The Future of the PSP
The Future of the PSP
Everyone remembers when the PSP was first announced. We all wondered what Sony had in store for the gaming world through the release of its portable console. Some said that the console would ultimately fail. Every other portable console that has gone against the juggernaut known as Nintendo GameBoy *insert any name here* has ultimately failed. Sony promised to bring new content to the PSP. A new experience that we ha never seen on a portable console before. So far, I’m happy to say that Sony has delivered.
The PSP has been hit with the same exact stigma that has hampered the PS3. People will often tell you that there is a lack of good games on the console. I think that has more to do with people merely parroting what others have said. Who can say that God of War: Chains of Olympus and Final Fantasy: Crisis Core are not good games. Only two games have been listed by me so far, but that’s because they are the two that I’m currently playing. Final Fantasy Tactics, Syphon Filter, the Socoms, and the list goes on. Daxter, Star Wars Battlefront and though it hasn’t been released yet, Secret Agent Clank should be another on that list.
There have been rumblings that Sony is disappointed with the sales of the PSP. Developers have been said to have been dropping support of the console as well. Has this been officially confirmed? No, it has not. Will it be confirmed? Who knows. This article is going to address what I think could be the future of the PSP.
The PSP as a Multimedia Device
When the PSP was first released many spoke of its ability to play a myriad of media content. Not only could you listen to music, but you could also watch movies via the memory stick or a UMD. UMDs have not been exceedingly successful, but that has not lessened the PSPs abilities. Sony would be wise to add the ability to play additional codecs. DIVX would be a great start. Adding that with every other popular codec down to MKV would be huge.
The PSP as a Phone
Adding Skype capabilities to slim PSPs is great. Sony should take this a step further. There have been rumblings about a PSP phone for years. I think that Sony should fully pursue this with the PSP. Do not say that NGage failed and therefore a PSP phone would as well. Unlike NGage, the PSP already has a huge library of titles to bank on. Sony has a close relationship with ATT and the ability to use a 3G sim card in a PSP just makes me smile like a kid on Christmas. Allowing for the use of Bluetooth headsets and a built in camera…you have yourself a winner.
The PSP as a Gaming Console
Do you think that the PSP has reached the end of its cycle? According to what Sony has said, you’d be wrong to think so. There have already been sightings of the 3000 series sku on the site. (The pics you’ve seen on the Internet are fake). So it apparent that another iteration of the PSP is on its way and it definitely is not the PSP2. Will it expand on the capabilities that are in the current PSP. More ram? A sim card slot? The desperately wanted and needed second analog? No one knows. A built in HDD would be nice. 8gb would be the perfect start. At some later time I’ll go into what the PSP2 should be, but this is all about the PSP.
Expanding on the PSPs ability to interact with the PS3 is important. Why? Because taking advantage of all of your muscle is not typically a bad move by any means. The PSN has a slew of good titles and I’d certainly love to play them on the go. (SSHD anyone? I am excluding the current need for more buttons to get this done, but you could map some of the functions to the face buttons). PixelJunk Monsters has shown just how enjoyable it is to take a favorite with you anywhere. Having the ability to have saves for PSP and PS3 games be interchangeable would be great as well. For example, take Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. There were a few different characters, but I would have liked to get to a certain point in the game at home and then continue my adventures on the road. Developers that make every game for every console would be able to maximize its potential profits with many a PlayStation owner this way.
The PSP would not hurt from more games. No console would. With continued high quality development and a way to prevent pirating completely, the PSP could continue to grow and develop. I figure this is as good a place as any to say, that it would not hurt to give those that clamoring for it in-game xmb. (Another one of those issues that I think don’t substantially impact the PSP, but hey what do I know).
17 Responses to “The Future of the PSP”
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June 10th, 2008 at 12:31 AM
Very nice article Chris. I agree with basically everything. The PSP is doing just fine IMO. I’ve had mine since launch and have loved every minute of it. Two thumbs up for the article.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:39 AM
I think the PSP is great and I hope companys will still develop for it, aswell as Sony giving it more functionality. I’m really looking forward to using it as a GPS and I allready love the ability to access my PS3 from wherever I might be on this planet.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:48 AM
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June 10th, 2008 at 12:58 AM
Couldnt have said it better myself. It bothers me as well when I see people saying that the PSP has no games. There are a ton of great games for it. You barely hit the tip of the iceberg really (Monster Hunter!). But anyways, well said…
June 10th, 2008 at 1:03 AM
Lol, I did leave that one off. I figured that leaving some off would spark some thought. Plus listing that many games would have lengthened the article considerably. I figure that listing the most recommended games from each genre for the PSP would be a good idea.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:13 AM
I will eventually get a PSP.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:16 AM
You really are. I hope that you’re able to get one soon. It is a great game
June 10th, 2008 at 1:29 AM
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June 10th, 2008 at 1:31 AM
You can if you have Skype and pay the fee to be able to place outgoing calls. I haven’t paid for it myself. therookie45 says that the sound quality is quite good. Right now this is limited by the need to be connected to a wi-fi network. If there is ever a true implementation of cell phone capabilities, I could see PSP phones flying off of the shelves. I mean, people are buying iphones and they already own Ipods.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:53 AM
Sorry to hear about your situation. You can buy a wireless router, but that’d limit your skype capabilities to your house.
Lol gas into wi-fi. What a world that’d be. I think that things will continue to be more technology and information driven. I think we’ll see nitrogen cars rather soon. In fact they are releasing some in OC, Cali this summer.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:58 AM
I love my PSP, and I really don’t use it for games that often. The UMD movies make my commute to work a lot more bearable and the DVD style Director’s commentary (guilty – I’m a movie nerd) is better than watching a movie on my iPod Touch. I really hope Sony doesn’t abandon the format or will at least replace it with Movie downloads. I’m also looking forward to the Bluray 2.0 ability to transfer some titles to my PSP.
I hope Sony introduces the GPS and Camera in North America soon both would be nice added features. The keyboard would also be welcomedl, but I hope they update that horrible browser, and introduce some more Internet Radio players. Oh and the dock/remote they released in Japan. That would be sweet.
Definitely more integration with the PS3. Using the PSP as a controller would be kind of cool. The PSP screen could be used as a map, a rear view mirror, etc.
Being able to read Qore on the thing would be nice. Checking on my place via my Playstation Eye when I’m out of town would be handy.
Lots of potential there.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:05 AM
I believe at this point and especially with ready at dawn stopping all psp development sony needs to drastically redesign it. With the popularity of the DS and the iphone now hitting $199 it just has to happen. The psp really needs at touch screen these days and for the types of games your playing on the system a second type of analog stick would be nice.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:28 PM
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June 10th, 2008 at 5:29 PM
I agree that the PSP may need a redesign. A touch/flip screen would be welcome. I’m anxious to see how the GPS will function. I currently have a PSP fat and am wanting to upgrade to the slim, but I’m also wondering if I should wait for this rumored PSP 3000. Any ideas of when it might be released? Converting my blu-ray movies to the PSP will be awesome!
June 11th, 2008 at 3:37 AM
interesting post, especially since i just bought a psp (the god of war edition) and you’re right. after playing that game, i will be buying more.
June 12th, 2008 at 11:00 PM
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June 17th, 2008 at 7:32 PM
Sweet I want to get a psp is it worth it or should I get the old one on ebay so I can use emulators on it