PSP2 could be a real beast of a handheld...

We know the primary criticisms of the original PSP: weak battery life, UMDs are akward, higher price than DS, no sencond analog nub, long load times and less-than-stellar games library. However, I believe the PSP2 can overcome these weaknesses, lets take a look here:

-Move to digital distribution: UMDs are a crappy, not-so-portable media. The PSP2 is likely to have a strong digital distibution channel (PSN) to replace UMDs. Removing the UMD slot can make the unit cheaper to produce, make it slimmer, and maybe even provide extra space for a larger battery. Oh, and don't forget UMDs take up lots of power, so using in-built memory to play games from will extend the battery life even further, as well as reduce load times. Look how many original PSP weaknesses have been resolved with just one bullet point?

-Second analog nub. Sony is likely to place an extra analog nub so that FPS games are more suited for the PSP2 (as well as other genres of course)

-Games library: The PSP2 may be able to download a wide variety of PS1, PS2 and PSP games from the PSN store. When one handheld device is capable of playing games from some legendary previous-gen consoles, you know it is going to be good. What can possibly be better than a portable PS2 with downloadable games and interactivity with the PS3? Talk about legendary stuff, the PSP2 could be a real winner if it can reclaim many of the PS2s greatest hits including FFX! :D

-Other features are possible, such as better interactivity with the PS3, better online, in-game XMB, trophies etc

PSP2 could be a real winner if most of this could be true! :)

I concur. I would also find it hilarious if the PSP2 was more powerful than Wii :P Before sheep get all defensive, I own a Wii and 30 games. C'mon, it would be hilarious :D

If it has the things you mentioned, I'd buy one. Otherwise not, I've never had a handheld system, they don't really appeal to me as they are atm.

I concur. I would also find it hilarious if the PSP2 was more powerful than Wii :P Before sheep get all defensive, I own a Wii and 30 games. C'mon, it would be hilarious :D

manicfoot

I'm just not digging the Download only games, and i doubt casual consumers will either.

I'm just not digging the Download only games, and i doubt casual consumers will either.

-Snooze-

That's what they said about the N-gage.

That's what they said about the N-gage.

Aljosa23

[QUOTE="manicfoot"]

I concur. I would also find it hilarious if the PSP2 was more powerful than Wii :P Before sheep get all defensive, I own a Wii and 30 games. C'mon, it would be hilarious :D

PandaBear86

You can't really compare it. What you mean is an up-to-date console should never be surpassed by an up-to-date handheld, that's the difference, the Wii isn't up-to-date. Not that it makes it less fun. I'm pretty sure the PSP2 will surpass the Wii's graphic capabilities, but we all know a system isn't carried by it's revolutionary controls, graphics or brandname, atleast not as much as they hope.

They don't have to add an analog stick, just move the excisting one to the upper right corner, or replace TRIANGLE or X with an analog stick that can be pressed. This might sound bizzare but go grab your PSP and turn it around so the stick is in the upper right corner and pretend you're playing something, doesn't that feel alot better?

What they really need is touchscreen. I'm not sure why people LOVE the idea of double analog, seriously go play Metroid Prime Hunters on your pals DS. Analog feels like a joke compared to it.

-Games library: The PSP2 may be able to download a wide variety of PS1, PS2 and PSP games from the PSN store. When one handheld device is capable of playing games from some legendary previous-gen consoles, you know it is going to be good. What can possibly be better than a portable PS2 with downloadable games and interactivity with the PS3? Talk about legendary stuff, the PSP2 could be a real winner if it can reclaim many of the PS2s greatest hits including FFX! :D

PandaBear86

I have to disagree with that.
Console games are designed to be played for hours at a time - handheld games should generally take a more pick-up-and-play approach. You can't simply port console games to a handheld device and expect them to work just as well as their console counterparts.

[QUOTE="-Snooze-"]

I'm just not digging the Download only games, and i doubt casual consumers will either.

PandaBear86

The thing the PSP2 needs is a more advanced "remote play" function.

Stream your PS3 games to your PSP on the go...

Dual analogs and full backward support would be enough for me to buy.

I'm just not digging the Download only games, and i doubt casual consumers will either.

-Snooze-

The problem is the more powerful you make a handheld the weaker the bat life will be. HarlockJC

[QUOTE="-Snooze-"]

I'm just not digging the Download only games, and i doubt casual consumers will either.

wasted_wisdom

[QUOTE="HarlockJC"]The problem is the more powerful you make a handheld the weaker the bat life will be. IronBass

You guys don't seem to understand that whats killing the PSP is rising game development costs!
That, the more it resembles consoles the less distinct it software will be.

Most developers are not going to make a PSP game that costs almost as much as a console game. Majority of PSP games now are light travel versions of its console counterpart. PSP needs something like DS unique hardware to prevent direct console ports rather than brute power.

You guys don't seem to understand that whats killing the PSP is rising game development costs!
That, the more it resembles consoles the less distinct it software will be.

Most developers are not going to make a PSP game that costs almost as much as a console game. Majority of PSP games now are light travel versions of its console counterpart. PSP needs something like DS unique hardware to prevent direct console ports rather than brute power.

Blue-Sky

[QUOTE="HarlockJC"]The problem is the more powerful you make a handheld the weaker the bat life will be. IronBass

[QUOTE="Blue-Sky"]

You guys don't seem to understand that whats killing the PSP is rising game development costs!
That, the more it resembles consoles the less distinct it software will be.

Most developers are not going to make a PSP game that costs almost as much as a console game. Majority of PSP games now are light travel versions of its console counterpart. PSP needs something like DS unique hardware to prevent direct console ports rather than brute power.

-Snooze-

[QUOTE="IronBass"][QUOTE="HarlockJC"]The problem is the more powerful you make a handheld the weaker the bat life will be. PandaBear86

I'm just not digging the Download only games, and i doubt casual consumers will either.

-Snooze-

Sorry, but I don't think I could get behind such a thing. I buy a lot of games, I like owning games, I don't care so much for downloading them. There's just something that feels "off" to me. I am much less likely to download a game then I am to go to the store and buy one.

I like my PSP, and I agree that some of your ideas would be a great improvement. However, the thing the PSP2 needs mosts is compelling games. It needs those unique titles that make people go out and buy a system, and it needs more then 6-12 of them a year. The other thing is it needs more budget priced games. I'm still not ready to run right out and put down $40 for most handheld games.

[QUOTE="IronBass"][QUOTE="HarlockJC"]The problem is the more powerful you make a handheld the weaker the bat life will be. PandaBear86

[QUOTE="Aljosa23"]

That's what they said about the N-gage.

PandaBear86

I hope the PSP2 is something amazing, I enjoyed my PSP a lot as I enjoy my DS a lot but I find I had a better selection of games within the PSP more, but I would like to see more battery life and more portable.Solid_Max13

i'm all for digital downloads as long as games remain under 1gb at the most 2gb. Even better if they come compressed and uncompress on install. They could easily implement all the features op mentioned, and the games library is pretty good for the psp, and it looks set to improve this year.

I'd only buy one handheld as i'm more of a console/pc gamer. This gen i had a ds sold it for unknown reason, i can't remember now. Picked up a psp for £40, and i'm enjoying it.

[QUOTE="-Snooze-"]

I'm just not digging the Download only games, and i doubt casual consumers will either.

PandaBear86

I like UMD. Playing games like Final Fantasy IV on DS makes me wish it was on a disc based format. UMD could give way to a Final Fantasy VI remake with fmv, something the game desperately needed for some of it's scenes.

Also, I'm against full on DD because it region locks the handheld. But I'll accept it if Piracy is just too much a problem for it to be impractical otherwise.

... But then again ... couldn't they just make a handheld that's simply not capable of being pirated in the way the PSP currently is? I mean, it seems like the PSP was designed to be so open that it debilitated it ...

[QUOTE="HarlockJC"]The problem is the more powerful you make a handheld the weaker the bat life will be. IronBass

I like it better that way. The point of a handheld is to be portable. The PSP is portable, so.

How's is a more powerful handheld going to help:? If you didnt notice TC the current handheld (which is more powerful) is a major failure and flop with gimped console port games.Gh0st_Of_0nyx

It's a huge success in Japan.

All I want is an improved game library in the next psp,its getting ridiculous right now.

That's what they said about the N-gage.

I hope they announce the PSP2 at E3. If they do, I will hold off on getting a PSP and wait on the PSP2 to release. Although I think I would wait another 6 months or so after the PSP2 releases to make sure if the launch version had bugs, I get it after they fix the bugs. I am a very patient man.

We also need a bigger handheld with a greater distance beetween the nub/dpad and nub2/buttons. Try holding your PSP as if it's a controller and you will see what I mean.