Even, as India works itself into an iPad frenzy, there’s more stunning news coming in from overseas – Sony has announced the successor of the PSP. No, it is not called the PSP2, but a rather dull Next Generation Portable or the NGP. But if its nomenclature is dull, its specs sure as heck ain’t. Although it looks similar to the PSP with the same candybar shape with a screen in the middle and controls on either side, the NGP marks a huge change in Sony’s portable gaming strategy.
For one, the display is larger than the earlier PSP at 5 inches. Add to that the fact that it is OLED, and a touchscreen with multi-touch support and you will get an idea of why we think this is a major startegic shift for Sony. And that is not all – the device has two analog sticks, in addition to the direction keys and the normal four command keys (triangle, circle, cross, square) you get on a PSP, there is a multi-touch trackpad BEHIND the device (so you can do stuff on the screen without touching it – cool!), front and rear cameras, GPS, stereo speakers, Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity and a gyroscope, electric compass and accelerometer. And powering it all is a four core ARM Cortex A9 core processor. Now, if that does not make any gaming lover stand up and take notice, they will be very hard to please. Seldom has so much been packed into a 182.0 x 18.6 x 83.5mm package.
Of course, just how well the device will do will depend on the games that run on it and judging by what we have heard so far, the NGP is on a VERY good wicket indeed. The device will have access to PlayStation Network and will be able to play PSP titles, minis, PS One (remember it?) classics, and also videos and comics from the PlayStation store. Right now, we have no idea about the release date and price, and a few other specs, but from what we have seen, we can confess to be being very impressed indeed. Is this the device that can halt the advance of the DS and the iPod touch /iPhone/iPad combo? On paper, we certainly think so – there is very little that this device cannot do in gaming terms. Now, it is up to the games and the price. We are waiting and watching. With bated breath.
wow man……..damn……..iPod touch cant hold a candle to it now…..
I know. This thing is a MONSTER. My only concern is just how many games will be able to make use of those features. And of course, the price.
yeah…….they cant just lift the accelerometer driven racing games from the iPod Touch/ iPhone directly now.
Sony needs to innovate on the present hardware and should be able to bring something new to the table