PSP gets price cut, GPS, camera, VoIP and future media download service

Looks like those GPS add-on rumors were true. Now that Ken Kutaragi's PlayStation business briefing has ended we can tell ya that a new GPS receiver (PSP-290) with game support will indeed drop this “autumn” with a new GPS-enabled Hot Shot Golf title loaded-up for first release. Sony also let fly a new USB-attached PSP-300 EyeToy camera add-on for September launch which will support a new video and VoIP chat service coming in October. Also of note is the announcement of a new digital distribution system (Hub?) allowing users to download “games and applications” directly to Memory Stick – an early use will be for downloading and playing PSone games (via new emulator) directly off your memory cards, although specifics around that service have yet to be announced. Rounding things out are the announcements that a future firmware release will bring Macromedia Flash compatibility and a new RSS Channel function to save and playback internet radio and video content. All this and the PSP base-unit price will be cut to $199 by the end of the month. Still no mention of that rumored PSP email client or integrated flash memory, but we're not gonna get greedy.

[Via Foursprung]

[Bastiaan @ Mar 15th 2006 5:55AM]

PSX EMU!!! :O

[foxhound.sldsnk @ Mar 15th 2006 5:57AM]

**pinch me** this is a fanboys wet dream.. psOne emulation?? and we dont even need to hack it?? theyre like.. just providing it for us?? common Sony.. dont tease us..

[teraE @ Apr 8th 2007 6:07PM]

I don`t know if U know (sounds funny, doesn`t it?), but the psp custum firmware allows you to do that (ps1 on psp emulation) and a lot of stuff more, Yeah, I know that a lot of people just wanna come clean in which software licence refers, but, I suggest you to try custom firmware. Jusl tike many people say "Free your psp" Sony blocks a lot of psp`s capabilities, so I sugest U to use custom software. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY SOFTWARE PROBLEMS.
Just one doubt, do anyone know when are the eyetoy cam, & gps are gonna be available on México? I`d apreciate your answer on my mail, thanks.

[John Hinds @ Mar 15th 2006 6:10AM]

But what PS1 games are you going to want to play?
All the good PS1 games got sequals for the PS2 that were better.

[gnome @ Mar 15th 2006 6:16AM]

Great news. Absolutly fantastic... Now all the PSP needs are a few above average games...

[TZK @ Mar 15th 2006 6:18AM]

All this crap needs to be built into a PSP2. Screw these "attachments". Maybe they are making good and not releasing a part 2 so they dont piss off users, but thats a lot of addons. You're all gonna look like cyborgs! :-P

Which isnt a bad thing, though.

If this is all included in a future PSP2 I would definately be all over this thang.

[mike @ Mar 15th 2006 6:19AM]

isn't sony's target market the guys who already have a ps1 or a ps2 for that matter?

...... so emulation.. would.. be.. yeah.. almost pointless were it not for portability..

okay sony.. new games, DS is killing you

[Gav @ Mar 15th 2006 6:23AM]

Still no mention of a PSP keyboard. :(

[MadaMadaDane @ Mar 15th 2006 6:27AM]

Keep in mind you could buy one for the equivalent of $199 in Japan since its release there (before its release here).

If Sony has any desire to compete with the DS, they need to get it to $150 and actually get some original games. Ports and remakes will get a mainstream installed base, but like in any other business Sony needs to learn that you need to innovate if you want to lead a market.

[jizmo @ Mar 15th 2006 6:27AM]

They'll pack the PSX roms in signed containers and add other kinds of DRM there as well. Then they'll make the packages downloadable for money on their net site.

Makes a lot of sense for PSP .. the game selection isn't too hot atm. PSX games will look very decent on the 4" display, will be able to be distributed without packaging and additional development costs and will definitely lure in nostalgic gamers.

[bowlhed @ Mar 15th 2006 6:48AM]

what about the fact that psx games are in 4:3 and the PSP is in 16:9...i also wont be happy if i have to pay again to play PSX games i already own.that would be ridiculous.looks like im going to be forced into buying a new memory stick tho.

[lettcco @ Mar 15th 2006 6:52AM]

I applause Sony for thinking outside the box, but I am not too sure if I want to rebuy PSX games that I already own. Now if I can get the emulator and play with my own ISO I will forgive the ROOTKIT and root for Sony again.

[x23 @ Mar 15th 2006 6:55AM]

i wonder if they'll strip down the bigger titles? downloading 640MB times X number of discs would be lame. and tough on the smaller memorysticks. i wonder if they'll strip out all FMV and compress the full redbook audio down to low bitrate MP3 (or ATRAC...) in order to get the game size down to 60-100MB.

that would make sense.

also... making a packaging app to rip your ALREADY PURCHASED PS1 discs into the proper self-contained trim format (and DRM stamp them in some way to tie them to your machine?) would also make a ton of sense... but is basically 100% unlikely.

[Version 1.0 @ Mar 15th 2006 6:58AM]

There were rumours that PSP2 will have a camera and 4gb of memory. With this announcement, I dont think PSP2 will be near... Maybe another 2 years or so....

[chay @ Mar 15th 2006 7:18AM]

Damn
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4807858.stm
Damn Damn Damn

[Hein @ Mar 15th 2006 7:20AM]

where is the media player that can view any streaming content over wi-fi? that is the killer app i need on the PSP

[Escalation @ Mar 15th 2006 7:44AM]

The "Ceramic White" PSP will be sold in a normal pack (PSP, 1 battery, power adapter) from April in Japan, at a price for 19,800 JPY (167.8 USD).

Doesn't seem like 150 for the US is too hard to believe.

[Neoterix @ Mar 15th 2006 8:05AM]

You're gonna need some pretty large memory sticks to fit an entire CD's worth of data... :)

...Just imagine what Final Fantasy 7 would be like.

[Duane @ Mar 15th 2006 8:08AM]

Here are the games I would love to play

Final Fantasy Tactics
NFL Blizt ( the one where you can make your own plays)
Cool Boarders
Final Fantasy VII
Syphon Filter
N2O: Nitrous Oxide
Knockout kings
Driver
Tiger woods golf
Army Men
Resident Evil
Tomba
Diablo (hell yeah)
Gran turismo

Thats just the ones I remember, I am sure there are more I would like to play. If I could play those games i would buy the PSP today.

[Billy @ Aug 28th 2007 9:57AM]

HTTP://WWW.MYDISCOUNTGOODS.COM - Has the lowest priced Discount Electronics on the web, check it out !!!

[emceay @ Mar 15th 2006 8:20AM]

Ah, to play jumping flash again.

[OddManOut @ Mar 15th 2006 9:32AM]

Price drop huh ? Any of you econ/business majors care to comment on what can be *reasonably* infered from a price drop? I myself have posted at length before explaining the whole "Razor/Blade" sell at an initial loss business strategy before so I understand the basic premise. But I'm curious if this price drop is a good indicator that Sony has managed to get PSP production costs low enough that they are at least breaking even (thus meaning that if they can get you to buy even a single game it's worth it to make $0 on the console itself). Or are they simply STILL taking a loss, but feel that the price drop will attract enough new buyers to make continuing the "sell the base unit at a loss" strategy worth while ?

Anyone?

And as far as a PSP2...yeah, I'd suspect it's a ways off yet. Sure Nintendo has technically released NEW hardware on their DS line, but no new features. The DS had a 'nostalgic' design whereas the DS lite has much more modern and apealing aesthetics. The PSP already has a sleek "sexy" design...it doesn't need a face-lift. And even sony is not crazy enough to basicaly try and launch 2 new consoles virtually at the same time (which is what they would be doing if they significantly altered the PSP's specs).

At least I hope they aren't...for their sake...

'Sides...it really IS all in the games. The Gizmondo basically had these accessories built in, and it was NOT exactly a roaring success now was it ? I think most of the target demographic would prefer Sony put their attention on software for the PSP right at the moment rather than hardware...

[ginnal @ Mar 15th 2006 9:36AM]

The PSP is doing everything but what its supposed to dol; play games.

I don't want the PSP to calculate pi to the 13th digit or give me directions to burger king, there are other convergence devices that do a much better job of this.

Fix the issues you have instead of adding other things for people to complain about.

Release a UMD burner so people can put a useful amount of media on their machines.
Stop releasing PS/2 ports make it smaller, and a hinged screen cover.

[dave @ Mar 15th 2006 9:38AM]

yep, i would also prefer it if sony focused on getting more good games onto the system instead of fancy gadgets...

[Ben @ Mar 15th 2006 9:50AM]

YES!!! Driver 2, here I come! I can't wait! Lower price, and I can put driver 2 on my psp... I love that game... This is awesome!

[sunmark007 @ Mar 15th 2006 9:51AM]

what about the second stick or trigger buttons. how are they going to get around that?

[sopubun @ Mar 15th 2006 10:11AM]

The PS1 emulation is almost worthless!! Where's the streaming music and video service for cheap?,WHERE'S THE TV ATTACHMENT THAT WAS RUMORED LAST MONTH?!?! You, know things that the adults want. The "target" audience for this. PSP is looking more and more like the "kiddie gimmick" than the DS touch screen that PSP fanboys used to shout around.

The online media would've been ten times easier to implement the great online experience than game distribution. Because, you know, Sony would've had to try figure how to DRM the PS1 binaries anyways, and waste more time. But knowing Sony and their multiple personality disorder, horrible online media distribution track record, and lack of centralized software development culture, this will probably flop just the same as the rest of Sony's half-assed efforts.

[Dan @ Mar 15th 2006 10:25AM]

to # 3:
Dude! final fantasy tactics, and spyro! What more could we ask for!

Though i would have to agree, most of the good games had sequels, but still; Sony actually giving a PS1 emulator to us?????????? all i can say is OMFG this is 1337!

[MrFloppy @ Mar 15th 2006 10:40AM]

PSP Video Store, PSP Video Store.... please!!!

[invaderluj @ Mar 15th 2006 10:54AM]

if the psx thing is a false cry from sony i will sell my psp

[james @ Mar 15th 2006 10:56AM]

Should be touchscreen.

[bryan @ Mar 15th 2006 11:04AM]

hmm... the games I was looking forward to most for PSP were already ps1 ports, the original suikoden and valkyrie profile. what would this mean? i'm sure they wouldnt want to provide a free version of a game they are trying to sell on UMD. but man, that idea of an official program to rip a ps1 game to memory stick sounds sweet. still, at this point i think I would rather import a DS lite so I can play new good games than pay more for a psp that will play games i already have...

[Jamin Shanti @ Mar 15th 2006 11:42AM]

Ok this is all realy great news. New things for the PSP are always possitive. But why drop the price of the unit? I think it is very resonalbe at $250. It's the friggen Media and Memory Sticks that need a price overhall. Target has a sale on 1GB strips for $69. This is going to be my first memory upgrade for it since I bought it over a year ago. I just won't get ripped. I would rather wait. The only resonable prices are the games at $40. I have several. Come on cut prices where it counts, on the movies and memory. You already are doing great on everthing else. I guess you could say you are saving money overall buy reducing the price on the device, but can't you help a brother out? I like the one recommendation of bundling the movies with their regular release. $30 bucks for both the movie on dvd and psp is what I am taking about. Now that's reasonalbe. Not giving it away but at least your selling a resonable product. And Memory sticks need to be more like $100 for 4 gigs. That's what I am talking about.

[Karswel @ Mar 15th 2006 11:54AM]

There's only really one plug-in to worry about... that's an xbox plug-in for the Halo entertainment system - Top that Sony!! hahahahahh

[hemmy @ Mar 15th 2006 1:04PM]

"But I'm curious if this price drop is a good indicator that Sony has managed to get PSP production costs low enough that they are at least breaking even"

They've been profiting on the PSP hardware for a long time now:

"As Sony's annual manufacturing rate is about 3 million PSP units, the company, for the next fiscal year, will ship 1 million units each to North America, Europe, and Japan. That, says Kutaragi, will be the break-even point for Sony's PSP to start making a profit."
source: http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-11721-944-1-1-x

Sony originally predicted gloomy (Stringer said it would likely lose 86Million) 3rd quarter turned out to be rather fantastic. With ~$570million in profit, it was quite the opposite of the earlier predictions.
PSP and Bravia's are cited as the major boost.
"Consumer electronics giant Sony Corporation has revealed its third quarter financial results, showing a 51 per cent increase in revenue that will result in the avoidance of the company's first annual loss in eleven years."
source: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=14336

[boynamedsue @ Mar 15th 2006 1:33PM]

"But what PS1 games are you going to want to play?
All the good PS1 games got sequals for the PS2 that were better."

Wrong.

Bushido Blades 1&2

[c.Lake @ Mar 15th 2006 1:38PM]

Wow, great. Now, where are the f__king games?

[ken fager @ Mar 15th 2006 2:06PM]

Maybe now Sony will be able to see with the GPS that my PSP hasn't left the top drawer of my desk for six months due to lack of quality software, crippling DRM, et al.

[no3rdw @ Mar 15th 2006 2:17PM]

Open your eyes, c.Lake.

Megaman Powered Up and Syphon Filter came out this week, next week Katamari and Worms come out. Too many good games, not enough money!

[Jandro @ Mar 15th 2006 2:44PM]

Nice, cool new features plus the price drop, (even though i got mines for 250 -_-) but other then that i would love to play Legend of Dragoon and Final Fantasy games on my PSP =)

[JetJaguar @ Mar 15th 2006 3:44PM]

Clearly, the PSP continues to stir up strong pro- and anti- feelings among the tech and gaming communities more than a year after coming on general ('cept Europe release), so I'll try to avoid pouring any more fuel on those happily burning fires.

But as an PSP owner for about a year I to say that I'm only just beginning to 'get' what the device is about. Like many early adopters I thought I was buying a portable gaming systems, so I was pretty peeved to discover a list of launch titles that consisted of some frankly lazy ports of racing games and a puzzler. However, since then I've started using it as I now believe it was intended: as a portable entertainment system.

I use my PSP to listen to music whilst reading the paper on the way to work in the morning. On the return journey in the evening I might listen to a podcast or two to unwind. On a plane I'll probably play a video game for a couple of hours if the IFE doesn't interest me. And if I'm on a long train journey, maybe I'll watch an episode or two of 'The Simpsons'. And once in a while, if I'm in a wi-fi hotspot, I'll check the news on CNN.

My point is that I can use it in a number of different ways, depending on my mood and the time available. Now, of course I accept that the PSP isn't a market leader in any of those fields individually. And of course I accept that it does some of those things badly (web-surfing is a particular pain). But I'm prepared to accept that because the total package is great than the sum of it's parts, there's nothing else out there that does the job, and if fits (just) into my pocket.

From my point of view, a few of the new features (announced in a brazen and shameless attempt to distract from the debacle surrounding the PS3, and to convince the rapidly deserting army of Sony fans that included me up until today that Sony is worth a damn) are quite attractive. VoIP is something I'd certainly welcome. As is the camera/EyeToy as long as it's decent (4 mega-pixels or above) and cheap (50 sheets). And I might even download the odd 'classic' PS1 game if the price was right.

However, what I need to make me before I sign up to all these new features is what x23 and Jamin Shanti have already identified here: a massive drop in the price of large memory sticks. �200 for a 4gb is a dealbreaker for me.

Here's a suggestion for Sony: why don't you recognise that some of your most valuable property is your music, movies, and games, drop the price of memory stick through the floor, and make your money back through sales of content?

Just a thought.

Oh. And one more: who the Hell asked for GPS? And what on earth are we urban and suburban PSP owners meant to use it for?

[JetJaguar @ Mar 15th 2006 3:47PM]

And apologies for the long post, but it's something I've been wanting to vent for a while.

[rainking187 @ Mar 15th 2006 7:27PM]

First off, Number 3, you're a total idiot. Secondly,:

"30. Ok this is all realy great news. New things for the PSP are always possitive. But why drop the price of the unit? I think it is very resonalbe at $250."

No it's not. It's ridiculously overpriced. It's the same reason I never bought an X-Box, I'm not going to hemorrhage money on a game system just to play like four or five games.

Honestly, I'd rather see the PSP games on UMD then downloads, I have a great distrust of things like that, the lifespan of a disc games is pretty long, but the lifespan of a game on a memory card is until you accidentally erase it, or you get a virus. The price is better too, I'd rather pay $50 for an actual game, then probably upwards of $60 for a memory stick large enough to hold the games, plus either having to buy a new memory card or erase the current game whenever I wanted to play a new one.

[Matt @ Mar 15th 2006 9:10PM]

the answer to all of the expensive memory problems is if sony came out with a rewritable or even just writable umd disk that way they will be considerably cheap for memory and ud only need a memory card for games or if u wanted to conserve battery wen listening to music.

[Bolt @ Mar 16th 2006 1:37AM]

A message to all those cry babies who keep wining that memory stick is to expensive: do not complain to Sony, direct your anger on your real enemy - a company called SunDisk. Sony like all other flash memory producers must pay a fat license fees to SunDisk that holds all basic patents on flash memory. I suggest you to write a collective letter to Sundisk demanding that it gives all its patents away for free because you too dumb to get a job that lets you afford $50 for 1 Gig memory stick ... Pathetic.

[PSP Games @ Mar 16th 2006 10:49AM]

I love the PSP it was the greatest thing that come out, but i have to agree, for some softwear packages you get it would be nice to work it from the screen, touchscreen sony come my fellow freinds

[Dan @ Mar 17th 2006 8:37AM]

All you guys whining about downloading videos and other media, that is what flash and the RSS channels are for. If you want just a portable gaming system then yes, buy a dingtendo.

The GPS is good news :) I shortly have to start driving so my PSP will not be relegated to holidays and business trips as I thought.

[eltower @ Mar 20th 2006 2:00PM]

Inevitably, $ony is running a tremendous scam with the PSP. Not only is the system overly expensive, but you have to unload an extra �50-60 per game, and an extra �150 if you want a Memory stick that'l hold more than just a couple of mp3s. Of course, all these attachments are obviously good for us PSP owners. But can you imagine what a GPS unit will cost? And not only that, but the extra hardware you'll have to lug around just to see where you are? Plus, of course, the extra drain on battery life, unless $ony complicates things more and gives the GPS unit a battery of its own.
PSOne games are terribly inviting. But I'm not ready to dish out �10 for an eroded copy of a game I already own just to be able to play it cropped on the PSP's widescreen.
The internet browser and extra networking capabilities make enormous sense - I for one use the browser when I'm in hotels etc. but without a keyboard it just gets annoying. And for those of you who call for a touchscreen, I can only say: Nintendo DS. Sure, it's a portable gaming unit. But it already has a microphone, and Opera DS is due for release in May. Oh, and the battery will last you for far more than two hours.

To #42, your post is very inspiring, but Sony makes a very comfortable profit on each little proprietary Memory Stick it sells, independently of the tax or patent or whatever. Some of us are in college on a very delicate budget - dropping �100 for memory is just unacceptable (depending on the month of the year), and if you're going to come out with the 'You're too poor to own a PSP anyway, Sony has a different market in mind, etc.' line... just don't.

[Zodian @ Mar 24th 2006 12:13PM]

This is why Sony makes me sad. Instead of making new games, let's announce that we're going to emulate PSOne games, but we won't release the add-ons for it for at least another 6 months...if ever. Plus they already have PSOne emulation on...oh yeah, PS2 (and PS3 if it ever comes out). They need to focus on making new products that are worthwhile instead of half-assed, rehashed ports. I've been a fan of Sony since PSX, but I refuse to buy a PSP, even after the price drop. $199 for a handheld is still way too high, especially with a less-than-stellar game library and high cost of memory sticks and UMD movies that I can buy for $10 on DVD. I'll stick with my DS for portable and PS2 at home.

[Schnazer @ Mar 24th 2006 3:13PM]

Way to go JetJaguar. I totally respect the opinions of the absolute gamers who prefer the DS for it's reasonable battery life and quirky Nintendo-ness (I have one and it's fun). However, all the PSP bashers need to realize it's a convergence device and a pretty good one too. I am happy using at as an MP3/WMA and movie player (I encode in AVC and have bought a few UMDs on bargain). I was too taunted by the LocationFree icon sitting there so I bought a basestation and now I enjoy watching my cable TV on my PSP as well. With the pending hardware updates, I'll probably be surfing the net/enjoying streaming web media with it a lot more too. I do agree that it needs way more game support. Some of the ones out there are pretty fun but they're too few and farbetween for today's gaming market. The PSone emulator for the PSP makes total sense seeing as I'd be more inclined to play PSone games on the go than on my PS2 :-)

I can only wish to live in a world without loading times... maybe this will be an advantage of the PSone flash ROMs.