It's the end of the week, which calls for a new volume of Ask PSP Fanboy! Each week we'll collect your questions, and each weekend a new volume of Ask PSP Fanboy will appear on the front page. If you've got a question, send an email to justin.eaton @ weblogsinc .com with the subject "Ask PSP Fanboy."
Q. The PSP-3000 comes out in October - When do you think Sony will release some information about the PSP 2?
A. We've got a while before we start hearing official information about a revamped PSP. Sony should remain focused on the PSP-3000 through much of 2009.
Q. Will the PlayStation Portable ever rumble?
A. Adding rumble to the Playstation Portable would require another hardware refresh, unless third party manufacturers were able to develop an add-on device. With the amount of time it took Sony to bring rumble to the SIXAXIS controllers, I'd say we've got a while before rumble makes it's way to the PSP.
Q. Can you explain why MP4 videos play on the PSP, and why MKVs, DivX, Xvid or AVI are not supported besides not having the codec? Is there a hardware dependency that the PSP would require so the video does not play slow, lag or have a stuttering effect?
A. The hardware isn't limited, Sony simply hasn't added support for the various codecs. It may be the system's limited memory (can it fit all the codecs on the 32MB relegated to firmware use?). Or, it may be licensing issues: Sony had to pay for DivX on PS3 -- will they want to do the same on PSP? The PSP is a powerful handheld. If these codecs are used, there's no reason you'd see lag or stuttering.
Q. The PSP-3000 comes out in October - When do you think Sony will release some information about the PSP 2?
A. We've got a while before we start hearing official information about a revamped PSP. Sony should remain focused on the PSP-3000 through much of 2009.
Q. Will the PlayStation Portable ever rumble?
A. Adding rumble to the Playstation Portable would require another hardware refresh, unless third party manufacturers were able to develop an add-on device. With the amount of time it took Sony to bring rumble to the SIXAXIS controllers, I'd say we've got a while before rumble makes it's way to the PSP.
Q. Can you explain why MP4 videos play on the PSP, and why MKVs, DivX, Xvid or AVI are not supported besides not having the codec? Is there a hardware dependency that the PSP would require so the video does not play slow, lag or have a stuttering effect?
A. The hardware isn't limited, Sony simply hasn't added support for the various codecs. It may be the system's limited memory (can it fit all the codecs on the 32MB relegated to firmware use?). Or, it may be licensing issues: Sony had to pay for DivX on PS3 -- will they want to do the same on PSP? The PSP is a powerful handheld. If these codecs are used, there's no reason you'd see lag or stuttering.
Q. I read places that the SanDisk Memory Stick Pro Duo is "Faster" than a Sony Memory Stick Pro Duo. Does that REALLY matter, or is that just the speed of which the files will copy form your computer to the card, with USB?
A. That speeds simply refers to how quickly data can be written to and read off the Memory Stick. In most cases, the difference isn't a deciding factor. If Sony added in-game XMB support, where music might be playing as other data is being read of the stick, then you may notice. Having said that, it may not be a factor at all, depending on how Sony manages the software. The only real-life scenario where you'll notice the speed difference is copying content from your PC to your PSP, where SanDisk might beat out Sony by a few seconds.
Q. Are there currently any titles for the PSP that can play over Infrastucture? The only ones I have seen have been Ad-Hoc.
A. Sure there are! Try browsing through this list.
Q. Is the PSP Phat or PSP Slim hardware capable of playing PS2 games (if SCEJ wanted to produce a PS2 Emulator for PSP)?
A. This one is hard to answer, because while most people relate the PSP to the PS2 in terms of graphics, the hardware isn't as easy to compare. The two architectures are different, and without actual PS2 hardware in the system, PSP would have to resort to emulation -- a power-intensive process which even the PS3 can't properly do. Don't expect it. Ever.
Q. Will the new PSP have the same headphones and AV out port?
A. Yes, same 3.5mm headphone jack, and same the AV-out port found on the PSP-2000.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-18-2008 @ 12:25PM
cafecito said...
Rumbling PSP would be the dumbest idea ever. I can even picture now the thing convulsing and falling off your hands :P
Anyway, about the one in the picture: I'm not too fond of the sliding screen thingy... but two analogs is made of pure win.
Reply
10-18-2008 @ 12:59PM
KRIS_C_123 said...
i dont think it would fall out of your hands that easily
think of it, your dualshock doesnt fall out of your hands and neither does your phone when it vibrates
10-18-2008 @ 1:28PM
pixelator said...
The Tapwave Zodiac had rumble and it was a neat feature. It doesn't have to have a HUGE vibration to it, just a mild bit of feedback.
10-18-2008 @ 2:38PM
Jurgen said...
A rumbling PSP... I can imagine the misuse the feature among girls >_
10-18-2008 @ 3:17PM
joeybeast said...
rumble and UMD?
Probably a bad idea.
10-19-2008 @ 1:59PM
Gurbinder said...
idk rumble is probably going to be on psp2. Right now i can only think of PSP 2 having L2 and R2 along with another analog stick ( hopefully). Thats enough for me, oh and i really want the psp 2 to be able to be used as a ps3 or ps4 remote. Whatever comes first. That would be crazy indeed.
10-18-2008 @ 12:41PM
sakeya said...
Not a bad round of questions. i didn't know so many games on the psp supported actual online gaming. Though no haymakers on the list, it's still much more substantial than i thought. I might just pick up Marvel: Ultimate Alliance...
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10-19-2008 @ 1:10PM
David Black said...
You should, it is a great action-RPG for on-the-go gaming. The PSP version even has a few exclusive characters/modes
10-18-2008 @ 12:43PM
lorddshadow said...
yeah a ps2 emu would be a bad idea. psp can handle a lot of system emus but definitely not that. heck, it can barely handle n64.
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10-18-2008 @ 12:55PM
Invisible Robot Meat said...
Does custom firmware support other codecs? Cuz if it does I'll go homebrew ASAP.
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10-19-2008 @ 2:00PM
Gurbinder said...
as in videos i doubt it. Though you should ask from others to be sure but it really shouldn't be able to although psp might have the capabilities to. Whats wrong with mp4 though :/
10-19-2008 @ 4:36PM
cross over said...
There is a homebrew wich alows you to play divx and avi on psp, my friend have it :O, but seems difficult
10-18-2008 @ 1:32PM
conor said...
that concept is not a bad idea. but i think they would keep the XMB and it would have those buttons would be on the bottom. It would also not say CyberShot where PlayStation should be.
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10-18-2008 @ 2:24PM
NeoRaiden said...
PSP already plays DivX and Xvid, yes DivX. I've done it on Official firmware before. It just has to be an a MP4 container instead of an AVI. MKV is only a container which usually have an XviD encoded video inside. Really the only thing sony needs to put to decode these, are an AVI and MKV splitter which would total around 256kb.
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10-18-2008 @ 3:07PM
sony boy said...
it sort of feels like theres a rumble when you jump in god of war when you turn on the sound. which is weird.
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10-18-2008 @ 4:29PM
Rathaelos said...
I have a question:
I have upgraded my PSP to the newer firmware, but I coudn´t make an account on PlayStationStore. I live in Brazil, and it´s not listed there.
Is there a way that I can buy and download content from there?
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10-18-2008 @ 9:21PM
Fane said...
Not yet, but Sony said that they would add support to Latin America at E3, so maybe soon.
10-19-2008 @ 2:32PM
Vidaluko said...
You can only make a fake account in the EUA, and download themes, wallpapers and demos, but not buy stuff, I live in Mexico and I just can do that, waiting for a LatinAmerican PSN store...
10-18-2008 @ 5:32PM
lorddshadow said...
has anyone noticed that the pc store has a message saying its getting redesigned and its coming back later this month?
Reply
10-18-2008 @ 9:26PM
JP said...
Sony needs to add more video codec support. Converting videos to mp4 is a pain the rear, especially to someone like me who doesn't really know what they're doing.
Reply