MCV have been speaking to “high-level sources” regarding the worst kept secret in the world – the PSP2.
As reported yesterday they are saying that a January 27 reveal is on the cards with further information coming at GDC and E3. In what seems like a good move, Sony are aiming to get the device on shelves for Christmas (possibly as early as October), and the hand-held will support physical media as well as digital downloads which means we get the best of both worlds; real HD games we can sink our teeth into, along with bite sized gems such as Cut The Rope, and Angry Birds.
One of the most interesting things in the article is that “Sony has told licensees the device ‘is as powerful as the PlayStation 3’.” If this is correct it would be mind-blowing, assuming the battery that comes with it is up to the task.
Whether you favour Nintendo or Sony, now is a great time to be into handheld gaming.
Source: MCV
nofi
I don’t think it’s actually “as powerful” as the PS3, from what I’m hearing it’s proportionally as powerful, or at least looks “as powerful” given its smaller screen.
cc_star
There’s no way you you can power anything anywhere near as powerful as the Cell from a battery, however it could quite easily have a dual core CPU of the type appearing in the Motorola Atrix Android Onondaga it wouldn’t be hard to get a better GPU than the PS3’s one and even a gig or two of RAM, so it could be damn powerful indeed.
Although I remember Sony saying the PS3 could power two x 1080p games running 60fps at the same time and we haven’t even seen it power one game that can do that other than the cartoony style games on the PSN like Critter Crunch & PJ Eden (GT5 comes close but drops frames, WipEout HD came closest but dynamically reduces the resolution to maintain framerate)
So Sony are known for talking bullshit when it comes to talking about the power of their devices before they’re released
nofi
And some outlets are known for picking up on them, and their readers probably soak it in. Easy headlines.
KeRaSh
But didn’t devs confirm that it at least comes very close to the power of the PS3? I wonder what resolution it will support.
cc_star
In a way it may come close to appear to have that sort of power, the PS3’s GPU – the RSX is woefully underpowered and its 256+256 RAM is as well.
Thanks to a small screen and games being able to get away with running at a far lower resolution and not have to do so much lighting, effects & transparencys, volume of enemies on screen at once etc & etc, the core graphics could well approach PS3 standards, but to emulate what the PS3 does in a battery powered device? No way
retro_
Ridge Racer 8 runs 1080p60 on PS3 I believe.
Kennykazey
when they say it’s as powerful as the ps3, I’m more than certain that they mean that the games will look as good as ps3 games on a smaller screen. So it’s not as powerful, but because it uses a smaller screen it will look as good. If you somehow plug it to an hdtv it will look alot worse. You can’t have a handheld with the power of the ps3, because that would need the batteries from a tesla roadster (electric car) to run for more than just a few minutes.
nofi
This.
Kovacs
Agreed. It’s likely “relatively” as powerful. Regardless of whether or not it matches the PS3 in the power department, it’s going to be powerful. And I want one.
jayjay119
So basically it will be the PS3 of the handheld market, not actually requivalent to the PS3 itself? That makes more sense.
Charmed_Fanatic
Powerful as the PS3 doubt it but if its going to launch £200+ i will not buy, i can get a home console for that, i expect handhelds to be cheaper
uber-BARBIE
surely it cant be as powerfull as the ps3 due to its size.imagine how hot it would get with all that processor power and a tiny fan to cool it down.cant see it meself.but ya never know,sony always have been superior when it comes to design and hardware.
eye8have9you3
well wasn’t the original psp about as powerful as a ps2? tech does move on
uber-BARBIE
yeah but ps2 tech wasnt mind blowing and ps2 never overheated lol.
jayjay119
my PS2 slim crashed quite a few times when playing MGS3 and Resi 4 due to overheating.
DrNate86
I think this will go the way of the PSP personally. I don’t think most consumers want a big, powerful and expensive handheld, now more than ever due to the rise in cheap mobile gaming. I’d love to be proven wrong, but I can’t see the PSP2 becoming a roaring success.
Radiitz
As powerful as the ps3? That would make ps3 look bad right? lol
killocity
I can actually believe the ‘as powerful as PS3’ comment. Come on, if the new iPod touch and iPhone 4 can run stuff like Infinity blade then surely the PSP2 will beat that!