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[DarienA]

Press Release Source: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R) Portable) Amasses Largest Launch Line-Up for March 24th Release
Thursday February 3, 8:08 am ET
More Than 24 Titles From The World's Leading Software Development Firms Expected During Launch Window From All Major Publishers

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- With unsurpassed support from the world's premier software developers, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today the groundbreaking line-up of 24 titles for its revolutionary PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R) Portable) handheld entertainment system, available during the North American launch timeframe. With a launch library more than triple that of our closest competitor, Sony Computer Entertainment America further displays the ongoing support for the new platform with an additional 23 titles currently in development. Consumers can expect Sony Computer Entertainment America's software titles to range from as low as $39.99 SRP.

Representing a broad cross section of entertainment genres, the diverse PSP system launch library includes titles from publishing leaders Activision, Capcom, Eidos Interactive, Electronic Arts, Koei, Konami, Namco and Sony Online Entertainment. Additionally, Sony Computer Entertainment America enjoys unprecedented support for the PSP with over 100 content developers and publishers on board worldwide to create titles for PSP, accounting for most of the software development community.

In addition to the massive gaming software line-up assembled to support the new system, PSP is the first truly integrated portable entertainment system designed to provide consumers with a comprehensive entertainment experience including music, movies, communication, and wireless networking. PSP features graphics rendering capability comparable to that of PlayStation(R)2, allowing users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality, full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. PSP also adopts a newly developed proprietary, compact, but high-capacity optical disc, Universal Media Disc (UMD(TM)), as its storage medium. UMD is the next generation compact storage media, only 60mm in diameter but can store up to 1.8GB of digital data -- more than three times the data held on a CD-ROM.

"The high profile lineup includes a wide range of products that will appeal to every type of gamer -- from the sports fan to the action enthusiast -- providing consumers with the ultimate entertainment experience in the palm of their hands," said Andrew House, executive vice president, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Combined with a strong first party lineup, the portable entertainment space will be catapulted to new heights as we engage in the single biggest consumer launch of the year."

"We are pleased to be building franchises for the PSP that will change consumers' expectations of portable entertainment content," said Jack Tretton, executive vice president, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "PSP has allowed the development teams to create engaging content that is not only fun to play, but shows off the amazing technology of the unit, brining unparalleled visual quality to the portable entertainment arena."

Consumers can find the following titles available during the launch window at more than 18,000 retail locations (listed in alphabetical order):

-- Ape Escape(R): On the Loose, Sony Computer Entertainment America
-- ATV Offroad Fury(R): Blazin' Trails, Sony Computer Entertainment
America
-- Darkstalkers Chronicle(TM): The Chaos Tower, Capcom
-- Dynasty Warriors(R), KOEI
-- FIFA 2005, Electronic Arts
-- Gretzky(TM) NHL(R), Sony Computer Entertainment America
-- Lumines(TM), Ubisoft
-- Metal Gear Acid(TM), Konami
-- MLB(TM), Sony Computer Entertainment America
-- MVP Baseball, Electronic Arts
-- NBA, Sony Computer Entertainment America
-- NBA Street Showdown, Electronic Arts
-- Need for Speed(TM) Rivals, Electronic Arts
-- NFL Street 2 Unleashed, Electronic Arts
-- Rengoku(TM): Tower of Purgatory, Konami
-- Ridge Racer(TM), Namco
-- Smartbomb, Eidos Interactive
-- Spider-Man 2(TM), Activision
-- Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R), Electronic Arts
-- Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix, Activision
-- Twisted Metal: Head On(TM), Sony Computer Entertainment America
-- Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade, Sony Online Entertainment
-- Wipeout(R) Pure, Sony Computer Entertainment America
-- World Tour Soccer, Sony Computer Entertainment America

 

[Fularu]

Don't tell me you didn't see that thread still on the front page with the exact same information?

 

[Guns N' Poops]

Wow, at the very least a more than solid line-up. Hehe for Lumines and what's Smartbomb?

 

[dark10x]

Don't tell me you didn't see that thread still on the front page with the exact same information?

Exact same? The lineup was not initially posted (edited in later)...

Going to be an expensive launch. Depending on reviews (of the last two), I'd like...

-- Lumines(TM), Ubisoft
-- Metal Gear Acid(TM), Konami
-- Ridge Racer(TM), Namco
-- Twisted Metal: Head On(TM), Sony Computer Entertainment America
-- Wipeout(R) Pure, Sony Computer Entertainment America

 

[drohne]

no hot shots golf? i guess scea are taking their time to ruin the characters. that's a nice lineup, though. i'll be picking up wipeout pure and mg ac!d, assuming they'll play on my japanese unit.

 

[sonycowboy]

Way too many sports titles at once. I predict the SCEA sports titles will sell like complete crap.

 

[GDGF]

Yeah, nice launch line up, but their lowest priced games are going to be 40 bucks a pop. I wonder what the high end will be...

 

[Speevy]

That's a sports overload.

 

[explodet]

-- ATV Offroad Fury(R): Blazin' Trails, Sony Computer Entertainment America
-- Need for Speed(TM) Rivals, Electronic Arts
-- Ridge Racer(TM), Namco
-- Wipeout(R) Pure, Sony Computer Entertainment America

Fight!

 

[sonycowboy]

No GTA.

Having that at launch would have been like pouring jet fuel on a barbeque.

 

[Enigma]

Consumers can expect Sony Computer Entertainment America's software titles to range from as low as $39.99 SRP.

Makes the 49.99 for third-party games seem real likely.

 

[gogogow]

no hot shots golf? i guess scea are taking their time to ruin the characters. that's a nice lineup, though. i'll be picking up wipeout pure and mg ac!d, assuming they'll play on my japanese unit.

I hope not!

 

[dark10x]

No GTA.

Having that at launch would have been like pouring jet fuel on a barbeque.

It does seem possible for DMA to finish a new GTA game in time for PS3's US launch, though. Now THAT would be huge...

 

[The End]

I'll pick up Lumines, Ridge Racer, and probably MGA, although WipeOut Pure at $40 seems like a bargain now.

 

[explodet]

That's a sports overload.

It's not an invalid strategy - if you want to open the handheld market further, fill some voids. It's not like Madden GBA is tearing up sales charts.

Sports games should appeal to those who want to play sports on a handheld but are only used to the quality of console games.

 

[Speevy]

It's not an invalid strategy - if you want to open the handheld market further, fill some voids. It's not like Madden GBA is tearing up sales charts.

Sports games should appeal to those who want to play sports on a handheld but are only used to the quality of console games.

Americans love sports games, but I think the more interesting games (like Lumines) are going to get ignored.

 

[sonycowboy]

Couple of thoughts:

1) My wife is absolutely going to be majorly pissed. Between the PSP launch, a 1GB card, 3 PSP games, GT4, Devil May Cry 3, and God of War, I'm going to be spending like $700 in March.

2) Sony is absolutely going to have to introduce a base system by late fall and drop MSRP on games to $29.99/$34.99 pretty damn soon. Those prices are just too high for a handheld, I'm sorry.

3) Nintendo DS is going to be just fine for the rest of 2005

4) The lineup is the truly incredible. Although quite heavy in sports and racing.

 

[btrboyev]

I knew you'd see game prices similar to home consoles. Now wheres the units price?

 

[Deg]

SCE sure know how to fill the lists with their own quality games

I see a big winner here. Name begins with E , ends in A.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

SCE sure know how to fill the lists with their own quality games

Twisted Metal
Wipeout Pure
ATV Offroad
Ape Escape


Yep!

 

[Shadax]

With that launch date and 24 launch titles, they should do a tie-in with 24.....have Jack Bauer kill someone with a PSP disc eject glitch.

PS: I'd gladly pay $50 for a portable 3D game that looks as good as these games do.

 

[dark10x]

SCE sure know how to fill the lists with their own quality games

I see a big winner here. Name begins with E , ends in A.

Yeah, they do. Certainly more than Nintendo did with the DS launch...

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Is it time for an "Official US PSP Launch" thread?

 

[The End]

We need to get Amir0x up in here.

 

[ThirdEye]

So many SCEA games

 

[jarrod]

Excellent, diverse lineup... I'm interested in...

-Ape Escape: On the Loose (definite buy)
-Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower (definite buy)
-Lumines (definite buy)
-Metal Gear AC!D
-Ridge Racer (definite buy)
-WipEout PURE

....the $39.99 low end proint point is a bit much, though expected I guess. SCEA needs to institute Greatest Hits fast!

 

[jarrod]

Yeah, they do. Certainly more than Nintendo did with the DS launch...

The US launch was held back on 1st party content in order to give 3rd party wares a chance to shine, and it worked to some degree. In Europe/Japan, with PSP launching so close, Nintendo didn't have that luxury.

 

[dark10x]

The US launch was held back on 1st party content in order to give 3rd party wares a chance to shine, and it worked to some degree. In Europe/Japan, with PSP launching so close, Nintendo didn't have that luxury.

Yeah, but almost all US DS software to date has been...average at best (outside of Mario, which was a port).

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

....the $39.99 low end proint point is a bit much, though expected I guess. SCEA needs to institute Greatest Hits fast!

Amen!

Although the higher-priced games might be the solution to the market forcves we talked abotu on another thread that generates so much shovelware. If the game quality stays near-console level, I'll put up with the price difference.

...although that's hard on the market for puzzle games and other time-waster type games.

 

[Guns N' Poops]

The US launch was held back on 1st party content in order to give 3rd party wares a chance to shine, and it worked to some degree. In Europe/Japan, with PSP launching so close, Nintendo didn't have that luxury.

And yet we are getting the same unbelievably bad launch line-up for DS in Europe.

 

[bobafett]

Where is Mercury? This is my #1 game for the PSP.

 

[SolidSnakex]

Where is Mercure? This is my #1 game for the PSP.

Possibly delayed so they can get the tilt sensor to come out at the sametime.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Where is Mercure? This is my #1 game for the PSP.

Good question. I just noticed that myself.

 

[UbiSoftologist]

No GTA.

Having that at launch would have been like pouring jet fuel on a barbeque.

T2's earnings management determines its release date.

 

[Deg]

And yet we are getting the same unbelievably bad launch line-up for DS in Europe.

I think the empahasis on 3rd party is better for sales. People like you will get what they want regardless of what happens.

 

[btrboyev]

-- Ape Escape(R): On the Loose, Sony Computer Entertainment America - will not do well
-- ATV Offroad Fury(R): Blazin' Trails, Sony Computer Entertainment - will do well
America
-- Darkstalkers Chronicle(TM): The Chaos Tower, Capcom - will bomb
-- Dynasty Warriors(R), KOEI - will bomb
-- FIFA 2005, Electronic Arts - could do well
-- Gretzky(TM) NHL(R), Sony Computer Entertainment America - bomb
-- Lumines(TM), Ubisoft -bomb
-- Metal Gear Acid(TM), Konami - bomb
-- MLB(TM), Sony Computer Entertainment America - bomb
-- MVP Baseball, Electronic Arts - will do well
-- NBA, Sony Computer Entertainment America - bomb
-- NBA Street Showdown, Electronic Arts - will do well
-- Need for Speed(TM) Rivals, Electronic Arts -will do well
-- NFL Street 2 Unleashed, Electronic Arts - will do well
-- Rengoku(TM): Tower of Purgatory, Konami - bomb
-- Ridge Racer(TM), Namco - will do well
-- Smartbomb, Eidos Interactive - bomb
-- Spider-Man 2(TM), Activision - will do well
-- Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R), Electronic Arts - will do well
-- Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix, Activision - will do well
-- Twisted Metal: Head On(TM), Sony Computer Entertainment America -will do well
-- Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade, Sony Online Entertainment - bomb
-- Wipeout(R) Pure, Sony Computer Entertainment America - not sure
-- World Tour Soccer, Sony Computer Entertainment America - bomb

 

[Tabris]

Definite Purchases!

-- Lumines(TM), Ubisoft
-- Metal Gear Acid(TM), Konami

Maybe's (depending on what friends get them, and probably wait for price drops, cause unlike Nintendo handhelds, PSP game prices will drop.)

-- Darkstalkers Chronicle(TM): The Chaos Tower, Capcom
-- Dynasty Warriors(R), KOEI

 

[jarrod]

Yeah, but almost all US DS software to date has been...average at best (outside of Mario, which was a port).

Mr Driller, Zoo Keeper and Feel the Magic all rank as pretty good games, though none are particularly complex in design. Spider-Man 2 and Asphalt GT seem at least worthwhile too given the genre... you have to remember, with the DS' rushed development cycle, most of the launch period games had between 4-6 months in R&D. That's nothing for developers working on new hardware with unique interfaces.

Besides, DS is getting like 10-12 releases this March to combat PSP launch. It's pretty clear Nintendo's been "saving" software for that.

And yet we are getting the same unbelievably bad launch line-up for DS in Europe.

Erm, not at all. Europe gets a pretty stacked DS launch actually, more than double the games America saw. Not as nice as PSP's western debuts I'd agree, but way better than the launch US DS lineup.

 

[jarrod]

Possibly delayed so they can get the tilt sensor to come out at the sametime.

Let's hope! The whole concept just sounds amazing.

 

[Forsete]

Not bad, not bad at all.

Get:
Ridge Racer
Twisted Metal: Head On
Wipeout(R) Pure

Perhaps later:
Need for Speed(TM) Rivals
Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix
Lumines(TM)

 

[SantaC]

As I mentioned earlier. I will buy PSP this summer when some interesting games starting to come out(hopefully). The PSP launch lineup is dull from my perspective. (Car and sports games is not my cup of tea)

game genres I am looking forward too:

Platformers
Rpgs
Action-Adventure titles

 

[VictimOfGrief]

Don't tell me you didn't see that thread still on the front page with the exact same information?

2nd

 

[Guns N' Poops]

Erm, not at all. Europe gets a pretty stacked DS launch actually, more than double the games America saw. Not as nice as PSP's western debuts I'd agree, but way better than the launch US DS lineup.

Doubled doesn't mean better. There is still no other game besides Mario 64 that is something really solid. Small japanese puzzle games and mini game collections aren't exactly part of a rich line-up. I am very angry about this fact. They could at least add Yoshi's Touch & Go, who the hell knows when it gets released here in Europe.

 

[Axsider]

-- Ape Escape(R): On the Loose, Sony Computer Entertainment America
-- ATV Offroad Fury(R): Blazin' Trails, Sony Computer Entertainment
-- Metal Gear Acid(TM), Konami
-- Twisted Metal: Head On(TM), Sony Computer Entertainment America
-- Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade, Sony Online Entertainment (Awesome!)
-- Wipeout(R) Pure, Sony Computer Entertainment America - not sure

I want my MediEvil, damnit!!

 

[SantaC]

Doubled doesn't mean better. There is still no other game besides Mario 64 that is something really solid. Small japanese puzzle games and mini game collections aren't exactly a rich line-up. I am very angry about this fact. They could at least add Yoshi's Touch & Go, who the hell knows when it gets released here in Europe.

wario ware touched is a launch game in europe. Looking forward to that one.

 

[Cloudy]

What exactly is so great about that line-up?

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

What exactly is so great about that line-up?

The diversity? You have just abotu everything but RPG covered.

The sheer number of titles? 24 is an awful lot.

The appearance for the first time in several years of a couple of fan-favorite franchises (Twisted Metal and Wipeout)?

 

[Cloudy]

Diversity != quality and $40-$50 for ports = meh. I'll be getting MGA and nothing else. Hope it's good

 

[dark10x]

Diversity != quality and $40-$50 for ports = meh. I'll be getting MGA and nothing else. Hope it's good

The GOOD games are not ports and a lot of those games ARE of high quality (and some others SHOULD be)...

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Not ports:


-- Ape Escape(R): On the Loose, Sony Computer Entertainment America
-- Lumines(TM), Ubisoft
-- Metal Gear Acid(TM), Konami
-- Ridge Racer(TM), Namco
-- Smartbomb, Eidos Interactive
-- Twisted Metal: Head On(TM), Sony Computer Entertainment America
-- Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade, Sony Online Entertainment
-- Wipeout(R) Pure, Sony Computer Entertainment America

If you take out the ports, you *still* have an awesome launch lineup. Not to mention that ports are desirable on a handheld for a lot of people.

As far as the "quality" comment... I'd like to see a better launch lineup for any system. The only thing this lineup is missing over any other is one absolute killer title, ala Halo or Mario 64. And that's only because the general populace doens't give Wipeout the love it deserves. GTA is coming, it's likely that title for the PSP.

I'm boggled that people can objectively put down this launch. Saying it's not for them personally, I have no problems. But this is an awe-inspiring list of launch games.