Sony spills it; PSP to get camera, GPS, VoIP
by Rafael Espiritu 
{ Mar 15th 2006 at 7:30PM }
Sony's press event last Monday revealed a wealth of information on the PSP the likes of which we've only imagined (and believe us, given the relative lack on goodies on the PSP as of late, we've done quite a bit of daydreaming). Not only was it announced-by SCE chief Ken Kutaragi, no less-that new PSP bundles and prices would hit the worldwide market soon, but a boatload of games and peripherals would also eventually make every PSP worth gushing praise for again.
The short but substantial list of add-ons for the PSP includes a camera and a GPS receiver. Along with a microphone, other notable points for the camera are that it will include a PSP version of EyeToy and will also feature video chat, which essentially turns the PSP into a mobile Voice over IP gadget. The GPS receiver will, well, turn the PSP into a GPS locator, but will also come in handy when playing their upcoming Hot Shots with GPS title, which will let gamers download course data as well as help simulate shots on the green.
Connectivity with the PS3 was also announced, as was a downloadable service that will allow users to play PSOne games (via an emulator) and save them on their memory cards. RSS support for video will also be implemented in a future update, as will the ability to save RSS audio feeds to your PSP and support for Flash.
Expect to see new stripped down bundles (PSP, A/C adapter, and battery pack only) priced at $199 to hit the shelves soon.
Now, let us pray to the PSP gods, for they have bestowed upon us much blessing.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
cbroz91 @ Mar 15th 2006 7:53PM
Sounds to me like the PSP is finally looking like the device Sony said it would be. PSone, AND Flash, I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!
FAT MAN GO BOOM @ Mar 15th 2006 8:40PM
Looks awesome I can't wait... this is going to be good for all gamers... Sony is setting the bar high and Microsoft will have to answer back...
I wonder if ms will bring out a handheld for there next system...
Matt @ Mar 15th 2006 9:02PM
YES, now i can clean off these dishes!
Mike @ Mar 15th 2006 9:31PM
I'd really like to see a keyboard for the PSP. I spend a lot of time in the web browser and the on-screen entry is a pain.
JDH @ Mar 15th 2006 10:52PM
What I would like to know is what type of Flash they will allow for developers?
For non-Flash gurus, there have been a total of seven versions prior to the latest release. Flash 8's framework brings about a lot of functionality that the PSP would greatly benefit. There is also the Flash 7 plugin, which is very close to Flash 8, but lacks quiet a bit of features (ie. upload, high end animation). If the Flash 8 plugin is supported the capabilities to do a lot of great animation as well as full blown applications would be possible. However, there is a Flash Lite 2.0 (not to be confused with Flash 2, which was called something else totally), that most cellular phones, pda's, and other mobile devices suppport.
Without going too far in-depth (ahem) it might mean a big difference to what type of Flash content can be delivered via the version of the supported Flash plugin.
Also, will I be able to load or view a .swf (flash file extension) from the memory stick without having to use the browser to view the file? Or, since Flash can be exported as a .exe will it be able to run from the memory stick?
Even though this article only mentioned "..and support for Flash", as an afterthought, there could be a wealth of content and great experiences (ie games and full blown applications) if the Flash plugin is fully supported from all aspects.
Macromedia- excuse me, ADOBE, hasn't released any information to developers what will be supported.
Here are some links to munch on...
The first link is to a nice video to what is being done with Flash.
http://www.macromedia.com/mobile/engage_with_flash/?promoid=DEIP
http://www.macromedia.com/mobile/
http://www.macromedia.com/cfusion/webforums/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=472&threadid=986334&highlight_key=y&keyword1=psp
Ranma13 @ Mar 15th 2006 10:59PM
This is the reason why Sony is doing so poorly compared to the DS. See, back in the day, I was a big fan of PSP, even though I didn't have one. I looked at the DS and thought that Nintendo made a poor offering compared to the PSP. And then a friend let me play Mario Kart DS on his one day, and I was just hooked. He almost had to pry the game from my hands to get me to stop playing. The next day I bought one myself and couldn't be happier.
Sony is pushing all efforts to making the PSP a convergence device that they forget the one reason why the Playstation is so popular: GAMES. The demographic of people who would actually have a use for video chat, GPS, and yesteryear games is much, much smaller than those looking for quality games to play on the fly.
JDH @ Mar 16th 2006 12:20AM
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6145973.html
Flash player 6 is going to be supported.
That really sucks for Flash developers.
Out of all of the Flash players available, Flash player 6 has the least powerful features.
Flash 6 uses Actionscript 1.0 which doesn't support a robust set of libraries.
I had planned on developing for the PSP, but the FP6 is not a viable option to make any money, IMO.
Even the Flash Lite 2.0 or FP7 would have been worth the development time and effort.
Virtuous @ Mar 16th 2006 12:25AM
Time to buy a 2nd PSP! These add-ons are optional Ranma13. No one is forcing consumers to buy them.
New games:
March 14: Daxter and Syphon Filter
March 21: Splinter Cell
April 24: Field Commander
May 30: TOCA Race Driver 2006
June 1: Brothers in Arms and Gran Turismo Mobile
Tucker @ Mar 16th 2006 12:47AM
JDH, no offense man, but... I really don't think the levels of flash support are going to be a big selling point for the console. Hell, I'll be glad to just be able to load up 'all your base are belong to us' on the go. I hear you in that it'd be awesome to throw down some killer homebrew PSP apps via flash programming, but I don't think there are tons of people out there wringing their hands and pulling out their hair saying "OMFG I NEEDS ME SOME FLASH 8 support!!"
Obviously just kidding there, but remember it's not the end of the world.
mark @ Mar 16th 2006 2:58AM
Wow! That's some nice features. I'm especially interested in the camera and GPS as that can be quite useful. However, I hope it doesn't cost a ton...like $40-50+
Beats1944 @ Mar 16th 2006 5:20AM
Just curious if it will be possible to use of all of these for the old PSP or will you need to get a new one ?
oli @ Mar 16th 2006 7:10AM
If there were more decent games out for the PSP then the most exciting news regarding the psp wouldn't be so often concerned with add ons and homebrew. People get excited about playing pacman on the psp for gawds sake because of the dearth of good games out there.
Gonzo @ Mar 16th 2006 11:12AM
I hear this is all going to be free but I have a hard time buying that. I can't imagine sony ever giving anything away that they could charge an arm and a leg for. I really thought the ds would beat the psp to voip, especially considering it's practically built for it already. I guess they're too busy trying to make it look like an ipod though. Now they just have to make an attachment that stops it from breaking.
Jooka @ Mar 16th 2006 12:49PM
Yay! http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/16/griffin-launches-ipsp-accessories/
Egress @ Mar 16th 2006 4:54PM
....FF7 on the go... pure goodness.
halflotus @ Mar 16th 2006 7:52PM
My PSP is badass and gets badasser by the day. Sweet.
JDH @ Mar 16th 2006 8:15PM
Yo, Tucker.
I see your point, but the point I'm trying to make is from a business end for Flash developers.
I don't expect for gamers to want the FP 8.5 on their PSP. I don't know how many gamer's even want to understand the tech behind the games (probably the minority, nowadays).
I for one have two p-o-v's, which I feel is very advantageous for gamers as to what can be delivered with the best quality and performance as far as Flash games are concerned.
It just seems a bit lacking to have support in their browser for the FP 6. The FP 6 is around four years old.
I could go on about why this is not where Flash devs want to be with mobile devices. The optimal and best business choice would have been the latest FP support in the browser and as a technology supported by the PSP's OS.
Don't get me wrong. I think this is a step in the right direction.
I'm looking forward to the ps1 library of games for the psp.
Ranma13 @ Mar 17th 2006 3:54AM
The thing is, even though these accessories are optional, it doesn't improve on any of the PSP's games. The PSP is already notorious for cranking out port after port, if developers don't start stepping up both the quality and originality of their games, Sony's little gaming console will only reach a mediocre compared to the DS.
The most interesting feature is obviously the PSone emulator. However, you have to ask yourself, is it worth buying a memory card(s)/PSP2 plus the game itself just so you can play yesteryear's game on the go? I myself wouldn't mind playing all those classic RPGs on the go, but I have to ask myself if it's worth the $250 + all the accessories...
Mind you, I own a DS and I love it. I look forward to future games on the handheld. But I'm not here to bash the PSP and say it sucks or whatever. What I'm simply pointing out is that Sony really, REALLY needs to do better if it wants to draw in nearly as many customers as Nintendo do, and I WANT the PSP to do good (competition in business is always good for the consumer) but it's frustrating to see all these ported games, poor advertising, and useless accessories. It's a PLAYSTATION PORTABLE, NOT a MULTIMEDIA CONVERGENCE DEVICE!
pixelator @ Mar 23rd 2006 11:47AM
"Mind you, I own a DS and love it."
...No, REALLY? We'd never have guessed.
"draw in nearly as many customers as Nintendo do"
...Actually, in the US and EU markets, it's been a pretty close race. In fact, the PSP has been trading the sales lead with the DS since both launched.
"all these ported games"
...Both have ported games. The DS has more original titles, but it has a ton of crap originals and awful ports, too. At least the PSP ports tend to be better, and they're ports of newer, more advanced versions.
Just another example of the DS Fanboys making use of this site - because that's what its creators apparently want.
pixelator @ Mar 29th 2006 8:49PM
You have to love DS fanboys who spend their time posting on PSP blogs...
www.metacritic.com
# of games rated (meta average of all or most reviews) over 75:
PSP: 40
DS: 27 (Nintendogs counting as 1, otherwise 30)
Look on DS fanboy faces when they realize their 'no good games on PSP' argument is dead: Priceless.
Brian @ Apr 3rd 2006 3:21AM
PSone games on the PSP?
Glee!
cameron sopcak @ Apr 7th 2006 1:28PM
o my god thank you i have been waiting for this kind of stuff a long time ago. well i got a few more suggestions: Podcasting from your psp, and why couldnt the psp turn into a cell phone type thing so that you can get on the internet any where in the world. i really hate when i have to be near a wifi spot just to get on the internet. i can get on the internet any where with my phone why cant the psp do that too i mean the psp could kick any cell phones ass in speed and power. i just dont understand why there has been no talk on this subject. so i hope this gets to the developers of the psp and people who make products for the psp and they get a jump on this!!! And if a DS fanboy posts below me ill jump out and bitch slap them for one buying a DS and two posting on a psp fan site. the only reason they post on these is because they know more people visit these kind of sites WAY more than DS sites.
Ichi-Cago @ Apr 10th 2006 4:33PM
Hey! DS fanboys (and girls)! I don't see you having a 4.3 inch LCD screen on your DS. Do you?
Personally, i think having loads of accessories for the PSP sucks. I think Sony have realized the problem of UMD's, as apparently developers and retailers are getting less interested - especially for movies, and are trying to shift the balance so that it becomes a media device, and not the portable gaming device we were once lead to believe.
Here's an interesting point - the PS3 has location free player. I seriously think that Sony are going to release a new PSP - one that has all these gadgets in it, so we can use the PS3 and PSP together i.e. maybe webcam via wifi.
What do you guys think?
Ashlee @ May 8th 2006 11:50AM
Hehe, PSone games on the PSP?? Woohoo!! Finaly another chance to play Abe's Oddworld again and on my fave console!! Will the Psp extras (mainly the camera) be available to buy separatly? I really don't see the point of buying another PSP just get another few extras on which i won't use... bt am stil gna buy it lol
Jimmy @ May 11th 2006 9:48PM
I think the video chat could be cool if that is connecting to the ps3's online service... they also need a windows based client to have the ps3's online service work on computers because microsoft playing their trump card with Vista and xbox live anywhere