For the gamers, yesterday was an interesting day. The new Sony PSP Go, a model that's supposed to be launched on the upcoming E3, was leaked on the net, including clear press release pictures and a video feature that confirms of its existence, but was then later taken out. Whether this was intentional, its anyone's guess but the hype has been started nevertheless.
Nope, that's not the PSP Go. This is my current PSP, the slim PSP-2000, with custom wallpaper designed by me :D
I was late into the PSP (Playstation Portable) scene as I scored an affordable pre-loved PSP last year. I do own the Nintendo DS Lite (NDSL) for quite a while and I just thought of the PSP being a portable PS2 and lacking pick-up-and-play games since I don't want to cramp my hands playing a game too long on a handheld. Well, after having it on my hands, a comparison between PSP and NDSL is like comparing apples and oranges, they're just that different. PSP has great 3D graphics and superb video playback, while NDS has tons of pick-up-and-play games and innovative stylus controls. I love both of them.
And that's why, I'm quite interested with what Sony has to offer with the new PSP Go. The current PSP uses UMD, a proprietary format that is a cross between a mini DVD and a game cartridge. It has a 4.3 inch LCD screen with a resolution of 480 x 272 which plays games and movies beautifully. It has an expansion slot for a Memory Stick Duo for storing your movies or music. I have an 8GB and 4GB card myself. Though there are games that are hard to stop playing, I found myself viewing videos on it more.
Ok enough of that, so here's what the new PSP Go is the first one to look radically different from the other PSPs. The controls are now on a panel under the screen, so you'll have to slide it out from behind the screen. The screen is now 3.8 inch instead of 4.3 inch. What this means is that its shorter than the previous PSP. It now doesn't have a UMD drive, and so its much slimmer in nature. It reminds me of a slider phone now.
Now, this IS the PSP Go. The control panel is a slider.
Yes, it doesn't have a UMD drive, and that's a huge change from the original PSP, since the UMD was basically created FOR the PSP. Instead, it comes with 16GB of internal flash memory, and it has an expansion slot for Memory Stick Micro. The other big thing is Bluetooth support which works well with your Bluetooth headsets. I guess you can use the Bluetooth headsets for playing games and chatting online.
Here's what it looks like when its shut close. And here's the perfect way of showing it off to your friends when you do have it.
Just like the current PSP model, the PSP-3000, it has excellent connectivity with the Playstation 3 (PS3) if you do own one. The coolest thing about this is that you can store your videos in the PS3 and you can play it anywhere on the PSP Go via wi-fi or even the Internet! I doubt Malaysian broadband has the bandwidth to stream video from a PS3, but its still a cool feature. I wouldn't even try if I had a PS3 since I wouldn't want to burn anymore electronic and electrical stuff I have.
I am a bit disappointed though. I wanted the new PSP to have a touch screen interface or even stylus control, something that the iPod Touch and NDSL has that is excellent for pick-up-and-play games. If they had this, they would probably have dominated the handheld console market.
The PSP Go looks like this when you're playing it. Looking good, wonder if it cramps my hand as much.
Am I excited? Its a 50-50 thing for me. Internal storage is great and all, heck, who wouldn't want more space for your media right? I'm more excited to know that with internal storage being their primary platform for games, this means that we can get a lot of smaller and cheaper casual games that you don't need to spend hours on. There's no longer the restriction of making the game fit a 1.4GB UMD. Its more about quality over quantity after this. Probably. Hopefully.
Is this the best handheld you can get? Nah, I don't think so. To me it offers nothing new that will revolutionise the handheld gaming culture. Sad really, was expecting a lot more. Who knows, I'll wait for E3 to officiate the PSP Go and perhaps we'll get to know of a feature that wasn't leaked?
I'm still hoping for that touch screen PSP! PSP 2 anyone?
Anyone here a handheld videogamer? If so, what's your platform of choice, and why? Would love to get some input here :)
Nope, that's not the PSP Go. This is my current PSP, the slim PSP-2000, with custom wallpaper designed by me :D
I was late into the PSP (Playstation Portable) scene as I scored an affordable pre-loved PSP last year. I do own the Nintendo DS Lite (NDSL) for quite a while and I just thought of the PSP being a portable PS2 and lacking pick-up-and-play games since I don't want to cramp my hands playing a game too long on a handheld. Well, after having it on my hands, a comparison between PSP and NDSL is like comparing apples and oranges, they're just that different. PSP has great 3D graphics and superb video playback, while NDS has tons of pick-up-and-play games and innovative stylus controls. I love both of them.
And that's why, I'm quite interested with what Sony has to offer with the new PSP Go. The current PSP uses UMD, a proprietary format that is a cross between a mini DVD and a game cartridge. It has a 4.3 inch LCD screen with a resolution of 480 x 272 which plays games and movies beautifully. It has an expansion slot for a Memory Stick Duo for storing your movies or music. I have an 8GB and 4GB card myself. Though there are games that are hard to stop playing, I found myself viewing videos on it more.
Just a comparison of watching Superbad on the PSP and on my Dell Monitor. Great clarity, but you do need earphones/headphones to enjoy the sound.
Ok enough of that, so here's what the new PSP Go is the first one to look radically different from the other PSPs. The controls are now on a panel under the screen, so you'll have to slide it out from behind the screen. The screen is now 3.8 inch instead of 4.3 inch. What this means is that its shorter than the previous PSP. It now doesn't have a UMD drive, and so its much slimmer in nature. It reminds me of a slider phone now.
Now, this IS the PSP Go. The control panel is a slider.
Yes, it doesn't have a UMD drive, and that's a huge change from the original PSP, since the UMD was basically created FOR the PSP. Instead, it comes with 16GB of internal flash memory, and it has an expansion slot for Memory Stick Micro. The other big thing is Bluetooth support which works well with your Bluetooth headsets. I guess you can use the Bluetooth headsets for playing games and chatting online.
Here's what it looks like when its shut close. And here's the perfect way of showing it off to your friends when you do have it.
Just like the current PSP model, the PSP-3000, it has excellent connectivity with the Playstation 3 (PS3) if you do own one. The coolest thing about this is that you can store your videos in the PS3 and you can play it anywhere on the PSP Go via wi-fi or even the Internet! I doubt Malaysian broadband has the bandwidth to stream video from a PS3, but its still a cool feature. I wouldn't even try if I had a PS3 since I wouldn't want to burn anymore electronic and electrical stuff I have.
I am a bit disappointed though. I wanted the new PSP to have a touch screen interface or even stylus control, something that the iPod Touch and NDSL has that is excellent for pick-up-and-play games. If they had this, they would probably have dominated the handheld console market.
The PSP Go looks like this when you're playing it. Looking good, wonder if it cramps my hand as much.
Am I excited? Its a 50-50 thing for me. Internal storage is great and all, heck, who wouldn't want more space for your media right? I'm more excited to know that with internal storage being their primary platform for games, this means that we can get a lot of smaller and cheaper casual games that you don't need to spend hours on. There's no longer the restriction of making the game fit a 1.4GB UMD. Its more about quality over quantity after this. Probably. Hopefully.
Is this the best handheld you can get? Nah, I don't think so. To me it offers nothing new that will revolutionise the handheld gaming culture. Sad really, was expecting a lot more. Who knows, I'll wait for E3 to officiate the PSP Go and perhaps we'll get to know of a feature that wasn't leaked?
I'm still hoping for that touch screen PSP! PSP 2 anyone?
Anyone here a handheld videogamer? If so, what's your platform of choice, and why? Would love to get some input here :)
Get it at Amazon:
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