Sony PSP Price Revealed

[NovaXpress]

Sony's October Surprize

Only $189, that makes the competition with the DS a lot more interesting. If they bring it out in the US at $150 then we'll have a true system war in the works.

[Dones]

Reading from a similar thread at slashdot.org, it was mentioned that the battery provided by Sony was from 4 to 6 hours.

[msaeger]

Yeah I read 4 to 5 hours for games so what happened to the long battery life.

[keilbaca]

That's cool, that's better than the $300 original price tag, but I still wouldn't buy it because I played it at TGS and didn't like it one bit. Too bulky, screen exposed like the gba. Plus, the controls were awkward as well (to me at least)

[NovaXpress]

For a system that does all the PSP can, I'm stunned that they stretched it that far. Most gamers don't need more than 4-5 of continuous battery life. Really, they don't. Especially adults, who often have things like work and family in their lives.

 

I felt the PSP was riding for a fall until I saw the price. They could make a serious run by marketing themselves as a grown-up alternative to the game Boy series. I'd have ads with a hot chick dumping a DS player "I don't play with boys" for a dude with a PSP. Sony also needs to get a killer app, one that's not available on the PS2. Having the testicular fortitude to hold a sure-fire hit off their flagship system is a must if they want to avoid becoming a novelty item. Sony will never knock Nintendo off the top but they could become a viable, lasting rival.

[xenomorpher]

Battery life to me isnt a huge issue for any handheld. Im very pleased about the price.

[Dones]

It is an issue imo, considering the DS reported battery life is 6-10 hrs. Nintendo tends to report conservative, worst-case numbers when releasing technological specs. Sony on the other hand tends to report ideal case numbers when talking about its tech products. In other words the actual battery life for the DS could be higher (and lower for the PSP).

[NovaXpress]

Anyone over the age of 18 who needs more than 2 hours of continuous battery time needs to get a life. This system is aimed at adults, who don't need 10 hours. The head developer from Sony is hinting at over 3 hours which will satisfy the target market. Really, it will. WE can also safely assume that if the launch is successful, a better battery will be offered. Now its all about the games and the advertising.

 

Maybe the system will suck, I think that load times are a potential killer. Maybe the games won't be impressive enough to draw sales. We shall see. I'm confident that the DS will succeed and feel that all the news about the PSP is looking good.

[msaeger]

I want the long battery life so I don't have to worry about it being charged or not before I take it with me. With my SP I don't have to worry about it because even after the low battery light comes on I still have plenty of play time left. I tend to just leave it in the car so I have it for when I get stuck waiting for something like oil chages.

 

Plus if they are rating it for 4 to 6 hours how long is the real battery life 2 to 3 ?

[xenomorpher]

Well Im not mad because I highly doubt I will play it 4 hours a week. Plus if you play it an hour a day you could always recharge it when you are sleeping...

[Dones]

Exactly. Not everyone recharges their portables every day. That means lots of recharging time and lots of frustrated gamers who won't be able to play or have their game interrupted because they forgot to do their daily recharge. This will affect all kinds of PSP users regardless if they can play for hours straight or not.

[NovaXpress]

If you want a superior machine, then you have to treat it right. Which means good recharging habits and/or backup batteries when on the move.

 

The best hype-free estimates suggest around 3 hours of life with the current PSP battery. No doubt there will be great advances in this if the system launches well.

 

Remember: this product is aimed at 30-year old gamers like me. Ones with some solid income who want the best and don't intend to subject such expensive gear to long trips being knocked around in a backpack. Any road trips I'd take a PSP on would be brief. If I was going to play for an extended period, it would be in a setting where i could make use of the AC adapter.

 

The DS battery power is for a different market: kids and college students with lots of free time who actually would make use of that 10 hour life span. For the majority of older gamers, that would never be an issue.

[xenomorpher]

Basically if you want the gameplay style and graphics like a console but if you are on the go a lot then this is a good idea.

[Dones]

Come one man. Age doesn't necessarily equal to better maintenance habits. For example, just look at all the scratched CD's in a video rental store. While I disagree with you I see your point and I am sure that in your case your PSP will be treated with higher than average care.

 

Changing the subject: the december date is for the USA or JAP release?

[Avid Fan]

The price of the PSP is BS. You need to get a memory card and that shit, no f'ing way. Memory cards on handhelds? If anything the memory card should be the game. tsk tsk

[xenomorpher]

Maybe the memory card has more than one function...

[msaeger]

It must not be aimed at 32 year olds like me that don't want to have to worry if I remembered to bring it in to charge it or not.

 

And I'll buy one just like I buy every other console but if I'm actually going to use somthing as a portable it will probably still be the SP because it's the most worry free and fits in a pocket easily.

[msaeger]

Changing the subject: the december date is for the USA or JAP release?

 

It comes out in Japan first.

[Mr Egg]

to close to $200 for me . i figure it as an introductory price and should level off at $150

[Major Havoc 2049]

Here's some better info and pics, than CNN provides.

Sony has officially announced PlayStation Portable launch information. The PSP will launch in Japan on December 12, for 19,800 yen (US$185). The PSP package includes the PSP system, AC Adapter and Battery Pack. The battery life has also been confirmed, the PSP uses rechargeable Li-Ion battery which can be used for 4-6 hours for playing games, and 4-5 hours for watching videos. 21 titles will be released throughout December 2004.

 

Sony will also release a PSP Value Pack on the same date, for 24800 yen, which includes the PSP, Memory Stick Duo 32MB, Battery Pack, AC Adaptor, Headphones with remote control, carrying case and hand strap.

 

Source:

http://www.the-magicbox.com/gaming.htm

[chrisbid]

Sony will also release a PSP Value Pack on the same date, for 24800 yen, which includes the PSP, Memory Stick Duo 32MB, Battery Pack, AC Adaptor, Headphones with remote control, carrying case and hand strap.

 

Source:http://www.the-magicbox.com/gaming.htm

 

 

so what does the bare bones pack include? will it have a battery and AC adapter?

[Ralph3]

Maybe the memory card has more than one function...

It will be the standard Sony Memory Stick. It will also be for MP3s, maybe pics and short videos.

[mechanized]

Remote Control on a handheld? That's remedial.

 

The PSP isn't something I had planned on getting, and it still isn't. I'd say there's less than a one percent chance that'll change. I don't do much handheld gaming, and what I do handheld-wise is handled great with a GameBoy Advance. Hell, most GBA games I prefer to play on the GameBoy Player as it is, but the GBA's backwards compatibility gives it essentially three libraries of games to tap on for software. I'd say the only thing I'm really left wanting would be an autonomous GameBoy to television unit (one that doesn't rely on connecting to, in particular, the GameCube and an emulation disc).

 

My GameBoy dream currently consists of such an autonomous unit, built to resemble a miniature SNES. That'd be.... so good.

[Avid Fan]

I dunno, the PSP doesnt do a thing for me, but if they port RE 2, 3, and Code veronica, along with the GTA games, I'd get it for sure. I do most of my gaming off of an intec screen so I just dig portables, but only the GBA suffices so far

[raindog]

My GameBoy dream currently consists of such an autonomous unit, built to resemble a miniature SNES.  That'd be.... so good.

Lik-Sang used to sell GBA to composite video kits for the original GBA... maybe someone will sell you one on ebay, and you could certainly make a miniature SNES out of it. The controller would be tricky, but as long as you're case modding you should be up to it.