PSP Redesign imminent?

[sixteen-bit]

"Smaller, lighter" iteration on the way
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SCE UK managing director Ray Maguire has confirmed the platform holder’s intentions to release a redesigned version of its PlayStation Portable handheld.

Speaking yesterday afternoon at the national launch of Sony’s PSP in Education initiative, Maguire told an invited audience of press, teachers and education specialists that the current PSP is just the "first iteration".

In line with the firm’s strategy for previous consoles, a "smaller, lighter" system will be introduced in the future.

Responding to a query on Sony’s plans for redesigning the system, Maguire added that any changes to the industrial design would not affect the size of PSP’s screen - widely seen as one of the system’s key strengths - which is "fixed". He did not offer any suggestions as to when the new iteration might be released.

A reworked PSP has been rumoured for months, but this is the first time a Sony executive has gone on record to confirm the company’s plans. Aside from a reduction in size and weight, Maguire did not suggest any additional changes to the hardware.

If the cost of components for the reworked PSP is less, the machine itself could also carry a lower price tag. It currently retails for GBP 179.

Cutting the size and cost of console hardware has been standard practice for Sony since it introduced PSone in 2000, five-and-a-half years after the Japanese launch of the original PlayStation. The slimline PStwo launched four years after PlayStation 2.

Following the PSP in Education event, a Sony spokesperson told GamesIndustry.biz that while there are no "immediate changes" planned for the handheld other than new firmware updates, "In the longest term, of course we are always looking at ways to continue our platform development, and this normal business practice is what Ray was referring to."

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content...?aid=23465:tu:

Smaller and lighter is nice, but I hope they fix the PSP's bigger problems, namely the screen and the controls.

[Space Pirate Roberts]

How exactly are they going to make it smaller without shrinking the screen? Remove the dpad and buttons?

[Yoshi]

Thinner perhaps.

[George]

To be honest it's thin enough already, maybe too much so. I can only grip the thing so long before my hands become twisted claws.

[Cowdisease]

LOL. Wasn't it a few days ago that a Sony exec said that the PSP wasn't going to be redesigned, but instead be sold in different colors?

Nonetheless, I'm interested in the redesigned PSP. Hope they drop the price too.

[kingoffighters]

LOL. Wasn't it a few days ago that a Sony exec said that the PSP wasn't going to be redesigned, but instead be sold in different colors?

Nintendo does this on a regular basis. I bought the original DS one week after they say there wasn't going to be a redesigned DS and of course, a week later DS Lite is announced. Never trust these company's PR BS.

[Yoshi]

I'm rooting hard for a redesigned PSP. I just hope it makes it out close to when Dracula X does.

[Grave]

Smaller and lighter is nice, but I hope they fix the PSP's bigger problems, namely the screen and the controls.

The controls I'll give you, but what's wrong with the screen?

[gamevet]

http://kotaku.com/gaming/top/rumor-n...ing-242845.php

PSP2 is coming!

And not only that, it looks like it's coming later this year. There have been rumors ever since the DS Lite hit that Sony was also planning a redesign of its portable. Some of those rumors have ground in reality, some of them are just wishful thinking. Nothing official has been announced, and Sony has shot down any chatter regarding a redesign saying it's not happening. With all this, PSP2 looks to be a pipe-dream — Like it's not happening.

Apparently, it is.

Various third party and highly placed sources state that the PSP2 is coming. Speculation is swirling around the industry, and third party publishers are hoping to tie their games to the PSP2 launch. Thing is, Sony has yet to pass along any information about when that will be. Meaning we won't see big third party titles at launch.

Word has it that a big announcement will most likely hit at E3 with Sony unveiling the redesigned portable. An announcement of launch date (which should be sometime 4th quarter) is entirely possible as well. The redesigned product apparently does exist as this is what we've heard so far:

The screen is gorgeous

The loads are faster

Improved buttons

Internal flash — 8GB

Possible touch-screen

Possible built-in camera

Uses UMD

The recent blockbuster success in Japan should prove that the PSP is anything but dead and deserving of a make-over.

[Port]

Well it certainly won't be cheaper.