The New PSP Is Ass Backward
With PSP sales dropping steadily, it’s about time for Sony to start thinking of its new handheld device, and what does Sony do better than anything else? Rip off Nintendo! Well, to be fair I should say “improve upon” Nintendo. The Dualshock controller was way better than the N64’s analog stick, and now the Playstation Move is looking to have far more functionality than the Wiimote … regardless of its shit-tastic launch line-up. In the handheld world, Sony is going to look to capitalized on the success that the DS had with its touch screen technology, but part of me thinks someone on Sony’s development team was holding the schematics upside down, because their new handheld will have touch controls on the back side of the device.
The currently unnamed device apparently has been seen by three separate developers that talked to Eurogamer and wished to remain anonymous. Supposedly, it is around the size of a PSP-3000 and features a high definition screen with rumors of a possible HDMI output (much like the ones we are seeing in advanced smartphones). We have no word on its specs, but something tells me Sony is going to try to push for digital distribution if the rumors about the PSP phone are true. However, there is also a rumor that this device will use flash media, similar to the Nintendo DS.
According to these anonymous developers, the device features a touch sensitive area on the entire back of the unit behind the screen. Players will comfortably place their thumbs on the d-pad, analog stick, and buttons, and their pointer finger on the shoulder triggers, while their middle fingers glide across the track pad on the back to operate the touch sensitive controls. The idea is to integrate touch sensitive gameplay into pre-existing digital and analog control methods, rather than requiring the user to switch back and forth between using the handheld traditionally and using a stylus on the touch screen, the way the DS does.
Supposedly, Sony has already lined up several first party games for the new device … according to rumor of course. Sony’s official stance on the whole situation is “we do not comment on rumor and speculation.” So, that’s just what this is apparently, rumor and speculation. However, considering that it is rumor and speculation with enough weight to it to earn Eurogamer’s support, I’d say that these reports hold more credibility than the random ranting you’d normally see on Sony’s forums.
We will bring you more updates on the PSP2 (our name, not theirs) as they become available.
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