PSP updates from Sony's business briefing

[Everlost_MI]

Gamesindustry.biz (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/) is reporting (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=15358) the following PSP updates that were overshadowed by the PS3 announcements in Sony's business briefing.


Sony has a host of updates to the PlayStation Portable planned over the coming months, with an EyeToy camera, a video and voice chat service, a GPS receiver and the ability to download and play a range of PSone games all on the way.

...Sony has also announced that it intends to launch a firmware update for the PSP in the near future which will introduce Macromedia Flash compatibility to the web browser used in the device...while free video and voice-over-IP services will appear in October.

One of the most intriguing updates to the system, however, comes in the form of a new digital distribution service which Sony is planning, which will allow users to download games and applications directly to their memory cards.
1UP (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3148775) is reporting a PSP price drop was announced at the briefing as well.

Kutaragi also had a few big announcements that pertained to the PSP, the most immediate being a price drop to $199 for the basic pack at the end of March in the U.S.
Thanks to bap for catching the price drop.

[DeadlyDonkey]

PSP + PSone games = awesome

Might eventually persuade me to upgrade my firmware...

[bapenguin]

Whoa! That's pretty damn sweet. Vagrant Story...Vagrant Story...Vagrant Story!!

:)

[Sl1pstream]

Might even get one, if they offer a lot of good titles.

What I don't get is why they add Eyetoy functionality. Sure, video chat is nice, but it's a handheld. Even if every bus or train is a WiFi hotspot (which they're not), who would really use it? Besides, fitting a USB camera on a handheld doesn't look that great imo.

Let the Final Fantasy VII rumors begin :)

EDIT: I want Front Mission 3 :/

[Stryfe01]

Well once they start releasing...I wonder If I can just copy all my old games using my PC. Why bother waiting for Sony, IF they release an emulater separetely.

[Sl1pstream]

Well once they start releasing...I wonder If I can just copy all my old games using my PC. Why bother waiting for Sony, IF they release an emulater separetely.

They won't. My guess is $19.95 per game, if they call the series "Playstation Legends" or something like that they might even get away with it.

[bone_matrix]

Damn it. While PS1 games sound good in theory, I didn't buy the PSP for them. I want good PSP games. NEW good PSP games.

[Cool AN]

Sounds good.

[Tricky Thumb]

If they manage to meet or beat the XBL service that'll be enough for me to prefer PS3 multi-platform games.

[Chameleo]

heh thats cool, voice over ip chat from anywhere - its practically a cel phone if you're in a hotspot. and with an eyetoy its a video conference device.

though i don't know if people are ready to sit in macD's or starbucks voice chatting on their PSPs yet.

[emperordahc]

Woohoo! I just ditched my PSP on eBay for over $200 yesterday. Perfect timing!

[drakkarim]

nice, by the time they drop it to $99, they might have an actual game collection on the system and i might pick it up.

[AntB]

I have plenty of titles that I missed on the PS1. Make them $5-10 a pop and I might actually bite. As of now, I got burned by LCSs price tag of $50 and I ain't biting untill I see more reviews for Socom and Daxter.

The PSP is really becoming a great platform, and with PS3 connectivity I might just wait untill the PS3 comes out to move to next gen. With a 24" monitor. HDTV is way too far out of my price range.

[Salesmunn]

PSOne emulator? Now that is f'ing killer! Flash support in the next update!? Booting from the Memory Stick in the fall?

For someone who sometimes has to travel for work, it would be awesome to be able to have a small, portable webcam to communicate with home from any hotel WiFi. With a cheaper $199 price tag, it makes it feasable to buy a second handheld.

What a March for the PSP.

[Nite_Moogle]

Everyone has been saying for weeks there is no way the PS3 will make a spring release date. Sony announces it and immediately announces a PSP price drop. Coincidence? Or did they stall and buy time for updated pricing to trickle through the retail chain to soften the blow?

[Eon]

I think a widget that allows you to communicate by voice using your PSP would seriously fuck any chance of me upgrading / extending a mobile phone contract. Ever.

[benig]

So sony's answer to the DS Lite is...PS1 games?
It's like Sony doesn't know what people want. GPS? A camera? Good Lord.

[gzsfrk]

Actually, what excites me most about his news is the price drop. This should mean that I will be able to pick up a used PSP in the $150 price range. Of course, I'll be looking to get one with an older BIOS so I can load it up with emulators, which is pretty much the only portable gaming I care about. (<3 PocketNES on my GBA)

[Maskatron]

If they offer the Colony Wars series, I may just have to get a PSP.

[krackmonkey]

I ain't biting untill I see more reviews for Socom and Daxter.

Daxter: gamerankings average 88.6% based on 7 published reviews

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/927355.asp


Socom: average pf 83% based on more than 10 published reviews

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/928395.asp?q=socom


Did you mean Syphon Filter? That would make more sense, since Socom is about 5 months old now: it got an average of 91.5 based on 5 published reviews

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/920798.asp

[divinechaos]

Wow. The PSP just got a LOT more interesting. Downloadable PS1 games? Price drop? Im sold! Im keeping the name though...

[drakkarim]

macromedia flash?? all that's good for is ads on websites, as if the psp has screenspace to accomodate that crap.

[Phades]

a price drop to $199 for the basic pack at the end of March in the U.S. Ok, so we get a price drop for the "basic pack." I'd like to know what that actually means. It sounds to me like we're just finally getting the same basic pack that has been offered in Japan since their launch for $199. In other words, oh goody goody. We're getting to buy the PSP without all the extras, the way it should have been sold since day one, not an actual price drop.

Edit: Yep, just found a story on Gamespot that confirmed it. So we're essentially not getting a price drop. They're just no longer making the "value pack" the only available option. That's annoying to me that they're painting that as a "price drop." How unlike Sony to be misleading.