here's the thing.

1... they can't change the button layout, there are 10 A games coming out in next 12 months that will be TOTALLY screwed because of this. So, adding another analog stick is out

2... they can't ditch UMD. those games are going to be on UDM

so what's now?

Better DRM and bigger battery? I will have to say no to that.

or maybe it's getting Elitized, New colour, hard-drive and a cable out?

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Offtopic, but a Burnout Dominator demo was just released here: https://download.eu.playstation.com/shop/catalogue.htm

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They *could* add a 2nd analog stick, just like they did with the PS1 back in the day. It's just that most older games don't know it's there, so they ignore it.

If I remember correctly, the original Ape Escape came out for the PS1 and used the new controller.

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Actually they could just add another analog nub and have it mirror the triangle, square, cicle, and X buttons like the ones by modding community. Just give it a physical or digital switch to turn it on or off.

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Lighter/Thinner
Better Battery Life
Drop IR/add mic
Internal changes to push manufacturing price down (remember this was an analyst speaking so a hardware refresh that lessens manufacturing cost i just as sexy for them)
Built in game save memory (32mb or 64)
Better UMD read times?


As this is a 'refresh' I wouldn't expect a 2nd analog stick as it will cause developers to choose between two systems, it'll come in a redesign (as will HDD/TV Out and all our other dreams)

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Yeah - the DS Lite is *not* an example of a refresh, the GBA SP version that came out with that had a brighter screen than the original SP.

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I guarantee they won't modify the button layout. Devs wont make new games utilizing a new nub, because it would kill sales for their games, since only people with the newer psps could play it.

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Why compare this to the DS lite refresh, that was just another example of how nintendoz screws it customers by releasing a product that they obviously knew was not finished but would milk money from people until they got it right ala Gameboy Advance to GBSP and DS to Ds Lite.

Maybe it will be lighter and use less power, if that happens then they would not have to create a new battey as it would have a last much longer on a charge by design.
I really hope they include a built in screen protector as a minimum and maybe 1 gig of internmal memory.

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Gimme a break, PSP-Rising, you know what I am talking about - hop off your blind DS-bashing for a second. I was talking scope of change. 'Hardware refresh' has context in the electronics industry that is limited to internals, typically.

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Yes, the DS Lite was a 'refresh' - that's why they called it, you know, the DS LITE. It was a fairly significant refresh, but what else would you call it? It's functionally identical to the Phat, it just looks better. Let's not start splitting semantic hairs over 'revision' vs. 'refresh' for crying out loud.

As for this news - how is this anything new, other than another indication that they're making a revised PSP? We've pretty much always been hearing that it wouldn't be a sweeping new platform or anything, but a revision or refresh of sorts. I'm all for it.

Slimmer design, flash RAM inside (8GB minimum please), possibly a better/faster response screen to eliminate ghosting, better button design - I don't mean analog, I mean better d-pad and buttons, and PLEASE give us new colors! Optional keyboard add-on and a basic pack that came WITH a memory stick for $199.99 would be nice.

Changing/adding controls like a second analog would be total suicide - they might as well introduce an all-new platform and call it the PSP 2, thus creating a firestorm of additional anti-Sony press. No, they'll stick with the current configuration, but they might improve the actual mechanics a bit.

What I wish would happen most (and I'm almost certain it won't) would be a slot-load for UMD discs without that plastic case. Old PSP game owners could easily bust their discs out and store them like any other CD or DVD based console. The PSP demographic is older, so we can handle the responsibility. And I tell ya, they won't be any more susceptible to damage than those awful plastic cases...

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You want 8GB built in AND a memory stick for $199??

Note: 8GB iPod Nano = $249 (no games/movies/expansion/internet/rss etc etc)

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Dude, you can't make those comparisons. Memory can take dozens of solid state forms or take the form of a microdrive etc. All of these different types have very different costs.

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PSOne's controller is a great example, although far cheaper to replace, all developers need to do is make the added functionality optional like the analogue sticks on the PSOne.

Another good example is the sixaxis's feature in 3rd party multi platform games (or even some first party like resistance). Even though EVERY ps3 controller is a sixaxis, in the third party games, if it even has a use for the sixaxis, that feature can be turned on or off (like the middle button on the dualshock).

That with other compelling features like bluetooth and other things mentioned, would make it great to buy now and down the road, a fine upgrade for current owners.
I for one dislike plugging in my PSP to my PS3, especially when the USB cable doesn't even charge my PSP when plugged in.

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What I don't get, is this need to make the PSP smaller and slimmer. I mean, I know some of you have small hands, but I'm pictuing infant hands. How much smaller? Really? Think about it? Where the hell are you going to cram the buttons and d-pad without significantly decreasing the screen size?

And slimmer? Yeah, there go the baby-hand images in my head, again.

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@2
That's not a demo, its a new track download for the full game.

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Unlike the rest of you guys, I think this means refreshing there PSP lineup. I think this is going back to the colors coming here, the PSP keyboard, GPS coming here, and a new SKUs. Currently there are three SKUs for the PSP: Core, Entertainment Pack, Value Pack. I think they add more things to packs as well. I also believe that at least three new Packs will be introduced, namely Music Pack, Movie Pack, and Gamer Pack; all of which will be priced the same, but will include different stuff.

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I doubt they'll add a new analog nub to the PSP. Although it'd be useful, it's too late for that. If they did, they'd piss off most of their actual fanbase. Why? Because it isn't as simple as when they offered the Dual Shock on PS1... cuz back then you only had to buy a new controller; in the PSP's case you'd have to buy a whole new system.

But why a new nub? Developers should just look back into the PS1-era for control schemes. We barely used the second stick back then, and 3rd person games worked pretty fine.

Anyway, the only PSP changes I can think of are aesthetic... and maybe a better-lasting battery. No more than that.

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I would like to see a psp with a dual boot firmware chip (so u cant brick ur psp).

Also, would like to see a psp with six-axis functionality... basically a psp designed for the remote play function of ps3 so u can use the psp a controller for ps3 games if u chose too.

Psp should ditch the IR, get adtrac Bluetooth and have a USB flashdrive input (use jumpdrives = cheap, easy to use).

I dont mind UMD format if they made some way to connect my psp to a television... UMD players to watch those disks are nonexistant and u get stuck with a dumb down dvd that only works on a portable... fix this by having a working psp to tv cable available and software for it.

Also with the accessories available to other media players... PsP should get a easier eyecam, microphone, mini-keyboard, and portable television kits.

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@11
You're right, my bad. You theoretically wouldn't need a MemStick for a system with internal storage, anyway.

@14
Smaller is better. The GBA Micro is tiny, but people like it FOR that reason. The GBA SP is a lot smaller than a PSP, but people seem to play it just fine... When people complain about things like this being too small for their hands, I think of gigantic hairy gorilla mitts that would make Kong cringe.

I agree, they can't make the PSP much slimmer or less wide - but they can take a little off the edges and thinner. Thin is in. Look at the Razr.

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@Stef...

I assume the Dude comment was towards me...

There is no way in gawds green earth that they would add a microdrive to the PSP and suck MORE battery life compared to flash.

I reference iPod as it is a premium poduct (like the PSP) and I'm SURE they have beaten their memory suppliers prices down to the nub...if iPod is going to cost $249 with 8GB there is NO point in dreaming of an 8GB internal memory AND memory stick PSP for $199. That was simply my point and it is accurate.

If he was speaking of usable RAM memory instead of flash, that is a non starter as it would create two classes of games and some wouldn't run on current software...that would fall into a redesign not a freshening.

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