PSP-3000 details

[neorichieb1971]

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA ANNOUNCES NORTH AMERICAN AVAILABILITY OF UPDATED PSP® (PLAYSTATION®PORTABLE) SYSTEM

Updated PSP – Featuring New LCD Screen and Built-in Microphone – Will Be Included in Ratchet & Clank® PSP Entertainment Pack and PSP 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack

FOSTER CITY, Calif., August 20, 2008 – In conjunction with a global announcement by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced the North American availability of the updated PSP®(PlayStation®Portable) system (PSP-3000). Available on October 14 in the previously announced Ratchet & Clank®: Size Matters™ PSP Entertainment Pack, the updated PSP will feature a new LCD screen with a wider color gamut and anti-reflection technology, as well as a built-in microphone to enhance both multi-player gaming and Skype™ calls. The form factor and overall functionality of the current, slimmed-down PSP-2000 will remain the same with the updated PSP system. SCEA today also announced the PSP 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack ($199.99 MSRP), which will include the updated PSP, a 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo™ and a PLAYSTATION®Network voucher to download Everyday Shooter for PSP system. In addition to the bundles, the updated PSP will be available as a stand-alone product later this year.

“As we head into the holiday shopping season, both of these new Entertainment Packs represent a significant value for gift-givers, combining the updated PSP and its enhanced screen with content that showcases the PSP’s gaming and entertainment functionality,” said Peter Dille, senior vice president, marketing and PLAYSTATION Network, SCEA. “The 4GB Memory bundle is geared toward the digital entertainment enthusiast who likes to bring their media files on-the-go and download content from the PLAYSTATION Network. The Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters bundle is a great family-friendly option centered on one of the most beloved PlayStation franchises.”

As announced at the E3 Media & Business Summit, the Ratchet & Clank PSP Entertainment Pack will be available for $199.99 (MSRP) on October 14. The Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters PSP Entertainment Pack includes:

* Updated Mystic Silver PSP system; the first updated PSP available on store shelves
* Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters – In this PSP Greatest Hits title, Ratchet and Clank go back to the franchise's roots with classic Ratchet & Clank® gameplay. While on a much needed vacation, Ratchet and Clank’s rest and relaxation time is suddenly cut short as they soon find themselves lured into a mysterious quest.
* “National Treasure 2: Book Of Secrets” UMD® video – Join Nicolas Cage on a heart-pounding adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat in a race to find the Lost City of Gold. Grounded in history, imbued with myth and mystery, Disney’s “National Treasure 2: Book Of Secrets” takes you on a globe-trotting quest full of adrenaline-pumping twists and turns — all leading to the final clue in a mysterious and highly guarded book containing centuries of secrets.
* echochrome™ PLAYSTATION Network voucher* – Featuring an elegant black and white art design, echochrome is a puzzle game unlike any other. With gameplay based on optical illusions, players must utilize five simple laws of perspective to join walkways, hide dangers, and create new paths to reach the “echos,” or shadow guides. Download echochrome for PSP from PLAYSTATION®Store (http://store.playstation.com) to your Memory Stick PRO Duo with the included voucher.
* 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo – Store your photos, music, videos, downloadable games and game saves.

The PSP 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack will be the first bundle to feature a 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, offering plenty of storage for saving movies and TV shows downloaded from the recently launched PLAYSTATION Network video delivery service. The bundle will be available in November for $199.99 (MSRP). The PSP 4GB Memory Entertainment Pack includes:

* Updated Piano Black PSP system
* 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo – Store more photos, music, videos, downloadable games and game saves.
* Everyday Shooter PLAYSTATION Network voucher* – A colorful and music-driven arcade shooter, Everyday Shooter won three awards at the Independent Gaming Festival at the 2007 Game Developers Conference. Unlike traditional arcade shooters, in Everyday Shooter each on-screen interaction is a note, chord, or riff that plays in harmony with each level’s unique music track. The title is available for PLAYSTATION®3 and will be making its debut for PSP. Download Everyday Shooter for PSP from PLAYSTATION Store to your Memory Stick PRO Duo with the included voucher.

In addition to the new PSP Entertainment Packs, an updated PSP in Piano Black will be available later this year as part of the PSP Core Pack, which includes an AC adaptor and battery pack for $169.99 (MSRP).

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Shouldn't be too long before Dark Alex cracks open the firmware on this new fangled PSP-3000 hardware to get such homebrew and emulation running smoothly on it. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[neorichieb1971]

Well at least one pack has EVERYDAY SHOOTER on it. Should make some people happy around these parts.

[honorless]

Good lord man, tl;dr!

Three sentence summary for those who didn't already know:

New PSP has a built-in microphone and an improved display with anti-glare coating. Also can do interlaced video-out for games now (but seriously why the hell would you want this)

And Everyday Shooter is being updated for PSP play.

the end.

[iatneH]

So the footprint didn't shrink at all? I like the PSP but it's big, even the 2000. Handhelds are so huge nowadays with people wanting bigger and bigger screens.

I really like the GameBoy Micro, and I wish handhelds would go back in that direction again.

[D]

So the footprint didn't shrink at all? I like the PSP but it's big, even the 2000. Handhelds are so huge nowadays with people wanting bigger and bigger screens.

I really like the GameBoy Micro, and I wish handhelds would go back in that direction again.

Agreed 100%, both DS and psp are not handhelds. They're too big. They're like laptop things you have to carry around in a bag! Yah, a man-bag. I got the Swancrystal which is the size it should be, fits in your backpocket!

[Jockel]

If this one's hackable, i might get my first PSP ^^

[PC Engine Fan X!]

So the footprint didn't shrink at all? I like the PSP but it's big, even the 2000. Handhelds are so huge nowadays with people wanting bigger and bigger screens.

I really like the GameBoy Micro, and I wish handhelds would go back in that direction again.

Agreed 100%, both DS and psp are not handhelds. They're too big. They're like laptop things you have to carry around in a bag! Yah, a man-bag. I got the Swancrystal which is the size it should be, fits in your backpocket!

Yeah, the PSP fits in a big jacket pocket. As much $$$ I spent on the USA region PSP-1001 variant, it always stays inside a Logitech Pocket Case. Don't want to take chances of dropping the mucho expensive thang. ^_~

The Gameboy Micro is a marvelous piece of engineering. How Nintendo was able to come up with it's third hardware incarnation of the Gameboy Advance is really something.

I think if Nintendo had blessed the GBA with a 320 x 240 screen, it would've been properly to display on such an analog low-res 15.7 kHz monitor. But since it's display is stated at 240 x 160, what proper RGB transcoder would work well with such a GBA-SP or GB Micro handheld?

I think it would cool to play such GBA games on such a low-res RGB monitor setup with a hacked GBA hardware that has been further modded to sync up properly with an arcade cabinet's control panel. Has anyone been bold enough to attempt such a wild GBA to Jamma mod setup?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[dmauro]

Yeah, I was thinking it would be neat to get GBA emulation going on a PC hooked up to a cabinet until I remembered that the resolution isn't 320x240 like it should be so you would have to stretch it and then it would look like crap.

[dave4shmups]

I'm not getting this, I have a slim PS2, and this just ads extra brightness for those who use it outdoors, and it ads a microphone. If Sony had added a second analog nub, then I'd be on board.

[iatneH]

Screw the extra brightness, give me a transflective screen, and make it smaller. Then I might buy it.

[bay]

by hacking the psp you're just feeding publishers more reasons to not make PSP games.

i'm a big supporter of homebrew and all that, but as far as i've read, this is just ruining the PSP.

[dave4shmups]

by hacking the psp you're just feeding publishers more reasons to not make PSP games.

i'm a big supporter of homebrew and all that, but as far as i've read, this is just ruining the PSP.

Well, all I can say is that the only PSP game that's coming out before 2009 that's even worth buying, for me, is Star Ocean: First Departure, which comes out on October 21st. I mean, look at the rest of the year:

http://psp.ign.com/index/release.html Most of the games are ports from other systems. Honestly, I regret ever selling my Wii to get a PSP-other then a few shmup imports, Castlevania, and the Wipeout games, it wasn't worth it.

Super Stardust Portable isn't even out 'till next year, and who knows how that will turn out.

And I've loved the PS2 for a long time, and I know Sony can do better then this.

[neorichieb1971]

Nobody buys PSP games, God of War proved that.

[Specineff]

But I bet Sony is making a killing on memory sticks.

[Jockel]

by hacking the psp you're just feeding publishers more reasons to not make PSP games.

Believe it or not, i don't really plan to pirate PSP Games, since i think the entire library is an absolute joke (with the exception of loco roco, gow, mgs, ff and castlevania)
I just want to play a few shmups on the go, and CPS2/Mame does the trick wonderfully.