Sony to enter the handheld market

[sjeep]

Sony has announced plans for a handheld game system, called the "PSP". The PSP will include hardware capable of high-speed 3D graphics rendering, playing stereo sound, USB 2.0 connectivity and more. The PSP will also use a new media format - the "UMD disc". UMD discs are about half the size of a CD and can hold up to 1.8GB of data. Sony has not yet given a projected price for the planned handheld, but did say they plan to release the PSP late next year. Looks like Nintendo's Gameboy/Gameboy Advance might finally have some real competition

Thanks to Nervosa for the news

[kinezu]

Can't wait !

[WisdomWolf]

Bring it on...I have been waiting for a worthy opponent to take on the GBA. How many different version of the game boy will there be?

[Nervosa]

oh wow i got a plug

[PerfectModifications]

YAY!!! we FINALLY don't have to play crappy 2-D sidescrollers or cheap attempts at 3-D games on the road! I'm willing to bet the first year will just consist of Playstation remakes. Oh well...

[precisionmods]

Hey, what happened to my post??

Here is what I said:

Yay, we have something to look forward to, 1 console manufacturer.

This is bad for the ppl. I don't doubt Sony's shrewdness, keen business sense and their current market following. But if they do to handhelds what they did to consoles, we are in trouble. You can look forward to crappy games and then you can't blame it on the Xbox!

[pfb4ever]

BTW, Sony has dropped the price of PS2s to $179.99 to clear out inventory for the newer model to come out. MS has also now dropped their XBox to $179.99

Woot!

[pfb4ever]

Oh yeah,

"The new PS2 hitting shelves next month at $199 includes an adapter for online game play and modifications to the hardware that allows it to play home-made DVDs. That version of the market-leading console was announced at a press conference Tuesday morning at E3, the video game industry trade show in Los Angeles."

[ben999_]

If Sony plans to use their upcoming "cell" technology on this handheld, which they probably will, then we will still have to wait 2 or 3 years for it, right?

[necrolop]

UMD or Universal Media Device. This storage media is 60mm, about half the size of the traditional CD and has a capacity of 1.8GB. That's right GB. Expect massively complex, detailed gaming (for your handheld anyway). 2.4 inches.

ATRAC encoding support (Sony's proprietary sound format used in their minidiscs). This could mean it will be a multi-media device.

Graphics specs are also impressive: NURB technology for rendering with full 3D polygons.

The unit's widescreen LCD screen (480x272, that's the coveted 16:9 ratio we all love) will be backlit.

The unit's sound processing will feature full 3D sound, PCM, and will be "fully reconfigurable."

MIPS 32-bit processor.

Also, a secure ROM cartridge for anti-piracy efforts.

Super-one-chip solution for graphics, sound, etc.

Memory stick will be used for game saves. Also, for GPS functionality.

Rechargeable battery.

CPU: 90 nanometers with a clock speed TBD.

USB 2.0 connection for talking to your PC, cellphone, even your PS2.

Embedded RAM.

Supports additional video codecs (other than MPEG 4.)

We suspect that the PSP will also come equipped with an analog stick and, since the media is disc-based, it may also have a flip-top lid/cover.