The price drop and great selection of upcoming games compelled me to try the PSP again. This year looks to do for the PSP what last year did for the DS. Am I just imagining this or does the PSP really have no less than FIVE Final Fantasy games coming out this year?!? I'm just giddy. What's this? God of War? Oblivion? I feel faint....

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It was expectd ... now a redesign combined with this years killer-apps ... that would rock :D

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you can't redesign without the second analog stick for camera, which will render most of current game useless.

that includes all the killer up-coming games. FF Crisis Core, DMC, Silent Hill, D&D, GoW..

NOT a good time redesign anything, this machine is still at least 2 more years to go.

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Re: "NOT a good time redesign anything, this machine is still at least 2 more years to go."

I agree - look at the excellent stream of games we are seeing, developers are getting better at making use of the technology efficiently (e.g. load times) and turning out good games that play nice with 'on the go' gaming and 'epic scope' all at once.

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also, reportedly that Crisis Core battle screen to normal (and vice versa) needs NO load time whatsoever, which is impressive.

there's also information about pre-loading tech that Monster Hunter team's doing.

also, Didn't Portable Ops just come out as well? (maybe not in UK, but people can just so easily port it from another country)

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"also, reportedly that Crisis Core battle screen to normal (and vice versa) needs NO load time whatsoever, which is impressive."

Those demos could have had the game running off the memory stick. But I trust square will deliver good load times for this game.

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And why can't the PSP be redesigned without maintaining backward compatibility..? As with the DS Lite, it's entirely likely the next PSP version will simply be an improvement on the existing platform.

The PSP doesn't 'have' to include a second analog with any revision. When the current platform with games is over (in another 2-3 years or more) THEN we can expect to see a different hardware configuration where the newer games don't work on the older systems.

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I agree with Pixelator, there's no law that says it would have to have a second analog stick. However, if Sony didn't include one, they would run the risk of disappointing users who see this is as mandatory.

Personally, I could care less about a second analog stick. All of my desires are on the processor/software side:

I'd rather see an upgraded WiFi experience, a better (faster) web browser, faster game load times, some calendar functionality (however, I can't really see Sony asking Microsoft for the API to Outlook or Microsoft giving it to them for the PSP :P

Still, I'm very happy to see the PSP getting a sales boost and say welcome to all the new PSP owners who find this site.

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I think two more years would be pushing it a bit, I would hope that in the next year we see reliable information on the next incarnation of the PSP. You know if they would just add a port that would allow you to plug in a controller ala PS2 or PS3 then users could play the PSP however the wish. I think designers are really starting to hit there stride with the games on the PSP as far as infrastructure and load times. I really think this will be the year of the PSP. Pricedrop, Onslaught of the BEST games to be released, agressive marketing campaign. Long Live the Mighty PSP!

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I'm a new UK PSP owner. I've been hmming and ahhhing about taking the plunge since Christmas.
I took advantage of the effect the price drop had on the pre owned marked and got a nice downgradeable giga pack. For the last week I've enjoyed a staple diet of old sonic games and Medal of Honour Heroes.
Just one thing - as good as the PSP is I have been shocked by the load times.
I'm a big capcom fan and I couldn't resist Dark Stalkers for £5 from Gamestation. But the loading times are obscene!!! I'm running it off the the memory stick now and it's great. Why don't Sony just bite the bullet and open a PSP download store?

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Gee sales rise after price drop, surprise surprise. Oh well at least finally the PSP is picking up the momentum is should have. It is such a powerful underrated system and while the DS' potential looks pretty much maxed out (correct me if I'm wrong) the PSP's true power has yet to be harnessed. I wonder just how much power CC and GOW will use.

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