It was bound to happen sooner or later. Sony, pioneers of the original Walkman, have announced a portable PlayStation: the PSP. Suddenly the throne held by Nintendo's GBA doesn't seem at all secure. The full details (and pictures) won't be available until later in the week, but the bare facts are enough to stir a little something inside.
The PSP will make use of Universal Media Disc (UMD), which comprises of a 60mm optical disc in a cartridge. It's not yet known whether or not the PSP will be backward-compatible, taking advantage of the enormous existing catalogue of PSX titles, but it would surely help Sony's cause.
The specs are impressive. The discs can hold up to 1.8 GB (that's three times the size of a normal PSone game) and the console's graphics chipset is highly advanced for its size, utilizing the latest 90 nm semiconductor technology and featuring 3D rendering enhanced by the employment of curved surfaces (NURBS) along with conventional polygons. The PSP will even be compatible with MPEG 4 video, offering a piece of portable cinema to its owners. It will have a 480 x 272 pixel (16 by 9) TFT LCD backlit screen and a rechargeable battery pack fitted as standard. A USB port promises a great deal more for the future - probably along the lines of GBA/GC connectivity.
Despite its diminutive size, the PSP is going to make a massive impact when it arrives in 2004. Stay posted for more details.
The PSP will make use of Universal Media Disc (UMD), which comprises of a 60mm optical disc in a cartridge. It's not yet known whether or not the PSP will be backward-compatible, taking advantage of the enormous existing catalogue of PSX titles, but it would surely help Sony's cause.
The specs are impressive. The discs can hold up to 1.8 GB (that's three times the size of a normal PSone game) and the console's graphics chipset is highly advanced for its size, utilizing the latest 90 nm semiconductor technology and featuring 3D rendering enhanced by the employment of curved surfaces (NURBS) along with conventional polygons. The PSP will even be compatible with MPEG 4 video, offering a piece of portable cinema to its owners. It will have a 480 x 272 pixel (16 by 9) TFT LCD backlit screen and a rechargeable battery pack fitted as standard. A USB port promises a great deal more for the future - probably along the lines of GBA/GC connectivity.
Despite its diminutive size, the PSP is going to make a massive impact when it arrives in 2004. Stay posted for more details.
Companies:
Sony
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