(http://i54.tinypic.com/3029l4z.png)
(Actual console)
From the official Sony forum:
QuoteYou've all undoubtedly read every press website going this morning to find out as much as you can about the NGP. So, what I've got with me is a press release and a gargantuan Q&A sheet. Here's what I propose.
Firstly, below is the full press NGP release. It's quite wordy, but contains all the information released to the press so far. I've gutted it of the marketing spiel and post it below, give it a read.
Secondly, once you've read the release - ask questions! If I can answer them, I will.
SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES
ITS NEXT GENERATION PORTABLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced its
next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP), which delivers the ultimate
portable entertainment experience. NGP will make its debut at the end of the year 2011.
NGP is designed to offer unparalleled interactive entertainment that is only possible on
PlayStation®.
This new system offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social
connectivity within a real world context, made possible by leveraging SCE's experience from
both PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) and PlayStation®3 (PS3®) entertainment systems.
Deep and immersive gaming is at the core of PlayStation's DNA, and NGP is the latest
embodiment of this vision. By having both Wi-Fi and 3G network connectivity, together with
various applications, NGP will enable infinite possibilities for users to "encounter," "connect,"
"discover," "share" and "play" with friends wherever they are. Within the device are a range
of features that provide a genuinely cutting-edge, next generation ultimate portable
entertainment experience.
Stunning OLED and Revolutionary User Interface
NGP incorporates a beautiful multi-touch 5-inch organic light emitting display (OLED)
as the front display. A high-performance CPU / GPU combined with OLED enables rich,
visually striking graphics never seen before on a portable entertainment system, for both
games and other digital entertainment content. The new system also incorporates a unique
multi-touch pad on the rear, and together with the front touch display, NGP offers new game
play allowing users to interact directly with games in three dimension-like motion, through
"touch, grab, trace, push and pull" moves of the fingers.
Super Oval Design and Dual Analog Sticks
While succeeding the basic design philosophy of PSP, NGP adopts the Super Oval
Design form factor, created to fit comfortably in users' hands. For the first time, a portable
entertainment system will feature two analog sticks, which enable a wider range of game
genres to be brought into the portable experience.
LiveArea™
Every game title for NGP will be provided with a space called "LiveArea™" where
users can share the fun and excitement with other players. Users will have access to the latest
information of games provided from SCE and 3rd party developers and publishers through
PlayStation®Network. Additionally, NGP users will be able to view an "Activity" log that is
constantly updated with accomplishments from users who are playing the same game, which in
turn can trigger active real-time communication among users.
Near
SCE will also provide location-based services on NGP as part of the basic features
utilizing PlayStation Network. The new application called "Near," developed specifically for
this service and the network, will be pre-installed in the system to let users find out what their
friends in the vicinity are playing now or what they were playing recently. Users can meet
their friends and new players virtually, regardless of what games they are playing, simply by
sharing their game information across different dimensions of time and distance.
New Game Medium
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.
NGP will also come equipped with two cameras on its front and rear, as well as three
motion sensors, gyroscope, accelerometer and electronic compass, all of which are designed to
enable users to enjoy the world of entertainment that is linked with real life experiences.
Source: http://community.eu.playstation.com/t5/PSP-General-Discussion/The-Next-Generation-Portable-Entertainment-Device/td-p/12306101
I don't know what you Nintendo fanboys will say, but NGP is definitely a win for me, 3DS is off my list. :)
I'm a big Nintendo Fanman (no boy any more, sorry) and I say: This thing looks damn nice. I love the design.
But with those specs - although I'm not a hardware expert - I don't expect the price to be less than 400$, and that's quite a chump of change. (The 3DS is already the maximum I have set myself for buying new hardware...)
It might be too expensive to appeal to the mass market.
It really is impressive.
But... Right.. the price. But you know, I wonder if we'll even see this, this year. Supposedly it's this holiday season, Japan.
If it's 300 dollars, that's just the price of a 3DS and a single game, but still too pricey for anyone but a die hard gamer... If it's 400 bucks, it won't pick up popularity until they do price drops.
It's sure nice looking though... I'm eager to hear more about it, but with a year wait, I'm not going to bother getting all hyped up just yet.
Quote from: manuel on January 27, 2011, 04:04:10 am
I'm a big Nintendo Fanman (no boy any more, sorry) and I say: This thing looks damn nice. I love the design.
But with those specs - although I'm not a hardware expert - I don't expect the price to be less than 400$, and that's quite a chump of change. (The 3DS is already the maximum I have set myself for buying new hardware...)
It might be too expensive to appeal to the mass market.
The biggest positive note about NGP is having TWO analogue sticks, while 3DS only has one.
I can expect to see these games coming out for NGP:
- Uncharted
- Gran Turismo
- KillZone
- Tekken
- Final Fantasy
- Monster Hunter Portable
- Metal Gear Solid
- Call of Duty
and much more
I am definitely getting an NGP, can't wait to know its price, but I'd say it'd cost about 300$ or 350$ at max.
If it's "only" 350$ Sony is definitely taking a huge loss per unit.
Quote from: manuel on January 27, 2011, 04:31:36 am
If it's "only" 350$ Sony is definitely taking a huge loss per unit.
You don't see Apple fans complaining about the overpriced iPhone/iPad/iPod get and yet they still all buy.
This will be worth its money.
Also, the news that it's backward compatible with PSP download games is awesome.
I had actually been considering a GO but was disappointed in the lack of available games on the PSN store.
If the PSPgo wasn't already dead, this killed it.
Sony taking losses isn't anything new. Nintendo on the other hand is probably making a huge profit on every one of the devices they sell.
One thing's for sure... This E3 is going to be extremely exciting!
Of course the fans don't complain. (But I say Apple stuff is too expensive.)
And of course this piece of hardware will totally be worth the money it costs, but if the price of the hardware (= the "entry price") is very high, it will be very hard to reach many people except the hardcore Sony fans with the same mentality as most of the Apple fans.
(Mind you, the iphone at first is a phone and thus somewhat a necessity for many people. By choosing the iphone they can get a phone + all the other stuff that comes with it and through 2 or 3 year contracts the high price is obscured. My sister e.g. wouldn't buy an iPhone for its list price (I don't know... 500 Euros in Germany?), but because of the contract it looks and feels cheaper to obtain.)
@tappybot: I don't think Nintendo will make a huge profit, especially on the units sold in North America.
Quote from: FamicomRetroGamer on January 27, 2011, 04:18:33 am
The biggest positive note about NGP is having TWO analogue sticks, while 3DS only has one.
Quit saying that. :P Having two analog sticks really isn't that awesome of a thing. Sure, it may help with some genres of games, but like I've said before, I'm not a fan of games that are meant to use analog sticks on portable consoles anyway, because I feel those games are best played on a TV with an actual controller.
I would agree with Manuel on the price. There's no way this thing will be under $350.
Edit* Yeah, it looks pretty much how I expected it to.
The fact that it has 3G capabilities is pretty intriguing, and probably a step in the right direction. Rear touchpad is also interesting, but kinda hard to tell how that will work out (like having extra shoulder buttons but with no tactile stimulus?).
Some hands-on reports are saying that the battery is not replaceable. That kinda sucks, if true, although I can't say I've ever had to replace a rechargeable battery in any of my other handhelds.
Quote from: UglyJoe on January 27, 2011, 04:00:47 pm
The fact that it has 3G capabilities is pretty intriguing, and probably a step in the right direction. Rear touchpad is also interesting, but kinda hard to tell how that will work out (like having extra shoulder buttons but with no tactile stimulus?).
Some hands-on reports are saying that the battery is not replaceable. That kinda sucks, if true, although I can't say I've ever had to replace a rechargeable battery in any of my other handhelds.
This video shows how the rear works: http://www.gamespot.com/ngp/action/uncharted/news.html?sid=6287036&mode=previews
Replace battery? We aren't in 2005 any more and besides that, people used to hack PSP's by pandorizing the batteries.
As it's OLED the battery will last for long.