Three years of PSP history

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 24th 2008 at 3:30PM }

March 24, 2005. That was the day PSP was unleashed to the American gaming public. It's been a long and interesting ride since then. Come join us as we take a retrospective look on three years of PSP history.

What did the first PSP concept model look like? Find out.
When did PSP get its internet browser? Find out.
How quickly did the homebrew scene develop? Find out.
What was one of Sony's worst marketing disasters? Find out.
What importer was closed because it sold Japanese PSP systems? Find out.
How long did it take for PSP to get its first real price drop? Find out.
What sold 77,777 copies on day one? Find out.

Rewind to 2004! >

Tags: anniversary, birthday, joystiqfeatures, psp

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Lp47PS3 @ Mar 24th 2008 3:53PM

Happy Birthday buddy!

Jesse @ Mar 24th 2008 3:55PM

Well I just got my PSP on Friday, and while I may have been 3 years late to the party, I couldn't be more excited!

I love my PSP and I'm glad I was here to say happy birthday!

Pepe @ Mar 24th 2008 3:58PM

Happy Birthday! I love my PSP to death!

disguy @ Mar 24th 2008 4:03PM

Happy Birthday PSP! I still remember being #64 in line on launch day at my Best Buy.

The part about UMD's being discontinued in places like Target isn't true. I still see new UMD movies there all the time.

Kuro @ Mar 24th 2008 4:22PM

DS: Harbinger of Doom. hahahaha.

Josh @ Mar 24th 2008 4:27PM

I was the first and only person waiting outside of my local EB Games before they opened to get my pre-ordered PSP! Wow, things sure have changed since then.

jerix9 @ Mar 24th 2008 4:39PM

Happy birthday PSP!! ur the best

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Mar 24th 2008 4:41PM

I love my PSP. Can't believe it's already 3!

Jesse @ Mar 24th 2008 4:59PM

I got my first psp for my birthday May 9th 2005. Since then I've upgraded to the slim, and never regretted either purchases.

Daniel @ Mar 24th 2008 5:17PM

3 years? Wow. Awesome system and awesome post. Very informative and interesting. THANKS PSP FANBOY AND SONY!!!

Alien @ Mar 24th 2008 5:58PM

Happy b-day PSP ... your my favorite console of all times :) See you at your 4th birthday :D

Trickob @ Mar 24th 2008 6:58PM

So I was the Home Electronics supervisor at Shopko in Pullman, WA (GO COUGS!!) when the PSP came out and it was my first console launch and I wanted to make sure we were ready for it. We received 25 units and were told to only sell 1 per customer. I posted information everywhere in the breakroom and in the backroom so everyone could answer potential questions about the system and it's availability.

The morning it came out, we had an army of employees ready to handle the expected deluge of customers as well as all of our Loss Prevention guys manning the cameras for whatever might happen. We made several posters with instructions for the line that would undoubtedly form at the front door before we opened.

Of course, everyone knows what happened next: We had a grand total of 4 people lined up when we opened and one of them asked if he could buy two PSPs. I told him "no" which was probably a big favor for him. I think we sold 3 more the rest of that day. I don't think we sold that entire first batch of 25 units until about 3 months after launch day.

My brother was also on the local news 'cause he was, like, third in line at GameCrazy where the line was a bit longer.

So that's my story about the PSP's birthday. I guess it's a much different story now. I finally got one for my birthday about a year ago (just before the "slim" came out, thanks sony!!) but it gets plenty of mileage. Happy Birthday PSP! I'm glad you're not Sony's neglected red-headed step-child anymore!

merc25 @ Mar 24th 2008 7:59PM

I just realize I really need to update my PSP. Anyway, two more years until a new handheld war or shall it be longer still.

Dahk @ Mar 24th 2008 8:29PM

Happy Birthday PSP!

Mines two months old and absolutely enjoying and loving every moment of it =D.

... if only I could find a valid screen protector. I got one for the original PSP I think, but it doesn't fit properly. Are there specific ones for the screens on the slims, or did my $4 get owned? Maybe the bevelled edge is different or something? =(.

seamonkey420 @ Mar 24th 2008 8:35PM

been there.. done that.. hehe. :P

ah.. the memories of the swaploit and then kxploit.. yea yea.. still got my PSP from launch day.. PSP PHAT FTW!!

Darayz @ Mar 24th 2008 9:30PM

PSP is 3 and still going strong. And tomorrow, the game i've been waiting for ... the game i bought my psp for 2 years ago ... is finally coming. Final Fantasy on PSP for the win.

Teddy @ Mar 24th 2008 9:56PM

I'm getting the silver PSP (with Daxter) tomorrow !

Kalil @ Mar 24th 2008 11:01PM

happy b'day lil' buddy

Cammerv8 @ Mar 24th 2008 11:16PM

PSP FAT FTW!!!!!!
mine is 1 year old!!!! luckly y never got to use Xploit. i just waited for pandora :P

rockeranimefreak @ Mar 25th 2008 12:25AM

Happy Bday psp :D! may homebrew on you live as long or longer than dreamcast! (West coast :P)

Trickob @ Mar 25th 2008 12:37AM

ah, my first and only console launch while working as the Home Electronics supervisor at Shopko in Pullman, Washington (GO COUGS!). what a disaster that was. we received 30 units and we sold about 5 of them on launch day. we didn't sell the rest of those first 30 until about 2 months later.

I finally got a psp for my b-day last year (right before the slim came out, thank you SO much sony!) but i get plenty of mileage out of it. Happy birthday PSP! I'm glad you're not Sony's neglected red-headed step-child anymore!

Matt M. @ Mar 25th 2008 12:51AM

You forgot to add me to this article! Lame guys.

http://playstation.joystiq.com/2005/11/29/its-all-about-the-fanboy/

amish.gramish @ Mar 25th 2008 2:08AM

I remember waiting for Firmware 2.00 to come out in the U.S.
Ahh, the waiting times for Sony's customer service were in the upwards of an hour.

Ahh, three years of pure fun! More than 40 UMDs to my collection, and I plan on buying another ten this next year!

lili @ Mar 25th 2008 2:29AM

Happy birthday! i love my PSP too. it's a pink one! i like the color best! the photo(welcome)

sally @ Mar 25th 2008 2:32AM

hello, happy birthday

Maverick Saturn @ Mar 25th 2008 2:59AM

Who lives in Uk and has Go Messenger?

Ilano @ Mar 25th 2008 5:19AM

I live in Belgium and I can use Go!Messenger.

markhill66 @ Mar 25th 2008 6:14AM

I got my PSP shortly after launch, and traded it in about a year later. I just rebought it when Chains came out, and I feel that it is finally maturing into what it was promised to be.

Happy B-day.

flowfly @ Apr 2nd 2008 2:07AM

so am I when chains came our....

Pralaya @ Mar 25th 2008 10:04AM

great article

Joe P @ Mar 25th 2008 6:51PM

Got one on opening day and haven't looked back since. Despite all the DS fanboyism I can honestly say that between the two my PSP gets more use. I loves it so.

raj @ Mar 25th 2008 10:48PM

wow, my psp is 3 years old. i remember getting it on release date...

and i still love it! g0 p$p!

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Mar 26th 2008 10:03AM

damn. i didnt realize i had had it for that long. i think i bought mine in May of launch year but it was a used launch model so technically it is 3. either way, my PSP has had a good run and has held up great for 3 years of everyday use but im starting to have some issues with it. ghost analog stick, my start button barely works, and i think my battery is starting to crap out. ill probably upgrade to the 2000/slim this summer.