In countries where the average daily wage hovers somewhere around the cost of a Starbucks latte, the expensive PSP handheld remains out of reach for most consumers. That hasn't stopped enterprising hardware manufacturers in China from creating their own blatant ripoffs to compete with the coveted handheld in lower price brackets. Latest in a long line of knockoffs is the "Two Player Game", a PSP look-alike that actually does play games, although not of the PSP variety, and not for two players.
Two Player Game, or 2PG for short, is about as fancy a PSP clone as one could find in a Chinese street market. Thanks to flagrant disregard for international copyright laws, the device comes bundled with 117 classic NES roms, which can be played on the machine's backlit color screen. Just like its inspiration the PSP, 2 Player Game also comes with a TV-out connector and can attached to a (clone) DualShock controller for big-screen action. Contrary to the hopes of its designers, the awkwardly-named 2PG doesn't actually allow 2-player action of any kind.
If you find yourself tempted next time you are confronted with the opportunity to buy one in a street stall, don't pay more than $40 USD for this PSP clone.
Monday, 17 November 2008
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
How Will Sony PSP React to Nintendo DSi?
Nintendo and Sony have been at each other's throats ever since the original PlayStation hit the market to compete against the Nintendo 64. The relationship between these two giants is quite the storied one, because the PlayStation was originally developed for Nintendo. They had their differences of opinion, parted ways, and the rest is history.
The competition continues to this day, as we see the Sony PS3 battle it out in the same playground as the Nintendo Wii. Yes, they are very distinct systems with distinct strengths, but they're both home gaming consoles. Heading over to the portable market, the competition is just as fierce.
If you cast aside the iPhone for a moment, I think that you'd agree that the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP are the dominant offerings in portable gaming these days. Nintendo recently released an updated model, dubbed the Nintendo DSi, offing a similar form factor as the DS Lite, but with several notable upgrades. It's available in Japan and should be coming to North America some time next year.
Even though Sony has a newer PSP with a brighter screen and slimmer profile already, I have a burning suspicion that another update could be in the works that responds directly to the new NDSi. How will Sony react? What will be its countermove?
Pfft... I Already Have That
The competition continues to this day, as we see the Sony PS3 battle it out in the same playground as the Nintendo Wii. Yes, they are very distinct systems with distinct strengths, but they're both home gaming consoles. Heading over to the portable market, the competition is just as fierce.
If you cast aside the iPhone for a moment, I think that you'd agree that the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP are the dominant offerings in portable gaming these days. Nintendo recently released an updated model, dubbed the Nintendo DSi, offing a similar form factor as the DS Lite, but with several notable upgrades. It's available in Japan and should be coming to North America some time next year.
Even though Sony has a newer PSP with a brighter screen and slimmer profile already, I have a burning suspicion that another update could be in the works that responds directly to the new NDSi. How will Sony react? What will be its countermove?
Pfft... I Already Have That
Sony Unveils ‘PSP 3000’ In India
Sony Computer Entertainment India has rolled out its latest PSP-3000 in India, at the biggest gaming expo ‘PlayStation Experience 2008’ held in Mumbai on Saturday.
Moreover, the company has also declared its plans to launch of the 80 GB Sony PS3 console in the Indian market.
Supporting Wi-Fi connection, the PSP-3000 plays the similar games and provides the same media support as the former PSP models.
However, the company has upgraded the new system with a superior LCD screen and a new built-in microphone for gamers to use the portable gaming console as a communicator. Users can also speak into the device and speak online with their friends.
The PSP-3000 system features a highly-improved screen, which draws more power than the old screen.
In addition to the functionality and aesthetics of the PSP Slim and Lite (PSP-2000), the anti-glare technology of PSP-3000 boasts to reduce the glare caused by sunlight and harsh indoor lighting.
Mr. Atindriya Bose, Country Manager, Sony Computer Entertainment, stated, “There is huge scope for Sony Computer Entertainment amongst the Indian audience with the introduction of the newly designed PSP – 3000. It has an advanced LCD viewing, which further improves the very popular, high resolution PSP display along with a built-in microphone, which brings a new dimension of gaming to the overall entertainment experience.”
The Sony PSP-3000 can be purchased at a price Rs 9,440. The pricing and availability of the 80 GB PS3 in India is yet to be announced.
Moreover, the company has also declared its plans to launch of the 80 GB Sony PS3 console in the Indian market.
Supporting Wi-Fi connection, the PSP-3000 plays the similar games and provides the same media support as the former PSP models.
However, the company has upgraded the new system with a superior LCD screen and a new built-in microphone for gamers to use the portable gaming console as a communicator. Users can also speak into the device and speak online with their friends.
The PSP-3000 system features a highly-improved screen, which draws more power than the old screen.
In addition to the functionality and aesthetics of the PSP Slim and Lite (PSP-2000), the anti-glare technology of PSP-3000 boasts to reduce the glare caused by sunlight and harsh indoor lighting.
Mr. Atindriya Bose, Country Manager, Sony Computer Entertainment, stated, “There is huge scope for Sony Computer Entertainment amongst the Indian audience with the introduction of the newly designed PSP – 3000. It has an advanced LCD viewing, which further improves the very popular, high resolution PSP display along with a built-in microphone, which brings a new dimension of gaming to the overall entertainment experience.”
The Sony PSP-3000 can be purchased at a price Rs 9,440. The pricing and availability of the 80 GB PS3 in India is yet to be announced.
Impossible Mission comes to the Sony PSP handheld
Impossible mission… when one thinks about those words, the first thing that comes to mind is the awesome classics back on the arcade machines. That this arcade classic has made its way to our beloved handheld doesn’t come as much of a surprise, considering all the classic ports we have seen on the PSP lately.
Impossible Mission was originally made in 1984 for the Commodore 64, and included some good gameplay for that time. You would see your character moving through rooms, avoiding multitudes of strange robots, exploring cupboards and the like. The Impossible Mission PSP version isn’t unlike the original. It even has the blocky graphics and the weirdly cool sound effects to complement the game’s classic sense, giving you the ’80s feel when you play it.
Improvements in the port include two new game modes apart from the classic mode. The ‘new’ mode has a significant uplift in Visuals and sound, while the ‘merged’ mode has a funny mixed of the two, mixing various parts of the old and new versions.
The original was most well known for its sounds, considering it was one of the first titles to implement digitized speech. The new version has improved on this a bit. The backgrounds also seem more detailed in the PSP, but since the game takes you through rooms that are randomly generated, you can’t expect the detail to be perfect.
Gameplay-wise, the old and new versions are almost the same, the only difference being that while you were given 6 hours to complete the original, you will have the pleasure of playing for an extra two to complete this version. Dying in the game however will bite a chunk out of the timer, and when time runs out, there are no other options except to start over. This could have been made optional to accommodate the more casual gamers, but I guess that wasn’t really on their minds.
A major drawback to the PSP version is that while other classics were offered as a collection, comprising of numerous titles for the price of one, impossible mission came alone, which could have been avoided by releasing a couple of others with it to reduce the overall cost, making it more affordable.
Impossible Mission was originally made in 1984 for the Commodore 64, and included some good gameplay for that time. You would see your character moving through rooms, avoiding multitudes of strange robots, exploring cupboards and the like. The Impossible Mission PSP version isn’t unlike the original. It even has the blocky graphics and the weirdly cool sound effects to complement the game’s classic sense, giving you the ’80s feel when you play it.
Improvements in the port include two new game modes apart from the classic mode. The ‘new’ mode has a significant uplift in Visuals and sound, while the ‘merged’ mode has a funny mixed of the two, mixing various parts of the old and new versions.
The original was most well known for its sounds, considering it was one of the first titles to implement digitized speech. The new version has improved on this a bit. The backgrounds also seem more detailed in the PSP, but since the game takes you through rooms that are randomly generated, you can’t expect the detail to be perfect.
Gameplay-wise, the old and new versions are almost the same, the only difference being that while you were given 6 hours to complete the original, you will have the pleasure of playing for an extra two to complete this version. Dying in the game however will bite a chunk out of the timer, and when time runs out, there are no other options except to start over. This could have been made optional to accommodate the more casual gamers, but I guess that wasn’t really on their minds.
A major drawback to the PSP version is that while other classics were offered as a collection, comprising of numerous titles for the price of one, impossible mission came alone, which could have been avoided by releasing a couple of others with it to reduce the overall cost, making it more affordable.
Apple touts iPod Touch and iPhone as rival to DS, PSP
You can throw away your beloved Nintendo DS and bin your Sony PSP and as for a Nokia N-Gage phone don't even think about it. Well according to some Apple guy you might as well do that as he believes that the iPod Touch is the future of handheld gaming.
In an interview with Stuff magazine, Greg Jozwiak, Apple's Vice-President of Product Marketing, said that there were many more games available for the touchscreen iPod through its App Store than games for Sony and Nintendo's handhelds.
"There are over 1,500 games already available for the iPod Touch and iPhone. That's more than the PSP and DS put together... they range all the way from casual to big time action games. This is where we are, less than four months into it. Squint your eyes and imagine where we will be in six months time, or a year," said Jozwiak.
He also reckoned that the Touch has better graphics than the DS as well as sporting multitouch, an accelerometer and a larger screen
All this combined really makes us a big competitor in this market... We think we'll leave a lot of people scrambling to see how they're going to compete. A lot of our competitors have recognised this and thought ‘uh oh'," boasted the Apple man.
He also pointed out that games were cheaper typically costing £6 compared to £25 for the rival consoles.
He didn't stop with the handheld market leaders. He turn his ire to the Nokia N-Gage.
"I think if you ask most people, they don't know what it is," he said cheekily.
Thems words are fighting talk. We expect to hear from spokespeople from Nintendo and Sony quite soon. Maybe even Nokia.
In an interview with Stuff magazine, Greg Jozwiak, Apple's Vice-President of Product Marketing, said that there were many more games available for the touchscreen iPod through its App Store than games for Sony and Nintendo's handhelds.
"There are over 1,500 games already available for the iPod Touch and iPhone. That's more than the PSP and DS put together... they range all the way from casual to big time action games. This is where we are, less than four months into it. Squint your eyes and imagine where we will be in six months time, or a year," said Jozwiak.
He also reckoned that the Touch has better graphics than the DS as well as sporting multitouch, an accelerometer and a larger screen
All this combined really makes us a big competitor in this market... We think we'll leave a lot of people scrambling to see how they're going to compete. A lot of our competitors have recognised this and thought ‘uh oh'," boasted the Apple man.
He also pointed out that games were cheaper typically costing £6 compared to £25 for the rival consoles.
He didn't stop with the handheld market leaders. He turn his ire to the Nokia N-Gage.
"I think if you ask most people, they don't know what it is," he said cheekily.
Thems words are fighting talk. We expect to hear from spokespeople from Nintendo and Sony quite soon. Maybe even Nokia.
Saturday, 20 September 2008
The biggest PSP games that you need to keep an eye on
The PSP may have gone through a long dry spell of little to no releases, but that's all coming to an end this fall. A flood of portable titles will be hitting shelves in the next few months, giving PSP owners the option to warm themselves with the rosy glow of their small LCD screens.
Covering everything from action titles like LEGO Batman and sports games like PES 2009: Pro Evolution Soccer, to racing games like Midnight Club: LA Remix and RPGs like Valhalla Knights 2, the PSP's lead up to the holiday season is about to get extremely busy.
If you're looking for the best games to keep an eye out for, look no further. We've pulled out some of the largest titles that you should check out when they get released this Fall.
READ MORE....
Covering everything from action titles like LEGO Batman and sports games like PES 2009: Pro Evolution Soccer, to racing games like Midnight Club: LA Remix and RPGs like Valhalla Knights 2, the PSP's lead up to the holiday season is about to get extremely busy.
If you're looking for the best games to keep an eye out for, look no further. We've pulled out some of the largest titles that you should check out when they get released this Fall.
READ MORE....
Nintendo DS sales double PSP in Japan
Nintendo Co.'s Nintendo DS handheld sales doubled that of Sony Corp.'s PSP handheld in the latest Japan retail data.
Media Create Co. on Fri. reported that the DS sold 63,859 units between Sept. 9 and Sept. 14.
By comparison, the PSP sold 30,156 in the same period.
DS sales were bolstered by the release of Pokemon Platinum, which sold 963,273 copies to rank as the No. 1 game title.
Additionally, Konami Corp.'s Quiz Magic Academy DS ranked as the No. 2 title for the week.
Nintendo in Sept. released a new Metallic Silver DS to U.S. retail.
Sony in Oct. will introduce a new PSP-3000 model in the new Ratchet and Clank PSP Entertainment Pack.
Media Create Co. on Fri. reported that the DS sold 63,859 units between Sept. 9 and Sept. 14.
By comparison, the PSP sold 30,156 in the same period.
DS sales were bolstered by the release of Pokemon Platinum, which sold 963,273 copies to rank as the No. 1 game title.
Additionally, Konami Corp.'s Quiz Magic Academy DS ranked as the No. 2 title for the week.
Nintendo in Sept. released a new Metallic Silver DS to U.S. retail.
Sony in Oct. will introduce a new PSP-3000 model in the new Ratchet and Clank PSP Entertainment Pack.
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