The lights are on
Though the long-rumored PlayStation Phone seems to exist, a proper successor to Sony's PSP handheld device remains shrouded in mystery. Some leaked information this week may have us closer to knowing Sony's plans, though.
According to a couple of reports from Kotaku, various sources that met with Sony during the Tokyo Game Show earlier in the year have begun to spill details regarding the PSP2. Most notably, the handheld is ditching the UMD discs that the original PSP used, and it will apparently be extremely powerful.
Kotaku's sources say that the PSP2 will feature 1 GB of RAM, as compared to the PSPgo's 64 MB and the Xbox 360's 512 MB. Nintendo's upcoming 3DS handheld is rumored to have 64 MB of RAM, so although it's significantly more powerful than the current DS, Sony's new handheld would still be the most powerful handheld gaming device on the market.
As for UMD, Sony is taking at least one element from the mostly-failed PSPgo and chopping out the UMD drive. One source says games may be stored on a memory stick, though it's unclear if they will be downloadable only or sold at retail. Other sources say Sony is still figuring out what form of storage the PSP2 will use.
Also rumored to be undecided is the system's final design. Developers were supposedly shown two different versions of the device, one that looks like the PSPgo (pictured above) and one that looks like an older PSP. Sony was reportedly open that they had not yet decided on the final look, although it was clear that the system will include two analog sticks and a mousepad-like "touch panel" on the back of the system, as has been previously rumored.
We asked Sony about the rumors but were told simply and unsurprisingly that they will not comment on rumors or speculation. For a look at what we would like to see from the PSP2, check out our Drafting the Dream PSP2 feature.
Does anyone know the RAM of the PS3?
I really hope they bring back the umd is stupid not 2 have it
"As for UMD, Sony is taking at least one element from the mostly-failed PSPgo and chopping out the UMD drive. One source says games may be stored on a memory stick, though it's unclear if they will be downloadable only or sold at retail. Other sources say Sony is still figuring out what form of storage the PSP2 will use."
If it's download only like the PSPGo, than Sony has failed massively.
And good graphics are great and all, but the first PSP had much better graphics than the DS, but not as many good games. Surprisingly, that's what seems to sell gaming consoles.
No UMD could also mean that they're ditching the UMD and going for some other cartridge, sd cards, or some such thing couldn't it? You make it sound like since they're ditching the UMD they have to go all downloadable (though I myself wouldn't mind that since ALL of the games would be downloadable.)
Its also twice the PS3's RAM as well.
This should be good..
can't wait. let's just hope sony learns from it's mistakes. if it's downloadable only that would suck. some of us like to rent games before we buy them, and demos only do so much.
I like the idea of a UMD-less PSP. I know not a lot of people have access to wi-fi, but it seems to me that downloadable distribution is the future of the medium, so why revert to the UMD (which seems to be dead, anyway).
Sounding good... I'm waiting to hear the bad news instead of speculating on it.
Or maybe we won't get any?
oh snap! that'll be sick!
This seems like an interesting idea, but unless I can transfer ALL of my PSP games to the PSP2, then I'll stick with my old-school PSP.
Here's hoping it won't fail!
No UMD = FAIL
Come on Sony!
didn't they learn from the failure of the psp go that no UMD is a bad thing?
If this has no UMD, I won't buy it. End of story.
If I have a job by time it releases, even if these rumors aren't true, I'll likely be buying one.