GT4 ports to PSP with possible delay for key launch title?
Sony races out handheld version of Gran Turismo.
Kazunori Yamauchi, producer of the Gran Turismo series, has stated in a recent interview with the official Japanese PlayStation website that the PSP version of Gran Turismo will effectively be a straight port of the PS2’s upcoming GT4. Whilst this news may prove disappointing for those hoping for entirely original content, the fact that the handheld can cope with such a title is testament to its impressive technical capabilities.
Yamauchi-san went on to explain that there is a delicate balance between cost and innovation that needs to be struck in order to keep the price of PSP games at an acceptable level. Had Sony chosen to create an entirely new game from scratch, GT4 Mobile would have been considerably less polished than its PS2 counterpart, or would have involved unreasonably high costs to both Sony and to the consumer.
Elsewhere, GT4’s development timetable has been called into question. The game is currently only 75% complete and there has been talk that the long-awaited driving sim might be pushed back to 2005, despite Yamauchi-san’s protestations to the contrary. If such a delay was to occur, this would inevitably hinder the PSP porting process, which would also mean that the handheld GT title could miss the Japanese launch of the console itself. That would surely be a thorn in the side of Sony's initial strategy.
Yamauchi-san went on to explain that there is a delicate balance between cost and innovation that needs to be struck in order to keep the price of PSP games at an acceptable level. Had Sony chosen to create an entirely new game from scratch, GT4 Mobile would have been considerably less polished than its PS2 counterpart, or would have involved unreasonably high costs to both Sony and to the consumer.
Elsewhere, GT4’s development timetable has been called into question. The game is currently only 75% complete and there has been talk that the long-awaited driving sim might be pushed back to 2005, despite Yamauchi-san’s protestations to the contrary. If such a delay was to occur, this would inevitably hinder the PSP porting process, which would also mean that the handheld GT title could miss the Japanese launch of the console itself. That would surely be a thorn in the side of Sony's initial strategy.
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Comments
Ditto 9 Aug 2004 10:33
1/13
I'm surprised at Sony - I thought they wanted to keep ports to a minimum.
Is this a sign of the future of PSP?
Is this a sign of the future of PSP?
bbam 9 Aug 2004 10:37
2/13
In my view it is, all i have really seen for psp titles is straight forward ports. Now who wants to sacrifice a comfy chair and big tv for a small hand held to play the same game?
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Joji 9 Aug 2004 11:39
3/13
Nice that they have been able to get it on PSP, but we all know they tech boundaries and limitations are dissappearing in games very fast. I think it's great that PSP can handle games with such detail, but games with such detail would be better suited on a tv. Only there can you really admire those sweet bits of a game.
They ported this game to keep costs down, but will it be their undoing. With any different version of a game it helps to give something the other doesnt have (eg Soul Calibur 2). If GT4 doesn't have this who in their right mind would want two identical versions?
You have to give that something else to each, or folk won't buy it. Hand held gaming also has to be different from home console gaming in some respect. A GBA game that doesthis best is Konami's Boktai, with it's unique solar powered system.
They ported this game to keep costs down, but will it be their undoing. With any different version of a game it helps to give something the other doesnt have (eg Soul Calibur 2). If GT4 doesn't have this who in their right mind would want two identical versions?
You have to give that something else to each, or folk won't buy it. Hand held gaming also has to be different from home console gaming in some respect. A GBA game that doesthis best is Konami's Boktai, with it's unique solar powered system.
tyrion 9 Aug 2004 11:55
4/13
Joji wrote:
>They ported this game to keep costs down, but will it
>be their undoing. With any different version of a
>game it helps to give something the other doesnt
>have (eg Soul Calibur 2). If GT4 doesn't have
>this who in their right mind would want two
>identical versions?
If they both use the same saves, or I can exchange saves between them, why not?
Have you ever spent some time away from your home? Have you ever gone on holiday? Have you ever travelled by plane, train, bus or car?
None of those situations lend themselves to you taking your PS2 and playing your PS2 games. If you can transfer your saves to a memory stick and use them on the PSP versions of the games, why shouldn't you want to be able to?
>They ported this game to keep costs down, but will it
>be their undoing. With any different version of a
>game it helps to give something the other doesnt
>have (eg Soul Calibur 2). If GT4 doesn't have
>this who in their right mind would want two
>identical versions?
If they both use the same saves, or I can exchange saves between them, why not?
Have you ever spent some time away from your home? Have you ever gone on holiday? Have you ever travelled by plane, train, bus or car?
None of those situations lend themselves to you taking your PS2 and playing your PS2 games. If you can transfer your saves to a memory stick and use them on the PSP versions of the games, why shouldn't you want to be able to?
Brown Force 9 Aug 2004 13:41
5/13
But to be honest...I don't really want to play my consoles 24/7. You don't go on holiday just to play PS2 in a different country do you? Or you don't go out to play PS2 on the bus, train or whatever.
The only reason Handheld gaming appeals to me is because it is completly seperate to Console gaming. It escapes most of the bad points of evolution (ie the death of 2D gaming) and also its cheaper to develop for, which means companies don't hold back with innovative ideas or games that probably wouldn't sell on consoles, like turn based strategy games and the like.
The PSP is the oposite to this and thats why I don't see it suceeding. Because all its going to be used for is mainly ports of PS2 titles which most people won't be interested in. And the exclusive stuff will just be as exspensive to make as the console games and will most likely finding itself competing more with Xbox and GC that the DS IMO.
The only reason Handheld gaming appeals to me is because it is completly seperate to Console gaming. It escapes most of the bad points of evolution (ie the death of 2D gaming) and also its cheaper to develop for, which means companies don't hold back with innovative ideas or games that probably wouldn't sell on consoles, like turn based strategy games and the like.
The PSP is the oposite to this and thats why I don't see it suceeding. Because all its going to be used for is mainly ports of PS2 titles which most people won't be interested in. And the exclusive stuff will just be as exspensive to make as the console games and will most likely finding itself competing more with Xbox and GC that the DS IMO.
Joji 9 Aug 2004 14:10
6/13
You've made some good points there BF. Sony clearly have a problem with waanting to push things into 3D all the time, because they assume we don't want 2D gaming. They are wrong if they think this.
Sony's treatment of Metal Slug in the U.S is a good example of what they think. Perhaps this is why Viewtiful Joe appeared on GC, because it was an experiment, and one that could have ended not getting past Sony, if Capcom/Clover had gone to them first.
I understand what Tyrion is saying, but to buy both versions I'd need to justify it's purchase with something different in each, surely that's not asking the earth, moon and stars.
Sony's treatment of Metal Slug in the U.S is a good example of what they think. Perhaps this is why Viewtiful Joe appeared on GC, because it was an experiment, and one that could have ended not getting past Sony, if Capcom/Clover had gone to them first.
I understand what Tyrion is saying, but to buy both versions I'd need to justify it's purchase with something different in each, surely that's not asking the earth, moon and stars.
Ditto 9 Aug 2004 17:04
7/13
I think that Sony will have trouble convincing people the PSP can come up with the console-selling titles. So many people already have a PS/PS2 that they won't want to re-purchase games.
Sony also haven't set a good example - other parties will now be less likely to develop original titles if Sony can't be assed to develop exclusive titles for its own console.
Sony also haven't set a good example - other parties will now be less likely to develop original titles if Sony can't be assed to develop exclusive titles for its own console.
tyrion 9 Aug 2004 17:27
8/13
Brown Force wrote:
>But to be honest...I don't really want to play my
>consoles 24/7. You don't go on holiday just to
>play PS2 in a different country do you? Or you
>don't go out to play PS2 on the bus, train or
>whatever.
No, of course not, but there are times you're on a relax day and you have read the books you've brought and you can't be arsed to find a shop to buy another.
There are times when you go to a place on your own, on a training week for example, and you've got sick of the other people there, so you go back to your hotel.
Not to mention travelling on the train, bus, plane, etc.
There are plenty of places where I might want a quick blast on GT4, Tomb Raider, Wipeout, or whatever.
>The only reason Handheld gaming
>appeals to me is because it is completly seperate
>to Console gaming. It escapes most of the bad
>points of evolution (ie the death of 2D gaming)
>and also its cheaper to develop for, which means
>companies don't hold back with innovative ideas
>or games that probably wouldn't sell on consoles,
>like turn based strategy games and the like.
That's a good set of points, but there are probably just as many people who see the other side of the argument. "Handheld gaming is all old 2D stuff, I stopped playing that when I got rid of my SNES". The PSP and DS will appeal to that market, like the PS1 did, and may lift handhelds to a larger percentage of the whole gaming market.
>The PSP is the oposite to this and thats why
>I don't see it suceeding. Because all its going
>to be used for is mainly ports of PS2 titles
>which most people won't be interested in. And the
>exclusive stuff will just be as exspensive to
>make as the console games and will most likely
>finding itself competing more with Xbox and GC
>that the DS IMO.
Again, there will be others that feel differently, otherwise there would be as many GBA games being sold as PS2, XBox and GC combined, maybe more due to the price factor. There aren't, so something is stopping a lot of people getting into handheld gaming, maybe the PSP will help address that need.
>But to be honest...I don't really want to play my
>consoles 24/7. You don't go on holiday just to
>play PS2 in a different country do you? Or you
>don't go out to play PS2 on the bus, train or
>whatever.
No, of course not, but there are times you're on a relax day and you have read the books you've brought and you can't be arsed to find a shop to buy another.
There are times when you go to a place on your own, on a training week for example, and you've got sick of the other people there, so you go back to your hotel.
Not to mention travelling on the train, bus, plane, etc.
There are plenty of places where I might want a quick blast on GT4, Tomb Raider, Wipeout, or whatever.
>The only reason Handheld gaming
>appeals to me is because it is completly seperate
>to Console gaming. It escapes most of the bad
>points of evolution (ie the death of 2D gaming)
>and also its cheaper to develop for, which means
>companies don't hold back with innovative ideas
>or games that probably wouldn't sell on consoles,
>like turn based strategy games and the like.
That's a good set of points, but there are probably just as many people who see the other side of the argument. "Handheld gaming is all old 2D stuff, I stopped playing that when I got rid of my SNES". The PSP and DS will appeal to that market, like the PS1 did, and may lift handhelds to a larger percentage of the whole gaming market.
>The PSP is the oposite to this and thats why
>I don't see it suceeding. Because all its going
>to be used for is mainly ports of PS2 titles
>which most people won't be interested in. And the
>exclusive stuff will just be as exspensive to
>make as the console games and will most likely
>finding itself competing more with Xbox and GC
>that the DS IMO.
Again, there will be others that feel differently, otherwise there would be as many GBA games being sold as PS2, XBox and GC combined, maybe more due to the price factor. There aren't, so something is stopping a lot of people getting into handheld gaming, maybe the PSP will help address that need.
tyrion 9 Aug 2004 17:34
9/13
Joji wrote:
>You've made some good points there BF. Sony
>clearly have a problem with waanting to push
>things into 3D all the time, because they assume
>we don't want 2D gaming. They are wrong if they
>think this.
You, me and BF are not "typical", "mass market" gamers. We've been around a while, we remember when gameplay was king, not graphics. The PS1-PS2 generation of mass market gamers will lap up the PSP. They see 2D games as uncool because it reminds them of games that "nerds" played when they were too cool for computer games
Now Sony has opened up the mass market with PS1&2, making gaming "cool", I think a portable games platform aimed at same mass market will sell like very tasty hot cakes. To do that you need the same games as are available on the PS2/XB/GC, or you need new, good, strong IP that will start on the PSP/DS and migrate to the home consoles.
>You've made some good points there BF. Sony
>clearly have a problem with waanting to push
>things into 3D all the time, because they assume
>we don't want 2D gaming. They are wrong if they
>think this.
You, me and BF are not "typical", "mass market" gamers. We've been around a while, we remember when gameplay was king, not graphics. The PS1-PS2 generation of mass market gamers will lap up the PSP. They see 2D games as uncool because it reminds them of games that "nerds" played when they were too cool for computer games
Now Sony has opened up the mass market with PS1&2, making gaming "cool", I think a portable games platform aimed at same mass market will sell like very tasty hot cakes. To do that you need the same games as are available on the PS2/XB/GC, or you need new, good, strong IP that will start on the PSP/DS and migrate to the home consoles.
almondVanHelsing 9 Aug 2004 17:44
10/13
Who was waiting for "entirely original content"? That was not going to happen. For sony to get out the most games, they must push with what they have.
The PSP is able to play PS2 level games, it must use these to sell the first units. Nothing says "I must buy that game" more than cool demos running in a shop window.
The PSP is able to play PS2 level games, it must use these to sell the first units. Nothing says "I must buy that game" more than cool demos running in a shop window.
almondVanHelsing 9 Aug 2004 17:47
11/13
And how many old SNES games will Nintendo be rolling out to greet the new DS? As many as they want you to buy for your GBA!!
Ditto 10 Aug 2004 07:27
12/13
almondVanHelsing wrote:
>And how many old SNES games will Nintendo be
>rolling out to greet the new DS? As many as they
>want you to buy for your GBA!!
I don't think Nintendo will release any :).
At the moment I don't like the PSP or the DS release schedule in terms of original content - the PSP has its remakes and the DS has its sequels.
Tyrion, I don't think that you can say there is something stopping people playing handheld games. Nintendo have sold at least as many GBAs as Sony have sold PS2s - possibly more.
>And how many old SNES games will Nintendo be
>rolling out to greet the new DS? As many as they
>want you to buy for your GBA!!
I don't think Nintendo will release any :).
At the moment I don't like the PSP or the DS release schedule in terms of original content - the PSP has its remakes and the DS has its sequels.
Tyrion, I don't think that you can say there is something stopping people playing handheld games. Nintendo have sold at least as many GBAs as Sony have sold PS2s - possibly more.
Joji 10 Aug 2004 13:46
13/13
I hear what you are saying, and yes the GBA does have ports too, but it does not feed off of them. The amount of ports on GBA is surely way out numbered by the amount of original or GBA only games available. In the same respect there's still a lot of GBA titles we will never see, so perhaps it's harder to judge on this one, just how much we are missing.
Sony may try to live off ports, and maybe shun 2D games again because 2D gaming isn't cool enough for them, and customers. I sometimes think Sony is too much about image and less about games, which might spell trouble in the long run.
As for hand held gaming I have no problem with this and encourage people to do so regardless of system, because it removes the stigma that games have and can only help in their wider acceptance. I feel proud playing my GBA in public, and stand up for being a gamer.
Sony may try to live off ports, and maybe shun 2D games again because 2D gaming isn't cool enough for them, and customers. I sometimes think Sony is too much about image and less about games, which might spell trouble in the long run.
As for hand held gaming I have no problem with this and encourage people to do so regardless of system, because it removes the stigma that games have and can only help in their wider acceptance. I feel proud playing my GBA in public, and stand up for being a gamer.