Yesterday, Joystiq reported news about a story in the newest PlayStation Magazine issue about a redesigned PSP in the works. The article said the new PSP would have 8GB of flash memory, be smaller and thinner and would have a built-in camera, but those super sleuths at Gamespot looked deeper into the article and say it isn't true.
Gamespot's Rumor Control argues nowhere in the article does it say the new PSP will have the internal memory, but only that Sony purchased the flash memory units. Also, they say a large portion of the article is speculative and includes such terms as "likely" and "if we retooled the PSP."
Gamespot's final verdict? Bogus.
Whatever the case may be, I think Sony needs to do something to counter Nintendo's DS Lite. Sony is getting slaughtered in Japan, but I'm still not sure if throwing some internal memory, a camera and making the system smaller is really what will make the system any more successful. I would go for the dual analog nubs, though.
(Via Gamespot)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-31-2006 @ 5:09PM
Mark Brown said...
Everyone uses my photoshop for this news, but I didn't even win the PSP fanboy compo that I made it for :P
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8-31-2006 @ 7:27PM
Mike Cohen said...
The DS Lite is selling more simply because of the price. If Sony reduces the price both of the PSP and the most popular games it will sell a lot more. There also needs to be more kid-friendly & arcade games of the type available for the DS Lite instead of more racing, sports, fighting, and role-playing games.
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8-31-2006 @ 7:58PM
pixelator said...
I say to hell with kid-friendly. I bought the PSP because it's a miniature PS2 with PS2 level games that appeal to my age range (30-somethings). If I want Mario Bros, Tamagotchi and Princess Peach, I pick up my DS.
What the PSP needs isn't another analog stick to alienate the existing userbase of PSP owners (15-17 million or more) who won't be able to play or enjoy PSP dual-analog games, nor does it need MORE arcade games - there are several of classic arcade collections already, with updated renditions of modern and vintage arcade titles like Tekken, GnG, Gradius, etc.
No, what the PSP needs is better marketing, lower pricetag ($150 should do it, and strong rumors indicate that's coming) and yes, a revised, refreshed hardware. Gamespot is going to eat crow on this 'BOGUS' label - the pages of the magazine, which now are being verified as real by several sources, say specifically:
"As of this writing, Sony has reached a deal with Samsung to purchase a large amount of 8GB flash memory chips which ARE TO BE BUILT INTO THE NEW PSP ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY REPORTS." (my caps)
Gamespot is lumping this whole thing into the BOGUS category because the rumors are flying about dual analogs and that Photoshopped pic that fooled the guys at Engadget. But the article is clear, the cam and 8GB are pretty solid. I have a hard time believing PSM of all magazines is going to go out on a limb like this without at least SOME inside intel to back up the other data they're offering. In other words, the sources may SEEM less than concrete, but the end result probably will be the same.
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9-01-2006 @ 8:52AM
Kade Storm said...
...Haha. I love the fan-art/design for the PSP in this article. Seriously, if the device in the picture, with its dual-analogues were up for sale, I'd go for it! However, I cannot deny just how much this would alienate the other PSP-owners. Hell, even I already own one, and have invested good money into the console, including some expensive memory-sticks; I'd be damned if I was told that all that was for naught with this new "redesign".
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9-01-2006 @ 7:00PM
Dew said...
Good post pixelator, I totally agree.
However, let's not forget PSP got heavily criticised for its lack of 2nd analog stick and internal memory. Now that there is at least some rumour of these being implemented in "PSP2", it's something to rejoice. A 2nd thumb-stick will make life a lot easier to play FPSs on the PSP, while internal memory will solve the argument of so called expensive memory sticks. These features can make PSP a better device, but not necessarily a better gaming device to compete with DS. For that it needs games and a lower pricetag. I agree $150 for the core pack will be cheap enough, and last I checked a lot of promising titles are on the way. Finally!
If Sony is really planning to make a new PSP they can, but they should do it after PS3 is settled in the market and make the original PSP really cheap. People still buy more PS2s than 360 because it's inexpensive and has a huge games library, so the same approach should work with an aged but experienced PSP.
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