Octavious
Programer Guru! ...in the making
well, Its now confirmed, sony will ship .5 million units in Japan for the opening date of the 12th , a half a million more during first 3 months of '05 , and America and Europe will recieve a million each before end of March '05
so, that means an early 05 release date
cool
also, Sony is planning to make computer addons ( USB tenativley for now ) that will give off 802.11b if you dont want to go through the hassle of getting a network
they say it will act as a mini-network of 802.11b compat. devices and your computer only
so wireless will be more obtainable
Also, Sony spokespeople hinted to a possable upgraded PSP being released if finished soon enough with a more powerful version of same chip ( no more speed, kinda like having a faster Front side Bus tho ) and a differant chip archetecture ( <- spelling?? )
also also... EA Games plans to incorporate a feature in some games that allows play between PSP and PS2 consoles using the same game ( thats neat )
and finally, I think I seen it mentioned, but the PSP WILL have an upgradable firmware
thats all, just thought someone might want to see it
also, heres a nice article compairing the PSP and DS , showing some arguments settling hope
~Octavious
so, that means an early 05 release date
cool
also, Sony is planning to make computer addons ( USB tenativley for now ) that will give off 802.11b if you dont want to go through the hassle of getting a network
they say it will act as a mini-network of 802.11b compat. devices and your computer only
so wireless will be more obtainable
Also, Sony spokespeople hinted to a possable upgraded PSP being released if finished soon enough with a more powerful version of same chip ( no more speed, kinda like having a faster Front side Bus tho ) and a differant chip archetecture ( <- spelling?? )
also also... EA Games plans to incorporate a feature in some games that allows play between PSP and PS2 consoles using the same game ( thats neat )
and finally, I think I seen it mentioned, but the PSP WILL have an upgradable firmware
thats all, just thought someone might want to see it
also, heres a nice article compairing the PSP and DS , showing some arguments settling hope
Posted By Josh on Sep 10 2004
When Sony announced that they would be entering the portable gaming industry, fans began to compare the two systems because they thought they would be competing against each other. The fact is, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Sony and Nintendo are going after two different types of gamers, just as they have been since Sony entered the gaming scene. If history has taught us anything, it is that Sony and Nintendo have two very different ideas of what they want to achieve; this may have been the reason for the separation in the first place (Sony was working on a project for Nintendo which eventually became the PlayStation).
Nintendo has set their sights on the younger gamer – from zero to 16 years of age. There is clearly nothing wrong with this approach, as they are still very much in the game, but that is a fact that some fans try to ignore. Nintendo makes consoles and portables in a variety of fashionable colors and are very durable against all kinds of childish abuse. The games are generally more youth oriented, even though they have tried to sway this image with some mature additions to their gaming line-up. Overall, the youth market is their main target, and they have captured it quite successfully.
Sony, on the other hand, is looking for the older gaming audience which has been growing rapidly over the past few years (16 to 28 year-olds). Besides very limited edition runs, their consoles come in one color: the original in gray and the sequel in black. The consoles are considered more on the line of electronics than gaming equipment. The widest variety of games can be found on PlayStation consoles, which attracts more customers than any competitor, including Nintendo. Sony has been eying the portable gaming market for some time, and has chosen now to embark.
This is not an offensive, as some fans are trying to define it, but rather an exploration. Sony isn’t necessarily trying to take market share away from Nintendo, so much, as to create a new market within the portable gaming scene. As with consoles, Sony is aiming for a completely different market than Nintendo has. Sure, some gamers who are looking for a different portable gaming experience may slip over, but Sony’s bread and butter will be new gamers who currently don’t portable game. It is a riskier approach, but one that Sony is sure to dominate.
Let’s first look at the Nintendo DS. First off, the DS is not a successor to the GBA, it is merely a place holder until the next generation of GameBoys is released in 2006. The graphics can be best compared to the Nintendo64, a 64-bit system which couldn’t compete with the already established PlayStation. The system looks durable, because it is durable. Many smooth plastic parts in a clamshell design to protect the two screens. And yes, those two screens do not add up to more than a “ain’t it cool” factor which will either lead to success or complete failure (think VirtuaBoy).
As per usual, Nintendo will be rolling out new versions of archaic series such as Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, and Metroid. Nintendo has made a killing off of putting Mario is every scenario possible, so don’t think they won’t do it again with a new system. Mario DS, Mario Kart DS, Mario Paper DS, Mario Tennis DS, etc. – while these will no doubt be spectacular games, if you are looking for something different, you won’t find it here.
The PSP, on the other hand, is a little more dramatic. Its power will be very similar to PS2, a 128-bit system, and you can expect the games to look as good as or better than their current PS2 counterparts. The PSP will not be as durable as the DS, and will have to be treated as an electronic device (think Palm Pilot). That is reasonable considering Sony doesn’t expect children to be taking it out on the playground, as they see adults using it while on the subway or on a plane. PSP owners are looking for highly technical equipment, and that is what they will get.
For games, Sony has implemented a “no direct ports” policy, meaning that existing games on PS2 will not be allowed on the new system as a direct port. While this doesn’t mean that these games won’t make it onto the PSP, it does mean that you will see new features to create a new gaming experience. Sony is not only working towards bringing the best classic series onto the PSP, but also bring new series on to create a balanced library of titles.
These are clearly two different markets. Nintendo will be going after their core audience of diehard fans. Those individuals who have grown up with Nintendo as their primary portable gaming device will flock to the DS for a familiar gaming experience. Sony is creating a new market of gamers who have yet to own a portable gaming device. People who enjoy the experience that PS2 brings them will no doubt feel right at home on the PSP. So, these two devices aren’t competing against each other – they are going after two very different types of gamers.
~Octavious