I've been longing to see what this new PSP looks like, and I needed time to digest the... revelation.
A quick look at the presentation [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSutRGzvdw0], by Kaz Hirai, reveals that a very cool feature is the TV output.
--- Most anticipated feature of the year. ---
What else?
First, the specs [http://www.threespeech.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/PSP%20SPEC.jpg] (source: Threespeech).
Well, besides the fact that the whole show wasn't worth a single POP station [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GESzyKelxXY] review, we're offered a few clues about what makes this new iteration of the PSP some kind of novelty, which I'm sure any self assumed Sony fan must now grab - so they may think.
Apparently, the battery, which needed to be smaller, will last only 5 hours [http://www.pspfanboy.com/2007/07/19/the-truth-about-psp-lites-battery-life/] (1200 mAh), instead of the initial 8-10 hours - which, mind you, I never had the chance to appreciate either, as far as I can remember. How do you manage that? Playing Pong at 111 MHz, with no sound and the lowest lighting possible?
I guess I'm missing something when M. Hirai says it's more efficient. Probably a question of ratio or som'thing.
Well, I cannot care much, since what matters is how long it lasts, not how the phased waste of bigluons has been reduced by 24% to increase the interface-polarized flux by two.
So what are the really good points?
The new console is 33% lighter, a considerable improvement upon her bricky sister. But it is also 19% slimmer. This can only be good.
It also has 64 Mb for the main memory.
The good news is that it will come with a 1 Gb Memory Stick. Hallelujah!
They also moved the Wi-Fi switch on the upper edge. Yeah, well, whatever.
They removed the infrared port. I guess you won't be able to use your console as a remote control to swap channels on your old TV. Anyway, WiFi still enables this function for newer systems, as I heard. You'll notice just how much I don't feel concerned about that rather primordial function.
I don't think anyone will miss it.
The UMD casing is said to be less complex. So be it, I was quite fond of the intricate ejection mechanics. It's just as if we were going backwards in time, and it looks kinda plastic.
It's particularily weird since the ejection system is far from being the heaviest stuff on the console. Maybe they removed it because it was deemed too fragile. I admit I never experienced the UMD getting stuck, but maybe others did.
I can't see where they put the small speakers, though.
The bad news, for some, is that apparently, the anti-piracy failsafes also include hardware components, which I assume will mean dismantling the console in such a way that, if you don't end up with an electric shaver after reassembling all the bits together, you could consider yourself lucky.
So for all those who seem to enjoy playing FFVII on it... just huh. Keep the brick.
Now, this is also a gaming console. So, what about the relevant stuff?
Oh, this is where I'm mostly left with questions and mysteries, because I have just no clue about how better the bad is supposed to be.
It's no surprise that since the release of the PSP, many issues concerned the ergonomy and controls.
A nice comparison video [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmI3MjvxWfI]
- Noisy wiggling triggers.
- Badly shaped analog stick, with non existant grip and questionable sensitivity.
One thing for sure is that for all of those who thought common sense would dictate to put the analog stick as the main controller, they are going to be disapointed.
A quick glance seems to "reveal" that the material used for the stick is still the same. So once more, we'll probably need to buy a couple of extra things to strap on it.
- Most awful D-pad ever, with many diagonal moves requiring such a pressure that it's a miracle you don't end up with your thumb wedged into the motherboard.
Not to mention the choice of the plastic, once again, which means that your skin actually sticks to it, instead of sliding over it effortlessly. They should have swapped the materials between the analog stick and the D-pad.
From the videos, the material appears to be the same. That sticky transparent plastic I don't care about. They must look pretty? What the hell? I'm supposed to press them, not stare at them!
- Absurd power switch placement on the right side, which means that for many people, this has the very dreadful effect of opening you to most unfortunate in-game powering offs.
*nods to Jeff Minter*
And no, they have not moved it. Which means I must buy a protective casing to keep my palm at a safe distance from the wicked switch.
So now, I'll have to wait and see if I can grab one, feel it.
But I must say that I'm very disapointed. It seems I put my expectations too high, since rumours surfaced a while back.
A quick look at the presentation [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSutRGzvdw0], by Kaz Hirai, reveals that a very cool feature is the TV output.
--- Most anticipated feature of the year. ---
What else?
First, the specs [http://www.threespeech.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/PSP%20SPEC.jpg] (source: Threespeech).
Well, besides the fact that the whole show wasn't worth a single POP station [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GESzyKelxXY] review, we're offered a few clues about what makes this new iteration of the PSP some kind of novelty, which I'm sure any self assumed Sony fan must now grab - so they may think.
Apparently, the battery, which needed to be smaller, will last only 5 hours [http://www.pspfanboy.com/2007/07/19/the-truth-about-psp-lites-battery-life/] (1200 mAh), instead of the initial 8-10 hours - which, mind you, I never had the chance to appreciate either, as far as I can remember. How do you manage that? Playing Pong at 111 MHz, with no sound and the lowest lighting possible?
I guess I'm missing something when M. Hirai says it's more efficient. Probably a question of ratio or som'thing.
Well, I cannot care much, since what matters is how long it lasts, not how the phased waste of bigluons has been reduced by 24% to increase the interface-polarized flux by two.
So what are the really good points?
The new console is 33% lighter, a considerable improvement upon her bricky sister. But it is also 19% slimmer. This can only be good.
It also has 64 Mb for the main memory.
The good news is that it will come with a 1 Gb Memory Stick. Hallelujah!
They also moved the Wi-Fi switch on the upper edge. Yeah, well, whatever.
They removed the infrared port. I guess you won't be able to use your console as a remote control to swap channels on your old TV. Anyway, WiFi still enables this function for newer systems, as I heard. You'll notice just how much I don't feel concerned about that rather primordial function.
I don't think anyone will miss it.
The UMD casing is said to be less complex. So be it, I was quite fond of the intricate ejection mechanics. It's just as if we were going backwards in time, and it looks kinda plastic.
It's particularily weird since the ejection system is far from being the heaviest stuff on the console. Maybe they removed it because it was deemed too fragile. I admit I never experienced the UMD getting stuck, but maybe others did.
I can't see where they put the small speakers, though.
The bad news, for some, is that apparently, the anti-piracy failsafes also include hardware components, which I assume will mean dismantling the console in such a way that, if you don't end up with an electric shaver after reassembling all the bits together, you could consider yourself lucky.
So for all those who seem to enjoy playing FFVII on it... just huh. Keep the brick.
Now, this is also a gaming console. So, what about the relevant stuff?
Oh, this is where I'm mostly left with questions and mysteries, because I have just no clue about how better the bad is supposed to be.
It's no surprise that since the release of the PSP, many issues concerned the ergonomy and controls.
A nice comparison video [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmI3MjvxWfI]
- Noisy wiggling triggers.
- Badly shaped analog stick, with non existant grip and questionable sensitivity.
One thing for sure is that for all of those who thought common sense would dictate to put the analog stick as the main controller, they are going to be disapointed.
A quick glance seems to "reveal" that the material used for the stick is still the same. So once more, we'll probably need to buy a couple of extra things to strap on it.
- Most awful D-pad ever, with many diagonal moves requiring such a pressure that it's a miracle you don't end up with your thumb wedged into the motherboard.
Not to mention the choice of the plastic, once again, which means that your skin actually sticks to it, instead of sliding over it effortlessly. They should have swapped the materials between the analog stick and the D-pad.
From the videos, the material appears to be the same. That sticky transparent plastic I don't care about. They must look pretty? What the hell? I'm supposed to press them, not stare at them!
- Absurd power switch placement on the right side, which means that for many people, this has the very dreadful effect of opening you to most unfortunate in-game powering offs.
*nods to Jeff Minter*
And no, they have not moved it. Which means I must buy a protective casing to keep my palm at a safe distance from the wicked switch.
So now, I'll have to wait and see if I can grab one, feel it.
But I must say that I'm very disapointed. It seems I put my expectations too high, since rumours surfaced a while back.
