Kutaragi Ken interview on PSP

[phed]

It does piss me off that they again are closing the platform off for independent developers. I don't want my mp3s to atrac, and often they are legal to (ie. my own music, or other unreleased artists). I have lots of movies that are (border) legal, that I would be happy to view on this (ie. conference movies etc). This is phenomen is more widespread in europe/us than in japan.

So, when they now, again, seem to be closing of the potential just to make the "content feeders" happy, it is kinda sad. It is only japan that has content feeders varied enough to make the consumers happy. When this goes on world market they can't expect every content provider to ship stuff specially tailored to this box. And if they expect to cover the r&d and production with income from the entertainment industry, they are fucked.

A comparison: European content market vs Japanese content market for mobile phones. Since japanese telcombiz is much more saturated into a few large companies (as opposed to two-three companies pr country in europe) it is much easier to create content deals that fits the consumer. IE: if the consumer downloads an app from this site, so-and-so much is billed to the user by the telco. Does this work in Europe? No. Why? Because the telco is busy fighting eachother. Last time I saw an attempt at such a deal, the user was required to fill out a 5-line form over wap (!), and in addition to the charges for the app itself, there was several charges for the each telco that the app was passed through. The consumers are ready, but the western content developers, and content feeders sucks bigtime.
Next up: It is easy for a japanese company to press their own UMDs because it is a small country. I doubt this will be the case for a small company in any other country that want to press up a limited amount of UMDs for eg. some shitty artexhibit.

OTOH, I think I remember that there would be no zoning, so imports would play. This is a step forward.

To repeat this for the "but this is a box for games"-crowd: Yes, but the potential for something even better is there.

I can't see why they aren't trying to learn some history concerning introducing new medias worldwide. Though, I am pretty confident that someone will allow indydevelopment on this in the same vein as ps2dev community has.

 

[MfA]

Without burners they can forget about it becoming the next walkman.

 

[Vince]

Why? Have you not heard about this word called, "friends"?

Yeah, the show sucks.

Furthermore, you just cannot compare an old GBA aimed for strictly portable gaming against one PDE, that is hyped as "Walkman 21st Century".

Why not? Just because one company is still pushing old and outdated technology isn't my problem.

I have no problem against PSP in terms of gaming. As i said, it shall do ok(at the least) for that aspect. But distributing mulitmedia stuffs....thats a hard sell....

Then don't use it. What part of extra integrated functionality don't you get? You buy a portable gaming machine and get all this stuff thrown in - yet you bitch.

"WE" as in you and....most probably "The Others"....

Yes, as in those of us who do drive, who do take the train/subway. Those of us who do fly often - You'll understand one day.

Will the tech junkies out number the normal user group? And more importantly, will the tech junkies, with all their know-how, going to "forgo" the standard alternatives and submit to a ROM propertiery format?

Once again, i say PSP will do alright as a gaming portable, but all other intended "Walkman 21st Century" stuffs are a hard sell. closed UMD(and no TV out if true) does not help to ease that hardness.

What a joke. What you just wrote is literally a joke. Time will demonstrate this.

SD memory Card surpassing Memory Stick for each of the first four months of 2003.

Ok, good for SD. But how does this change just how fallicious your comment was? In case you forgot, you said:

arent yayay enough to be consider a mainstream recordable media. Which of course it isnt even today.

How is MemoryStick not mainstream when it controlls ~1/3 the industry? Your comment was blatently wrong. End of Story.

Depends... since i already have a cheap CD and MP3 player today.

My gradfather had a Model T Ford as well. Believe it or not, he actually replaced it. Just as that replaced his horse and buggy.

People buy new products that have added utility and conviencence. Perhaps you don't yet understand this, but trust me on this one.

I guess you feel strongly against having an important/worthy option of playing your propertiery movies/cds media format on better external devices?

I feel strongly about being logical - something you are not. I have realistic expectations and center then based on the area it's targeted at. And, yet, you will be the first to bitch about how "Sony teh suxxx for hypez !!!" in a few months.

No i wouldn't bring them on the train. Of course i wouldn't bring a psp either. Have you ever taken a subway ? You don't want to be flashing 200$ it things in a new york sub way. It will be stolen quickly. I've seen a gameboy pocket stolen a few months ago.

I live outside of Chicago and use the L, which is arguably much worse than New Yorks (just ask Legion ). And I've never had a problem going between downtown and Hyde Park at 3am, which is perhaps the "worst part." Why wouldn't you bring it on?

 

[jvd]

Eh, MP3 player is a MP3 player. You can not play games on it.
If you'd rather take a $175 MP3 player over $200 PSP, that's fine with me.

I didn't know this thread is about 'should jvd buy a PSP'
At least I have discussed mostly in general level, leaving out my personal needs and whether I already own gadgets that do things PSP is supposed to do better and already.

PSP is first and foremost a gaming device.
GBA is nice, and has good games. But it is getting a bit old, technology wise.
Portable gaming is not everyone's cup of tea, and for such person a MP3 player and GB might be fine for years to come, and he/she should be allowed to be happy with them.
But many potential PSP buyers are ready to upgrade.

THen you should read my first post again and this time read the quote .

 

[chaphack]

Yeah, the show sucks.

No it does not!!!

Why not? Just because one company is still pushing old and outdated technology isn't my problem.

Yeah, and SNES sucks compared to the latest PC. Hell, even PS2 sucks compared to the mighty PC toady. Not only you can play the prettiest games on PC, but you can do so much more than just gaming. Lets be fair and do a more objective compariosn will ya?

Then don't use it. What part of extra integrated functionality don't you get? You buy a portable gaming machine and get all this stuff thrown in - yet you bitch.

The part whereby you can only playback propertiery media, only on PSP. Get it? Having extra functionality, extra limited functionality, is as good as having nought.

Ok guys, whos going buy an UMD edition of say, LOTR: ROTK? Will you get it only on UMD or DVD or both?

Yes, as in those of us who do drive, who do take the train/subway. Those of us who do fly often - You'll understand one day
What a joke. What you just wrote is literally a joke. Time will demonstrate this.

Alright, we shall let Father Time show us the glory!! Its for the best.

Just a question, when you say PS2 level of domination , what does it really mean? Having whipped Nintendo for ~70% marketshare(possibly more since there are 2 handheld competitors so far)? Sales of ~50-60m units in ~3 years? Both?

I will take your words for that. While you can take mine that, PSP = ok success(at the least) for games; PSP = no-kay success(cept maybe the hardcore techgeeks and SoFannies will eat them up) for UMD media(non gaming) distribution. Fair?

How is MemoryStick not mainstream when it controlls ~1/3 the industry? Your comment was blatently wrong. End of Story.

Its not wrong. 1/3 out of how large a population? CDs are mainstream, MS are not. Simple as that.

People buy new products that have added utility and conviencence. Perhaps you don't yet understand this, but trust me on this one.

Yes, BUT firstly, do you understand the battery + weight of a PSP? Portable all-in-one convenience suddenly becomes a hassle if your multifunction device is heavy as neverb4 and dies out after a run of your faved UMD movie.

feel strongly about being logical - something you are not.

Its a logical expectation for one to expect connectivity to external devices.

I have realistic expectations and center then based on the area it's targeted at

And so you bitched and moaned about the GBA....

And, yet, you will be the first to bitch about how "Sony teh suxxx for hypez !!!" in a few months.

Thats a blatant unwarrant incorrect accusation of poor chappers. I suggest you take that back.

 

[rabidrabbit]

Eh, MP3 player is a MP3 player. You can not play games on it.
If you'd rather take a $175 MP3 player over $200 PSP, that's fine with me.

I didn't know this thread is about 'should jvd buy a PSP'
At least I have discussed mostly in general level, leaving out my personal needs and whether I already own gadgets that do things PSP is supposed to do better and already.

PSP is first and foremost a gaming device.
GBA is nice, and has good games. But it is getting a bit old, technology wise.
Portable gaming is not everyone's cup of tea, and for such person a MP3 player and GB might be fine for years to come, and he/she should be allowed to be happy with them.
But many potential PSP buyers are ready to upgrade.

THen you should read my first post again and this time read the quote .

Ok, I'm sorry.

 

[Vince]

No it does not!!!

Yes it does. Lisa Kudrow is... ever see The Devil's Advocate? Just not as hot.

Yeah, and SNES sucks compared to the latest PC. Hell, even PS2 sucks compared to the mighty PC toady. Not only you can play the prettiest games on PC, but you can do so much more than just gaming. Lets be fair and do a more objective compariosn will ya?

Chap, what I said was objective. You just don't think. Let's walk threw this:

• When PS2 launched in 2000, it was definatly comperable or greater than an off the shelf PC.
• When the GBA:SP launched in 2003, it was an outdated POS that gets destroyed buy the nearest competition (eg. PDAs).

Granted, in 3 years the PS2 has aged and been outdated in most respects - but the GBA:SP was outdated before it launched.

The part whereby you can only playback propertiery media, only on PSP. Get it? Having extra functionality, extra limited functionality, is as good as having nought.

This is so wrong. No functionality is not being able to play a movie or music. PSP has functionality and damn good functionality at that. It's in no way limited as a whole system. You can use PSP just like a DVD/Cart/et al and have the ability to play your own music with 802.11 and a MemoryStick.

How is that limited? Limited only in that you have no concept of product placement and create your own foolish hype that allows you to bash a product before it's even released.

Ok guys, whos going buy an UMD edition of say, LOTR: ROTK? Will you get it only on UMD or DVD or both?

If you travel at all (which you obviously have no concept of at this point in your young life) then you'd see atleast one reason to. Buy it on both, what's the big deal?

How many people have MP3's on their PC, seperate copies in a MP3 player, CD's in their Cars, another CD in their shelf system, and maybe even a DVD? As if reduncency is a new concept...

PSP = no-kay success(cept maybe the hardcore techgeeks and SoFannies will eat them up) for UMD media(non gaming) distribution. Fair?

Techgeeks and SoFannies. What level are we thinking on again, I'm confused.

Its not wrong. 1/3 out of how large a population? CDs are mainstream, MS are not. Simple as that.

1/3rd of any sized population is significant in terms of marketshare. You are as wrong as can be - 1/3rd of a 5-6way race in an emerging market is MASSIVE! What happened to that objectivity you talked of earlier?

Yes, BUT firstly, do you understand the battery + weight of a PSP? Portable all-in-one convenience suddenly becomes a hassle if your multifunction device is heavy as neverb4 and dies out after a run of your faved UMD movie.

Wow. So, now we're going to fight about the weight and battery of this? Is there an end to your opposition of a Sony product? How many PDA users (think WindowsCE or whatever it is users) complain about battery over functionality?



So, basically you want a portable perpetual motion machine that's the size of a PDA, yet somehow allows for unrestricted recording of a DVD standard, outputs to a stationary TV (ridiculous in itself), priced under $100 and isn't manufactured by Sony. Good times. Why do I even argue against you?

 

[Vince]

Lets recap.

Aggregate PSP costs:

• $P = PSP and gaming functionality. // [$100<P<$250]
  
• PSP + $50 (128mb MS) = Gaming functionality + MP3/ATRAC3 + Home Movies
  
• PSP + $G (GPS) = Gaming functionality + GPS/Direction finding.
  
• PSP + $M (Media) = Gaming functionality + studio Movies/Music

Total Hardware: $150-$300 [+G]*


Aggregate Comparative costs:

• $P = PSP and gaming functionality. // [$100<P<$250]
  
• S3 Rio 128mb = $150
  
• Portable DVD player = $500
  
• Basic GPS receiver = $100

Total Hardware: $850-$1000

• Backpack to carry them all and batteries in = $15

Appendix:

*I left G as a variable as I don't know the integrated GPS costs as Sony recently presented the first single chip GPS solution as seen here:

http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20030707S0043
http://www.vlsisymposium.org/circuits/cir_pdf/C10p4.pdf

I rounded down the following to the nearest fifty/hundred as the internet often allows for bargains and I have quite a large differential in price so I don't give a crap:

Backpack: http://www.firstauction.com/shop/asinsearch_B00005B8HN.html

Rio: http://www.calibex.com/S3_RIO_128MB_USB~55769482z3znz300460zz1z300460zzcalibex1z2-htm

GPS: http://www.thegpsstore.net/detail_CB500107.asp

DVD Player: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...72858?v=glance&s=electronics&n=172521

 

[Vince]

Shit, for the difference in price - I'll buy PSP media, a few extra MemorySticks and that kick'in backpack.

And that doesn't even touch the non-tangible benefits that occur due to sheer convienence.

 

[chaphack]

Firstly, brother Vince, what is your fetish about me hating Sony die products....Its about the closed UMD, not PSP as a whole, UMD. Yooooou Ammmmm Deeeee.

Chap, what I said was objective. You just don't think. Let's walk threw this:


When PS2 launched in 2000, it was definatly comperable or greater than an off the shelf PC.

When the GBA:SP launched in 2003, it was an outdated POS that gets destroyed buy the nearest competition (eg. PDAs).

Granted, in 3 years the PS2 has aged and been outdated in most respects - but the GBA:SP was outdated before it launched.

You dont me drift. ... How can you possibly compare GBA to PSP...They are aimed at different markets(agreeable by both Sony + Nintendo). Different generation of products, different generation of technology, different price group, different purposes... :?

And you jolly well know GBA SP is just a repackaged GBA. If you play that game, i can always tie up Japan NA + HDD + ProgScan PS2(launched 2003) with the latest PCs..and... of course PC would whooopie that "new" PS2 ass anyday anyplace...

If you want to take up PSP against the competion, at least wait for Nintendo or MS or someotherguys' next handheld. Whether they are going to be gaming oriented or another PDE type of devices. That be fairer comparison.

Drop your GBA !!die POS crap!! PSP arguement, it just doesnt stand well.
Think Vince, Think!

How is that limited? Limited only in that you have no concept of product placement and create your own foolish hype that allows you to bash a product before it's even released.

Youuuu Ammmmm Deeeee.
What foolish hype....i am sure many would agree that UMD is going to be a hard sell. Strange that you seem to be the only one here going gaga over SCE plans for UMD media distribution...

How many people have MP3's on their PC, seperate copies in a MP3 player, CD's in their Cars, another CD in their shelf system, and maybe even a DVD?

So you are pretty confident that PSP is going to magically tie up all the loose ends of entertainment formats? We wil see, okay? We will see...

Techgeeks and SoFannies. What level are we thinking on again, I'm confused.

Multimedia entertainment stuffs on UMD are not going to make it well for PSP. Games most probably yes, others ...hmm hmmm.

You are as wrong as can be - 1/3rd of a 5-6way race in an emerging market is MASSIVE! What happened to that objectivity you talked of earlier?

Lets see, in terms of distributing entertainment content, disc media >>> MS media. Simple enough?

Wow. So, now we're going to fight about the weight and battery of this?

And why is that wrong?

Portable != heavy != portable
Battery != multiformat playback != Battery

What good be a all-in-one portable device if the battery goes flat after just a movie(a propertiery one to boot!), all your other stuffs arent going to play, until you lug home with it, for a recharge...

Furthermore, looking at the parts history of SCE's stuffs, i am tad wary of the lens quality and other parts... Sometimes a standalone, well-built product might just be enough.

Is there an end to your opposition of a Sony product?

Jeebuzzzz....thats just so lame of you...

So, basically you want a portable perpetual motion machine that's the size of a PDA, yet somehow allows for unrestricted recording of a DVD standard, outputs to a stationary TV (ridiculous in itself), priced under $100 and isn't manufactured by Sony.

Nope.

It be ideal that for a $199 product, it can play games/music/movies/internet, with a cheap compatible media, that you can rewrite and playback on current disc player. Of course it has to be light enough and battery tuff enough. And as with many portable display devices, the option to connect out to external hardware for more bang!

Good times. Why do I even argue against you?

I wonder the same of you.
Apparently your biased Chappers hate die Sony evil no likie all thinking has gotten the better of you. Clouded your logic me say?

 

[cybamerc]

Vince:

> When the GBA:SP launched in 2003, it was an outdated POS that gets
> destroyed buy the nearest competition (eg. PDAs).

Is that the best you can do? Outperformed by hardware that is at the very least three times as expensive? Don't they teach you how to troll properly at the Sony Fan Club?

> but the GBA:SP was outdated before it launched

It's a repackaged GBA. Not unlike the countless number of PS2s that have been released.

> How is that limited?

It's limited because music and movie playback are little more than gimmicky features due to the size of the unit (it will be considerably larger than a dedicated music player) and choice of media (noone's gonna buy prerecorded UMDs).

> Buy it on both, what's the big deal?

People won't do that.

> As if reduncency is a new concept...

It's not about redundancy. It's about buying the same product twice. MP3s in comparison can be made at no additional cost.

> How many PDA users (think WindowsCE or whatever it is users)
> complain about battery over functionality?

PDAs are aimed at a considerably different market (business people and nerds). Most of them are carried in briefcases. A portable music player should fit in a pocket.

 

[Vince]

Is that the best you can do?

Bummer. First Lauren, now you....

Outperformed by hardware that is at the very least three times as expensive? Don't they teach you how to troll properly at the Sony Fan Club?

• Look at what IMGtech had avaliable, ort any of ther other liecensible cores. GBA is just a sadely outdated machine.
• Expense? Consoles generally loose money at first, not make insane profits due to the inclusion of inferior technology. Why should portables be any different.

To expand upon the last part, when PSP launches it will be comperable at the least to the PDA competition in graphical preformance. Can you say the same about GBA?

EDIT: Hell, I remember even GigaPixel/3dfx's licensable cores that were derivatives of their region based, deferred rendering architecture that would rock GBA back in 1999/2000.

It's a repackaged GBA. Not unlike the countless number of PS2s that have been released.

Again, look at the GBA.

It's limited because music and movie playback are little more than gimmicky features due to the size of the unit (it will be considerably larger than a dedicated music player) and choice of media (noone's gonna buy prerecorded UMDs).

What? How is it a "gimicky feature due to the size of the unit"? Do you know the PSP's size? Can you tell us? Preferably in metric maybe?

This absolute knowledge on the PSP's size and design is just way, way beyond my comprehension my friend. I'm obviously not upto the task - especially with Miss Cleo in Jail. And who'd rely on something like the precedence set by other Sony products (which are definatly designed with elegence, utility, and maturity in mind)... that would be, like, logical...

Again, more of these absolutes... "nonones gonna buy prerecorded UMDs." They taught me at the Sony Fan Club (after the lecture on identifying superior bullshitters) that the use of absolutes can be very bad indeed.

And how are Music and Movies gimmicky? They don't seem so gimicky to all those portable MP3/DVD makers. Hell, doesn't Russ (?) get payed doing that?

I fail to see how not being able to record just dooms this to fail when there is a MemoryStick slot right there. If anything, being a static format is an enticement for Hollywood and the Record Industry.

It's not about redundancy. It's about buying the same product twice.

re·dun·dant ( P ) Pronunciation Key (r-dndnt) -
Exceeding what is necessary or natural; superfluous


It is about redundency, evidently you just don't do things for convinence.

PDAs are aimed at a considerably different market (business people and nerds). Most of them are carried in briefcases. A portable music player should fit in a pocket.

You and Chap need a reality check as to the pervasive nature of electronics. "Nerds"? Stop self-reflecting and find me the person who doesn't have an intimate connection to their cell phone, custom ringer and games.

What you'll find is that people in general are hungry for this type of electronic device, and this is only the beginning.

And can't you use quotes like everyone else?

 

[Fafalada]

If you cant play PSP on an external display devices....that be not nice..

The thing has 3 separate I/O ports that we know of, and afaik all are capable of sustaining the bandwith required for outputting PSP resolution and more.
Even if there will be no dedicated video out (I certainly don't see why it'd absolutely have to be analog though) and Sony doesn't endorse it I have no doubt you will see 3rd party adapters for this in no time (unless PSP completely flops that is).
If GBA which as you say is "aimed at completely different market" got TVTuners, I don't see why simpler TVOut circuit would be a problem for supposed portable media player of 21st century

 

[cybamerc]

Vince:

> Look at what IMGtech had avaliable, ort any of ther other liecensible cores.

I don't question that there were more sophisticated solutions available even back in 2001 but how many of them were able to compare with the GBA chipset on things such as power consumption and price.

Also just putting a high end gfx chip in there to satisfy a bunch of dweebs who get off on paper specs doesn't do much good. With a higher performance gfx part comes the need for a more powerful cpu and larger screen.

All things considered the GBA design was perfect for its time. Could Nintendo have priced it cheaper? Probably. But why should they? People buy it anyway. Sony also has the most expensive console on the market despite it being a year older than the competition.

> Why should portables be any different.

For one because profit margins and tie ratios are lower (which is why I'm genuinely puzzled by Sony's interest in the portable market. They don't run as tight an operation as Nintendo and sell far less software). And who made it a rule that you have to lose money on the hardware anyway?

> To expand upon the last part, when PSP launches it will be comperable
> at the least to the PDA competition in graphical preformance.

It may also be comparable in price.

> Hell, I remember even GigaPixel/3dfx's licensable cores

That's fine and all but Nintendo makes business in the real world and make-believe products don't pay the bills.

> Again, look at the GBA.

Again, while I'm sure more sophisticated technology was available it wasn't feasible for that kind of product. I find it amusing how you have nothing but complaints about what is essentially a very balanced piece of hardware yet have no complaints about Sony's decision to go with a mid-90ies feature set for the PS2 rasterizer - a piece of hardware that could actually benifit from contemporary technology.

> Do you know the PSP's size?

Obviously not but based on the available information we know for a fact that the unit will be considerably larger than modern music players - that is unless Sony has invented a screen technology that is magically reduced in size when not used for games or movies.

> They taught me at the Sony Fan Club ... that the use of absolutes can
> be very bad indeed.

Haha... yes, that's not you at all.

> And how are Music and Movies gimmicky?

You are not that dense... don't act like a dolt.

> If anything, being a static format is an enticement for Hollywood and
> the Record Industry.

Doesn't make the format any less unattractive from a consumer perspective.

> "Nerds"?

Indeed. Cool kids wouldn't be caught dead with a PDA and casuals just don't give a damn.

> Stop self-reflecting and find me the person who doesn't have an
> intimate connection to their cell phone, custom ringer and games.

There's a hell of difference between a cell phone and an electronic calender that can be used to keep check of the next chess or book club meeting. Especially since cell phones are practically given away for free to anyone willing to sign up for a subscribtion.

> What you'll find is that people in general are hungry for this type of
> electronic device

I never said the PSP wouldn't sell. Content won't be the big draw however.

> And can't you use quotes like everyone else?

Of course I can but this way seems to annoy you more.

 

[MfA]

How many people have MP3's on their PC, seperate copies in a MP3 player, CD's in their Cars, another CD in their shelf system, and maybe even a DVD? As if reduncency is a new concept...

How many people would have that if they had to pay full price for each individual copy?

 

[Panajev2001a]

How many people would have that if they had to pay full price for each individual copy?

Who said that they will have to ?

You are assuming that UMD movies and UMD music albums will cost the same or very close to what DVDs and Music CDs cost.

 

[notAFanB]

Who said that they will have to ?

You are assuming that UMD movies and UMD music albums will cost the same or very close to what DVDs and Music CDs cost.

they don't, but the idea of repeatedly paying for the same product (sans 'extras' or whatnot) doesn't immediately appeal to me.

it might work if portable movies were a really big draw (kinda like how VHS-->DVD saw a jump in IQ) and/or they really are minimal cost.

 

[Panajev2001a]

They might very well have extras and come for a relatively small fee along your new DVD purchases or you might buy them in sort of vending machines in shops or around your town ( the small and compact size of the UMD allows interesting distribution scenarios ).

Widescreen, no borders, 7.1 Dolby Digital sound: it does "sound" cool ( no pun intended )

 

[archie4oz]

For one because profit margins and tie ratios are lower (which is why I'm genuinely puzzled by Sony's interest in the portable market. They don't run as tight an operation as Nintendo and sell far less software). And who made it a rule that you have to lose money on the hardware anyway?

You're joking right? What planet have you been on? Sony's interest in a portable device? Gee they've only been smarting over the Game Boy for more than a decade...

As far as software, no Sony sells more "software" than Nintendo does (unless you are just counting games). As far as tighter ship goes, Nintendo doesn't cover nearly the number of market sectors, thus really isn't comparable in that regard...

 

[notAFanB]

They might very well have extras and come for a relatively small fee along your new DVD purchases

that's not what I meant by extras but yes the bundle theme could work.