available precisely at launch of the PSP. The titles scheduled for release by the end of the year are as follows:

Electronic Arts K.K.: Tiger Woods PGA Tour R, sports
Electronic Arts K.K.: Need for Speed Underground Rivals, racing
Capcom: Vampire Chronicle: The Chaos Tower, fighting
Koei: Shin Sangoku Muso, action
Koei: Mahjong Taikai, table
Konami: Mahjong Fight Club, table
Konami Computer Entertainment Japan: Metal Gear Acid, strategy
Cyberfront: Kollon, puzzle/action
Sega: Puyo Puyo Fever, action puzzle
Sony Computer Entertainment: Dokodemo Issho, chatting game
Sony Computer Entertainment: Minna no Golf Portable, golf
Taito: Puzzle Bobble Pocket, puzzle
Namco: Kotoba no Puzzle Mojipittan Daijiten, puzzle
Namco: Ridge Racer, racing
Hudson: Rengoku: The Tower of Purgatory, SF action RPG
Bandai: Eiyuu Densetsu Gagharv Trilogy: Shiroki Majo, RPG
Bandai: Lumines, sound and light action puzzle
From Software: AC Formula Front, mech simulation
Marvelous Interactive: A.I. series Igo, table
Marvelous Interactive: A.I. series Shougi, table
Marvelous Interactive: A.I. series Mahjong, table"

Article from: Gamespot

-Falco 8



Notes from Ultimate Zelda Guru:
Wow, nice job Falco. Am I the only one that's feeling alittle nervous right now? The price is closer to the DS's than anyone predicted (even me). The battery life is also cleared up, it's not long, but longer than previously thought. I remember when it was thought that the PSP would be $350 and someone on the forums commented its a ploy so that we think $300 will be cheap when they announce it to really be $300. Well they were right, just on a larger scale of course. Either way I don't see many people buying the PSP alone, a memory card, spare batteries, and other accessories will be an neccessity. I'm sure Matt Prunty has some interesting words on this. Feel free to comment below

3 Comments:

Falco8 said...

I know what you mean, and I have a really big question. How did Sony pull off a cheap price point for the PSP? I mean PSP has all this hi-tech stuff but still manges to get 19,800 yen ($185). I think i smell foul play here

8:59 PM  
UltimateZeldaGuru said...

Sony, like it is with the PS2 and Xbox right now, will lose money on each system sold and will make it back on the software

10:18 PM  
Anonymous said...

I agree but sony doesn't make too many games and they don't get a big sum of money from licensing developers and sharing in their profit.

10:52 PM  

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