It's that time again. Yes, with the PSP US Launch a mere two-three weeks away, final boarding for the hype train has begun. I'm sure there's many of you itching to try this bad boy out and discuss etc, but just real quick... the same standards apply for this thread as they have for the other two I made. Let's try to keep discussion of the DS to a minimum. I realize at this point it's impossible to not comment on it entirely, but let's try to focus.
Anyway, as with the Japanese PSP Launch thread/DS Launch thread it'd be really nice if we can have everyone who pre-ordered a PSP for this launch to chime in so we can expect hands-on previews. I'll actually be able to start this time, since I have one pre-ordered
Without further adue, the PSP US Launch thread:
__________________________________________________________________________
GENERAL INFORMATION:
__________________________________________________________________________
Launch Date Japan: December 12, 2004 (Status - Launched)
Launch Date US: March 24, 2005 (Status - Impending)
Launch Date Europe: April 2005-July 2005 (Status - Impending)
This time around, the PSP unfortunately only comes in a single noteworthy pack, called VALUE. This is of course in contrast to the Japanese launch which had both a Standard and Value pack.
Value (PSP-1001k):
Price: $249.99 (US)/$299.99(CDN)
Package: Sony PlayStation Portable, AC Adapter, AC Power cord, Battery Pack, Soft Case, Hand Strap, Cloth, Headphones w/ Remote Control, 32MB Memory Stick Pro Duo (Bonus Note - First million units come with a copy of the Spider-Man 2 UMD Movie)
Content Image:
Final Image of US Value Packaging:
US Value Pack Manual: You can view the contents of the manual here - Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4. It's pretty comprehensive, so enjoy. Props to Stinkles for the find a month or so back.
Here is a quick break down of each item as they were from the Japanese launch:
The US Sony PSP Website:
They have a temporary site set up here. Visit it for some information on the system. Doubt you'll find anything you haven't already heard, but it's a viable resource.
Special Note: According to the US PSP Launch website, the value pack WILL include a Game/Movie/Music Video Sample disc... on top of the Spider-Man 2 UMD the first million are getting. This is relatively interesting news, since I had not heard this mentioned before. But in any event, it's likely to be similar to what the Japanese gamers got if you ordered from the PlayStation website - nothing playable.
Sony PSP Interface:
IGN and our fair Japanese importers/adopters have confirmed that the XMB PSP Interface changes color depending on what month it is. For more information, click here.
PSP operating system colours:
Jan: White
Feb: Light yellow
Mar: Pea green
Apr: Pink
May: Green
Jun: Light purple
Jul: Turquoise
Aug: Dark blue
Sep: Purple
Oct: Yellow
Nov: Brown
Dec: Red
(Thanks Jonnyram)
AND FINALLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY...
~Thank you jiggle~
__________________________________________________________________________
SYSTEM SPECS:
__________________________________________________________________________
PSP CPU Core
PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1~333MHz)
32MB Main Memory
4MD Embedded DRAM
Media
UMD Drive (Playback only)
Region Code
Parental Control
Format
PSP Game
UMD Audio
UMD Video
Input/Output
IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi)
USB 2.0 (Target)
Memory Stick PRO Duo
IrDA
IR Remote (SIRCS)
5V DC OUT
Terminals for charging built-in battery
Headphone/Microphone/Control connector
Control:
- Directional buttons (Up/Down/Right/Left)
- Analog pad
- Enter keys (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square)
- Left, Right keys (shoulder buttons)
- START, SELECT, HOME
- POWER On/Hold/Off switch
- Brightness control, Sound Mode, Volume +/-
- Wireless LAN On/Off switch
- UMD Eject
Size Details
Dimensions: Approxately 170mm (L) x 74mm (W) x 23mm (D)
Weight: Approximately 260g (including battery)
Other Specifications
Screen: 4.3 inch, 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD
- 480 x 272 pixel (16.77 million colors)
- Max. 200 cd/m2 (with brightness control)
Built-in stereo speakers
Built-in lithium-ion battery
AC adaptor
128 bit AES encryption
Individual ID for each PSP hardware unit
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
TECHNICAL SPECS:
PSP CPU CORE
MIPS R4000 32bit Core
128bit Bus
1 - 333MHz @ 1.2V
Main Memory :8MB(eDRAM) (**Changed to 32MB, 4MB embedded in May 2004)
32MB NAND FLASH (This has been a bone of contention, but it seems confirmed here.
Bus Bandwidth :2.6GB/sec
I-Cache, D-Cache
FPU, VFPU (Vector Unit) @ 2.6GFlops
3D-CG Extended Instructions
PSP Media Engine
MIPS R4000 32bit Core
128bit Bus
1 - 333MHz @ 1.2V
Sub Memory:2MB(eDRAM) @ 2.6GB/sec
I-Cache, D-Cache
90nm CMOS
PSP Graphics Core 1
3D Curved Surface + 3D Polygon
Compressed Texture
Hardware Clipping, Morphing, Bone(8)
Hardware Tessellator
Bezier, B-Spline(NURBS)
ex 4x4, 16x16, 64x64 sub-division
PSP Graphics Core 2
'Rendering Engine' + 'Surface Engine'
256bit Bus, 1-166 MHz @ 1.2V (**Changed to 512bit Bus in final version)
VRAM :2MB(eDRAM)
Bus Bandwidth :5.3GB/sec
Pixel Fill Rate :664 M pixels/sec
max 33 M polygon /sec(T&L)
24bit Full Color:RGBA
PSP Sound Core: VME
Reconfigurable DSPs
128bit Bus
166MHz @1.2V
5 Giga Operations /sec
CODEC
3D Sound, Multi-Channel
Synthesizer, Effecter, etc
UMD(Universal Media Disc)
60mm
Laser Diode:660nm
Dual Layer :1.8GB
Transfer Rate:11Mbps
Shock Proof
Secure ROM by AES
Unique Disc ID
AVC Decoder
AVC(H.264) Decoder
Main Profile
Baseline Profile
@Level1,Level2,Level3
2Hours(High Quality) - DVD movie
4Hours(Standard Quality) - CS Digital
I/O
USB 2.0
Memory Stick
Extension Port(reserved)
Stereo Head phone Out
Communication
Wireless LAN (i802.11)
IrDA
USB 2.0
__________________________________________________________________________
LAUNCH GAMES
__________________________________________________________________________
Note: These are all games currently slated to be released before the end of March. Release dates are, obviously, subject to change. If I've made any mistakes here, feel free to correct me. I can't keep up with the constantly shifting release dates, especially for certain obscure genres. I'm not sure but someone said smartbomb and mvp was delayed, but I can't find a story on that so if you can find it for me I'd appreciate it.
Click on each game to be directed to their respective websites where applicable. Obviously, not all of them have websites yet. Similarly, some of these are Japanese websites pending their US equivalents. The rest that have neither US or Japan website will just be gamerankings listings. If any of you have information on a website I missed, again... feel free to inform me and I'll update the initial post.
March 24th
Ape Escape: On the Loose (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
Archer Maclean's Mercury (Ignition USA)
ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower (Capcom)
Dynasty Warriors (KOEI)
FIFA 2005 (Electronic Arts)
Gretzky NHL (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
Lumines (Ubisoft)
Metal Gear Acid (Konami)
MLB (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
MVP Baseball (Electronic Arts)
NBA (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
NBA Street Showdown (Electronic Arts)
Need for Speed Rivals (Electronic Arts)
NFL Street 2 Unleashed (Electronic Arts)
Rengoku: Tower of Purgatory (Konami)
Ridge Racer (Namco)
Smartbomb (Eidos Interactive)
Spider-Man 2 (Activision)
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR (Electronic Arts)
Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix (Activision)
Twisted Metal: Head On (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade (Sony Online Entertainment)
Wipeout Pure (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
World Tour Soccer (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
Update (3/01/05) - According to john tv, EB GAMES now lists MLB as April 4th and MVP Baseball as April 11th. Stay tuned for more updates
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Ridge Racers
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Ah, here's one of the first real big ones for the PSP. Basically a huge compilation of essentially every Ridge Racing game ever made (with a few exceptions), it features some new tracks, as well as tons of classics from many titles in the franchise (24 courses in all I believe). The new feature in this game is the nitro, which some of you may or may not like. The list of music is also quite impressive. There's 30 tracks in all, and it's a compilation of new, old and remixes. Check it out here. The game features incredibly sharp visuals and of course the same Ridge Racer drift play we've all come to love (or hate). Not only that, but we US gamers get the better end of the stick as Namco revealed in several interviews that they are providing additions to the gameplay for our stateside release. "The US version of Ridge Racer features a new "MAX Tour" option in world tour mode not available in the Japanese edition, which GameSpot test drove in December."
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Lumines
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Q Entertainment
Lumines...ah. The number one reason to own a PSP, imho, so far. The best description is it's basically tetris turned on its side, only there are only squares and all the block landing and clearing and combos creates techno. "Think Reztris" (thanks Oktober). This is the most accurate description I've read anywhere, and according to some of our fellow GAFers who played the Japanese version it is awesome. The visuals are bright, vibrant and pulsating. The music is, just from the taste we've had, incredible (Mondo Grosso++). It's the definition of handheld gaming, and this is the game you should get imho. I'll allow fellow GAFers to gush over this since there are many who played and loved it.
On top of that, US gamers are getting a real treat with improvements as well. Improved loading, retry, and even a few new skins. The music should also remain unchanged from the Japanese version, so you don't have to worry about any "Americanization." (krypt0nian nod)
Read the Gamespot Lumines Review here. 9.0
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Dynasty Warriors
Publisher: Koei
Developer: Koei
If you played any of the previous Dynasty Warriors games, then you know it's essentially a large-scale beat em' up done on massive battlefields in the middle of wars. There's usually a rudimentary combo system and perhaps some other cool features, but that's generally the way it has been each title. Dynasty Warriors PSP plays a lot like Dynasty Warriors 4, apparantely, albeit with toned down visuals and less characters on screen at once:
On top of this, the game allows you to play "segments" of the map instead of just the one big one. According to the developer this allows you to be more strategic in your approach to your game. Although maybe it's just a matter of avoiding streaming of some sort
Anyway, as with the Japanese PSP Launch thread/DS Launch thread it'd be really nice if we can have everyone who pre-ordered a PSP for this launch to chime in so we can expect hands-on previews. I'll actually be able to start this time, since I have one pre-ordered
Without further adue, the PSP US Launch thread:
__________________________________________________________________________
GENERAL INFORMATION:
__________________________________________________________________________
Launch Date Japan: December 12, 2004 (Status - Launched)
Launch Date US: March 24, 2005 (Status - Impending)
Launch Date Europe: April 2005-July 2005 (Status - Impending)
This time around, the PSP unfortunately only comes in a single noteworthy pack, called VALUE. This is of course in contrast to the Japanese launch which had both a Standard and Value pack.
Value (PSP-1001k):
Price: $249.99 (US)/$299.99(CDN)
Package: Sony PlayStation Portable, AC Adapter, AC Power cord, Battery Pack, Soft Case, Hand Strap, Cloth, Headphones w/ Remote Control, 32MB Memory Stick Pro Duo (Bonus Note - First million units come with a copy of the Spider-Man 2 UMD Movie)
Content Image:
Final Image of US Value Packaging:
US Value Pack Manual: You can view the contents of the manual here - Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4. It's pretty comprehensive, so enjoy. Props to Stinkles for the find a month or so back.
Here is a quick break down of each item as they were from the Japanese launch:
IGN said:Memory Stick Duo
Model: PSP-M32
Price: 2800 yen (2940 yen with tax)
Specs: Magic Gate, 32 Megabytes
PSP AC Adapter
Model: PSP-100
Price: 3500 yen (3675 with tax)
Specs: 100V - 240V, 50/60Hz
PSP Battery Pack
Model: PSP-110
Price: 4800 yen (5040 yen with tax)
Specs: 3.6V/1800mAh
PSP Headphones With Remote Control
Model: PSP-140(W)
Price: 2800 yen (2940 yen with tax)
Color: white
Specs: inner-ear headphones, functions for play, pause, FF, FR, volume, hold
PSP Soft Case & Hand Strap
Model: PSP-170(B)
Price: 2000 yen (2100 yen with tax)
Color: soft case is black, hand strap is white
Case Size: 195 x 7.5 x 108 mm (width, height, depth)
Strap Size: 189 x 3.3 x 9 mm (width, height, depth)
The US Sony PSP Website:
They have a temporary site set up here. Visit it for some information on the system. Doubt you'll find anything you haven't already heard, but it's a viable resource.
Special Note: According to the US PSP Launch website, the value pack WILL include a Game/Movie/Music Video Sample disc... on top of the Spider-Man 2 UMD the first million are getting. This is relatively interesting news, since I had not heard this mentioned before. But in any event, it's likely to be similar to what the Japanese gamers got if you ordered from the PlayStation website - nothing playable.
Sony PSP Interface:
IGN and our fair Japanese importers/adopters have confirmed that the XMB PSP Interface changes color depending on what month it is. For more information, click here.
PSP operating system colours:
Jan: White
Feb: Light yellow
Mar: Pea green
Apr: Pink
May: Green
Jun: Light purple
Jul: Turquoise
Aug: Dark blue
Sep: Purple
Oct: Yellow
Nov: Brown
Dec: Red
(Thanks Jonnyram)
AND FINALLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY...
~Thank you jiggle~
__________________________________________________________________________
SYSTEM SPECS:
__________________________________________________________________________
PSP CPU Core
PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1~333MHz)
32MB Main Memory
4MD Embedded DRAM
Media
UMD Drive (Playback only)
Region Code
Parental Control
Format
PSP Game
UMD Audio
UMD Video
Input/Output
IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi)
USB 2.0 (Target)
Memory Stick PRO Duo
IrDA
IR Remote (SIRCS)
5V DC OUT
Terminals for charging built-in battery
Headphone/Microphone/Control connector
Control:
- Directional buttons (Up/Down/Right/Left)
- Analog pad
- Enter keys (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square)
- Left, Right keys (shoulder buttons)
- START, SELECT, HOME
- POWER On/Hold/Off switch
- Brightness control, Sound Mode, Volume +/-
- Wireless LAN On/Off switch
- UMD Eject
Size Details
Dimensions: Approxately 170mm (L) x 74mm (W) x 23mm (D)
Weight: Approximately 260g (including battery)
Other Specifications
Screen: 4.3 inch, 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD
- 480 x 272 pixel (16.77 million colors)
- Max. 200 cd/m2 (with brightness control)
Built-in stereo speakers
Built-in lithium-ion battery
AC adaptor
128 bit AES encryption
Individual ID for each PSP hardware unit
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
TECHNICAL SPECS:
PSP CPU CORE
MIPS R4000 32bit Core
128bit Bus
1 - 333MHz @ 1.2V
Main Memory :8MB(eDRAM) (**Changed to 32MB, 4MB embedded in May 2004)
32MB NAND FLASH (This has been a bone of contention, but it seems confirmed here.
Bus Bandwidth :2.6GB/sec
I-Cache, D-Cache
FPU, VFPU (Vector Unit) @ 2.6GFlops
3D-CG Extended Instructions
PSP Media Engine
MIPS R4000 32bit Core
128bit Bus
1 - 333MHz @ 1.2V
Sub Memory:2MB(eDRAM) @ 2.6GB/sec
I-Cache, D-Cache
90nm CMOS
PSP Graphics Core 1
3D Curved Surface + 3D Polygon
Compressed Texture
Hardware Clipping, Morphing, Bone(8)
Hardware Tessellator
Bezier, B-Spline(NURBS)
ex 4x4, 16x16, 64x64 sub-division
PSP Graphics Core 2
'Rendering Engine' + 'Surface Engine'
256bit Bus, 1-166 MHz @ 1.2V (**Changed to 512bit Bus in final version)
VRAM :2MB(eDRAM)
Bus Bandwidth :5.3GB/sec
Pixel Fill Rate :664 M pixels/sec
max 33 M polygon /sec(T&L)
24bit Full Color:RGBA
PSP Sound Core: VME
Reconfigurable DSPs
128bit Bus
166MHz @1.2V
5 Giga Operations /sec
CODEC
3D Sound, Multi-Channel
Synthesizer, Effecter, etc
UMD(Universal Media Disc)
60mm
Laser Diode:660nm
Dual Layer :1.8GB
Transfer Rate:11Mbps
Shock Proof
Secure ROM by AES
Unique Disc ID
AVC Decoder
AVC(H.264) Decoder
Main Profile
Baseline Profile
@Level1,Level2,Level3
2Hours(High Quality) - DVD movie
4Hours(Standard Quality) - CS Digital
I/O
USB 2.0
Memory Stick
Extension Port(reserved)
Stereo Head phone Out
Communication
Wireless LAN (i802.11)
IrDA
USB 2.0
__________________________________________________________________________
LAUNCH GAMES
__________________________________________________________________________
Note: These are all games currently slated to be released before the end of March. Release dates are, obviously, subject to change. If I've made any mistakes here, feel free to correct me. I can't keep up with the constantly shifting release dates, especially for certain obscure genres. I'm not sure but someone said smartbomb and mvp was delayed, but I can't find a story on that so if you can find it for me I'd appreciate it.
Click on each game to be directed to their respective websites where applicable. Obviously, not all of them have websites yet. Similarly, some of these are Japanese websites pending their US equivalents. The rest that have neither US or Japan website will just be gamerankings listings. If any of you have information on a website I missed, again... feel free to inform me and I'll update the initial post.
March 24th
Ape Escape: On the Loose (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
Archer Maclean's Mercury (Ignition USA)
ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower (Capcom)
Dynasty Warriors (KOEI)
FIFA 2005 (Electronic Arts)
Gretzky NHL (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
Lumines (Ubisoft)
Metal Gear Acid (Konami)
MLB (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
MVP Baseball (Electronic Arts)
NBA (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
NBA Street Showdown (Electronic Arts)
Need for Speed Rivals (Electronic Arts)
NFL Street 2 Unleashed (Electronic Arts)
Rengoku: Tower of Purgatory (Konami)
Ridge Racer (Namco)
Smartbomb (Eidos Interactive)
Spider-Man 2 (Activision)
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR (Electronic Arts)
Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix (Activision)
Twisted Metal: Head On (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade (Sony Online Entertainment)
Wipeout Pure (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
World Tour Soccer (Sony Computer Entertainment America)
Update (3/01/05) - According to john tv, EB GAMES now lists MLB as April 4th and MVP Baseball as April 11th. Stay tuned for more updates
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Ridge Racers
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Ah, here's one of the first real big ones for the PSP. Basically a huge compilation of essentially every Ridge Racing game ever made (with a few exceptions), it features some new tracks, as well as tons of classics from many titles in the franchise (24 courses in all I believe). The new feature in this game is the nitro, which some of you may or may not like. The list of music is also quite impressive. There's 30 tracks in all, and it's a compilation of new, old and remixes. Check it out here. The game features incredibly sharp visuals and of course the same Ridge Racer drift play we've all come to love (or hate). Not only that, but we US gamers get the better end of the stick as Namco revealed in several interviews that they are providing additions to the gameplay for our stateside release. "The US version of Ridge Racer features a new "MAX Tour" option in world tour mode not available in the Japanese edition, which GameSpot test drove in December."
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Lumines
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Q Entertainment
Lumines...ah. The number one reason to own a PSP, imho, so far. The best description is it's basically tetris turned on its side, only there are only squares and all the block landing and clearing and combos creates techno. "Think Reztris" (thanks Oktober). This is the most accurate description I've read anywhere, and according to some of our fellow GAFers who played the Japanese version it is awesome. The visuals are bright, vibrant and pulsating. The music is, just from the taste we've had, incredible (Mondo Grosso++). It's the definition of handheld gaming, and this is the game you should get imho. I'll allow fellow GAFers to gush over this since there are many who played and loved it.
On top of that, US gamers are getting a real treat with improvements as well. Improved loading, retry, and even a few new skins. The music should also remain unchanged from the Japanese version, so you don't have to worry about any "Americanization." (krypt0nian nod)
Read the Gamespot Lumines Review here. 9.0
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Dynasty Warriors
Publisher: Koei
Developer: Koei
If you played any of the previous Dynasty Warriors games, then you know it's essentially a large-scale beat em' up done on massive battlefields in the middle of wars. There's usually a rudimentary combo system and perhaps some other cool features, but that's generally the way it has been each title. Dynasty Warriors PSP plays a lot like Dynasty Warriors 4, apparantely, albeit with toned down visuals and less characters on screen at once:
Gamespot said:It probably won't come as a great shock that this game plays an awful lot like the other Dynasty Warriors games, just on a smaller screen. As usual, we ran around the expansive battlefields alongside like-minded warriors who were labeled with blue names (written entirely in kanji for this demo, natch). We were constantly on the lookout for soldiers bearing the enemy colors, as well as any enemy officers bearing a red name (a mark for certain death next to our vicious polearm). We had the standard array of basic combo moves and more powerful musou combo attacks that series fans will be intimately familiar with already. Interestingly, the game doesn't use the entirety of the PSP's exceptionally wide screen for gameplay--your battlefield view is close to a four-by-three size, similar to a standard TV. The right side of the screen is instead used to display a tactical map, officer health readouts, and so on.
On top of this, the game allows you to play "segments" of the map instead of just the one big one. According to the developer this allows you to be more strategic in your approach to your game. Although maybe it's just a matter of avoiding streaming of some sort