The PSP2
Not what I'd call a true portable device ...
If ever there was a piece of hardware with an identity crisis, this is it. To the best of my knowledge the precise specifications of the PSP2 have yet to leak out of Sony’s loose-lipped Playstation department, owing to the fact that Sony themselves have not as yet locked down the spec due to overheating issues. Nevertheless, there are wide reports of the system offering performance somewhere within the vicinity of the PS3 and Xbox 360. The system may well be perfect for the Japanese transit monkeys and any other gamer wanting to primarily consume their home console quality video games on the move, but for gamers who already spend a lot of time with their home consoles, the PSP2 will not be an essential purchase. I must admit to a degree of bafflement as to why Sony would think it a good idea to so drastically over-engineer their next handheld console. The Nintendo 3DS is less powerful than a current-gen iPod so there is a case for aiming a little higher than that, but assuming that the PSP2 really is possessed of similar capabilities to the 360 and PS3, then Sony have gone and created something that already exists, albeit in portable form.
Portable CoD means that Oliver Motok need never answer his phone
At this point I feel that it is incumbent upon me to raise the question; what kind of games will we see on the PSP2? Allow me to answer my own question; it will be a handheld of ports. Many people criticized the PSP for having too many PS2 ports, especially during the early days, yet this will be as nothing compared the PSP2 portstrosity. Sony’s internal developers not withstanding, virtually no developer will create unique software for the PSP2, it is unviable to create software of this magnitude for one piece of hardware alone when multiple systems are capable of running it. Over the course of the current generation we have seen the presence of third party exclusives all but vanish between the PS3 and 360, and I predict that the PSP2 will be no different in this regard. It will be an awesome handheld for online FPS addicts, and no one else. Additionally, the current hardware generation has sent many Japanese developers scurrying for the handheld systems, as their financial model simply will not allow them to be profitable on the home consoles. This type of niche game will be lost to the PSP2 with its beefy requirements, as they will likely make their new home on the modestly specced 3DS. The one potential feature which stands to make the PSP2 a darkhorse contender to the portable gaming crown, is the off-chance that Sony are smart enough to allow owners to download and play PS2 titles on the hardware, if this is the case then by default it becomes as indispensible to me as the PSP.
But if it's new then that means it's good, right?
In terms of physical construction, the PSP2 is replete with features that PSP owners have been clamoring for since day 1. Sony has implemented twin analogue sticks to assuage the demands of shooter fans left cold by the original PSP design. Sony may be late to the touch screen party, but they appear to be making up for lost time with the addition of not only a touch screen, but also the inclusion of a touch strip at the back of the console, so as to allow touch input in conjunction with traditional controls. The PSP2 is very much a premium design in every sense of the word, but the trade-off for this is that the system is bigger than the original PSP. I have never considered the PSP to be a true portable system, it is a great system to curl up on the couch with, but it is a very bad system to try and fit in your pocket. Sony appears to have really embraced this design philosophy by creating a premium home portable system more apt to compete with existing home consoles than with truly the portable systems.
You might want to hold off on that pre-order Luis ....
Buying a 3DS is a no-brainer for me because the system is virtually assured of offering the unique gaming experiences that I crave. On the other hand, I can only take a wait and see approach to Sony’s future portable hardware, as every single desirable feature appears to come with its own significant downside. The one saving grace will be the inclusion of PS2 software functionality, here’s hoping that Sony are awake to such opportunities … At this point I should very much like to solicit the weaboo reckon on the topic of Sony’s portable strategy. Is there something I have missed? Is the PSP2 something that you would want? Do you wish to consume console experiences on the go? Would you buy a PSP2 ahead of the 3DS, even though the 3DS looks set to have the advantage in terms of original programming? How does PS2 software factor into your purchase intent? Will Oliver Motok ever answer his phone again once he is able to take Call of Duty with him on the occasion that he leaves his abode?
Posted by SiliconNooB 
