Son'ys NGP, aka PSP2

Maybe I could afford it if I donated a testicle.

As always, I'm in love with new Sony tech, but so far they've only announced they're working on ports of current console IPs (Little Big Planet, Uncharted, etc.), and that was the reason I never played my original PSP--I just preferred playing console games on a console in my living room. Portable gaming for me needs to be the kind of thing I can kill five minutes with and turn off. Still, I'm intrigued to see what they do with all these features.

 

I'd also be surprised if this were any less than $300. They may even go for $400.

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I didn't really want the PSP because I'd rather play console games at home on my TV.  It'll be the same with this one.  The tech may be cool, but it will be too expensive and have games that I don't really want to play on a handheld.

 

I wonder if the NGP will do any better than the PSP....doubt it.

Dual analog sticks opens the damn thing up to more faithful, and more playable, translations of current/previous playstation games. Long overdue, and that makes me happy above anything else cited in their system specs.

The "rear touchpad" is the killer feature here (well that and the OLED screen at least), biggest problems with gaming and touch screens are your hands getting in the way (specially in iPhone and Android games). Unless the patented this concept I expect phones and other mobile devices to start doing the same thing. 

Article. It's exactly what I expected, but I don't consider that a bad thing.

You don't think a rear touchpad is innovation?

It's a touchpad, but it's on the rear.

 

It's the most interesting thing about the device, for sure, but I'm just not interested in tapping at games from any angle. Maybe it will change my mind.

The rear touch pad will work well for cursor movement but what about tapping specific points in the middle of the screen ala plants v zombies. Mistakes will made...

Shake your NRG to JAASON

 

A rear touchpad is a big deal for gaming, it means all kinds of gestures that suck right now because your hands get in the way which is the biggest problem with iPhone / iPad games. I can already see an Android API and subsequent phone for a second touchpad in the future.

 

That's why you have the front one. I read in one of the demos the rear one would show a "bubble" too in some cases. It really opens up a lot of possibilities and input game mechanics

Good example of what you can do with the rear touchpanel;

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/27/video-little-deviants-shows-unique-use-of-ngps-rear-touch-pa/

 

Also has an interesting gesture with a pinch using both front and rear panels.

The rear-touchpad also opens up endless possibilities for perverted Japanese dating simulators.

I don't totally understand Sony's thinking here.  It's a technical beast, of course, but the DS smacking the PSP had to show them that people want something a little different when it comes to handhelds.  I have trouble thinking this has even a glimmer of hope vs. the 3DS.

Price is going to be key, but I think they're trying to future proof it as much as possible against iPhone/iPad/Android "game" devices.

 

In my view, the appeal of the DS itself is already lost a lot thanks to some of these devices, their main downside is the lack of hardware controls, and the PSP2 has a good answer for that. Basically on the advent of very powerful touch based smart phones, they need to justify the need for a dedicated gaming device. Only way of doing that is to leverage the console aspects (lower level API, hardware controls, etc) that you are not feasable against the smart phones.

I see a few issues with the phone gaming argument: one, though down a bit, the DS is still selling massive amounts of hardware; and two, if either new device is going to be hurt by the market, it's the NGP.  It seems to be an ultra-powered cell phone with a control pad.  3G, etc.  And a giant price tag to go with it.  3DS ain't cheap, but it offers both dual-screen and 3D without glasses.

 

In essence, I think Nintendo is staying ahead of the curve by offering things you probably won't be able to have on your iPhone 6.  Sony isn't.

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What Nintendo offers is their library, that's why they don't have to bother much with bleeding edge tech. At the end of the day, if you want to play Super Mario, you get a DS.

 

Aside from their constant sequels to old games, and a few extra buttons, the DS and iPhones are really converging. The iPhone and Android platforms can already have games that look better, and have touch input, thats why I think its key for the PSP2 to bring something new to the table in the form of new input types. Hence the dual sticks gamers are already used to, and the rear touchpad which again I think its going to be very useful in other mobile devices.

 

I think the big N is down 33% sales which is not trivial, and I wouldn't be surprised that part of that has to do with mobile gaming on iPhone/iPod Touch. Besides the 3D gimmicky display, hardwarewise I think getting an iPod touch is making more sense than a DS, specially for kids.