$199 Psp

[Strike!]

TOKYO--Less than 24 hours after Sony informed the public of its existence, the 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing kicked off in a hall in Tokyo. With little fanfare, Sony Computer President Ken Kutaragi took the stage to lay out his vision for the future of the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PSP.

After reminding the crowd that the PlayStation 2 has sold over 100 million units, Kutaragi quickly turned the subject to the PSP. He said that, beginning in October the portable would support video voice over IP. This would be done with the use of a digital camera add-on which would support motion jpegs. Kutaragi referred to the camera as an "EyeToy," and said it would attach externally to the handheld.

Kutaragi also announced that Sony is developing an emulator that will allow PSPs to play original PlayStation games. He said the PSone games would be digitally distributed to PSPs, adding ammo to rumors that Sony is planning to distribute classic games much like Microsoft already does with the Xbox 360 and Nintendo will with the Revolution.

Since the PSP's built-in memory is limited, the digital-distribution announcement also seems to lend credence that a second PSP with built-in flash memory is in the works, though Kutaragi did not confirm so explicitly.

Kutaragi concretely confirmed another rumor--that the PSP would play games made with Macromedia Flash. He also said the handheld would support RSS feeds at an unspecified later date, and that it would eventually get GPS locator functionality.

The executive then went on to officially confirm the delay of the PS3 and announce new features for the platform.

[UPDATE] At the same time across the Pacific, Sony Computer Entertainment America announced that it is dropping the US price of the PSP. Starting March 22, gamers will be able to pick up the portable for just $199, versus the $249 Value Pack currently available. However, while the Value Pack contains a 32MB Memory Stick Duo, soft case, remote control, and headphones, the only peripherals mentioned as being in the $199 PSP package are a "AC adaptor and battery," which are also included in the Value Pack.

Sony used the new price point announcement to proclaim that since the PSP's launch last March, it has shipped 15 million units worldwide. It boasted that, so far, the handheld has brought "in more than $1.6 billion as of calendar year 2005, more than both Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS combined."

The company also said that by month's end there will be "more than 107 games and more than 347 feature films, TV programs and videos from major studios" available for the PSP in North America.

By Tor Thorsen, Henry Niizumi -- Gamespot

The NDS could have a tough year.

 

[Mikau]

I'm pretty confident that the DS will still be selling better. I mean it is cheaper and it will have some pretty good games coming out for it. Just look at Metroid Prime Hunters,now that will be one if not the best game for the DS this year.

 

[Tobbin]

I dunno. I'll have to see what this video voice over thing is that they are talking about. Dunno what the deal is in regards to RSS, cause they already have that. If you got the system upgrade to 2.6, it is already in the software. Hmmm. It could be cool to get a $200 PSP though. I could use a spare / replacement in case of any problems with mine. Even better if it has flash memory that is of a decent size. It'd be pretty cool to play PS1 games on the PSP, but I dunno that many titles I'd want, cause I pretty much missed out on PS1 in the 1st place. Yeah, Metroid is gonna be AWESOME!!!!! Can't wait for that to come out on the DS (is it already out? I know it's sometime this month.)

 

[BluekiKatana]

With the Nintendo DS lite coming out and Pokemon Diamond and Pearl I predict that will be heavy shot to Sony's handheld company.
Doesn't matter what Sony does they cannot really beat that.
I say $199 is still a rip, they should be $150 by now.

 

[AV_ROcK-Dark-TB]

I say $199 is still a rip, they should be $150 by now.

heh,you think so DS hade less then 50 down for the sale and It was less then a year..SONY can put the sale down enytime they wan't.

 

[Bulk]

heh,you think so DS hade less then 50 down for the sale and It was less then a year..SONY can put the sale down enytime they wan't.

Apart from Sony are only in the business now to make as much money as they can, regardless of who they hurt along the way,

 

[Tobbin]

Apart from Sony are only in the business now to make as much money as they can, regardless of who they hurt along the way,

How does Sony keeping a price at a certain level hurting anyone? If people don't want to pay the price, that means less sales for Sony. If they are hurting anyone, it would be themselves. Hmmmmm......

 

[PUrEHearT]

you'd probably need other accecories to do video and stuff. Besides, you can do all that stuff on a cell phone these days.

Sony is droping the price? Well that might boost sails a bit, but probably not by much.

 

[ShiningClefairy]

you'd probably need other accecories to do video and stuff. Besides, you can do all that stuff on a cell phone these days.

How much about this stuff do you know? Sheesh.

Cell phones cannot play Flash games, or videos (unless your phone has a download service, but you still can't put them onto your phone), full length movies, or GPS (unless I am mistaken).

You don't need other accessories for the video stuff if it has built in flash memory like the rumor says.

I've come to this conclusion: It has to have flash memory. Otherwise, you'll have to buy a memory stick, which will cancel out the cheaper price. Why would anyone in their right mind buy a $200 system and a memory stick when they could get a $250 system with a memory stick and more accessories?

It bothers me that there are over 3 times as many movies as their are games.

 

[Zora]

in more than $1.6 billion as of calendar year 2005, more than both Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS combined

(consider the fact that Xbox 360 did the worst, DS did the best)

More reason why Sony is targeting the DS in handheld market.

 

[nardjr16]

if you look at it its the games that sell the system, and so far nintendo has been killing sony, sony needs to leave the handheld buisnees to nintendo and focus on crushing microsoft.

 

[Paradox]

It's Sony's first attempt, and they've been doing bloody well considering no one has even got close to Nintendo's handhelds so far. By the same logic Nintendo should stop making consoles beacuse the GC sold much less than the PS2.

The DS and PSP are mostly even everywhere except Japan