PSP Version 1.5 - Are You Upgrading?

h8b1llg8ts

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/11/new-psp-coming-in-september/

joystiq.com wrote:

Sony took the wraps off of the device we all knew in our hearts was coming: A redesigned PSP. Though it was expected, it's probably a surprise to most how little has changed. The new model keeps the 4.3" LCD screen, and still has UMD. It is, however, 33% lighter and 19% slimmer. Also, the battery is more efficient and games load faster. It can also output a high quality video signal directly to TVs.

The system will also come in two new colors which are also part of two new packs. First is the Ice Silver, part of the $199.99 Entertainment Pack that comes with a 1GB Memory Stick, Daxter, and the Family Guy Frickin' Sweet Collection on UMD. Also is a new, white Star Wars-themed PSP that will retail in October for $199.99 packed with Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron. These release plans are for North America, announcements for Japan and Europe are forthcoming.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3161034

1up.com wrote:

In an attempt to push UMD sales (which are apparently up), the new PSP features video output, allowing gamers to watch UMD movies, play games, or browse photos on their television. Hirai demonstrated this ability with a UMD of Spider-Man 2, showing that the output for the new PSP is very high-quality. The PSP can be used to control what's on-screen, be it movie or game.

Zephyr

fuck you sony.

coming out just like 6 months after i bought mine.

i want that video out so bad...

MinionOfCthulhu

Unless it's firmware 1.5, no thanks. ;-)

Etch

I actually have kinda been wanting a PSP for a while, but I already have a DS, so it makes it very hard for me to pony up the cash for a new handheld. I don't even really want the PSP games so much as I want to play PS1 stuff wherever I go.

Mangaroo

err hell n000 what is the point, its a tiinnccy whincy bit thinner and lighter i think only hardcore sony loyals would buy this if they had a psp already....unless ur R-h-h-h-eallllyy into the psp... O.o'

solsovly

I wonder what kind of outputs it has, component, vga, s-video?

Fireflash

Why woud you want to watch a UMD movie on your TV? Wouldn't the low resolution make your eyes bleed to death?

VoodooV

I thought the world already decided that UMD was a lost cause. Why are they continuing to try and push it?

.la1n

when will these be available to purchase?

h8b1llg8ts

My question is UMD sales are up?

That's like keeping count of all the NGage sales ...

RedMageDarion

I may pick one of these up. Depends on my available funds when it drops.

I like the black color though... Do I get jipped out of the bonus game/UMD (trade-in fodder) and the 1GB Memory Stick?

I only have a 512 MB on my PSP right now, and I wish I had spent the extra money on a 1 gig.

BrandXSavior

I'm looking forward to Battlefront: Renegade, so I might consider getting the slimmer Star Wars themed PSP that comes with the game.

h8b1llg8ts

.la1n wrote: »

when will these be available to purchase?

September for the first one and October for the Star Wars Edition ...

Cymoro

I think I'll stick with my firmware 1.5 PSP that's running Cave Story, thank you.

Daybreak

Fireflash wrote: »

Why woud you want to watch a UMD movie on your TV? Wouldn't the low resolution make your eyes bleed to death?

UMDs are actually at normal DVD resolution. Someone demonstrated this shortly after they were released and there was speculation that the PS3 would have a UMD drive as well.

On topic: I'm not upgrading for such a small upgrade. DS Phat -> DS Lite was worth it, but nothing this minor.

LockeCole

Daybreak wrote: »

Fireflash wrote: »

Why woud you want to watch a UMD movie on your TV? Wouldn't the low resolution make your eyes bleed to death?

UMDs are actually at normal DVD resolution. Someone demonstrated this shortly after they were released and there was speculation that the PS3 would have a UMD drive as well.

On topic: I'm not upgrading for such a small upgrade. DS Phat -> DS Lite was worth it, but nothing this minor.

Agreed, I really do want the video out, but not 199 US dollars want... if I could hand over my current PSP and $50 bucks for it, I'd buy this in a heartbeat.

Zeeb!

There's honestly no reason for a PSP-owner to get the new design (though a frugal consumer might have said the same thing about the DS to DS Lite), but perhaps it'll convince others to invest in one.

Fireflash

Daybreak wrote: »

Fireflash wrote: »

Why woud you want to watch a UMD movie on your TV? Wouldn't the low resolution make your eyes bleed to death?

UMDs are actually at normal DVD resolution. Someone demonstrated this shortly after they were released and there was speculation that the PS3 would have a UMD drive as well.

On topic: I'm not upgrading for such a small upgrade. DS Phat -> DS Lite was worth it, but nothing this minor.

Really? Wow, I was certain that UMDs were at the PSP screen's resolution. Not sure if this will really increase UMD sales but at least it'll be a good functionnality for those who wish to purchase UMDs.

Vicissitude

I sold my PSP about a month ago, and still won't be buying this. $200 is just too much, even if it's redesigned.

Frosted Butts

The video output is super cool. If it had controller ports, I would be all over it.

The reduction in size doesn't really do it for me though. I mean, it's a pretty good size/weight as it stands now.

h8b1llg8ts

My PSP is already on the chopping block the day that Star Wars edition comes out. My neighbor's kid wants to buy it so I'll throw in Metal Gear Ac!d and a 32mb stick and upgrade to the other one for about $50 too.

And this is the original O.G. one too so the headphones are shot. So Sony you have another customer by default, damn.

Zeeb!

I would hope that the main reason for not buying it would be because you just sold your PSP, Vicissitude.

YodaTuna

Frosted Butts wrote: »

The video output is super cool. If it had controller ports, I would be all over it.

Or you could just buy a PS2.

Rook

h8b1llg8ts wrote: »

My question is UMD sales are up?

That's like keeping count of all the NGage sales ...

UMD sales are much higher than the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray sales, I think once the dropped the price on them, they've been doing fairly healthily.

corin7

Upgrading? No. Finally purchasing one? Probably.

Vicissitude

Zeeb! wrote: »

I would hope that the main reason for not buying it would be because you just sold your PSP, Vicissitude.

I actually sold my PSP because I heard of a redesign, and never played the damn thing. I figured a new PSP would be less than $200. If it was like $150 I might consider it.

bruin

Does the video output only do UMD movies or can you also do it with games? Because that would be sweet.

LockeCole

bruin wrote: »

Does the video output only do UMD movies or can you also do it with games? Because that would be sweet.

Games too

Fireflash

Vicissitude wrote: »

Zeeb! wrote: »

I would hope that the main reason for not buying it would be because you just sold your PSP, Vicissitude.

I actually sold my PSP because I heard of a redesign, and never played the damn thing. I figured a new PSP would be less than $200. If it was like $150 I might consider it.

But but... what would it change if it were 50$ cheaper? If you never played with it, you won't play with it more just because it cost you less.

bruin

LockeCole wrote: »

bruin wrote: »

Does the video output only do UMD movies or can you also do it with games? Because that would be sweet.

Games too

Oh, I see I should have read the OP more carefully. Thanks.

I dunno, I've been on the fence about buying a PSP for a while now, and this might push me over the edge. Might wait for another price drop though, which will hopefully come next year.

Vicissitude

Fireflash wrote: »

Vicissitude wrote: »

Zeeb! wrote: »

I would hope that the main reason for not buying it would be because you just sold your PSP, Vicissitude.

I actually sold my PSP because I heard of a redesign, and never played the damn thing. I figured a new PSP would be less than $200. If it was like $150 I might consider it.

But but... what would it change if it were 50$ cheaper? If you never played with it, you won't play with it more just because it cost you less.

You know what, you're right. That would be a supreme waste of money. Never mind then.

shyguy

This makes me glad I've waited to pick up a PSP; the video output sounds really cool.

It'd be nice to see some comparison shots between the new and old models, though. The size issue doesn't really move me one way or the other, but I'd like to see what the difference is.

maximumzero

I bought my PSP back in late January when it was still $199. Fortunately I had a $40 off $200 Circuit City coupon so I ended up getting it for $159 + a free copy of Wipeout.

So, sure, I want this new model, particularly for the video output (as my only video game playing devices for the next 5 years will be a PSP and a DS) and the better battery life, but I'm not whiny about it.

The slimmer profile is nice too.

Deusfaux

For over a year I have owned the following:

(all official 1st party)
4GB Memstick Pro Duo
Headset
Accessory Pouch
Pouch with Wriststrap
Headphones with Remote
Stamina Battery
Battery Charger
AC adapter

and these games:


WipEout Pure
Lumines / II
Metal Gear Acid! /2
Burnout Legends
GTA: Liberty City Stories
Me & My Katamari
Mega Man Maverick Hunter X
Mega Man Powered Up
Tekken: Dark Resurrection
MGS: Digital Graphic Novel
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth
Ultimate Ghosts and Goblins
Loco Roco
GTA: Vice City Stories
Every Extend Extra
MGS: Portable Ops


I have never owned a PSP nor played one for more than ~5-10 minutes.

I have been waiting for the redesign for some time.


Finally I say. As well as "woot!"

wunderbar

I will consider it. I'd have to sell my current PSP first. I'll have to decide how much the Video out really means to me. If I can live without it, I won't boehter.

But I keep thinking of playing syphon filter: Dark mirror on my TV screen and I salivate.

Target Practice

Those Entertainment Packs are actually pretty good.

But by the time it's out, I'll probably be ready to buy a Wii.

Frosted Butts

YodaTuna wrote: »

Frosted Butts wrote: »

The video output is super cool. If it had controller ports, I would be all over it.

Or you could just buy a PS2.

I'm having trouble getting this PS2 into my pocket.

Please advise.

JPS3

I am a complete whore when it comes to redesigns/new colors for handhelds. I will be buying this on day one, and I will trade in my old PSP for it. The longer battery life, brighter screen and video out are just too much for me to pass up.

Couscous

Rook wrote: »

h8b1llg8ts wrote: »

My question is UMD sales are up?

That's like keeping count of all the NGage sales ...

UMD sales are much higher than the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray sales, I think once the dropped the price on them, they've been doing fairly healthily.

Isn't that like being much higher than the bottom of the barrel?

Edit: Am I the only person who doesn't like the idea of redesigns having faster load times than before? I don't like the idea of having something that affects games that much in a redesign.

flammiebc

The new form factor isn't that big of a deal to me; I usually have a backpack anywhere I go, so if it's just smaller size/better battery, that's not a great enticement by itself.

For me, the big draw for upgrading to the DS Lite was the inclusion of a significantly better screen than the old DS. Given they didn't say anything about the new PSP's screen, I assume it's still the same one with ghosting issues....

And I'm with Cymoro in the "I like my firmware 1.5 psp with cave story" camp here, new hardware + new firmware (I saw 3.6 in a youtube clip?) means i'll be biding my time and seeing what the usual suspects can make of it first.

JPS3

titmouse wrote: »

Rook wrote: »

h8b1llg8ts wrote: »

My question is UMD sales are up?

That's like keeping count of all the NGage sales ...

UMD sales are much higher than the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray sales, I think once the dropped the price on them, they've been doing fairly healthily.

Isn't that like being much higher than the bottom of the barrel?

Edit: Am I the only person who doesn't like the idea of redesigns having faster load times than before? I don't like the idea of having something that affects games that much in a redesign.

Its not like it stops people from playing games if they have the older version. Its just a perk of the new version. Its not game breaking, is what I'm saying, so there isn't really a problem.