Apparantly the PSP2 exists.

Is jeff_rigby a markov chain text generator or what?

 

A real portable console, that can be connected to tv display, and output 720p would be really interesting. Maybe the screen itself in the console it's 720p, 4 - 4.5 inch. Still, in less than 2 years they will be easily reach by smartphone in both graphics and features set.
This mobile generation topped to 200 milions console sold. I can't see that happening with the next one.. probably not even half of it!

 

It only seems to appear random.

The CE industry has always been evolving and features seen in other products like micro DLP projectors and high output LED for LCD projection which have been on scene for 2 years now will be seen in other products.

The Tegra 2 and new Rockchip RK29XXX appear to be setting a standard for portable platforms. 1080P HDMI output, VP8, H.264 and Flash hardware support are I would guess standards. IF you compare the Tegra 2 and Rockchip RK29 the features in common are probably going to be in the PSP2.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/tegra-2.html



Shifty and Patsu have been speculating on how the PSP2 could differentiate it'self to generate interest and Sales. These are features that they should have as a minimum. Wireless HDMI is also something I expect in some form. Claims of wireless HDMI 1080P have been made for other products but I expect HDCP is excluded on many of them.

http://armdevices.net/2011/01/14/arm-powered-google-tv-confirmed/

Android is now supported by Google on both Intel-Atom and ARM processors. The Nvidia Tegra 2 and Rockchip above are Arm based and feature Android 2.3 support in multiple platforms.

 

I'm not sure you need to sacrifice much to accomodate these kinds of games. I agree they can't just target the core gamer, but both Nintendo and Sony need to show that they're actually providing something beyond the smartphone/tablet experience. Getting the casual games is necessary but it's not something that can sustain them.

With the pace of progress in smartphones and tablets it would seem unlikely that any portable gaming device would be able to hold the performance crown for long. But I think there's nothing wrong with getting a head start. There are games that benefit from it yet don't fall into the "immersive/deep" category. Think sports, racing, fighting, fast-paced shooters (space, dual-stick). 2D games typically don't need a lot of processing power but they could benefit from a large high-res screen.

It sure is a nice addition but I can't really see the majority of people going for the retro experience, either.

 

The game I played the most on my iphone was civilization revolution and puzzle quest. I played the first psp god of war, and it was good. I'm not going to play the other since it's unlikely to impress me since I've played gow3 since then.

I'd love a game like heavy rain with the touchscreen controls in the back though.

 

-Oled Screen (Not touch screen confirmed yet)
-3G (no calls)

Nikkei

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/01/24/psp2_details/

 

OLED makes me very happy I was hoping that they'd eventually make a psp revision with one.

 

There's no reason one portable can't rule them all so to speak. The alternative ecosystem on iPhone is a result of app store pricing, not to mention the vastly reduced budgets on iPhone games, and simplified control schemes. Developers have to be creative about delivering a satisfying gameplay mechanic without all the bells and whistles. As a result iOS games tend to feel more pure or arcade-like. Assuming the PSP2 offers a touch screen, there's no reason it can't cater to both. Plus, it's not like these games aren't being made for PSN or XBL.

The biggest question in my mind is will casual gamers buy a dedicated gaming device at all? They all love gaming on their phones and tablets, but I doubt any of them would dare buy one exclusively for that. I still think the core gaming audience is the right bet for Sony and Nintendo. To be honest that feeling of portables getting low rent versions of console titles can be annoying, but I think dual analog sticks on the PSP2 would at least remove the control disparity; which I think is 90% of the problem. I would actually love a portable version of Uncharted so long as it plays like Uncharted. Also, selling a console that allows for portable online multiplayer in a game like Uncharted or Gears of War to me is like selling crack to gamers. You'll soon wonder how you made it through the day without it.

 

Given that you need a expensive phone to play decent games on you are forgetting a very very large part of the market. How many people under 18 do you know that can afford 500+ euro's on a 2 year contract for a smartphone? Or what about all the people who can pay for it, but don't want to as they don't have the need for such a phone? And that is without menioning a lot of other factors that we've been over multiple times already.

 

Most people work under the assumption that the iPod Touch covers that demographic, but you are right at least that any advantages here are then lost against the PSP, as you need a separate device. The only plus now (that also holds in our household) is that you buy once on your PC with iTunes, and then can play it on all iPhones, iPods and iPads in the household (we have two iPhones, one iPod - though as it is a 3G you can start to see that it can't do everything quite so well anymore).

I would definitely love a modern PSP though. There are few portable devices that I have used as much as the PSP and it is still being used a lot now for video playback and an occasional game. If the PSP2 has an OLED screen sized similar or even bigger than the original PSP, has two analog sticks and a touch thingy, I think I may already sold. But we'll see! There are a bunch of small things that could hold it back - for instance, I wouldn't be happy with a crap browser if it has 3G.

 

Hopefully whatever they end up going with as far as a browser is concerned can compare with the decent experience you get with a high end smartphone. All I'm really expecting.

 

There's a good chance Sony hired Opera dev team to make a browser for PSP2 considering that Sony Bravias and Blu-rays now uses Opera web broswer.

 

http://forum.beyond3d.com/showthread.php?t=58613&page=19

The same Broadcom webkit based SOC used in LG TVs to support a webkit browser is being used in Sony TVs to support an Opera browser. Just as above with Android I believe an Opera browser version is using webkit. I'd guess Opera has put a front end on webkit so the look and feel is Opera but will work on Webkit based platforms. In the case of Android they ported the front end to use Android just as the front end for the Android webkit browser uses a Chrome front end.

WEBKIT is compiled to native language on all platforms, the front end of the browser only on an Android platform is based on Android be it Chrome or Opera. This needs to be confirmed.

The benefit for hardware developers? Opera has adopted Open standards for HbbTV in their interface and widgets. They are working with EU countries to support new open TV/IPTV standards. This is apparently why Sony chose Opera for their TVs and BLu-ray players.

Opera on the PS3 using the webkit port in progress is a possible now.

And yes, Opera could work on the PSP2, it will probably have a OpenGL ES 2.0 or OpenCL compatible GPU and webkit on the PSP2 could be used for WebGL games.

http://dvice.com/archives/2011/01/psp2-has-shrunk.php

If a Cell in the PSP2, the PS3 and PSP2 could share a common OS, Webkit and PD Open source library. I expect Webkit is being ported to the PS3 first and then to the PSP2.

 

Yes, but no guarantee - it is trivial to put a webkit browser on an Android based platform, but it is only trivial to put Android on a platform that has proper support for it. Perhaps if the PSP2 pairs an ARM type chip that is supported by Android with that 4 SPE core thing yes, but what if it has a PPE/SPE setup similar to PS3? That would be tricky.

Pretty interested in other words to hear about what the device will be like.

 

From what I understand the javascript JIT engine is the hardest part of Webkit to port to a Cell and that has been done for the PS3 so it should also work for the PSP2. The Sony SNAP developer program has a list of open source libraries that were to be used to write third party apps for all Sony products. Those libraries should also be in the PSP2 and PS3.

As to the PSP2 getting Android, we don't know. Skype was included with the Opera browser on Sony TV and Blu-ray.

 

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/01/25/ps_meeting_time/

 

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-01-13-psp2-as-powerful-as-ps3-report

 

I'm more happy that the OLED screen is also a larger touch screen according to Andriasang. Not sure if people can tell the PSP2 OLED screen apart from other hi-quality cellphone screens though.

Built-in 3G is interesting. I guess we'll have to see how much the subscription costs and whether it includes content subscription (i.e., Music Unlimited and Qriocity movies). And whether there is any hardware subsidy.

 

These reports can't do PSP2 any favours. PSP2 will not and cannot be as powerful as PS3. They may be talking in relative terms, but at best gamers who are following will shrug their shoulders and appreciate that, but more likely plenty of people will say Sony are lying because PSP2 isn't as powerful as PS3. It'd be much better if the rumours were just "stonkingly powerful" and then there couldn't be an impossible measure to fail to reach.*

*Assuming no scalable hardware that only runs PS3 power when plugged into some crazy base unit with integrated cooling system.

 

That's what I'm guessing if all these CEO comments are taken literally.