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[gofreak]

...which is essentially going the 3DS/DS route and splitting the touchscreen off from the main display (with the disadvantage of obviously having no way to display secondary content etc.) and - I would imagine, although it's hard to say without using it - making it slightly more awkward to use than a front-facing screen (there's something slightly counterintuitive about reverse controls for me).

It's a little bit different in that it's somewhat less abstract in one sense than using a screen with no physical relationship to the main screen (assuming the back touch area was aligned 1:1 with the front display). I'm just saying, it's one way for Sony to do touch that's decoupled from the screen (be it for purposes of 3D or no) without actually having a second screen - something Sony probably won't ever do.

 

[charlequin]

I would prefer flash media but I wouldn't say UMD is out of the question.

I agree in the sense that in the last six years we've seen Sony's gaming division make at least two boneheaded decisions as thoroughly idiotic as carrying over the UMD to a second handheld generation would be, but not in the sense that it is remotely plausible if you extend even a modicum of competence to the team designing the PSP2. :lol

The only problem with UMD is bad programmers.

:lol No. The "only problem" with UMD is that it is unsuited in every possible way to the task of being a handheld platform's storage medium.

Software emulation BC isn't likely; the PS3 can just barely do it for simple games (the Minis line are emulated on the PS3)

Ease of software emulation is pretty heavily dependent on the design of the systems in question. The PSP can emulate the PSOne almost perfectly while the PS3 has trouble emulating PSP with the one emulator we've seen (not much info about whether it could be improved.) If BC emulation of PSP was a priority for Sony, there would be cost-effective ways to pursue it as long as they focused on it during the hardware speccing process.

And those same games can't possibly be in development for psp2 too. Am I right?

I'm absolutely not going to say that there's no room for two handhelds to both have distinct, strong lineups (at least in Japan, the DS and PSP certainly did) but I will say that yes, there is basically no chance that the specific games on the big list of announcements we saw for the 3DS are also in development for PSP2. Japan is not going to move to a multiplat strategy for handhelds this generation.

Honestly, if people want to talk about PSP2 support, what makes sense to discuss is what we might see from publishers who supported both DS and PSP, what franchises aren't spoken for or have appeared on multiple platforms, what console series might make a jump to portability, etc.; taking about something like Metal Gear on PSP2 is faintly embarrassing at this point given the degree to which it's fact-free wishful thinking given the current situation on the ground.

Still jumping to conclusions I see.

Assuming the PSP2 will have a touchscreen is like assuming it'll have a battery. In 2010, touchscreen navigation is a presumption of any small consumer electronic device. Leaving one out would just make the PSP2 feel old and reduce the utility of its media player and web browser, to no particular benefit.

 

[velvet_nitemare]

Stop being logical. You know no one is going to listen to that here.

I kinda wonder if they'll even release it outside of Japan.

Seems to me like it would be kinda a waste of their time.

.

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

it's been discussed so many times i didn't feel the need to explain it anymore, but here it is:

3d + touch screen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8byrOlU58x8

Is this the touch screen that is on the rear of the unit? (I can't watch the video - i'm at work). If so that seems like a woefully impractical solution for a dedicated handheld.

I don't see why Sony wouldn't just swipe the DS design - It's not like they haven't done anything like that before.

 

[°°ToMmY°°]

Is this the touch screen that is on the rear of the unit? (I can't watch the video - i'm at work). If so that seems like a woefully impractical solution for a dedicated handheld.

I don't see why Sony wouldn't just swipe the DS design - It's not like they haven't done anything like that before.

nope. touch screen is the 3d screen.

 

[Vanillalite]

Ironically while I played my DS the most out of any platform this past generation handled or console, at this point I'm sort of strangely more interested in a PSP2 rather than a 3DS. I can't reason out why in my mind either. :lol :lol

 

[CamHostage]

Here is why I think a PSP2 does not exist in any meaningful way atm - simply look at the 3DS lineup. Now, i'm not saying this to start some stupid fanboy comparison. I'm saying it because, when we break it down and look at the games individually, we can see that most third parties are already playing their major trump cards right out the door. Kojima has an MGS coming, Square have Kingdom Hearts + Final Fantasy, Capcom have two Resi games and a Mega Man, Tecmo have their usual massive tittied games, Scamco already have a Tales game coming, SEGA are making at least 4 games in 2011.... and so on.

Oh, do be careful of system launch lists. Every system has a list a mile long and it always blows you away, but when the system actually comes and that list is spread across a year or more, it becomes much more reasonable.

But of that list, I would have to say that while Nintendo has done its handshaking and secured a homerun lineup, I'm not seeing an unreasonable outpouring of titles on 3DS. (And that's given that all are exclusives, but many may also be on PSP2.) Kojima is doing a port (with many enhancements, but still a port.) Capcom's two RE games probably would have been on one card if the ecomonics of portables supported console-quality productions. Tecmo's DOA repurposes assets. Scamco always has a Tales game (plus, it's a port.) Kingdom Hearts and MML3 are likely a ways away. And SEGA had better have at least four games in a calendar year for the hot new system if they have any hope of not further losing their footing. Everything uses PS2 engines (except Capcom's games) and most titles reuse older games as their base (and unless I'm remembering wrong, almost none of the 3DS lineup is based on current-gen hits like Dead Rising or Valkyria Chronicles or Call of Duty; there is an Assassin's Creed though.) Everything is about what I would expect in a year for a system of this horsepower serving as a follow-up to the best-performing game platform ever.

3DS has a great support and will be a great system, but it's probably too early to look at that list and say that there's no room for any competition.

I wouldn't be surprised If Nintendo has some kind of secret clause that tells Developers they MUST use the touchscreen in a meaningful way other than showing button controls... It guarantees that games are not easily portable and even if they are you will be losing (possibly very useful) functionality with the lost of the 2nd, touchscreen.

Maybe, but why would you assume that? They never did that with DS, and there's no sign of it being the case for any 3DS launch title (although some of these released screens may be placeholders on the second screen, no developer in the few interviews available has said, "and wait until you see what we do on the touch screen!") It's not much different from the DS touchscreen (resistive, fairly small, no sign of multitouch in the specs,) and PSP2 is rumored to have some touch to it too (just no second screen to display.) The current crop of games show the same rudimentary touch screen use that NDS had at launch, I don't see any evidence of that being a change in pending.

 

[jeremy1456]

.

I see your point.

But do you really think that with SCEA's inability to market the system in an effective manner that it would really be worth it for Sony?

 

[AranhaHunter]

Japan is not going to move to a multiplat strategy for handhelds this generation.

That's a bold statement.

Honestly, if people want to talk about PSP2 support, what makes sense to discuss is what we might see from publishers who supported both DS and PSP, what franchises aren't spoken for or have appeared on multiple platforms, what console series might make a jump to portability, etc.; taking about something like Metal Gear on PSP2 is faintly embarrassing at this point given the degree to which it's fact-free wishful thinking given the current situation on the ground.

So what you're saying is that there's absolutely, positively no chance for MGS to appear on PSP2. Furthermore, since the following franchises are announced for 3DS and you're saying that Japan is not going multiplat for handhelds, that means you're saying that RE, KH, FF, DQ, Persona, SMT, SF, etc will not appear on PSP2?

I'm just trying to understand what you're saying here, because it sounds like you're saying that JP developers won't support the PSP2, which would be stupid if that was the case, the PSP is most succesful in Japan and JP companies are not bringing their best IPs on it? I doubt it and I doubt Sony would release a PSP2 without such support. But maybe I misread what you said.

 

[velvet_nitemare]

I see your point.

But do you really think that with SCEA's inability to market the system in an effective manner that it would really be worth it for Sony?

I dunno how effective SCEA/SCEE's marketing will be, but you need to lay off the crack pipe if you think they shouldn't bother releasing it outside of japan. Look to yourself before calling other people illogical.

 

[Father_Brain]

I will say that yes, there is basically no chance that the specific games on the big list of announcements we saw for the 3DS are also in development for PSP2. Japan is not going to move to a multiplat strategy for handhelds this generation.

You could be right, but what exactly is the basis for assuming this?

 

[Pureauthor]

That's a bold statement.

Let's look at the current HD console generation, which is more or less the only generation where a 'multiplat strategy' comprises the majority of the game library.

There are two primary reasons why it is a 'multiplat' generation:

A) Neither of the systems have achieved market dominance and are in fact largely equal. That means that if you want to sell to a bigger piece of the pie, you have to sell to both markets.

B) Development costs have exploded. Plain and simple, you need as many revenue streams as possible.

Neither of which is likely to be true for the next handheld generation.

 

[Mrbob]

I do think a good question asked is what exactly makes the PSP2 unique from the 3DS and the Ipod Touch.

I mean if it is just a more powerful PSP with two analog sticks and a touch screen I guess this is fine, however I don't believe this alone will do much to help sales in the west. I think it should have all the functionality I listed but Sony also needs a unique "WOW!" feature which cannot be replicated on either the iTouch or 3DS.

 

[gofreak]

I'm absolutely not going to say that there's no room for two handhelds to both have distinct, strong lineups (at least in Japan, the DS and PSP certainly did) but I will say that yes, there is basically no chance that the specific games on the big list of announcements we saw for the 3DS are also in development for PSP2. Japan is not going to move to a multiplat strategy for handhelds this generation.

Honestly, if people want to talk about PSP2 support, what makes sense to discuss is what we might see from publishers who supported both DS and PSP, what franchises aren't spoken for or have appeared on multiple platforms, what console series might make a jump to portability, etc.; taking about something like Metal Gear on PSP2 is faintly embarrassing at this point given the degree to which it's fact-free wishful thinking given the current situation on the ground.

I think saying 'there'll be a metal gear on the next playstation portable' is a pretty safe statement.

There are specific games or franchises on the list of 3DS titles that I'm sure will appear on PSP2.

In terms of multiplatform-ism, I think the larger Japanese pubs will exploit it when available. Capcom's already volunteered that they would 'have to' bring the Mobile MT Framework to any next-gen PSP. And what kind of games do you think they'll then bring to that platform and 3DS? Entirely mutually exclusive content? I doubt it.

 

[Graphics Horse]

There will always be Capcom ports, always.
The situation with the DS's capabilities made it complicated to port games between systems, but the chances are things will be much easier and cheaper this time around once you ignore 3D and the second screen.

And the PSP had more Metal Gear titles than any other system, ever, so I don't think it's outrageous to talk about that, though I wouldn't expect a Snake Eater port.

 

[jeremy1456]

I dunno how effective SCEA/SCEE's marketing will be, but you need to lay off the crack pipe if you think they shouldn't bother releasing it outside of japan. Look to yourself before calling other people illogical.

Because I made an assumption based on Sony's track record and past strategy, and called people out for making claims about games we know very little about (or in some cases virtually nothing) claiming that they won't use known features of the system.

Yeah dude.

 

[DonMigs85]

If they can implement PSP Go or PS3-level piracy protection on this thing then software could indeed do much better.

 

[Chris1964]

If they can implement PSP Go or PS3-level piracy protection on this thing then software could indeed do much better.

Here we go again with piracy excuse.
How much better? 1%? 10%? 100%? 1000%?

 

[Gravijah]

Here we go again with piracy excuse.
How much better? 1%? 10%? 100%? 1000%?

???% better!

 

[Pureauthor]

???% better!

???% is one more ? than ??%! Isn't that amazing?

 

[Luigiv]

I do think a good question asked is what exactly makes the PSP2 unique from the 3DS and the Ipod Touch.

I mean if it is just a more powerful PSP with two analog sticks and a touch screen I guess this is fine, but I don't think it will do much to help sales in the west. Sony needs a unique "WOW!" feature which cannot be replicated on either the iTouch or 3DS.

I said the same thing a few pages/weeks back (though admitted the 3DS price announcement has lessened my level of criticism on a "predictable" PSP2). Given some thought personally what I'd love to see Sony do is push the system as hybrid device that you can take with you on the go and then hook up to a TV to share media (or show of games) with others.

The one thing I don't like about the PSPgo is that whilst they added blutooth for Dualshock support they botched it by removing the ability to simultaneous plug in the power and the A/V out. With the PSP2 I'd either like to see the return of separate power and A/V out plugs or better yet a TV docking station. Add onto that an FWVGA screen, enough grunt to at the very least equal the 3DS at that resolution and an internal upscaler to do the big screen justice and you could have a pretty cool device on your hands. The only problem I can see is that if games use the touch screen (don't kid yourself, it'll definitely have one), Sony is going to have to figure out some way around it.

 

[webrunner]

I agree in the sense that in the last six years we've seen Sony's gaming division make at least two boneheaded decisions as thoroughly idiotic as carrying over the UMD to a second handheld generation would be, but not in the sense that it is remotely plausible if you extend even a modicum of competence to the team designing the PSP2. :lol

It seems to me that Sony has a single "Incompetence Team" that goes to different divisions and makes sure they don't succeed. They handled the early PSP times, then switched over to the PS3 in time for the announcement conference (notice the PSP started getting good stuff around this time while we were simultaneously bombarded by "599 us dollars" and "giant enemy crab"), then back to the PSP a few years later (PSP go vs PS3 Slim).

I think right now they're busy preventing Sony from properly advertising the Move, so PSP2 is safe for now.

 

[Binabik15]

IMO, having dual analogues would be a killer feature for the PSP2 in itself, especially with two shoulder inputs. Plenty of games that are gimped with only one analogue stick are perfectly fine to play (don´t let the pc master race hear that), Yeah, I prefer holding my portable with both hands over stylus input. Besides PS2 ports, suddenly "Bro" games aka FPS play just like their console brothers and maybe the hardcore kids will get one.

Have Kevin Butler call it a PSBrotable. And give me money for coming up with this slogan.

And the PSP had more Metal Gear titles than any other system, ever, so I don't think it's outrageous to talk about that, though I wouldn't expect a Snake Eater port.

A new MG Acid, puuuuuh-leeeeeeeze, Konami!

And a 1:1 remake of MGS1, as in 100% oldschool gameplay, just with non-wobbly 3d graphics! Should´ve done it for the PSP, now redeem yourself!

 

[Gravijah]

???% is one more ? than ??%! Isn't that amazing?

Yes, well, I was going to go with more ?s but they were stolen. I'm not entirely sure how many were stolen, all I know is, it's more than one.

 

[StealthGoblin]

I think Sony will need to buy up a couple of smaller studios to work exclusively on their handhelds.

Having Cambridge, San Diego and Bend Studio working on PSP games is a bit of a waste.

Ideally they need one or two studios in every region making games for the PSP that are unique and compelling for a handheld. With Nintendo you know you'll always get a Mario Kart, Pokemon etc.

Sony need to develop those IP's that will get people excited for the PSP. Relying too much on 3rd parties to bring home the moolah isn't too wise, especially when handhelds on the market are getting more powerul and developers might start doing multiplat games.

I would imagine that Cambridge, London, BigBig and Japan Studio (and possibly Bend) are working on PSP2 games at present.

Get a good 1st party line up.
Support the 3rd parties
Bring more 2nd parties on board.

Above all else, make sure the games they develop are suitable and compelling for the handheld market.

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

I think saying 'there'll be a metal gear on the next playstation portable' is a pretty safe statement.

There are specific games or franchises on the list of 3DS titles that I'm sure will appear on PSP2.

In terms of multiplatform-ism, I think the larger Japanese pubs will exploit it when available. Capcom's already volunteered that they would 'have to' bring the Mobile MT Framework to any next-gen PSP. And what kind of games do you think they'll then bring to that platform and 3DS? Entirely mutually exclusive content? I doubt it.

3rd party Capcom ports do not a handheld make.

 

[MassiveAttack]

3rd party Capcom ports do not a handheld make.

Devil May Cry PSP was a blast.

 

[Graphics Horse]

3rd party Capcom ports do not a handheld make.

Japan begs to differ. But you mean ports from the 3DS, so fair enough.

 

[Pureauthor]

3rd party Capcom ports do not a handheld make.

Something something monsters something something hunting them something something

 

[gofreak]

3rd party Capcom ports do not a handheld make.

Indeed not. But I'm not sure what that has to do with my point.

 

[webrunner]

Something something monsters something something hunting them something something

You mean Ape Escape? That's not Capcom.

 

[Chris1964]

You mean Ape Escape? That's not Capcom.

I'm not sure if you are serious or joking.

 

[AceBandage]

Something something monsters something something hunting them something something

Which will likely be on both handhelds this time around.
It'll be interesting to see how that effects things.

 

[webrunner]

I'm not sure if you are serious or joking.

I'd say about 50% of the things I say are joking.

Hope that helps.

 

[AranhaHunter]

Let's look at the current HD console generation, which is more or less the only generation where a 'multiplat strategy' comprises the majority of the game library.

There are two primary reasons why it is a 'multiplat' generation:

A) Neither of the systems have achieved market dominance and are in fact largely equal. That means that if you want to sell to a bigger piece of the pie, you have to sell to both markets.

B) Development costs have exploded. Plain and simple, you need as many revenue streams as possible.

Neither of which is likely to be true for the next handheld generation.

You don't think it's likely to be true that the next handheld generation's development costs will go up significantly? Plus IMHO userbase and market dominance is just one part of the equation, if that's all there was to it, the Wii would have gotten all the major IPs from 3rd parties exclusively.

I think Sony will need to buy up a couple of smaller studios to work exclusively on their handhelds.

Having Cambridge, San Diego and Bend Studio working on PSP games is a bit of a waste.

Ideally they need one or two studios in every region making games for the PSP that are unique and compelling for a handheld. With Nintendo you know you'll always get a Mario Kart, Pokemon etc.

Sony need to develop those IP's that will get people excited for the PSP. Relying too much on 3rd parties to bring home the moolah isn't too wise, especially when handhelds on the market are getting more powerul and developers might start doing multiplat games.

I would imagine that Cambridge, London, BigBig and Japan Studio (and possibly Bend) are working on PSP2 games at present.

Get a good 1st party line up.
Support the 3rd parties
Bring more 2nd parties on board.

Above all else, make sure the games they develop are suitable and compelling for the handheld market.

ReadAtDawn is the only that makes sense to be bought to work exclusively on PSP2 stuff.

 

[oneHeero]

I kinda wonder if they'll even release it outside of Japan.

Seems to me like it would be kinda a waste of their time.

17+ mil sold in the US and it would be a waste of their time? :lol

 

[Pureauthor]

17+ mil sold in the US and it would be a waste of their time? :lol

Software sales and current hardware sales say 'Huh whaaaaaa?'

 

[Gravijah]

Software sales and current hardware sales say 'Huh whaaaaaa?'

Hey, much worse shit has been released here. Much much much worse.

 

[Nirolak]

You know, with the way the GameCube is selling right now, is it worth Nintendo's time to bring the Wii out in North America? I'm not sure.

 

[Gravijah]

You know, with the way the GameCube is selling right now, is it worth Nintendo's time to bring the Wii out in North America? I'm not sure.

Hell, they released the N-Gage here! :lol

 

[Opus Angelorum]

So when will this be announced then, E3 2011? And will it be kept under wraps like the 3DS?

 

[MassiveAttack]

So when will this be announced then, E3 2011? And will it be kept under wraps like the 3DS?

Way before E3 2011. Announcement will likely be late this year.

 

[AceBandage]

So when will this be announced then, E3 2011? And will it be kept under wraps like the 3DS?

It already isn't under wraps.
We've been hearing about it for over a year now.
And yeah, if it comes out Holiday 2011, it'll be at E3.

 

[Opus Angelorum]

Announcement will likely be late this year.

Well if that's the case Sony have done well to control its existence.

We've been hearing about it for over a year now.

All we have is rumours and speculation, absolutely nothing even remotely concrete.

 

[StealthGoblin]

Way before E3 2011. Announcement will likely be late this year.

They could give it a GDC unveiling and stream their conference (if they have one) from there.

 

[Chris1964]

So when will this be announced then, E3 2011? And will it be kept under wraps like the 3DS?

Sony announces PSP2 ''any day now'' since pre-E3.

 

[gcubed]

Software sales and current hardware sales say 'Huh whaaaaaa?'

sure, its currently dead, but they still sold 17million until it died in the US.

 

[Jokeropia]

You know, with the way the GameCube is selling right now, is it worth Nintendo's time to bring the Wii out in North America? I'm not sure.

There's probably a reason for why they didn't call it the Gamecube2.

 

[Lonely1]

People say that the PsP2 needs 3D because if it doesn't, the perception might be that the 3DS has more advanced tech.

 

[Wazzim]

People say that the PsP2 needs 3D because if it doesn't, the perception might be that the 3DS has more advanced tech.

Which is, sadly, true.