| "body"> | | | | Turning it back on will jump you immediately back to |
| Sony's small wonder has been a huge success across | | | | the point where you left off in your game, in less |
| the world. A instant success at it's Japanese launch | | | | than a second. Furthermore, sleep mode has been |
| several years ago, the system was so hot that | | | | found to have almost no effect on the battery-life, |
| many gamers have resorted to importing it at | | | | even after being in sleep for 24 hours. This means |
| extravagant prices. Some of the things I'll share | | | | you can play in short bursts, experiencing the |
| about the PSP you may already know, while others | | | | benefits of disc-based data, but minimizing the load |
| features may be surprising. Whatever the case, be | | | | times, if you need to keep it off for a little while. |
| sure you read on to make sure you have the inside | | | | 6) Movie playback. The PSP plays back |
| scoop on one of the biggest releases in gaming | | | | MP4-formatted movies, right off the memory stick. |
| history. | | | | We're still working on a way to make this thing less |
| 1) First let's talk about graphics. The graphical power | | | | complicated, but right now you need at least a |
| of the PSP is said to be close to that of a | | | | couple pieces of software to make the movie |
| Playstation2. And yet many early screen shots show | | | | conversion. One is Decrypter, to rip movies off of |
| slightly less complicated character and background | | | | your DVD's and store them in VOB format files, and |
| models. There's a reason for why things might | | | | in conjunction with that you will need 3GP Converter, |
| appear that way, even though they are more | | | | a free utility that converts video files to MP4. You will |
| impressive than anything else on the hand held | | | | have better luck with smaller videos, and files that |
| market. It's because screen shots from a PS2 are full | | | | are already in AVI format. Sony itself recently |
| screen and need to be that detailed, whereas the | | | | released a converter software, but it does not rip |
| PSP screen is smaller and thus can fool the eye into | | | | your movies off DVD (understandably) and it also |
| appearing more powerful than it is on paper. Simply | | | | costs $10, on top of being Japanese. The 3GP |
| put, the character models don't need to be as | | | | program at least allows an option to change its |
| detailed, because you won't notice the difference | | | | language setting to English. Things will continue to iron |
| anyway. That said, we need to keep in mind that | | | | themselves out as the system nears launch here in |
| these are first-generation PSP titles. Just look at how | | | | the US, but imagine how cool it would be to watch a |
| the PS2 games have evolved since its launch. If hand | | | | 2-hour film on a brilliant portable wide-screen. The |
| held games are looking this good at launch, imagine | | | | fact that you can do this, with a system that's |
| what a couple years of development time will do. | | | | rumored to launch at such a low price is unbelievable. |
| You can expect the same leaps, similar to those | | | | 7) Strong third-party support. The PSP should have a |
| found with home based consoles, as developers | | | | huge selection of games available throughout its |
| become more familiar with it. | | | | lifespan, if Sony's history is any indication. Even at |
| 2) The battery time issue is fixable. Everyone was | | | | launch, which we are hoping to come around March |
| worried about what kind of battery time we would | | | | 2005, if not a little sooner, you'll be able to jam with |
| be looking at with such a powerful system. Well as | | | | the likes of: ATV Off Road Fury, Dynasty Warriors, |
| of now, you can expect even the most intensive | | | | Bomberman, Hot Shots Golf, Metal Gear Acid, Ridge |
| games to last well beyond 3 hours of play time, while | | | | Racers, WipeOut Pure, NBA Street, NFL Street, Tony |
| other less graphically intense games can reach up to | | | | Hawk's Underground 2, and Twisted Metal: World |
| 6 hours. Better yet, the system can be charged while | | | | Tour. |
| you play it, and there will also be swappable batteries | | | | 8) The price is going to be right. In Japan, the cost |
| available if you find your game time will stretch well | | | | of a PSP is $186 US once you make the conversion. |
| past 4 hours in one sitting. As an aside, mp3 playback | | | | It is very possible, in fact it is probable, that the PSP |
| will be in the realm of 9-10 hours, in large part | | | | will launch in the US at $150 for the basic unit, and |
| because you can turn off the screen when the unit is | | | | maybe $200 for the expanded Value Pack (includes a |
| tucked in your pocket. Charging will take about 2 | | | | memory card, a strap, and a carry-pouch). Sony is |
| hours from a completely drained battery. You can | | | | looking to put a serious dent on the Nintendo |
| also play the PSP while charging the battery at the | | | | handheld market and if they can match the price of it |
| same time. There's more hope too. Sony has already | | | | here, while at the same time offering all sorts of |
| stated that higher capacity batteries are in the | | | | multimedia capabilities and a big leap in graphics, then |
| works. | | | | it will do just that. Competition is always a good thing |
| 3) Music playback. The PSP will be able to play mp3's | | | | though, since this will get Nintendo thinking more |
| right out of the box. The only supported storage | | | | about what they can produce to match. There could |
| (outside the pre-loaded UMD media) will be Memory | | | | be a price cut on Nintendo's part, or there could be |
| Stick Duo's, which could be found in capacities as | | | | bundles offered. Is it any coincidence that the DS |
| large as 1GB, and for about $150 if you look hard | | | | Metroid game is also set to be released in March? |
| enough. Battery life and sound quality have been | | | | 9) The screen is a marvel. The PSP's screen has |
| reported to be pretty good, though you will probably | | | | been called the crowning jewel of the system. It is |
| want to use your favorite headphones. Many folks | | | | amazingly bright even from multiple angles and from |
| are planning to use the PSP as a secondary mp3 | | | | far away. Think about how some of the Sony VAIO |
| player, for when they grow tired of games while on | | | | laptop screens look like at your local Best Buy and |
| the road. | | | | you'll have an idea of how sweet it will look. Not only |
| 4) It's wireless too. The Nintendo DS has already | | | | that, it's also in widescreen format so all games will |
| demonstrated the freedom that can be had without | | | | natively give you a larger view of your surroundings, |
| carrying your cords everywhere, or dealing with | | | | especially racing and FPS games. If you install your |
| tangles when trying to hook up with more than one | | | | photos into the system, it will generate white bars on |
| person. The PSP follows suit with a powerful wireless | | | | the side of the screen at first, since they are 4:3, but |
| functionality that can work up to 100 feet away, | | | | there is a zoom option on the PSP so that the image |
| even through walls. Theoretically, you can play | | | | takes up the entire screen. You'll probably be taking |
| against someone else on the far side of the floor | | | | more shots with your digital camera from here on |
| you're on. Add in other players, and you can have 8 | | | | out, so that you can show off pictures easier now. |
| people going at it wirelessly without any game lag, as | | | | The screen is substantially brighter than the Nintendo |
| can be seen on the launch title Ridge Racers. And this | | | | DS'. |
| is just the tip of it all, as future wireless titles can | | | | 10) Announcements are coming very soon. Word is |
| have internet connectivity so that you're playing with | | | | that Sony is waiting until the holiday season ends so |
| a team of folks that span the globe. In fact, the PSP | | | | that they can announce all of the US official launch |
| can already log online, but only for firmware updates, | | | | plans. Since it's practically January already, it's only |
| at this point. It's only a matter of time before a third | | | | going to be just a short couple of months before we |
| party releases a web browser UMD. | | | | have this thing in our hands! Gamestop and other |
| 5) Sleep mode. One of the drawbacks to a | | | | software retailers are already taking pre-orders so |
| disc-based system is load time. To help overcome | | | | we suggest you run out now if you want to be |
| some of the boot-up and loading time for the PSP, it | | | | guaranteed one on launch day. We're so excited to |
| allows you to put the system on sleep mode with a | | | | put this thing through its paces, and hopefully now |
| flick of a button, when you have a short break. | | | | you can understand why. |