The new kid on the block

There's lots to talk about when it comes to the newest handheld gaming device by Sony. It's been dubbed the NGP (Next Generation Portable) by Sony but we all call it the PSP2.



This device is chock full of new features front to back. The display is a nice OLED display screen that is touch sensitive, tilt sensitive SIXAXIS controls built-in for motion control, dual analogs, front and back facing camera, and a touch sensitive back.

Network connectivity is still there with WiFi and now also supports 3G for real on-the-go online gaming. Now you don't have to be standing outside the local Starbucks snagging their WiFi and having everyone stare at you because you obviously don't look like the usual hipster that crowds the place.

I still think the biggest feature is that it will no longer use UMD's. The PSP2 is going to use flash memory based cards for games.

Here's what Sony has to say about it: "NGP adopts a new game medium, a small flash memory based card, dedicated for NGP software titles. Taking advantage of the flash memory feature, this innovative card can store the full software titles plus add-on game content or the game save data directly on to the card. By adopting flash memory based card, SCE will be able to provide game cards with higher capacity in the future, allowing developers to store more game data to deliver rich and immersive games."

Depending on what this card is like it may be what makes or breaks this system. The PSPGo tried not using media but failed very badly. Mainly because there was no backwards compatibility with games you already owned on UMD on a system that was on the same generation. If this system isn't thought out well it could bust and go the way of the Atari Lynx.

It is better thought out than the Go so far. It allows you to have some sort of media that can expand and will also play PSOne and original PSP games that are available to download, so there is some backwards compatibility. Pricing for games hasn't been discussed yet but if they aren't in a reasonable price tier for downloadable games and dwell on the same plane as media based games then they're in for a rude awakening.

The games so far announced look awesome:

• LittleBigPlanet 
• Uncharted
• Killzone
• Wipe Out
• Resistance
• Hot Shots Golf
• Hustle Kings

And the publishers already confirmed is huge! So far 82 Publishers globally have signed up to develop games. Be prepared to see games from Activision, Square Enix, 2K Games, Ubisoft, Gameloft, Capcom, and Rockstar Games.

The graphics are intense and rival the PS2. Some look almost as good as the PS3.



Another great feature is the ability to see what other users are playing near you and allow you to chat with them using an app called Near. This could allow users to socialize on some sort of level with other gamers and could allow a richer experience in online gaming. Thanks to a built-in GPS, you could contact friends nearby and get a gaming session going and compare rankings on leaderboards.

As for the biggest competition, it looks like it will be the 3DS. However, Sony will not be bringing 3D to the table just yet. They are heading in a different direction with the NGP.


Sony's Worldwide Studio head Shuhei Yoshida said this: "We evaluated the 3DS screens that are available and the costs, and there are lots of trade-offs. This [the NGP] is what we want to do."

When pressed further, Yoshida continued, "The portable is a totally different beast. It's still emerging and in a transitional stage. We are developing a platform to last a long time." So Sony, Yoshida said, made a very careful choice about what is important to them. Apparently, that's not putting 3D in a portable.


All in all it's shaping up pretty well and is definitely welcomed by me so far. I can't wait to get my hands on it and see how well it performs with my own 2 eyes.

Enjoy the official trailer