Sony Insights » PSP

Sony at E3; Playstation Network, XMB and PSP rumours

Josh Tait — Wed, 19 May 2010 10:08:22 +0000

What will Sony unveil at E3 2010?

E3 is currently just under a month away and as per usual the gaming press is surmising what each of the major games companies will bring to the event. This rumour mill starts up at this time each and every year with journalists theorising what the Sony Playstation bigwigs and developers will be able to deliver for 2010 and 2011. Here at Sony insights we felt that a quick round up of the latest Playstation gossip would whet your appetites for the main event in a month’s time.

First are the rumours surrounding the release of a true second generation Playstation Portable system. Maybe Sony feel that the PSP Go has gone and that a new iteration of the device is required. If the rumours are to be believed, then the Sony PSP2 will have not only a touch screen but two cameras on the front and rear of the device, 3G capabilities and a stupendously powerful 4 core cell processor. Whether these features are correct will have to be confirmed but if production timeframes are taken into account then it is more likely we will see this device at the Tokyo Games Conference ( a theory added credence by the fact that as of yet this geographical area represents the largest market for Sony’s portable device.)

Whether or not the PSP rumours can be believed is a matter of conjecture, what seems more certain however is that Sony will be announcing a premium option for the Playstation Network. Up until this point the PSN has been free to users but according to sources within Sony the company is going to release an online gaming package that coexists with the free PSN costing around fifty pounds a year.

In terms of games fans can expect to see demonstrations of the Playstation Move controller with titles such as Sports Champions and Move Party. In addition it is likely that the latest version of the fabled Gran Turismo 5 project will be on show, (we may even get an official release date….. or not as the case may be). It is also likely that the latest episode in the Socom franchise will also be presented.

Finally, it is believed by many that the Playstation’s XMB (Xcross Media Bar) will be undergoing a major redesign, not just adding a few icons but re-hauling the whole look of the interface.

As always we’ll keep our fingers on the pulse so you don’t have to. Remember these are just rumours at the moment and predicting what will happen at E3 is traditionally like predicting the British weather so if you have any opinions, you know where to put them.

Gunners Football Comes to the Sony PSP

Josh Tait — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:19:26 +0000

An Arsenal Fan's PSP

It is not often that Sony Insights delves into the world of sport for reporting news but in this case there is certainly an argument to do so. News has recently been announced that Arsenal F.C. (a London football team) has agreed a deal with Sony to launch an application specially developed for the PSP. The deal will allow Arsenal fans with a PSP to take the device along to games and use it once inside the Emirates Stadium.

The details of the deal between Sony and Arsenal have not yet been fully released but early reports suggest that fans will be provided with a special disk that contains information and data allowing connection to the Emirates Stadium’s wireless network. Fans will then have the option to study statistics whilst matches are being played but more importantly access will be granted to a live television feed as well as action replays of in-game events.

Arsenal are definitely leading the way with this type of technology, it is something that could have applications in a variety of different sports. For example, in the sport of cricket, a personal device that provided action replays and statistical information would be invaluable for spectators. That said, there will undoubtedly be reaction to the initiative. A pertinent line of argument would be that after spending so much money on a ticket to go and see a match at the Emirates Stadium, would fans really want to spend the entire time glued to the screen of their Sony PSP?

Time will tell whether this sort of system gains popularity amongst fans. There are certainly benefits to having access to action replays and live coverage in game but there is a strong chance that this could seriously affect the atmosphere at sporting events.

Sony Bring Cricket into the Modern Age

Sony Blame a Lack of PSP Effort on the PS3

Josh Tait — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:16:54 +0000

Many Sony PSP owners will be acutely aware that last year was somewhat of a drought for top quality games on this handheld console. The PSP is now over five years in existence and it has gone through a number of makeovers, the latest of which being a complete overhaul resulting in the PSP Go. However, whilst this little gaming device has not been blessed by great titles for some time now, Sony have promised to focus more of their attention on the PSP in the future.

Sony boss Shuhei Yoshida has recently admitted that the company were clearly guilty of focusing too much on the PS3 since its launch. This is understandable; often seen as the bigger, more powerful brother of the PSP the PS3 has regularly captured the imagination of game developers more than the handheld device. Apparently this is going to change, with a raft of console “must haves” coming to the PSP in the next six months.

The first of these is Little Big Planet, already a popular game on the PS3 this cutesy and adorable game has been embraced by both young and old gamers alike, its move to a portable version seemed only a matter of time whilst the connectivity between the PS3 and handheld should provide the gamer with a serious gaming experience whether at home or on the move. Additionally Sony has announced Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny and Tekken 6 for the handheld ensuring that fight fans are amply catered for. The final big release for the format is Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, an episode of the massive GTA franchise that should provide the mobile gamer with truly unique experience.

While Sony may have been guilty in neglecting its little console for some time, it is clear that in the coming year that games developers and Sony as an organisation are serious about providing PSP owners with a variety of well conceived and implemented titles for mobile gaming.