PSP Price Announced

[SALvation]

Sony announced the PSP's price...$200. So much for the $300 price people were guessing. This might really hurt DS's sales since its now only $50 more.

PSP Enters Japanese Market on 12 December at 20,790 Yen

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Tokyo, October 27, 2004 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI), announced today that it would release its new handheld video game system, PSPTM (PlayStation™Portable) (PSP-1000), on December 12, 2004, at a recommended retail price of 19,800 yen excluding tax (20,790 yen including tax) for the Japanese market.
With high-quality graphics processing capability equivalent to that of PlayStation 2, in addition to rich stereo sound, PSP offers the joy of playing full-scale 3D-CG games and viewing high resolution video images anytime, anywhere.

Equipped with a wireless LAN feature (IEEE802.11b), PSP enables users to connect to the Internet through access points, making it possible for users to download game characters and content and also to play games on-line with families, friends and on-line community members. For a more intimate gaming experience, a maximum of 16 PSP systems can be connected wirelessly through the ad-hoc mode allowing family and friends to create an instant yet powerful local on-line entertainment community (*1).
PSP features an integrated high output lithium-ion battery that provides play time of between 4 and 6 hours for game titles and continuous 4 to 5 hours for video viewing. (SCEI actual measurement) (*2)

With PSP, the world of PlayStation, people’s most favorite platform, is further enhanced. A 4.3 inch wide 16:9 high resolution LCD screen, the largest in a handheld gaming device, creates a personal environment in which to enjoy games, music and video anytime, anywhere, with a dynamism that has never been possible before.

To accompany the launch of the PSP system, a total of 21 game titles from SCE and third party software developers and publishers will be released by the end of this year. In addition to these titles, over 100 exciting new titles are currently in development. Innovative titles using the unique features of PSP, as well as PSP versions of hit titles that have been the drivers of the PlayStation platform will continuously be introduced.

Entertainment software of an entirely new category mixing game, music and video on a single UMD® is expected to be released in spring 2005, further enriching the world of PSP.

With PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and PSP, SCEI will continue to expand the market and create a new world of computer entertainment.

(*1) Complies with IEEE802.11b. Typical indoor range of approx. 30m at 11Mbps and approx. 91m at 1Mbps. Typical outdoor range of approx. 120m at 11Mbps and approx. 460m at 1Mbps. However, places with obstacles and strong electromagnetic waves, range may become narrower or transmission may be cut.
(*2) Measurement conditions: display luminance set to maximum (180 cd/m2) and minimum (80 cd/m2) while volume is set to half of the maximum level, headphone in use and wireless LAN not in use.

PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) Basic Specifications and Features

Product Name PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable)
Color Black
Product Code PSP-1000
Recommended
Retail Price 19,800 yen (20,790 yen tax inclusive)
Dimensions Approximately 170mm (W) x 23mm (H) x 74mm (D)
Weight Approximately 280g (including battery)
CPU PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1～333MHz)
Main Memory 32MB
Embedded DRAM 4MB
Display 4.3 inch, 16:9 Wide screen TFT LCD
480 x 272 pixel, 16.77 million colors
Maximum luminance 180 / 130 / 80cd/m2 (when using battery pack)
Maximum luminance 200 / 180 / 80cd/m2 (when using AC adaptor)
Sound Built-in stereo speakers
Main Input/Output IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi)
USB 2.0 (mini-B)
Memory Stick PRO Duo™
IrDA
IR Remote (SIRCS)
Main Connectors Memory Stick Duo™ Slot
USB connector
DC OUT connector
DC IN 5V connector
Headset connector
Keys/Switches Directional buttons (Up/Down/Right/Left)
Analog Stick
Enter keys (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square)
Left, Right buttons x 1
START button, SELECT button, HOME button x 1
POWER/HOLD switch x 1
Display button, Sound button, Volume +/- buttons x 1
Wireless LAN switch (ON/OFF) x 1
OPEN latch (UMD) x 1
Power Lithium-ion Battery
AC Adaptor
Disc Drive UMD Drive (Read only)
Profile PSP Game
UMD Audio (profile name TBD)
UMD Video (profile name TBD)
Codec Video: H.264 / AVC MP Level3
Audio: ATRAC3plus™、MP3
Security (Encryption) 128bit AES
(Copyright protection technology) MagicGate™
Access control Region, Parental Control
Wireless communications Infrastructure mode
Ad hoc mode (connection up to 16 consoles)
Supplied accessories
AC adaptor
Battery pack

Separately Sold Accessories

Product Name Memory Stick Duo™
Product Code PSP-M32
Recommended
Retail Price 2,800 yen (2,940 yen tax inclusive)

Specifications Copyright protection technology : MagicGate™
Capacity: 32MB
Dimensions: Approximately 20mm (W) x 1.6mm (H) x 31mm (D)
Weight: Approximately 2g

Product Name AC adaptor (for PSP™)
Product Code PSP-100
Recommended
Retail Price 3,500 yen (3,675 yen tax inclusive)

Specifications Rated input voltage : 100V - 240V 50/60Hz
Rated voltage/electrical current output : 5V / 2.0A
Dimensions: Approximately 76mm (W) x 22mm (H) x 46mm (D)
Weight: Approximately 44g

Product Name Battery pack (for PSP™)
Product Code PSP-110
Recommended
Retail Price 4,800 yen (5,040 yen tax inclusive)

Specifications Voltage/Capacity : 3.6V/1800mAh
Dimensions: Approximately 52mm (W) x 12.5mm (H) x 36mm (D)
Weight: Approximately 44g

Product Name Headphone with remote control (for PSP™)
Product Code PSP-140(W)
Recommended
Retail Price 2,800 yen (2,940 yen tax inclusive)

Color White
Specifications Remote Control : Play/Pause, FF, FR, Volume +/-, Hold switch
Headphone : In-the-ear type headphone

Product Name Soft case and hand strap (for PSP™)
Product Code PSP-170(B)
Color Soft case: Black
Hand strap: White
Recommended
Retail Price 2,000 yen (2,100 yen tax inclusive)

Specifications
Soft case:
Dimensions: Approximately 195mm (W) x 7.5mm (H) x 108mm (D)
Hand strap:
Dimensions: Approximately 189mm (W) x 3.3mm (H) x 9mm (D)


Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

[SALvation]

The wireless function sounds really cool. I wonder if that means I can be sitting outside, connected to my wireless LAN, playing Madden 2006 online against someone.

[Death Engineer]

I think that last post just added +4 to Sal's geek rating. :P I have to admit it looks better than the DS (what was nintendo thinking??).

[JIMINATOR]

i think i was watching tv and it was going to be delayed to 2006 due to production issues... but maybe that is just for us..... or maybe i just imagined the whole thing... :hmmm:

[SALvation]

I doubt it would be delayed over a year since its already coming out for JPN on Dec. 12th. The date for us is still March 2005 so far.

[He Is Legend]

Hopefully I'll hit to lotto and but it

[PJ'l_Master]

i think ill end up getting one

[SoulReaver]

Oh I heard it was like $183 from gamespot. $223 if you buy the value pack which comes with some things like a psp case, memory, and etc.

[Gun Element]

Im glad to hear the price drop. I knew it wouldnt be so high from the start, but nice to be sure ;). I've been looking at the DS and PSP for school reasons, and found a great interest in the PSP. Thats what Im gonna end up getting.

[ZeLL]

so what exactly can you play on it? is it normal ps2 and ps1 games or no? I think i'll have to test drive one of them babies before i take it off the lot.

[leon]

How will about 50dollars of the difference in price of DS and PSP influence sales?

Nintendo used "Hikaru Utada" of the best Japanese singer by the TVcommercial.
Then, the intense impression of two screens and low price. and compatibility with the gameboy and gamecube.

DS in Japan now.
(At present, TVcommercial of PSP isn't being broadcast yet.)

[SALvation]

so what exactly can you play on it? is it normal ps2 and ps1 games or no? I think i'll have to test drive one of them babies before i take it off the lot.
PSP uses its own format for games which are UMD disks. You can't play and PS1 or PS2 games on it, but many familiar names are coming to PSP like Hot Shots, Gran Turismo, and more. Graphics are just under PS2 quality, but the small screen size should make them look almost equal.

[EXEcution]

The PSP is gonna have dvd quality movies on the UMD disks as well.

[SoulReaver]

No, you do not play ps2 or ps1 games on them. You play PSP games lol. THat and dvd's. The dvd's have to be in UMD format though.

[SALvation]

You cannot play DVDs on a PSP. the UMD format is much smaller than a DVD. Think the size of a gamecube disk. A normal DVD will not play.

[leon]

UMD (Much movie software will be made, too.)

[EXEcution]

dvd quality i said, from what i've heard the umd diks can store movies as well.

[SoulReaver]

I know that Sal. Thats why I said the dvds have to be UMD.