Now all that needs to happen with the device is add some sort of network out of wifi connectivity so I'm able to view videos and surf the net without relying on a Wifi spot.

Kaizuden

its true. I love my psp. I play it every day on the U-Bahn, slowly fighting through Jean Darc or however its spelled.

It may not have the most games, but the audio and visual quality more than makes up for it. Say what you want about Crisis Core(this coming from a ffvii hater), that game was one of the most complete experiences on a handheld ever.

I love my DS but there seems to be a limit to how epic the games can be due to the hardware.

tmsoftworks

I was always dubious about PSP- the crazy lack of second stick; the analogue being on the wrong side; the unprotected screen; etc etc... but I must say, since I bought mine a few months ago I've used it every day. And I just got out of the bath where, thanks to PlayTV and remote connection on my PS3, I was able to watch TV I recorded last night!

Hot diggity, I love that little machine now! I just need a few more actual games for it...

Ungruntled

@Ungruntled: HEY! There is nothing wrong with a southpaw layout. :P Recognize your gaming roots...Saturn, N64, Dreamcast. :)

SAKY

Full Monster Hunter support for Europe (and the US) + time = success

Billqvist

To me this reads:

"20-22 months ago SONY decided to make a hardware revision (or two) instead of developing library of games." Briliant.

SAKY

So I guess the "all I want for Christmas is a PSP" adds don't apply any more...

torched

Moms buying it for their children? A 200€ investment? For a handheld?

Don't be silly now...
The price has to come down to at least 149,99€ before ever going mass market. And by then? This thing will be an old geezer (tech wise), so to speak.
I'm tech savvy and have been a gamer all my life.
Do I own one? No. I would love one. But for that price? Erm, no thank you.

tylerstyle

I havent played with my PSP that much. Play more with my PS3 :)

Crippen

@SAKY: [starts a slow clap]

Dai

If they drop it to the price of the DS I'll happily pick up another (newer) model. =)

def PD

Oh, good, this means more Wii games will be coming out around that time, too...

MR. FAP☆FAP!

@Ungruntled: I really don't understand the wanting two sticks on the PSP - it's not like a controller, where you'll be able to hold it and use two sticks and buttons at the same time, but iunno.

I'm pretty similar though - I was a bit supsicous of how much I could trust my PSP with the unprotected screen, but was very pleasantly surprised when I got them.

As a PAL region person - the PSP is wonderful for playing the PS1 games that never got released here, but got remakes for the PSP.

(And with custom firmware, allowing emulation of those still not released here.)

Aprocalypse

Despite relenting and buying one for LocoRoco and Disgaea, I still don't believe the hardware is getting the software support it needs. The fact that I've got 50+ games for the DS, and probably the same for Wii/360 but *counts* 6 games in total for PSP to me says something.

And it's not that I don't like the PSP's main genres... There's just not a lot that's gotten me excited. :(

AndyboyH

well, if it's new software for children, I don't want it. my ds gets played less for a reason.

I'm waiting for phantasy star portable, dissidia and agito XIII. other than that, I don't really see a lot coming out for psp to be excited for anymore. hopefully that changes.

aykay

There are fewer games today because Gwen Stefani's been advertising it?

Figures. q:

Frank

I have a DS and it hasn't that many more *decent* titles in comparison, most of it is shovelware.

ReignFury

The PSP is selling fine. I don't see the crisis.

Do Kesubei

@Frank: I think you have that crack whore in the picture confused with someone beautiful. Take off the beer goggles, Frank :D

Razgriz1

"Not exactly the urban hipsters it was originally targeted at."

Harsh. Not sure the Wii was marketed to women or seniors either.

The biggest marketing thing that has happened with game-related products is the realization that there are individuals in each market group who have their own tastes and needs and will chose a product that they like the most.

Apple doesn't designate social groups and you see the results - stores full of people of all backgrounds.

The best thing Sony can do for the PSP is show how multiple people use the device in their life - it works in Japan and it can work here - the Wii marketing is nearly identical to the US marketing where the product is the focus.

I think the sales have shown that people like the idea, they just need to see how they can use it in their life.

...and an easier way to get media on to it would be great as well!

foamking

PSP does need more good games. If you look at the scores on IGN, very few games scored above an 8.0. There are a few really good games and I feel the hardware has great potential. One area that could really set it apart is Online play and some social networking / social gaming aspects. Most games only support ad-hoc play. Supporting internet play with a matchmaking service would be great. Better browsing and internet integration like apple has done with the iphone would also make it a more attractive device and make it easier for publishers to implement these features.

WhiteNoise

@Ungruntled:

That initial "it's amazing" happens to all of us, the no games thing (if you're super forgiving of flawed games) will gnaw at you after a while.

yomachaser

@tmsoftworks: I couldn't agree more. Some much time and thought went to making Crisis Core a complete experience. Such a great game.

outlawauron

This whole online marketplace will help PSP game sales. I know I'll be willing to buy guys online. I just hope ppl don't torrent them minutes after release.

bluSCALE4

That's what I thought... game reduction or not, PSP seems to be facing its best era so far now.

I don't think it should be typically bought for little kids, becase as one, I saw how badly most people treat their discs/media, and it is the more expensive handheld.

On the other hand, mine have only ever been impressively tough so they probably wouldn't break them any faster than a DS. Actually I'm betting the DS screen would be worn illegible from normal use before the PSP broke down some way (but it's dumb not to protect it.) My first PSP basically the battery wore out after a few years, but the system still runs like new. My first DS Lite died of accumulated irrepairable wear and faults, but may yet live again some day.

The DS is definitely the obvious choice to chuck into a backpack unprotected though - no doubt about that. I carry my PSP in a leather hip pouch, and my DS in my pants pocket with chewing gum and a rubber-jacketed iPod touch so both are pretty babied.

fuchikoma

@yomachaser: No games? what do you guys want to play? I have tons of games for my psp. All scored very well(meaning they aren't flawed). I don't like futzing with umds as they are fragile, and this ca sometimes put me off from playing, but seriously psp has good games in pretty much every genre.

Ehardergardens

@WhiteNoise: And if you check on metacritic there's plenty of games that meet the above 8.0 criteria, singling out one review outlet as if they were the source of universal truth never works out well.

zoesch

@Razgriz1: Holy crap, now I AM seeing Gwen Stefani. q=

Frank

@WhiteNoise: I see the same number of good games the other platforms. Right now there is a drought of psp games,(obviously), but metacritic lists 61 psp games scoring 80 or better and ds is the same. This silly biased perception against the psps's games has got to stop.

I think that PSP games -tend- to be deeper and more involved (full console like) games rather than quick simple portable games that spawn instant gratification (there are games like that too though).

It's definitely a personal taste but I like the PSP library of games. It is a portable ps2(gamewise), for me I like that, for others that have more gameboy background this may be a bad thing.

I do think a tighter PSN store integration and perhaps some more online features would help. I hate the browser, its slow and text entry is a painful.

I do think it's about time to think about a major redesign, but I'm guessing they are going to wait and see what Nintendo does (or how well Apple succeeds).
I'm tempted by the new screen of the 3k.

Ehardergardens

@fuchikoma: Them some really big pockets :P

But yeah, my DS died a week ago, if it wasn't for the fact that they stole it my fat PSP would still be running bar for the joystick which had to be reset and cleaned.

I only carry both when I go on long trips, normally it's the PSP only that goes out (Unless there's an awesome DS game I can't stop playing on the commute)

zoesch

@zoesch: psp is a one device solution (not the best possible at any of those, but still...) and if I hadn't sat a chair leg on my coat and cracked my lcd a few months ago, my launch psp would be fine today...I never used a screen protector and it was not treated delicately but had almost no noticeable scratches anywhere...compared to my 5g ipod that looks like I put in a dryer for two days with shirts made out of sandpaper after a few months (kept inside a protect case)... the psp's were pretty well designed... when i got it I felt it would break in weeks because of the moving parts etc.

Ehardergardens

@Do Kesubei:The software attachment rate is shittastic. You don't make good profit from hardware (Unless your Nintendo and they've been doing it for 25 years). It's the razor blade model.

@fuchikoma:The DS is pretty rugged and even if it breaks, 9 times out of 10 Nintendo will fix it free and then send you something for your trouble. I've had friends get 40 bucks in Wii Points cards, sealed games, it's just insane.

Sony will typically charge you $100 dollars to fix a PSP.

As for John, you spin a real good game, but unless you can go and remove every 1000 and 2000 series from the market and your 3000 really is hackproof, sales are going to keep sliding in the shitter.

Foxstar Sixtail

@Ehardergardens:
oh wow... I actually cracked my PSP phat screen when I slipped on some ice riding a bike and landed straight on top of it. If you're not squeamish disassembling delicate electronics, you can probably get a new screen for $25 and pop it in. The hard part is disassembling the reflector box (don't ever touch or scratch the back of the inside!)

I took apart my dead DS Lite a while ago, but... it's much harder than installing a mod chip or fully stripping a PSP... that thing is a puzzle box from hell IMO the way they route the wifi/mic wires!

But yeah... I figured the PSP would be fairly fragile, but I've dropped it from a few feet a few times to no effect... results vary, some people say that's totally killed theirs.

@zoesch:
hehe... cargo pants carry lots of cargo. Still, the iPod doesn't add much to it - that's just my top left pocket! I can get 3-4 books/DVDs in cases into each leg!

fuchikoma

I think this is a little convenient...right after the casual-est E3 ever, suddenly Moms are the target of everybodies....everything, afraid that they're going to be out-casualed by the competition. But...if everybody is doing casual, at the same time, for every system, where is the hardcore support that everybody promised?

I know there are amazing AAA games coming out for everything, but what about portables? If I remember, at E3, there way like...5 games total to be shown. 3 DS, and two PSP games. If I remember, all of them ports, or remakes, or sequels.

I'd like a hardcore game, with lots of depth and length, but the ability to pick up and play at any time. My favorite example of this, is the FF remakes for GBA. I can say "oh snap! I gotta go!" and in no more then 15 seconds I can quick save and be done. Instead, we're getting casual games that only LAST 15 seconds.

Talleh

I dunno, I've got a lot of games to last me a good while. Yggdra Union, FFT (which I started but put aside for the moment), the Star Oceans, Puzzle Quest (which I started on the DS until I sold it and will re-start it since its DLC on PSN)...

berribrand

@Ehardergardens:

There is one huge flaw running through the entire library, they are console games stuck on a handheld.

The system's screen hampers many of its action games (hook monster hunter up to a tv and you'll see what I mean) and it's battery is the enemy of any long game like monster hunter.

In contrast DS games seem better built for the confines of their environment.

So when I say no games, what I mean to say is no (or very few) games that work well on a portable. I've owned 3 psps and outside of fighting games and monster hunter (which still works better hooked to tv) nothing fit very well.

yomachaser

"Adverted"? Come on, people! This is unacceptable. It's painful enough that I frequently have to read "adversion" (no such word) on the internet when obviously "aversion" is meant. Now I'm going to be forced to contend with another similarly spelled word being perverted by the addition of a "d"? Please say that it was a typo and that it won't happen again.

LordGolbez

mine just died....now waiting to get a new one when it hits the market.

Nubius