For those of you who’ve been waiting for any spec of detail you can get about the upcoming handheld device from Sony, the NGP aka PSP2, we’ve finally got our video uploaded to YouTube after some technical difficulties and you are in for a treat. We not only go over some of the announcement, but we have all HD Pictures of the NGP and the current spec list. We also have some great game footage and some videos showing the devices different functionalities used in different game scenarios. Expect more videos from us as we cover the device in more depth and detail.
PSP
One thing should be apparent about the NGP, that it’s crazy powerful. It has Quad Core ARM Cortex-A9 core with a SGX543MP4+ graphics card. All that should really mean nothing to the average person but what should mean something to you is Uncharted and Killzone which are synonymous with crazy graphics and thats exactly what the NGP is going to deliver. As shown with Hideo Kojima onstage, he was able to port over MGS4 from the PlayStation 3 and have it run on the NGP with no problem. What kind of game franchises are already being developed for the NGP and by who? Besides the obvious being Sony and it’s first party studios who have brought you games like God of War, Killzone and Uncharted, some third party studios include:
- Capcom
- Sega
- Tecmo Koei
- Konami
- Epic
- Activision
- Square-Enix
All of these companies have announced games in development for the system. Hit the jump to see a full list of the currently announced titles that are in development, as well as a full publisher breakdown.
Want to look at some pictures of the NGP aka PSP2? We got all of them in full HD galore for your viewing pleasure.
Checkout the full gallery below and if you’re looking for NGP specs, we have those too!
The PSP2 which is actually called the NGP (Next Generation Portable) although we are not sure if this will be the official name when it launches this Holiday season or not was finally shown off last night in Tokyo and we have both specs and official pictures to show you. First, the device is crazy powerful and packs a lot of up to date technology, something that the PSP and PSPgo both lack. In comparison to the Nintendo 3DS, there really isn’t one. The NGP is for people who take gaming, media and the connected life serious. But more on that later. Lets get some specs out first like the fact that this thing has a Quad Core processor inside.
CPU: ARM Cortex -9 core (4 core)
GPU: SGX543MP4+
Multi-touch 5-inch organic light emitting display (OLED) as the front display ( Resolution 960 x 544)
Read touch pad
Two cameras (front and rear)
Sound: Built in stereo speakers
Dual analog sticks
Built in Microphone
Sensors: Six-Axis motion sensor with accelerometer. Same internals of the PlayStation Move
PlayStation Network access, including ““LiveArea™”, “Near” and “Activity” log features Trophy Support
NGP will be able to play PSP titles, minis, PS one classics, video and comics from the PlayStation Store.
3G
Wifi (802.11 b/g/n)
Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR
Now how a full spec breakdown.
Live Blogging the PlayStation Teams "Live From Japan: PlayStation Meeting 2011" (Pictures and Specs)
Well, I can’t say that our site was magically able to afford a ticket to Tokyo and attend the PlayStation meet so instead, I’ll be going through all the news provided by Sony and other media sites and will be reporting them here. So check back now and especially in the following day and we gather all the bits of information that is likely to be the PlayStation Portable 2 (PSP2) or the PlayStation Phone.
10:10: Video montage of the PlayStation vision that was shown at the 2005 E3 is being shown. This is to show what their vision was then and where they are now, almost 6 years later.
“Let me start off by showing you video footage. It is the same clip we showed at E3 5 1/2 years ago, because we want to revisit the image of the future we revealed in 2005”
10:12 Kaz Hirai: “I believe a lot of what we envisioned back then has materialized for our users.”
10:13 Kaz is setting the audience up for the new device they are looking to introduce.
“Today, I’d like to speak about a whole new world that PlayStation is about to bring to reality”
Kaz believes that the PlayStation 3 “has won its place as the center of the living room” and that the next challenge for Sony will be to win what device is in peoples hand.
10:15 A whopping 80% of PS3’s are connected to the internet.
10:16 As of January 25th, there is over 69 million PSN accounts. This includes PS3, PSP and accounts created to access PlayStation content online like the PlayStation Blog.
“When we released PSP, cell phone providers were unable to deliver PlayStation quality content. After 6 years, these multi-function handheld devices are ready for PlayStation-like experiences”
10:20 Sony wants to deliver the PlayStation experience to a wider audiences, something that was not possible in 2005, especially with phone technology.
10:21 Sony has announced the PlayStation Suit. It is a cross endeavor platform.
“PS Suite will make PS content available on Android smartphones and tablets”
Hit the jump for our continuing live coverage and additional photos.
NGP: With Front/Rear Camera and Front/Back Touchscreen
Live Blogging the PlayStation Teams “Live From Japan: PlayStation Meeting 2011” (Pictures and Specs)
Well, I can’t say that our site was magically able to afford a ticket to Tokyo and attend the PlayStation meet so instead, I’ll be going through all the news provided by Sony and other media sites and will be reporting them here. So check back now and especially in the following day and we gather all the bits of information that is likely to be the PlayStation Portable 2 (PSP2) or the PlayStation Phone.
10:10: Video montage of the PlayStation vision that was shown at the 2005 E3 is being shown. This is to show what their vision was then and where they are now, almost 6 years later.
“Let me start off by showing you video footage. It is the same clip we showed at E3 5 1/2 years ago, because we want to revisit the image of the future we revealed in 2005”
10:12 Kaz Hirai: “I believe a lot of what we envisioned back then has materialized for our users.”
10:13 Kaz is setting the audience up for the new device they are looking to introduce.
“Today, I’d like to speak about a whole new world that PlayStation is about to bring to reality”
Kaz believes that the PlayStation 3 “has won its place as the center of the living room” and that the next challenge for Sony will be to win what device is in peoples hand.
10:15 A whopping 80% of PS3’s are connected to the internet.
10:16 As of January 25th, there is over 69 million PSN accounts. This includes PS3, PSP and accounts created to access PlayStation content online like the PlayStation Blog.
“When we released PSP, cell phone providers were unable to deliver PlayStation quality content. After 6 years, these multi-function handheld devices are ready for PlayStation-like experiences”
10:20 Sony wants to deliver the PlayStation experience to a wider audiences, something that was not possible in 2005, especially with phone technology.
10:21 Sony has announced the PlayStation Suit. It is a cross endeavor platform.
“PS Suite will make PS content available on Android smartphones and tablets”
Hit the jump for our continuing live coverage and additional photos.
NGP: With Front/Rear Camera and Front/Back Touchscreen
If Nikkei, the Japanese news giant, is to be believed, not only will the PSP2 be announced this week on the 27th, but that this hotly anticipated and better kept secret from Sony will come with an OLED Touchscreen and 3G cellular connectivity. First, let’s talk about the announcement date. Although nobody is expecting to unit to actually go on sale soon, the announcement time does make sense if Sony wants to take some steam out of the recently-announced and soon-to-launch Nintendo 3DS. If Sony can really offer consumers something different and comparable in price, many might deice to skip out on the 3DS and wait for the Sony handheld. Now, when it comes to a OLED touchscreen, I think this one is a no brainer. Sony recently launched a new Cybershot model during CES which also happens to come with an OLED screen. This is a clear indication though it doesn’t prove that Sony is now producing these in smaller sizes, something that will be perfect for the PSP2. As for a touchscreen, after the iPhone and iPod Touch craze, that is as good as a requirement, especially if Sony wants to draw in more independent developers like those seen on the Apple App store. In respect to the 3G, this again seems like the obvious evolution of the handheld. So many of today’s devices have internet connectivity and the brilliance of an iPod Touch as an example wouldn’t be seen if it didn’t have access to the internet. Now of course, the iPod Touch only has Wifi and not 3G like the original PSP. The difference is with the original PSP and PSPgo, internet connectivity was never a convenient thing, unlike the iPod Touch. Also, Sony needs to offer users something different and the ability to have a 3G data plan in order to play online and download new content at any time will truly set aside the PSP2. If all this holds up though, I’m curious as to which carriers will have access to the PSP2.
[Via Nikkei]
Though by now we all know what the inevitable PlayStation Phone will look like, the PSP2 has been guarded more closely by Sony. We’ve received bits and pieces of information here and there with a supposed spec sheet and rumors of the unit losing its UMD drive (a no brainer really) and being as powerful as the Xbox 360. Starting last week, new rumors started to go around that Sony is planning on announcing and showing off the PSP2 for the first time on the 27th of this month. That puts it at just 2 days away by the time you read this and it might lead some to believe that the above picture is indeed legitimate. I for one am not buying into the rumor. If it’s indeed a scan of the press photo that will be handed out on the 27th, and that is what those behind this leak claim, then why it it at such a low resolution? Better yet, why do some parts of the image appear more crisp then others? Also, a stylus? I just don’t see Sony releasing a gaming device that is meant to go toe to toe with the iPod Touch being released with a stylus. Still, we are only 2 days away and we will find out soon enough.
It seems like the Playstation Phone is indeed real. We’re still not sure if the Playstation Phone or PSP phone is the same as the PSP2 or if these are two different projects Sony is working on. If they are the same thing, I would very much hope that the only way to get your hands on it is not by having to activate a phone. This makes me believe that either they are different projects or that you may get the next PSP in a phone version or just a handheld gaming console.
The following images are courtesy of Engadget who through reliable sources has been able to snap of plenty of pictures from this internally dubbed “Zues” project from Sony. As you can tell, the device is a mix of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and the PSPgo. The device is currently said to be running some version of Android 2.0 but many believe will actually ship with Android 3.0 once it’s set to launch. If you look at the pictures, you can tell that the device slides open like the PSPgo to reveal the gaming controls. Instead of the cingular thumb stick found on the current PSPs, there is now a sleep touch track pad which will probably allow for dual thumb stick controls, as well as singular. You can also note that on the sides, the device also has the trigger finger, exactly like the PSPgo. If based on the Xperia X10 and some of the leaked information, we can put the following specs together:
- 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655
- 512MB of RAM
- 1GB of ROM
- 8.1 Megapixel Still Camera
- HD Video Recording
- 4.0 Touch Screen
- Image Stabilization
- MicroSD Card
We will bring you plenty more as it comes but for now, hit the jump for more pictures of this device. For the record, Sony is probably the worst company when it comes to keeping secrets. Way too many leaks. It should also be noted that the device we see here is still a prototype so the final design will probably very different, especially when it comes to aesthetics.
[Via Engadget]
Artist Rendering
There have been plenty of sites reporting on some of the leaked specs of the PSP2. Although nothing is solid, reports are coming from supposed developers who have seen early versions of the eventual PSP successor. So far, the new PSP is said to have:
- High definition screen
- Larger/wider (probably proper 16:9)
- Backside panel touchscreen
The screen resolution is not so much a rumor as it is a no brainer. I could have told you in 2004 when the PSP originally launched that the next version would have a higher resolution screen. As far as the back panel, the iPhone 4 was rumored to have that as well and that didn’t come to fruition. What the actual use might be of something like this might be limited by the cost. Other no brainers are: a more powerful processor, a graphic engine, and the probable use of touchscreen and a camera. But in all reality, anything you hear in the upcoming months will be nothing more than speculation, really.
With a little over a year into its life cycle, Sony has cut the price of the new Playstation Portable system, the PSPgo, to $199, down $50 from the original launch MSRP. The system, which boasted a sleeker design, longer battery lifetime, built in 16GB of memory with expandable M2 stick, as well as the ability to download games all via the web like the iPod Touch, has yet to really gain the attraction that Sony was looking for, while its bigger brother, the PSP-3000, fairs much better.
Many blamed the initial high price range that Sony was looking for, although to be fair, at the time, the 16GB iPod Touch was $299 and now, the Touch is $229. In both cases, Sony was offering a gaming device with the same memory and expandability for a lower price. Other point to the fact that a game that you can buy on UMD (Universal Media Disk, the system the PSP-3000) were the same price as their downloadable counterparts. Again, this puts Sony in a tough spot. They don’t want to piss off their retail partners like Gamestop who makes money on selling UMD games where they see nothing from downloaded games for the PSPgo. But a clear example of this again can be Apple where retailers love carrying the iPod Touch, even though they see no income from the music, videos, apps and games sold on it, simply due to the high volume sold and the income from that, as well as the ecosystem of docs and cases that surround most Apple products.
Will this drop in price be enough? I hope so, but again, Sony still lacks the marketing so a price drop without a media campaign might not go too far. Sony also needs to realize that at the end of the day, Gamestop and other retailers are only dedicated to themselves. If pissing off Gamestop and offering cheaper downloadable games (since the user dosent pay for the packaging and there is no cost of shelf space and transportation), means selling a lot more of the PSPgo, then Sony needs to do this now. Downloadable content is the future, as Apple has shown. One day, your Playstation 5 will have no disc drive, nor will your computer, and so Sony needs to jump on that bandwagon now instead of protecting partners who only care for themselves. All this now begs the question, will $199 get you to join the PSPgo community?
A lot of websites the last few days have been reporting on the fact that Sony has notified publishers out there that pst November 15th, they will no be able to purchase a developer kit.
SCEE will no longer be selling the PSP Development Tool (DTP-T2000A) or Testing Tool (DTP-H2500A) past November 15th. Please order in advance if you require these development units.
We will advise you when a new model becomes available.
Now many people assumed that this had to due with the fact that there has been many rumors about the inevitable PSP2. While this sounds good and I’m not denying that there is a PSP2 in the works, why would Sony stop all support on the current PSP? Last I checked, there is over 50 million of them out there. Remember for how long the PS2 continued to sell and outsell current generation units? Anyways, the real reason, straight from Sony:
“Due to the certification on the current development and test tools expiring, we will be stopping selling them on the 15th November. However, we will continue to provide loan stock for registered and new developers, until a new certified model is available.”
This weeks Gamer Log is brought to you by the fine folks of Final Fantasy because nothing says gaming, like playing 3 different Final Fantasy games at once. For those of you are MMO fan, I advice you to pickup Final Fantasy XI. If you’ve read any of my prior Gamer Log entries, then you will know that I started FF11 from the time it was in beta. Sense then, I’ve been on and off and I’ve never been one of those hardcore MMO, lets raid for 7 hour person. But, what I do enjoy is a quality game and FF11 destroys all other MMOs out there. It’s not bland like WoW and actually requires you to play with groups to get things done. Recently, my and my best friend got back into it. He has sense moved to North Carolina and so this is a fun way for us to be in touch so we try to play for a few hours a week. For those who have tried the game before, I can tell you that it’s a completely different beast then it was before. You can solo a lot more now, there is no shortage of expansion packs for the game and they have made leveling up and getting to the higher levels a lot easier now sense thats where a majority of FF11 community is. So if you’re game, let me know and we can get you into our server and hook you up with some stuff.
Continuing all things FF, I’ve recently been motivated to beat Crisis Core for the PSP. Not much beyond that and I’ve always thought it was a fantastic game. Just never took the time to beat it so that’s now on my to do list as well. And of course, there is my favorite, Final Fantasy 13….Sarcasm? Anyways, I’ve sense figured out how to enjoy this game. By not caring. I don’t give a damn what the story is anymore sense the first 25 hours made no sense to me. Those who said the game does pickup past hour 20 or so are correct. It’s not starting to feel like a Final Fantasy game but sense I played those for characters and plot and here, I can’t follow the plot or care for the characters, I’m just enjoying it for the sake of enjoying. Currently, I’m 30 hours into the system. Kind of stupid too, you can only level to certain points and then the game stops you. As in, I have about 60,000 cp (experience points) to use and level up my characters abilities but the skill tree unlocks itself as you progress throughout the story. Unlike past games where you could sit there and level up as much as you wanted, here you can’t. Makes total sense for an RPG!
Being a Playstation Plus member, our free game of the week was Zen pinball. I have to say, I didn’t really like it. I mean I remember I used to sit there and play pinball on my PC but I guess I have better things to do on my PS3 then to do that. Couldn’t imagine going through that and trying to get all the trophies and such. Even better, I’m glad I didn’t pay for that game! I know, I know, I’m sounding like an old man who isn’t pleased by anything but I saved the best for last!
R.U.S.E. is pure awesome. I’ve long been searching for an RTS game thats not based on rushing each other. I want to be more tactical and take my time and expand and attack and defend. I was about to get Civilization for the PS3 till I found out that there is no Trophies for the game. At this stage of the game, if an old game dosent have Trophies, I wont be buying it. Luckily I was told about R.U.S.E. and I tried the demo and loved it. Icing on the cake is that it has Move support as well. With that, I set out to buy a Move today and my local Target store was sold out and Amazon, where I do most of my shopping has a 2-4 week wait. I guess its karma in the sense that I told myself no new games till I beat a few. I’m looking at you FF13, CC:FF7 and PixelJunk Shooter!
Really blows when you're about to kill somebody and you get killed or better yet, you're about to kill somebody and somebody kills them before you do.
Going back to being a Playstation Plus member, another perk is betas and I’ve been playing through Assassins Creed: Brotherhood beta and holy shit is it intense and fun. I have to first confess that I have yet to play any of the previous installments of the series, but I’m more then aware of the franchise and what it requires. Now, the beta of the game is for the only play only. The premise is the following; enter an online game with 7 other opponents and kill each other. Now once you’ve each picked out a character, you enter a level and there is playing NPC units walking around who are the same as you. That is to say, there is only 8 total character designs. As you walk around, you are assigned contracts, aka told who to kill and it’s up to you to execute this out. If you kill the wrong person, your contract expires and you must wait for a new one to be given to you (can take up to 10 seconds). I hope it dosent sound boring to you because not only is it exciting, it’s intense as well. You have to walk through the crowds, attempt to blend in, run away when you are the target, chase your target without being noticed or killed. It’s just a ton of fun. From what I can tell, this is just one of many modes for online and if this is an indication, for all you trigger happy people, put down the controller and have some new fun. This is almost exactly what Metal Gear Online should have been.
Speaking of trigger fingers, people seriously, you need to pickup MAG. This game is beyond fantastic. Put down your Call of Duty and Battlefield and whatever else, MAG is an intense game that’s only better with the more people on it. And now, it’s only $30.
In its efforts to further unify the brand and help them build and compliment off of each other, Sony is now giving US Vaio owners the capability of Remote Play, a feature we wrote about a long time ago that Japan had received. Some of the capabilities include using your laptop as the bluetooth keyboard and streaming content like music, video and pictures to your PS3. News is still a little sketchy on exactly which Vaio units are gaining this new update, but the EA series seems to be a sure bet. Keep in mind that if you own a Vaio that this wont be under your Windows Update section. You will have to use your Sony Updater or jump on Sonys eSupport section to see if it’s available for your model.
[Via Engadget]
If you don’t know by now, 33 Chilean miners are trapped 2,300 feet beneath the surface where everything collapsed around them during a mining operation. It took 17 days, but finally on August 22nd, the miners were found to be alive but in poor health. The authorities since then have been in constant communication with them while the rescue attempt is being put into place. It is believed that the operation itself can take up to four months. During this time, the miners are receiving capsules of supplies, which include rehydration tablets and high-energy glucose gel.
Food and health supplies aside though, these men need entertainment as well to keep their minds and thoughts from not getting the best of them. The chosen entertainment device? The Sony Playstation Portable. Although details are scarce whether Sony was a part of this or not, we know that a few PSPs have been lowered down via a tube to the miners to offer them entertainment during this time and give them something to do.
If Sony is reading this, we hope that they take the time and offer those men some more goodies (just remember, it has to fit inside of a tube) so more PSPs, games and battery packs seem to be just what these miners need. I’m sure some FIFA games will especially go over very well down there.
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