PSP to be launched March 24

[Joel]

Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=7527326&type=technologyNews) reports that the PSP will be available late March.

"The unit will retail as a "value pack" for $249.99 in the United States and C$299.99 in Canada. The package will include a number of accessories and a copy of the movie "Spider-Man 2" on Sony's new UMD disc format, designed for the PSP and capable of holding three times the data of a traditional CD-ROM."

Reggie and I have been lucky enough to get the Japanese version. What I can tell you is, the PSP is the best portable gaming platform I've seen. I'm sorry to the DS fans but side-by-side, the PSP just blows the DS out of the water. :)

Let me just say that it's a matter of fan base too. If you're a hardcore DS fan than I can't do anything about it. As for me, Sony has taken hold of my attention once again. (I have to say it again, the PSP could very well be the next Communication, Link, Information, and Entertainment device :D)

[JackAxe]

I'll give the PSP screen size and looks, but for pure game play, I don't agree since it's basing it's titles on PS2 games, which for the most part I personally do not like. :p

Until they ship a PSP with anolog controls, or a touch screen, I wouldn't use it for racing games or FPS, this isn't the old Sega and NES days. ;) Digital controls are soooo much fun when cornering and aiming. :p

Communication, Link and Information? I guess there's a keyboard attachment, but no touch screen, boooooooooooooo. :D

I think that Sony deliberately left that option out to seperate it from the Clié, though.

What happened to $199? Don't want those extras.

<]=)

[Joel]

The PSP does have an analog joystick which I thought was a speaker grille! ;) (it's directly below the down button). This has helped me a lot in Ridge Racers.

[JackAxe]

I now have more respect for the PSP. But Sony's not winning me over with all of the cheeeesball accessories at a higher price. The last thing I want is another crapy pair of headphones. :)

Sony is using H.264 for the movies, so they must look absolutely amazing. I was wondering how they were fitting them on one disc and that explains it.

Thumb aiming, even with an anolog stick is horrid for all FPS games. :D I'm not going to play RE4 on the GC, because it relies so heavily on it.

Until the PSP has this (http://www.zelda.com/) , it will not be a good game machine for me. ;)

<]=)

[CWolf]

Anyone got any ideas when and how much this will be in the UK?

[Joel]

According to Amazon UK, it's March 18.

[Homie S]

After much consideration, I think I'm going to wait for a pricedrop/non-value pack edition that will go for 200 bucks (hopefully). I want to see more titles I would buy. If I were to get one March 24th, I'd be getting Ridge Racer and Metal Gear Acid, maybe wipeout. If anything I want to see the Gran Turismo mobile and GTA games. Then again, this is just my taste in games, the PSP has some awesome titles coming out, far superior to the DS lineup coming (sorry Jackaxe, but I looked at the DS line up and was really turned off) different strokes for different folks I guess.

[Ezikial Anta]

Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=7527326&type=technologyNews) reports that the PSP will be available late March.

"The unit will retail as a "value pack" for $249.99 in the United States and C$299.99 in Canada. The package will include a number of accessories and a copy of the movie "Spider-Man 2" on Sony's new UMD disc format, designed for the PSP and capable of holding three times the data of a traditional CD-ROM."

Reggie and I have been lucky enough to get the Japanese version. What I can tell you is, the PSP is the best portable gaming platform I've seen. I'm sorry to the DS fans but side-by-side, the PSP just blows the DS out of the water. :)

Let me just say that it's a matter of fan base too. If you're a hardcore DS fan than I can't do anything about it. As for me, Sony has taken hold of my attention once again. (I have to say it again, the PSP could very well be the next Communication, Link, Information, and Entertainment device :D)
Already having my DS, i decided tonight to go and buy this beast. Ill tell you what i think on the 24. (Joel, is there anything that i should get right away, or anything you recommend, ect?)

[Joel]

I suggest getting Ridge Racer, Metal Gear Acid, and Rengoku. Those will be the next ones I'll buy. I'm not yet sure if the Spiderman 2 UMD would work but if it doesn't I'm going to sell this Japanese version PSP eventually.

Other things... put in the battery before charging it. :) I was so used to devices with built-in batteries that I actually forgot to put in the battery while the PSP was "charging" for about 20 minutes. While it's charging, put the screen protector. It's quite easy to put on. Then just wait for about 2 hours and enjoy! :)

[JackAxe]

You people and your pretty game machines. :)

I'm not excited about the DS line up either(Even Metroid Hunter, since I still need to play Echos on my GC. ). I really only want a Zelda DS or some other cool RPG adventure that uses both screens. I bought it mainly to play GBA games on a nicer screen with a rechargeable battery for now.

I'm still gunning for $129 :o Aproving any video game purchase around here is tooth and nail. Yes I'm jelous of your massive screen, but if I taped mine together they're about the same size. And learning that the PSP has an anolog stick and that it uses H.264 really brought the unit into a good perspective for me. If I can encode that format to a MSPro with Compressor later this year, then my PSP purchase will become a definate yes. Even at $199, but not with the accessories. (Maybe just a cleaning cloth.)

I was impressed with it at E3, I just don't like PS2 games. Ok, I don't like most 3D games. ;)

<]=)

[Ezikial Anta]

As far as i know you can only use Duo's, Joel can tell you more.

[Ezikial Anta]

I suggest getting Ridge Racer, Metal Gear Acid, and Rengoku. Those will be the next ones I'll buy. I'm not yet sure if the Spiderman 2 UMD would work but if it doesn't I'm going to sell this Japanese version PSP eventually.

Other things... put in the battery before charging it. :) I was so used to devices with built-in batteries that I actually forgot to put in the battery while the PSP was "charging" for about 20 minutes. While it's charging, put the screen protector. It's quite easy to put on. Then just wait for about 2 hours and enjoy! :)

Haha, thanks, that wouldve thrown me off, because like you said, with all the Clies and other handhelds ive bought ive never had a battery come outside the unit (Whereabouts is the battery, and do you need a screw driver to put it in?)

[Joel]

I believe JackAxe refers to the MS Pro Duo. ;) The largest MS Pro Duo is 1GB, right?

As for the battery, you don't need a screwdriver. Just open the battery compartment and insert the battery -- similar to how you put in a cellphone battery. The battery is 3.60v, 1800 mAh (printed in gloss black).

[RMCF]

There was a rumour that Sony would open up the UMD format in light of their Minidisc/Atrac fiasco. That would be pretty good.

[Joel]

And I just hope that there's a patch to remove the Region coding for my PSP. Currently, it's set to Region 2 (Japan)... that means it cannot play Region 1 UMDs. If that's the case, I'll be forced to sell this.

[Joel]

Just a note that it *is* painful when you play for quite some time. This is in Ridge Racers (J)... I guess the PSP design lacks some leverage/holding area. Or I might just be holding the PSP too tight. ;)

[JackAxe]

It's not just he PSP, I get cramps with my DS, but it's not as bad as my old GBA. I find that I'm actually pressing the control pad way harder then needed and this has contriubted to the pain, so like you mentioned it's probably just holding it too tight.

I was thinking about getting Ridge Racer for my DS. I'll be honest, after playing GT for the first time it left the racing bug in me. :) Buying a PS2 for GT has even crossed my mind. :confused: :eek:

<]=)

[Homie S]

^^^^ Good man.

Any word on what features will the PSP do in conjunction with a PS2? I was reading stuff about some stuff that could be really cool and be universal, but then again I don't remember. It sounds like there could be some cool things to do with GT4 and GT4:Mobile for example, like perhaps swapping cars or using your garage from GT4 to race on the PSP.

[Ezikial Anta]

As of yet (from what i understand anyway) there is no compadibility between the two, and the link from handheld to system is being saved for PS3. But that could easily change.