VG247 have posted what they claim to be the first images of a PSP2 devkit (although it’s apparently the last version, and not the current one). Whilst the site itself says that they may not be representative of the portable’s “final form factor”, we can at least see what developers are testing their in-development projects on.
So, let’s look at the front first. Obviously, there are immediate comparisons to be made with the current PSPgo, in terms of a sliding screen that hides the front controls – but VG247 say that the most recent edition of the devkit actually looks more like a classic PSP-1000 through 3000 in that it is a big block and not a slider (apparently to combat overheating concerns). The big news is the two analog nubs (finally), which will make playing first-person shooters much more enjoyable, and help with the camera issues that have plagued many PSP titles so far.
Then we’ve got a microphone (much like the one built in to the PSP-3000), and a front-facing camera. This could mean some kind of video chat system is being planned, or of course it could just be for use in games and applications. There’s also a bit of a switch in terms of the control layout, with the analog sticks now positioned above the directional pad and face buttons unlike on the current PSPs and DualShocks, and it’ll be interesting to see what difference that makes to the ergonomics of the system.
Then on the back of the unit we can see a nice big “NOT FOR SALE” badge, just to reinforce the whole prototype thing, a rear-facing camera to go with the one on the front of the system (presumably Sony decided consumers don’t like one that spins round), the shoulder buttons, and that much-rumoured “trackpad”. It’s still unclear entirely how that’ll work, but it certainly adds something new to the whole experience of a portable gaming console. Plus, who wants to waste those precious extra fingers?
So, what we’ve got here certainly matches up with what we’ve already heard about the console from the rumours (although obviously the photos tell us nothing about the internal components of the handheld), although what’s here could entirely change by the time the system is finally announced.
Current rumours peg the PSP2 for release at the end of 2011, with power equivalent to the PS3 and Xbox 360. What do you guys make of the prototype then?
Source: VG247
Kennykazey
This could be interesting, not sure about the whole trackpad thing, why not just give it a touchscreen instead? I’m sure that could work very well. Changing the position of the thumbsticks seems odd, but perhaps that’s what works best with it’s shape.
shields_t
Not convinced, I know it says it’s a prototype but it looks way too tacky for a sony product.
philzy85
“with power equivalent to the PS3 and Xbox 360.”
if thats true then why the hell as the ps3 and xbox so big? apart from the obvious being the optical drive / hard drive….
Kovacs
Technology tends to get more powerful and smaller as time goes by. PS3 will be around 5 years old when the PSP2 comes out.
JoshHood
When the PS3 was released, we were all still running Windows XP on Pentiums, and listening to something called CDs.
shields_t
C D? What is that?
CNWLshadow
Id much rather the track pad was actually a touch screen on the front. And as for the media, well; download only would be good if they can replicate apples app store in some way, with stages of pricing. Maybe for £15- one of the full AAA titles etc. Apple went right somewhere along the line with there digital content.
bigwhiteyeti
As a previous PSP go owner and an iPhone owner, I will tell you that I will NEVER buy a digital distribution handheld again. Sony’s pricing was all over the place, and almost never market value. In addition, I like having the touch panel on the back; this fights one of the major problems of iPhone games- your thumbs/fingers get in the way of whatever you’re playing. You waste half your screen space on virtual analog nub controls and “buttons”.
CNWLshadow
Yes sonys pricing is all over the place but apples is set. And as for the touch screen, it wont replace the physical controls, just be there to back them up. Touch controls let you do things physical ones cant.
Lambo_1989
Come on we all don’t think sony are that thick, not including a form of UMD / Memory stick for games?? Surely they learn t their lesson over this thing called a psp go.
SuperHans
As a huge PlayStation fan it pains me to say this, but yes; they /are/ that thick. They never learn. PSP games on the store always have been a ripoff and still are to this day, PS3s still don’t play PS2 games, firmware updates are just useless crap after useless crap that’s cluttering the once elegant XMB, the PSP Go as you mentioned (they would be thick to come up with the idea in the first place!), they never promote anything and when they do it’s with them god-awful ‘start’ adverts, they still wont make PSN game demos mandatory, they’ve effed up lots of stuff with firmware updates (controllers not being detected, the 3.40 business and the leap-year fiasco), the YLOD and not covering it, for people who play online PSN never works(hate online myself, just going by whaat others say about psn), they treat the US and Japan like gods and everywhere else like something you’d scrape off the bottom of your shoe, and lots of other stuff.
But they do make the best games and consoles.
dude90
That looks sleek, hoping for late 2011 release.
Harinero
I like how the images are so dramatically ghostly.
ElGuason
i wouldn’t get my hopes up…
Kevling
I imagine the trackpad is for navigating the XMB while the unit is closed, for music/video/friends etc rather than in combination with the controls…
nofi
Christ. Wonder which poor dev’s getting a phonecall tomorrow…
colmshan1990
Maybe the blurry quality will save them, Sony won’t be able to read any serial no. or such.
Unless the Sony smoking out snitches by leaking false info rumours extend to handing out different shaped PSPs to devs…