PSP 2 officially revealed

[CaptJimboJones]

In reality it probably wont be able to match the PS3but it should look close enough on the small screen. The specs looks wonderful and this SHOULD be a killer device. However the PSP should have been a killer device and ended up being a huge disappointment, at least for me. The games just didn't have that pick up and go quality that I find necessary for portable gaming, not to mention the PS Network store still seems stuck in 2006 to me. I should be able to hookup to any wifi spot and start downloading movies, trailers , music and games in only a few second. I want this device for the hardware but I have a strong feeling 3DS v PSP2 is going to turn out exactly like DS v PSP.

As for price I'll put my wager on at minimum 299, but very likely 399.

I thought the PSP was pretty astonishing for its time, in terms of what it could do graphically - it really did feel like a full console that you could take with you. But my chief problem with it was the screen - I could really only see it well enough to play indoors, and even inside it's only at its best in a dim room. Which makes no sense at all for a portable device.

I realize the PSP 3000 may have improved it (I have a PSP 2000, collecting dust at the moment) but that screen brightness was a major negative for me.

 

[firehawk12]

That's a problem with all LCD screens though. DS was like that and I'm sure early iPhones were like that.

 

[Magellan]

In reality it probably wont be able to match the PS3but it should look close enough on the small screen. The specs looks wonderful and this SHOULD be a killer device. However the PSP should have been a killer device and ended up being a huge disappointment, at least for me. The games just didn't have that pick up and go quality that I find necessary for portable gaming, not to mention the PS Network store still seems stuck in 2006 to me. I should be able to hookup to any wifi spot and start downloading movies, trailers , music and games in only a few second. I want this device for the hardware but I have a strong feeling 3DS v PSP2 is going to turn out exactly like DS v PSP.

As for price I'll put my wager on at minimum 299, but very likely 399.

I thought the PSP was pretty astonishing for its time, in terms of what it could do graphically - it really did feel like a full console that you could take with you. But my chief problem with it was the screen - I could really only see it well enough to play indoors, and even inside it's only at its best in a dim room. Which makes no sense at all for a portable device.

I realize the PSP 3000 may have improved it (I have a PSP 2000, collecting dust at the moment) but that screen brightness was a major negative for me.

Never had that much of an issue with the brightness, no more than any other LCD. My biggest gripe with the screen is how friggin glossy it is. I try to play a game and all I can see is my reflection.

 

[Sparky]

If it really is supposed to be as powerful as a PS3, I don't see why it can't support PS2 downloads.


It's just the one thing that everyone I know really wanted. It still remains the most successful console to date, and I think Sony is making a big mistake in not allowing it.

Even the PS3 needed the PS2 chipset (emotion engine cpu and graphics synthesizer gpu) included on the motherboard to include PS2 backwards compatibility. Once they eliminated the emotion engine CPU and relied on software emulation for that cpu chipset the compatibility of PS2 software dropped dramatically.

http://www.hardcoreware.net/playstation-3-80gbs-ps2-backwards-compatibility-sucks/

Of course they eventually dropped PS2 compatibility completely to cut costs, because they were losing money hand over fist on each console sold.

The PS2 was a difficult system to program for, because it was so complex. Early games lacked basic features such as anti-aliasing. The more complex the architecture of the system, the harder it is to emulate. The Sega Saturn still has this problem in emulation. Sometimes raw power is simply not enough.


The NGP hardware could have been designed with PS2 compatibility in mind though. Sony claims that it is on par with the PS3 in terms of raw power. However it is a completely different architecture. Maybe it will be better suited for PS2 emulation. Of course Sony is well known for completely exaggerating the power of their hardware.

 

[The Great Meech]

I'm with the guys of Penny Arcade in saying that I can't see this coming in under $20,000,000 MRSP. Especially because Sony is sure to bundle it with your choice of an original Jackson Pollack or an or an original Mark Rothko.

Seriously, when Sony steps up, says that they have a machine that will melt your brain with atomic fire due to its awesomeness and then doesn't tell you the price, we are in for some serious pain.

 

[FordSVT]

The PS2 was a difficult system to program for, because it was so complex. Early games lacked basic features such as anti-aliasing. The more complex the architecture of the system, the harder it is to emulate. The Sega Saturn still has this problem in emulation. Sometimes raw power is simply not enough.

The general rule of thumb in the emulation community is that it takes approximately 100 times the computing power of the original computer in order to emulate it perfectly through software, and that's made even worse when you're trying to emulate and sync multi-chip processors in a single core like those found in the PS2. Even with the advent of multiple-core PC CPUs, syncing those chips is exceedingly difficult.

 

[CorporalClegg]

^
Yet it still comes down to tweaking. Look at the PCSX2, it can run games that it couldn't run at all a few years ago on lesser hardware.

If a bunch of hobbyists can figure it out, one would hope Sony can.

 

[Magellan]

^
Yet it still comes down to tweaking. Look at the PCSX2, it can run games that it couldn't run at all a few years ago on lesser hardware.

If a bunch of hobbyists can figure it out, one would hope Sony can.

Sadly hobbyists seem to usually do better at emulation. Sony can't get decent emulation for the PS2 on the PS3, hence the lack of backwards compatibility. Also see Sega's Genesis Collection and it's messed up emulated sound. I actually really doubt Sony will emulate PS2 games. The PS2 architecture was too funky. PS2 games on the PSP2 will likely be ported.

 

[CommodoreKong]

I've never been much of a Sony person but I'm not impressed by the NGP. I'm sure the graphics will look amazing for a handheld, but I don't need amazing graphics on a handheld, I never owned a PSP and was happy with the graphics on the DS. 3DS graphics look good enough for me.

The 5 hour battery life, $250 price point on the 3DS hardware, and $40 price point on 3DS software is bad enough that I'm going to wait for a revision. I would imagine the NGP will cost $350-400 minimum, have an even lower battery life then the 3DS and games will cost even more.


Of course the most important selling point is software.
I also don't really care for any of Sony's first party franchises (I doubt I would buy any of the announced games on the first page) and love Nintendo's franchises, but that's of course something that's 100% personal preference.


I recently bought a DSi XL and will be using that to hold me over until a 3DS hardware revision. I have a ton of DS games I need to catch up on.