PSP's new 333MHz clock speed limited while online
by Colin Torretta 
{ Aug 10th 2007 at 4:00PM }
As they point out, this means that only single player games will use the 333MHz clock speed or else companies have to develop separate engines for the single player portion of the game and multiplayer portion. The restriction is assumed to be related to conserving battery life, but is obnoxious nonetheless. At least Beyond3D feels that the restriction will eventually be lifted (like all their previous clock speed restrictions), but until then developers are going to have to try to figure out how to deal with this limitation.
*Update*
Sony has confirmed.
[Via N4G]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
txa1265 @ Aug 10th 2007 4:14PM
Wow ... that is a serious blow to games like the new Syphon Filter and Star Wars ...
mike @ Aug 10th 2007 4:17PM
So what, I'm still getting a PSP when it comes out in September (redesigned version)
I have a DS and it's not as cool as the psp seems. We'll see when I get it in a month
required @ Aug 10th 2007 4:27PM
Why is Beyond3D jumping to the conclusion that this possible limitation is a policy that was enacted? Hell, even if it exists I doubt it is intentional. No one other than Sony knows exactly what state the system will be in upon shipment.
In other words this is just FUD via Beyond3D.
PSP_Amigo @ Aug 10th 2007 4:53PM
And beyond 3d is the final word??? Why don't you get an offical answer from Sony themselves and not rely on 2nd hand information for information like this. Surley you wield the powers to confirm this from Sony?????
Miles Pieri @ Aug 10th 2007 6:27PM
If this is true then how could both Logan's Shadow and the new Star Wars Battleground titles use the full clock speed (as, I gather, is the intention)? One of the big selling points of both is their wi-fi infrastructure modes, so what gives?
Mr Khan @ Aug 10th 2007 6:52PM
@ Miles
Just what i was wondering. We KNOW those games are running fully clocked, yet are online, and now this site says otherwise
casts a dubious shadow on Beyond3D, that's for sure
TheGuy @ Aug 10th 2007 9:06PM
Wow, this isn't a good move by Sony. This will discourage game developers from implementing extensive multiplayer in their games. I think Sony is overreacting with their concerns over battery life, and should just drop the online cap. Hopefully they will soon when they see how this limit complicates game development.
Jamesology @ Aug 10th 2007 10:36PM
WOW... you guys are pathetic. Who the heck cares what they have to say about the PSP. Everyone said the PSP battery does not last that long but it's plenty for meand all my friends that have it. Actually it is more than enough when I'm using it for it main purpose..... "on the go." The same thing goes for the DS, it is alll children games, yes games that are still are "fun."
I bought both of them not knowing what others have to say about it and now reading what they have to say, I can honestly say I can not related to what others have experienced: battery life, fun factor, portability, etc.
Hector Martinez @ Aug 11th 2007 12:37AM
There goes the Rogue Squadron framrate again (online).
onetrack @ Aug 11th 2007 12:45AM
this could be a bit off topic but wasn't the problem of running the PSP at 333Mhz and having wifi on, fixed before for homebrew'd software?
Don @ Aug 11th 2007 1:13AM
hee hee... With that confirmation now a lot of the previous replies look stoopid....
Hector, that's RENEGADE Squadron... but I'm sure we all make that same slip-up.... anyway, this doesn't necessarily mean that Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron will have crappy framerate. The devs attributed the videos to an early build of the game, they didn't say it was because it was running at 222MHZ. We've all managed to somehow live for 2 years with games running at 222-266MHZ (some better than others) and we survived, don't ask me how....
merc25 @ Aug 11th 2007 1:35AM
this policy will continue until the holiday season 07, at least that's my bet.
Hashbrown_Hunter @ Aug 11th 2007 1:51AM
Yeah, Star Wars is gonna take a big hit by this. This REALLY sucks, having to choose between the two. Plus, creating two separate engines for single and multiplayer is very costly! This means we probably won't be seeing many 333mhz games for awhile :(
Alien @ Aug 11th 2007 5:13AM
Wow this is bad ... still , online games like Dark Mirror run on 222mhz , and it looks pretty good :)
GothPunk @ Aug 11th 2007 7:27AM
Do we know if this applies to the PSP-2000? Because the official statement from Sony mentions firmware version 3.50 and not 3.60. Although their wording implies that most likely it does apply to the newer PSP, I can still live in hope.
grg_ibe @ Aug 11th 2007 9:26AM
Not to sound stupid, but where is the option to unlock the clock speed? I'm running the official firmware and can't seem to find it... If there is an option can somebody tell me where? Or was it unlocked automatically?
x3sphere @ Aug 11th 2007 1:09PM
@grg_ibe:
It's not an option the user can choose (unless you have custom firmware). Setting the clock speed to 333MHz is purely up to developers.
Don @ Aug 11th 2007 5:49PM
from the devs blog@IGN:
They did a Q&A where the devs gave a lot of info about the game.
http://blogs.ign.com/RenegadeSquadron/2007/08/10/62945/
"Fuzzy_Wuzzy_Bunny: Will this Battlefront title utilize the full processing power of the PSP? (I have heard rumours that newer games are planning on unlocking the full potential of the PSP's hardware.)
Mike R: The single-player portions of the game will indeed be using the full 333mhz. We are not allowed to use this in multiplayer (due to the power consumption of the Wi-Fi hardware), but rest assured that in both modes you'll experience a smooth framerate."
So at least the single player portion will use 333MHZ ^_^ and if you check out the latest vid IGN posted, the framerate looks MUCH IMPROVED, this game will be awesome.
tenmohican @ Aug 11th 2007 9:48PM
Sony cant win...
They either bump the clock speed to 333 mhz, messing up battery life quite significantly...
Or they preserve the measely battery life the psp already has, while still offering single player 333 mhz upgrade.
My psp battery life seems to be fine, I can watch a umd movie without having to recharge it. Imo, im glad they arent being as money grubbing as they could be... ya know with "premium" batteries or completely dropping support for older psp's.. with the new one coming out. Sony' seems to be looking out for the consumer to an extent by boosting what we already have.