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[krypt0nian]

Bits and pieces:

PSP chat with Product Manager John Koller

supersaien9: Can you explain exactly how infastructure works? and am i forced to go to a wi fi hotspot go into infastructure mode? What do i need to play it at home
John Koller: To supersaien9: Infrastructure mode works through either a wireless router or eventually (late summer) at hotspots. A game must be infrastructure compatible to work in this mode however so make sure (look on back of package) before trying to connect.

xJoshx: There have been rumors about the next update haveing a web browser and an email client included in it, is there any truth in this. If this is true when should we be expecting this update, and will the cost be free?
John Koller: To xJoshx: There will be several firmware updates to address upcoming changes. The cost for firmware updates will be free. Wipeout Pure actually has a browser embedded in the code, but you are only able to access their downloadable content page - which will go live within the next 1-2 months.

SONplaYstation: You might have answered this question John, but do you think its possible for game developers to enable the gamer to play their own music from the memory stick while the game is being played?
John Koller: To SONplaYstation: This will actually be possible with some games in the very near future..

blcksuprman: Hi, thanks for the PSP!! I was wondering if you guys are promoting software downloads with the PSP, why didn't you include the USB cable or any software to make it easier to do?
John Koller: To blcksuprman: You're welcome. We are promoting software downloads - ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails will offer downloadable content in the next few days and Wipeout will in the next 4-6 weeks. It is easy to do with the Wi-Fi Infrastructure mode..

zippoflame3: will sony be releasing any playable demos, or even a psp magazine with demos like the official playstation magazine in the near future?
John Koller: To zippoflame3: We will definitely be releasing playable stand alone demos in the very near future and are in talks about doing a PSP magazine with bootstrap demos included.

wdcavataio: How long until Memory Stick PRO Duo is made compatible with ATRAC3 files?
John Koller: To wdcavataio: We believe that this will be fixed in mid-summer -

DAsqueek21: Will we be able to download freeware games to the psp soon and when will the psp firmware udate come out and will there be a web browser, email, and chatting etc?
John Koller: To DAsqueek21: We won't be marketing freeware games but I'm sure there will be some that pop up on the Net. I don't have firm info on when the first firmware update is coming but it will most likely happen shortly...

Did a Search for "John Koller" and got no results.

Full Interview HERE

 

[GaimeGuy]

This info is new?

 

[krypt0nian]

This info is new?

Do a search for John Koller.

And you knew that hotspot code was due this summer?

 

[akascream]

Heh, so is the new firmware update going to have a browser or not?

 

[soundwave05]

So freeware stuff is possible?

 

[Guy LeDouche]

wow, that is fantastic news. Would it be a mistake to assume GTA PSP will feature custom playlists from memory sticks?

 

[heavy liquid]

Freeware will rock. I'm also really excited that we might get a PSP magazine with demo discs!

 

[impirius]

tAuZiNs: in furture releases to the psp will u be fixing the square button issue?, also will there be a fireware release for webbrowing etc since i have seen keyboards for the psps out for sale

Freeware and fireware! Wow!

 

[krypt0nian]

So:

1) Hotspot support this summer

2) Wipeout Pure's DL content coming within 1-2 months

3) Playing your own music in-game confirmed.

4) ATV Offroad Fury has DL content

5) Playable demos confirmed

6) ATRAC3 support fixed soon

7) Freeware games possible it seems

 

[ChrisReid]

So:

7) Freeware games possible it seems

Yeah, I thought that was apparently from the interface. When you load it up and go to the Games tab, there's a "Memory Stick" option. This differs from the "Saved Data Utility" to see the game saves on the memory stick. I assume that button will launch games off the Memory Stick at some point, just like how the "Memory Stick" button in the Videos menu launches MS videos. Notice there's also a Digital Camera Images button separately in the Photo tab? It's always at 0, and my regular pictures are beneathit. Seems to be some sort of support for a different sort of camera/photo thing later on.

 

[kaching]

Notice there's also a Digital Camera Images button separately in the Photo tab? It's always at 0, and my regular pictures are beneathit. Seems to be some sort of support for a different sort of camera/photo thing later on.

No, that's there for support of the folder structure Sony's existing digital cameras use. Your regular pictures go into the PSP\PHOTO directory, but Sony digicams put a different folder structure on memory sticks: DCIM\100MSDCF.

 

[Property of Jumpship]

zippoflame3: will sony be releasing any playable demos, or even a psp magazine with demos like the official playstation magazine in the near future?
John Koller: To zippoflame3: We will definitely be releasing playable stand alone demos in the very near future and are in talks about doing a PSP magazine with bootstrap demos included.

YESSSSS!!! That would really be awesome. I dont see OPM doing half the mag as PS2 and half the mag as PSP, with two demos for both. A PSP specific magazine would work the best IMO.

 

[GDJustin]

hilarious how he ignored this guy's question:

blcksuprman: Hi, thanks for the PSP!! I was wondering if you guys are promoting software downloads with the PSP, why didn't you include the USB cable or any software to make it easier to do?

John Koller: To blcksuprman: You're welcome. We are promoting software downloads - ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails will offer downloadable content in the next few days and Wipeout will in the next 4-6 weeks. It is easy to do with the Wi-Fi Infrastructure mode..

 

[DarienA]

One more item since this was talked about in another thread today(jarrod you around?)

AyeZeeEnSk8erX: Do any of the current released games support Game Sharing? Any future games that will support this feature? (Only one PSP is required to have the game UMD while other players don't)
John Koller: To AyeZeeEnSk8erX: No launch titles support Game Sharing but several will in the very near future.

 

[krypt0nian]

Besides Namco Museum - have we heard anything about other Game Share titles?

 

[Belfast]

Heh. Web-browsing and the like is just a matter of time. They're already letting the Koreans do it and so many people keep asking about the future. If Sony wasn't planning it before, they probably are now. We'll see it at some point, and that point is hopefully sooner than later!

 

[TTP]

Am I the only one that worries about the web browser being part of an "Utility Disc" (see Korean stuff) you have to put in the PSP every time you wish to surf the web? Based on my experience with the Central Station shit, I'm so afraid about it.

 

[Spencerr]

Wait, late summer for hot spot support.... I thought you could already use hot spots for your psp...

 

[Nester]

Wait, late summer for hot spot support.... I thought you could already use hot spots for your psp...

I thought so too. Just played a game of Twisted Metal online from a coffee shop last night.

 

[Belfast]

Am I the only one that worries about the web browser being part of an "Utility Disc" (see Korean stuff) you have to put in the PSP every time you wish to surf the web? Based on my experience with the Central Station shit, I'm so afraid about it.

If the program is small enough, you could probably just stash it on a memory stick and run it from there.

 

[TTP]

Yeah, but there are a very big "if" and an equally big "probably" right there. Logic and Sony are often two worlds apart. Fingers crossed anyway.

 

[krypt0nian]

I thought so too. Just played a game of Twisted Metal online from a coffee shop last night.

That's open HOTSPOTS. There is currently no way to enter login/paddwords for payspots.

 

[PanopticBlue]

So if freeware is possible from the memory stick then chances are definitely good for emus right? PSP is fast becoming one of my favorite systems ever!

 

[Unison]

So if freeware is possible from the memory stick then chances are definitely good for emus right? PSP is fast becoming one of my favorite systems ever!

Yeah, this is what I'm thinking too... Most exciting part of the interview, imo.

The surprisingly open-source nature of the PSP is the best thing about it... Being able to rip movies / music / comics to it & emulate games is awesome, given the screen. I've watched several movies on the subway already & am ripping more daily.

 

[aoi tsuki]

wdcavataio: How long until Memory Stick PRO Duo is made compatible with ATRAC3 files?
John Koller: To wdcavataio: We believe that this will be fixed in mid-summer -

There's a problem with ATRAC3 files? Using the stock card, i was able to fit a few songs in ATRAC3 and ATRAC3Plus with no problems. The hardest part was getting SonicStage to import and recognize my files, many of which are MP3, which it doesn't recognize. i'd like to see that fixed first really.

 

[iapetus]

For the people getting overexcited by the 'freeware' answer:

BakedCheese: Would it be possible for someone to make their own small game and put it on a memory stick to play it on their PSP?
John Koller: To BakedCheese: From a gaming coding perspective, no. However, you would be able to place any pre-recorded video or music on a Memory Stick Duo for playback if desired.

 

[Panajev2001a]

There's a problem with ATRAC3 files? Using the stock card, i was able to fit a few songs in ATRAC3 and ATRAC3Plus with no problems. The hardest part was getting SonicStage to import and recognize my files, many of which are MP3, which it doesn't recognize. i'd like to see that fixed first really.

The problem is that ATRAC3 and ATRAC3+ playback does nto seem to work on Memory Stick Pro Duo devices and on 256 MB Memory Stick Duo devices (or work so-so).

 

[jarrod]

One more item since this was talked about in another thread today(jarrod you around?)

It's not game share I'm worried about, but rather single game multiplayer. Namco Museum in Japan already supports game share, but it's limited to downloads single player stuff. I don't want to have to buy 2 copies of every PSP fighting, puzzle or racing game to play with my partner.

 

[Phoenix]

I just want to know when they are going to put WPA in the firmware so I can actually use it with my network... instead of my neighbors.

 

[DarienA]

I just want to know when they are going to put WPA in the firmware so I can actually use it with my network... instead of my neighbors.

Don't hold your breath... if you're concerned about security.. well WPA might not be that much more secure..then again I haven't read the thread I referenced that closely... so I could be wrong.

 

[Acosta]

A magazine with demos would absolutely rock.