Speaking as a one time PSP zealot, now disillusioned supporter, I am just not sure how I feel about the latest rumor raging around Sony’s handheld. The lads over at 1up are claiming to have the scoop on the latest PSP model (not the PSP2!? GTFO!).

Check out this latest rumor, hear why I both love and hate the idea, and decide for yourself what to believe after the jump!According to 1up’s sources – who are supposedly “directly involved with the new system” – the newest PSP model will be called the PSP Go! and 1up seems confident the new version of the handheld will be unveiled at this year’s E3 conference.

Rumor has it that the new version will be available with either 8GB or 16GB of flash memory. PSP Go! will be released in Japan this September with an American debut coming late October, early November.

With Sony already supporting Go! branded add-ons like Go!View and Go!Cam for the European PSP, I guess the name does make a little sense.

That’s not all, oh no no no. Say good by to UMD’s (not going to miss those battery eating pieces of trash), and say hello to 100 classic and new PSP titles available for download at launch (about time, if they are actually good classics).  Not only that, Gran Turismo Mobile is supposedly one of the launch titles (I’ll believe that when I see it).

The rumor just gets better. The new design has the same old d-pad, lonely analog nubby and face buttons set up on a sliding unit that juts out below the screen.

Sony, in true Sony fashion, stated that it “does not comment on rumors or speculation,” when asked by 1up to confirm any of the rumored details.

With Resistance: Retribution, Patapon 2, Tekken 6, Soul Caliber: Broken Destiny, LBP and a few others providing the PSP’s first real lineup of games I want (though still far less than we’d all like) in a long while, E3 DOES seem like an opportune time to announce the PSP Go! With the DSi attracting people (myself included) to Nintendo and the freaking iPhone (which I refuse to acknowledge as a gaming platform) taking a stab at gaming as well, Sony needs to come out for round 4 swinging.

Personally I am still pissed off. I never wanted the PSP 2000, or the 3000. Rather than rehash a flawed setup (and I say that with love) 4 times they should have gone right to the PSP2. Some say that is asking too much, given marketing, development, yadda yadda, ad nauseum.

I’ll buy that excuse for the PSP 2000, but after that the issues (on the hardware side) were so blatant that I don’t see why we’re getting yet another variant instead of what every PSP gamer wants: dual analog sticks, a HDD, no UMD, an upgraded screen and a better battery setup; the PSP2 if you will. Everything else is gravy as far as I’m concerned. I don’t need it right now, but I would rather hear about the PSP2 being officially in development than find out yet another PSP version is coming, which tells me that if the PSP2 is ever going to arrive, it’s still a long, long ways off.

I’d be lying if I said I was not tempted by the PSP Go! though (heh). Axing the UMD and adding a ton of built-in flash memory definitely wins some points from me. At least this time it looks like the new PSP variant will be more than a few bare minimum modifications; unlike the 2000 and 3000 models. If Sony had gone from 1000 to Go! I’d be a little more understanding. I want this rumor to be true, because I love the PSP as a platform and I want it to do well. I want all those classics and the ability to download new PSP titles (we should have had a lot more than we have ages ago).

I will stop short of calling shenanigans on Sony, and will simply say that while I will more than likely end up with a Go! myself sooner or later (of the rumor is true), I would have been a lot more happy if Sony had never released the 2000 and 3000 models before it.

It’s like we asked for a new car (the PSP 2) but instead got a new stereo system, rims and slick paint job for our old car. Sure it’s nice, and it is hard to say no to nice things, but it’s still not what we really wanted.

Source: 1up

Tweet This Post