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

Metal Gear Solid

Price: $9.99

Release Date on PSN:June 18th 2009

Original Release date: October 21st 1998

Story

Metal Gear is applauded for its story, it’s complex, grown up, well written, but the voice acting is top notch, and that’s a real rarity on the PSone. It centers around a covert operative named Snake, who is brought out of retirement to remedy a situation happening on an Island off of the coast of Alaska. There are many twists and turns in the story, betrayals, characters that are really developed well; this is not the same old story telling that was the norm in games at the time.

The story certainly drives the game and it makes it a memorable experience. It will keep you guessing as well if you haven’t had it spoiled for you (hopefully not!).

Gameplay

Metal Gear Solid is different from most games in the way that it’s a stealth game. Now this was a bit confusing to me, because I believed that it would make the game boring, usually the more shooting in a game the better right? Well in this regard I was completely wrong, I felt that there was a great balance between the stealth and shooting gameplay, and I felt excited and satisfied by

both.

The boss encounters in this game really make you think as well, each one is unique in the way you need to approach them; it’s not the same dodge, then spam gunfire you experience in most other action games. These really need to be experienced to be understood, I’d love to write about all my favorite moments, but no spoilers!

Regular sneaking gameplay for the most part works well. Snake is responsive and there are many different ways of tricking the guards (almost too many!). You do get a sense that there are a lot of options in this game. You can sneak your way through the whole thing, or blast everyone in your way. It’s up to you. Not many games let you play like this and it makes it stand out.

Graphics

Like most PSone titles that went for a realistic look, Metal Gear Solid shows its age. But it does have a few redeeming features. They use certain effects like blurring, and double vision to get you more immersed, and it runs very smoothly.

The character models may look a little simplistic, but the animation is great, and overall the graphics don’t hinder the story. The

Bosses in the game look excellent though, they show real imagination and they feel archetypal, but not cliché. I’m not sure exactly how they pulled this off, but they did an excellent job with the hardware at the time. Play it on the PSP if you can though, the smaller

screen help the graphics look a little better than having them thrown onto your big TV where all those pixels are as big as oranges.

How does Metal Gear Solid hold up today

Metal Gear Solid has all the makings of a timeless game, and the graphics though showing their age don’t hinder the story. It’s still very playable and very enjoyable. Now although I never played this on the PSone before, I had played the Gamecube version Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. And playing the PSone version didn’t feel like a big downgrade. The story and voice acting still serve it really well, and in my opinion it’s a must play.

Ten bucks, is more than worth it for this memorable and deep experience.

9.5/10

Played through on a PSP 3000, playtime between 11-12 hours.

This was a Journalistic review by PSoneClassics.com of Metal Gear Solid

1. Portability

If you have a PSP, you now have a portable playstation 1. The emulator does an excellent job with most titles meaning you can be sobbing over Final Fantasy 7’s story while taking the bus. Just make sure you have a decent sized memory stick and a packet of tissues…

2. Graphics

PS1 games are getting a little long in the tooth so the graphics aren’t as pretty as they once were. Luckily with the PS3 in your corner PS1 games are smoothed over to look extra pretty. The PSP is no slouch either; because of the smaller screen PSone classics look great and can keep you immersed longer than those same graphics thrown up onto a big screen. That’s why it’s best to play them on your PSP system.

Eww...

3. Control

PSP controls are customizable which can turn an awkward game from back in the day into a thrilling experience. Plus Dualshock 3s are much better than any wireless controller that was ever released for the PSone.

4. Durability

Digital downloads have this as a huge advantage, your download will never get scratched, your save games won’t get lost or broken due to ancient memory cards, and if the game ever does get corrupted you can just download it again from the Playstation Network. Also remember you can save your game on both the PSP and the PS3 and switch between them,  so you don’t need to leave your saves when you leave your house.

5. Price

This is by far the greatest reason why PSone classics are better than the real disks.

New copies on Ebay can be $500 or more of this classic, a mere $9.99 on PSN Image via Wikipedia

The pricing for classic games have one thing that jacks the price up more than anything, and that’s the nostalgia factor. Game sellers prey on that feeling that we’ve had when we see a game from our childhood. But those of us who never played the original games are never going to purchase a 10+ year game for the same price of a new release, no matter how revered it is. Classics and cult favorites are even priced higher (some at hundreds of dollars!). And worse, these games could be scratched, be missing the case, instruction manual and then you have to store them. Even if you do pay the hundreds of dollars for these games none of it goes to the developers who worked hard on it.

Price, durability, control, graphics and portability, these are the reasons that perhaps someday if you want to play a classic of gaming you won’t have to pay as much as a first edition novel from a half forgotten novelist that your high school English teacher was so in love with. Digital downloads, and PSOne Classics, are the gaming version of a paperback.  And networks like PSN will become the libraries of our medium.

Now if only they’d release more of them….

Sony has decided that they’ll drop the price to half for 10 of their games,  Critter crunch seems like it could be a good one. Also the Metal Gear Portable ops bundle certainly seems like a deal.
Sadly only one PSOne Classic out, and because it’s a fishing simulator I’m not too excited about it. Where’s Vagrant Story?

Game Deals

PS3 Games:

Gravity Crash (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
ZEN Pinball (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Critter Crunch (now $3.49, original price $6.99)
Braid (now $7.49, original price $14.99)
Burn Zombie Burn (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Tank Battles (now $3.49, original price $6.99)
Uno (now $3.99, original price $7.99)

PSP Games:

Savage Moon: The Hera Campaign (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Crystal Defenders PSP (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Creature Defense (now $3.99, original price $7.99)
Kurulin Fusion (now $2.49, original price $4.99)
Thexder Neo (now $4.99, original price $9.99)

Downloadable Games

Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment ($14.99)
Konami’s legendary tactical RPG series returns! On the continent of Sostegaria, two rival kingdoms stand on the brink of war. Caught in the tide of battle is young orphan Tobias Martin. Driven to defend his homeland, and to avenge those already fallen, Tobias enlists with his comrades to fight for peace. But all is not what it seems, and they face a threat far deadlier – and closer – than they know.
ESRB Rated T
File size: 581 MB

PS one Classics

Championship Bass ($5.99)
Hit the lakes in this realistic bass simulation. You have many tricks in your arsenal, but do you have what it takes to reel in the big one?
ESRB Rated E
File size: 151 MB

PlayStation Store for PSP

Downloadable Games (also available from PS3 storefront)

METAL GEAR SOLID PSP Bundle ($29.99)
The METAL GEAR SOLID PSP Bundle features three PSP titles from Hideo Kojima’s legendary series that redefined the stealth action genre. Included within this extraordinary bundle are METAL GEAR SOLID PORTABLE OPS, METAL GEAR SOLID PORTABLE OPS PLUS, and METAL GEAR SOLID DIGITAL GRAPHIC NOVEL.
ESRB Rated T- M
File size: 2.01 GB

DJ Max Fever ($19.99)
The beat jamming sensation that started the music game craze comes to the PSP system in its most complete form ever.
ESRB Rated T
File size: 1.38 GB

Valhalla Knights 2: Battle Stance ($29.99)
An enhanced version of the original Valhalla Knights 2, “Battle Stance” streamlines gameplay by reducing battle parties from six to four members for more party control, as well as adding warp points in various locations for expedited travel. Combine this with added customization options, new weapons, armor, quests and monsters, and this becomes the most complete Valhalla Knights experience yet.
ESRB Rated E10+
File size: 696 MB

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/01/playstation-store-update-120/

Sony at E3 2009 Image by The Plan8 Podcast via Flickr

What are PS One Classics?

PS One Classics are original Playstation (PSX) games that are released for digital download. Sony started releasing PSOneClassics on the Playstation Network when it debuted in 2006. But the big launch of titles stared at the 2009 E3 conference in California. Japan had received hundreds of original playstation titles for download to play on the PSP and PS3 systems by this point, but North America and Europe had only a few.

I had just recently bought my first Sony games consoles, the PS3 and PSP, and was interested in these games that I’ve heard about from fellow gamers for years and years, the original games that inspired the industry today. I had been a Nintendo kid while growing up so I had never played Metal Gear or the Final Fantasy epics. I thought this was a great opportunity to find out what the fuss was, and whether these “classics” were worth playing.

But how could I choose?

There are numerous reviews for these games all over the internet. But these didn’t give me what I wanted. They were reviews of gamers who had played these games before, with nostalgia doing most of the talking, or quite old reviews that were remarking the graphics and gameplay that they found revolutionary at the time, but don’t hold up today.

I wanted reviews from a gamer today, and whether or not these games were worth playing.

After not finding what I searched for, I decided to right this wrong.

And so, now is born PSOneClassics.com, where you can find unbiased reviews with no spoilers, and no nostalgia, to tell you if these games are worth your hard earned dollars and your more valuable time.

This is a site about having fun with video games so I’ll post reviews, articles, and ask you for your opinion about games today. And what you think about these classics.

Welcome to the site, hope you enjoy it. More posts and reviews coming soon.

PSOneClassics.com