Hopefully the PSP2 will look this Gorgeous. - Image Via notcliche.com
It’s inevitable that the PSP will have a successor, and it goes without saying that it will be a powerful device (by some reports the chipset within will be between the power of the original Xbox and the 360). But a handheld needs more that just power to be successful. Also for today’s world the PSP brand needs to evolve to compete with not just the DS, but the iPhone that corners the market with music and keeping in touch; and is moving head first into the games industry.
So, what can Sony do to get everyone to buy their product while keeping gamers happy? This Top Ten list tries to answer that.
1. Touch Screen
iPhone with the glorious touch screen and accelerometer - image via Wikipedia
This is a proven concept, the DS started it, and then the iPhone followed. If the PSP2 had a touch screen like that of the iPhone it could become an effective music player and real competition to the iPhone. Also with this and the next bit of tech on the list, every game made for the App store would be easily ported. Using the internet browser wouldn’t be needlessly slow either (like it is on today’s PSP).
2. Accelerometer
Motion controls are here to stay, it also has some uses with applications, for instance internet browsing on the iPhone uses it, along with many games and Apps on the Apps Store. In this way, Sony is playing catch up; they need to make it easier for those developers that have made those thousands of Apps for Apple’s device available to another device. Make it so! And port Flower to the PSP2 as well, playing that in an actual field would be great.
3. Download Only games
This is the way the world is moving. But they need a proper price structure to keep it competitive. Like that of Valve’s great steam service, they need give great deals and allow games to be gifted to friends and family. If the Playstation Store had a 75% sale (like those amazing Steam deals) I would buy way more games. And oddly enough, after a game goes back to the same p
rice, people keep buying it because of the extra buzz it’s created (according to Steam). It almost doesn’t seem possible, but this information could revolutionize selling games.
A second Analog stick would be a breeze. Image Via wikipedia
4. Dual analog sticks
It wouldn’t take that much to add this in, and so many control issues would be solved, Camera control is so important and not all developers are good enough to make smart camera angles (Like the God of War Series for instance). Also would make porting games easy right?….
5. Emulators
This is a no-brainer, PSOne games need to be playable but due to the extra power this handheld will have (and dual analog sticks), they could add PS2 games, and Dreamcast games. If they were offered at a minimum of price (a few dollars more expensive than the PSOne Classics being offered now for instance), they would
A Vision of the future, PS2 games on PSN - Image via Kotaku
be a HUGE success. It’s a matter of time before they become available on PSN for the PS3 they would be foolish to leave this ability out of the PSP’s descendant. Also some classic Genesis and Neo Geo games would also be nice bite-sized games for a few dollars.
6. Backwards compatibility
This is another no brainer, they need to have the whole PSP library playable from day one with full connect ability with the old PSP. So that those on the new handheld can still play games like Gran Tourismo and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite with those who haven’t yet upgraded.
7. Massive Hard Drive
Image via Wikipedia
Because you’ll have a download only device and much bigger games available (like PS2 games that can be up to 7 gigs each!) , you’ll need a big hard drive to carry those around on. 80 gigabytes should do it to start. All those music and movies would have a place to go as well. Keeping the slot for memory upgrades like the micro SD cards is also a must, and keeps the hand held future proof.
8. 3G and 4G connections
Now this is a big one. Here where I live (Canada) 3G is expensive and not as fast as cable modems. But while travelling to Russia of all places I learned of this magical 4G network, that worked everywhere, was as fast as a cable modem and the most interesting thing, only 20 dollars a month for unlimited downloads! Perhaps you’re thinking, why would this be important? The answer is Skype. If you bring the Skype software along from the psp-3000 and pspgo models you’d have essentially a PSP phone without having to pay AT&T or Verizon Wireless or Bell their expensive fees. Also having a continuous internet connection (not just relying on wi-fi hotspots) opens up the MMO market to handhelds.
These networks work really well and it’s only a matter of time before they become the norm (wireless N as well of course).
9. Camera
The PS3 Eye - Image by Carlos Allevato via Flickr
The PSP camera is an interesting idea, but if there is a built in camera the games built for it would have a much bigger audience. The PSP camera isn’t even released where I live. Being able to take half-decent pictures would be a plus as well, seeing as if you’d have a huge hard drive, and a great wireless connection you could send your pictures to friends easier than ever.
10. Wireless TV connection
Who likes wires? New Televisions coming out now can receive wireless signals from blue tooth devices. If the PSP2 had this ability, after playing your game or movie on the bus, you could throw it up on your TV from the comfort of your couch without threading a component cable. This would make the PSP2 a portable PSone, PS2, and Dreamcast, I don’t know about you but that would be a dream in this gamer’s head.
If Sony adds these to the PSP2 it could replace all the devices you carry around with you leaving your pockets free and easy. Anything that you think should be added? Or anything I forgot? Leave your comments below.
PSOneClassics.com
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February 10th, 2010 on 1:05 pm
From the beginning Sony has been about attracting gamers, not converting non-gamers with casual games.I wouldn’t want to see a touch screen on the PSP. I don’t like how the current PSP models smudge easily and seem to be a dust magnet, but the screen is large and beautiful. Having the possibility of playing good PS2 games is good enough for me, I don’t need a gimmicky touch interface or accelerometers.
The reason the browser is slow on the PSP isn’t because it’s not running Safari, it’s because of memory. Even Netbook computers with a standard 1.6 GHz processor are going to have an issue with media rich sites like YouTube. Maybe Apple chose to not have the iPhone run flash for this reason.
I agree with downloadable games only. It’s friendlier to the environment and not to mention no spinning discs! I play the PSP in bed the majority of the time. Although my wife has never complained about the UMD disc spinning, I’d rather play a game from a Memory Stick or Flash Drive. Having said that, I think the PSP2 should reiterate a UMD drive because of the amount of complaints Sony has received from there not being one on the PSPGo. Nice site BTW.
February 10th, 2010 on 4:08 pm
Hey, thanks for the comment, I see your point that Sony needs to keep their handhelds for gamers, but I wasn’t counting on the touch screen to do much for games, more for an interface for secondary functions. The browser on the PSP for instance I consider it slow not because of the memory, I consider it slow because of the input method. Using the buttons does take quite a while, even to go to one site! Now on my Itouch, I can type much faster, and it makes the browser feel that much more organic.
As Sony has been very much gamer centered with it’s products, it also grew the market with what WERE considered casual games. When the Playstation came out, many people believed that gaming culture would be forever ruined because of the “Frat Boy” element that latched on to gaming with Sports franchises like Madden becoming popular. If Sony wants to make a killer device I think they need to keep it a gamer’s hand held first, but still add in a lot of functionality that would make you choose it over an Iphone. If my psp could hold great apps,and navigate music and media like the Itouch and play great games I would be in heaven, (and I’d chuck out my Itouch).
As for the UMD drive re-iteration I’m not sold on it, I do have a lot of disc based games for PSP but the UMD drive takes up space, costs a lot to produce and is already obsolete. I’d much rather have an 80 gig flash drive. Playing disc based games also eats up the battery life as well, something else that Sony needs to fix with the PSP2 (10 hours would be nice!)
Glad you like the site, I’m working hard to make it even better!
February 10th, 2010 on 5:17 pm
Your right about the input method. I didn’t think of that, it is very slow. If it where quicker, I think I would use the browser more often. The only thing I use the browser for now is to sling media from my computer to my PSP with TVersity, because I’m too lazy to connect it to the PC, lol.
Disc media is a thing of the past IMO. There’s allot of reasons why flash drives outweigh the benefits of disc media. But the thing I like the most about storing games on a flash drive is the convenience of not having to drive to Best-Buy and purchase a game.
February 10th, 2010 on 10:03 pm
Well whatever happens with the new PSP2, I just hope it can be more than a game machine, they need to diversify, not just be a great game player, but be a great music player, and media player, and internet device! I mean, I have a PSP, an itouch and a phone. I want one that does all three, and doesn’t suck in one area. Iphone could be that possibility, BUT the games are really sub-par.
The PSPGo was a step in the right direction with the form factor though, it’s about as big as an itouch, and with the save states where you can pause your game and even watch movies or listen to music and THEN go back to your game it shows promise. If it becomes a 3G/4G device as well, with skype, it would be a knock out.
September 13th, 2010 on 11:58 pm
you are professional.