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Developer backs up PSP-4000 chatter News
PSP News by Johnny Minkley
The next iteration of Sony's PSP handheld will feature a sliding screen, will no longer carry a UMD drive and will allow shoulder button-only games to be played when the screen is in its 'closed' position.
That's according to a development source close to Sony, speaking to Eurogamer on condition of anonymity. We first broke the news of a new update to the system late last year, revealing that PSP-4000, the third incremental hardware revision of the console, is planned for release later this year.
While Sony has refused to comment so far, further rumours have emerged in the past week claiming that 4000 will represent the first major overhaul of the system, with a sliding screen added and the UMD drive removed.
Our development source today confirmed these reports, adding: "The screen is basically the same as the one in the 3000 - except it slides." When 'closed', we were told, the screen won't cover the entire face of the console, but the unit will be "significantly smaller in width" as a result.
With the console in its 'closed' state, most controls will be inaccessible. However, our source claims that games which use the shoulder buttons exclusively - such as LocoRoco - will be playable, as these inputs will still be accessible. It's expected that the unit can also be used for media playback in this configuration.
Eurogamer further understands Sony is approaching developers for ideas for games that only require the shoulder buttons.
Sony said this afternoon it does not comment on rumour or speculation.
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Comments: 1-49 of 49 in total
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GamesConnoisseur
02/03/09 @ 16:39
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Huh?! How many shoulder only buttons games there would be? If touch screen is to be featured then that would make a lot of sense for the sliding/closed with only two buttons accessible. Otherwise why design it so?
Or perhaps would seem to some that Sony are getting desperate if they are begging around for devs to do shoulder only games, then that would be trying to get into casual market which Nintendo had successfully made their own? I m hoping they are moving into iphone market and make their PSP more akin to powerful touch console with PSP functions enclosed if you wish to slide it back to. |
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Thunderbolt!
02/03/09 @ 16:40
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Sound interesting.
I'm not sure the dual analogue nubs would work though as you would have quite a cluttered device IMO. And as reported last week there may be a slew of new games in the pipeline - so predicition LBP as a 4000 launch title? |
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sanctusmortis
02/03/09 @ 16:41
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As someone who finds PSP and DS Lite uncomfy, this sounds painful... cramp-inducingly so. Still, could be good.
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the dual stick will not happen for that reason. You can't do a hardware revision that suddenly cuts out a massive chunk of your install base.
Really?!? The how does this revision not have a UMD drive. Last time I looked all the games came on the bloody thing! So just what the frak does the PSP 4000 do for games. How do I actually play LocoRoco on it in the first place? |
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Right, if a game comes out on digital distribution, you can still buy it without having to buy a new console to play it properly. At the most, you'd need to grab a 1 or 2GB memory stick if you don't have the space. That being modular, is a lot easier than trying to bolt another nub onto PSPs 1000 - 3000.
The big issue would be with developers having a split hardware platform to design for. |
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Spoke to a few PSP dev mates in the last few minutes and the bullS&*t meter seems to be off the scales here. If the design specs being bandied about are to be believed, then to quote a good friend of mine "The damn thing's not going to be compatible with any existing games!".
As a result I'm calling bullshit until I see some solid proof. |
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GamesProgrammer
02/03/09 @ 16:59
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Sounds interesting enough might actually be enough to upgrade me from the phat. Im expecting something that looks like a sliding horizontal iphone now, withough the UMD it should be wafer thin as well.
Second analogue stick would be nice and could be used for BC PS1 games withought fucking over old PSP users to much. Touch screen i thought would be a must even if developers wernt allowed to use it for games because of old psp users, im sure they will want to compete with the slick interface of the itouch for all its other multimedia features. Please to god put enough memory in so that the web browser can view more than 1 site, and put a decent web browser in full stop. |
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This could work, but it might have been interesting to add a capacitive touch screen, so it is usable with a closed screen.
However, going the two thumb sticks route would make much more sense. The small, simple portable games machine is more than catered for by the DS and mobile phones. Making a better hardcore portable opens up a market barely covered (I guess they might say it doesn't exist). I expect MS might swoop in and take that market if they ever make a portable. |
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All I can say about the PSP-4000 is that Sony had better provide existing PSP users with a way to xfer their current UMD game investments.
@ Widge: Yes, you can cater for both models, even if you have dual stick controllers and that's by the game detecting the hardware it's running on and 'mapping' the keys appropriately to the controls available. Granted this means that developers will have to come up with two key maps but it's an easy route to take, versus losing out on a second stick. |
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steviepunk
02/03/09 @ 18:38
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"Shoulder button only games = all current users of PSPs can play them
Dual Stick only games = only PSP-4000 users can play them the dual stick will not happen for that reason. You can't do a hardware revision that suddenly cuts out a massive chunk of your install base." Would agree, but it all depends on whether this hardware revision is just a revision, or if it is effectively PSP2. Either way, the lack of UMD means lack of backwards compatibility (unless you buy a game again) so I don't see why Sony won't just go the whole hog and upgrade it completely. |
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They would have to sort out the storage problem before it would be of any interest to me. Either they would need to add some on board memory for games and videos that any real content could fit onto or stop using uber-expensive Sony-only memory cards.
Probably they won't since this is the usual strategy for Sony and has been since ages ago. "Design product X, make up new storage format which is very expensive." |
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Wildsleven
02/03/09 @ 19:30
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does that mean there wont be any new psp games released on umd anymore? and wtf does it mean the psp 3000 is useless? i just got one -_-
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LittleSacky
02/03/09 @ 20:21
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I does sound like a odd redesign for the layout, having it slide & cover the buttons would make it similar to this mockup from a while ago, however I'd image that it would be starting to get a little cramped for controller space, I find the current layout already cramp inducing for extended periods of play.
Plus I'm not sure how they'll distribute the weight of the thing, I've only got a psp1000 to compare it to but I'd reckon even taking out the dive, it'll still be a bit of a weighty handheld. |
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I have to say, while a no UMD PSP is welcome (bit late but never mind) the PSP pricing on PSN for many games is not. It's not like I buy PSP anymore but I would not like PSN being the ONLY place to get them, watch those silly prices get sillier people!
Unless it gets some CF I'll probably stick with a 2000 anyway, for a long time now I have had ALL my old PSP games as UMD ISOs on my PC to transfer to a MS, these would all be useless without CF. As all original UMDs are long traded I would have to buy 'em all again! |
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Include:
Touchscreen right-analogue better analogues tilt / motion sensor bluetooth better web browser integrated storage (4-32Gb flash) decent online service More power for PS2 compatibility (wish!) Risks: This is all way too late - iPhone kneejerk reaction Sony's web browser is likely to be shit Sony's online store is at risk of being shit Sony's online service is at risk of offering a shit experience Online content is likely to be overpriced Download speeds on a Sony service may well (continue to) be awful Where's Gran Turismo? Alienating current PSP owners |
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3william56
03/03/09 @ 08:03
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I think the demographic for PSP2 owners and the demographic for a website to meet hot models are somewhat mutually exclusive. But thanks for the thought.
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ShinMegami08
03/03/09 @ 08:19
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it will only be a soft hardware upgrade.
Why? 1. There doesn't seem to be any dev kits around. The production of a game takes about a year so its almost impossible, that Sony would bring out a real PSP2 in fall. We would hear a lot more from the devs (like ReadyatDawn) 2.The "original" PSP is still selling very good. Sony would cut in its own market. 3. Sony has announced a lot of new titles (Assasins Creed, Rock Band, LBP, ...) and seem to want to widen the userbase (pink PSP,...) PSP2 in 2010 or 2011 not before. |
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Christian_Otte
03/03/09 @ 11:07
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I would probably be inclined to pick this up if it is download-only. It is kinda annoying having to carry around your games .
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FladgeMangle
03/03/09 @ 11:07
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If the PSP 4000 looked like those concept pics, had a touch screen, camera, mic and acceleromiter (so I can play Flower via remote play) then it would certainly be on my shopping list. I'd rather it kept the UMD so I could still play my back catalog and movies.
Also, I don't understand the negativity some posters here have about adding a second analog. Older games don't use it, newer games have the option to use it. I don't hear anyone complaining about the DSi and the fact that current DS owners are being alienated from future camera functionality. If developes are sensible and allow for one-nub PSPs - at least until the new model has eclipsed the old - then there won't be a problem. I'd personally like them to add two more shoulder buttons and get full dualshock 3 functionality onto it, with a mobile style vibrate function. |
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Mentalist(air)
03/03/09 @ 16:04
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the dual stick will not happen for that reason. You can't do a hardware revision that suddenly cuts out a massive chunk of your install base.
Anyone remember when Sony brought out dual-analogue joypads which they eventually made standard two thirds of the way through the PS1's lifecycle? |
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Stepharneo
03/03/09 @ 23:54
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R.I.P UMD... so thats mini disk and UMD in the can... blu-ray next? :P
ignore poster You forgot betamax and walkman (though technically they just took ages for a revision) |
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M_of_the_sys
06/03/09 @ 16:08
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@FladgeMangle
Where are the concept pics? I really don't understand how this is going to work. Where is the screen going to slide to exactly?
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 06/03/09 @ 16:11
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Blu-ray wont fail as its not just sony craziness. That and at 20 quid blu rays new releases dont have a long way to go before theyre dirctly competing on price with dvd new releases in high street shops.
Its also stupid to say umd going the way of failed formats because despite sonys bullish marketing and forays into filmland, it was only ever going to be a handheld format and you dont say that gba carts are a failed format. Besides that has anyone considered this based on the existing pricing model would actually be more expensive if you wanted to carry around say the six games that the standard official psp cary thing can carry. For instance Resistance Retribution is the same in many stores as on the PS store. |
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PSP-4000.org
23/07/09 @ 21:08
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There is yet another controversy with some sites claiming that the PSP-4000 will altogether be a different thing in the market than what is expected from it. It will not be the same in the lineage of PSP-3000
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Comments: 1-49 of 49 in total
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