Whilst the 3DS was the latest handheld gaming console released, we always saw the forthcoming NGP as a “console in your hands” rather than a handheld console.
That may not be the case any more, reports 1up via the French site 01net. They claim that the RAM has been halved, down from 512MB to 256MB, with 128MB of graphics memory still being proposed. To bring down the costs even further, the 16GB of flash memory is now apparently gone, with room for external memory instead.
The reason for these compromises, they say, is to bring the price down and make the NGP a direct competitor with Nintendo’s 3DS.
It makes sense, really; having two consoles competing is good for both of them, as I could see a lot of people ignoring the NGP due to the 3DS’s low (in comparison) price, or ignoring the 3DS because the NGP has far better specs.
What do you think, then? Will the NGP become the next PSP – good but not quite there, and does the fact this console may not be a handheld PS3 like we were hoping make you less likely to buy it?
A cheap price is good, right?
KeRaSh
Brilliant! Make it more like the 3DS because it’s selling like hot cakes… oh wait… what?
Lower the specs enough and you will find yourself competeing agains capable smartphones and tablets. No internal memory? Is this the year 2000? If they make us buy a freaking memory stick to save savegames I’ll give this one a big fat pass until they revise the initial model. I’m sure flash storage can’t be the factor that drives this thing’s price to the roof. Also, memory (RAM) is dirt cheap these day, right?
david
But Sony has never publicly or officially released the system specs? As far as I have read so far, these specs were from a dev system and not the final specs from Sony so it may have always been their intention to have a smaller amount of ram.
Even if true, its still a very powerful handheld and 512mb on a handheld is a crazy amount considering the 360 has 512 and the ps3 has 256×2 non unified.
KeRaSh
My smartphone has more memory. Memory is dirt cheap these days. This would be a dumb move. Aren’t devs already struggling with the limited amount of RAM of the PS3 because of the split architecture? Just give this thing a little more and make it future proof.
david
yeah but your doesn’t have dedicated hardware specifically for gaming so maybe it can afford to have more.
/has no clue what im trying to say lol
colmshan1990
I don’t buy this rumour.
While flash memory is expensive, and a memory stick would probably work out cheaper for customers anyway, halving the RAM would seem a pretty big reduction.
There is no sense in Sony reducing specs to be close to the 3DS anyway, as that will definitely lead more to buy the 3DS. Simply put, a powerful handheld plus 3D or a powerful handheld? Which one would you choose?
Pete_UK
I thought the devs already had the NGP hardware and devkits; I wonder how much this will impact them, and whether the demos we’ve already seen would even be possible on the reduced hardware.
simplebob
Heres hoping they dont take it any further and decide to drop that second stick….
TSBonyman
As long as they’ve got the balance right with specs vs cost I think it’s a good move. The DS will no doubt be in for a price drop around the time the NGP releases.
mrfodder
Don’t like the idea of less internal memory. From what I’m reading memory may be the limiting factor of this generations home consoles. However, if they want to make versions of the NGP with different amounts of internal storage like the do on iphones then I’m all for that. Lowing cost of entry, but more if you want it.
jayjay119
Yeah because the 3DS is doing so well, the only thing that interested me about the NGP was how much power it had, take that away, you’re effectively taking away my purchase. It may reduce the price but you get what you pay for.
Gaztee
Surely the cheapest way to save money is to only produce one sku? I’ll end up with the more expensive version anyway, as I don’t want a half fat flava!
Soild_Nat
Take stuff away and then charge us for it in accessories so we actually end up paying about the same if they included it. I suppose its down to perception, if the price point is the same as the 3DS this thing will sell like hot cakes.
I would have preferred the original specs and would have been willing to pay the premium, however if this approach prevents the system been labelled to expensive and its given the change to succeed then I can live with using my 16gb memory card from my current PSP (please don’t tell me they will invent a new memory format!)