TechJapan generally doesn't cover video game news, but I feel as though I wanted to post this o­n the main page for two reasons - o­nly o­ne of which is good:

1. The PSP is more than just games
2. I will probably buy o­ne

This article is a fusion of two articles, really; o­ne from AV Watch and o­ne from Game Watch.

-UMD production cheaper than that of dual layer DVD

Sony Computer Entertainment Corporation (SCEI) officially announced the Playstation Portable (hereafter, PSP) in Japan at the "PlayStation Meeting 2004" o­n the 12th.

The PSP is a handheld portable gaming device with external dimensions of 170 x 74 x 23mm (W x D x H) and a weight of 260g. It uses a newly developed exclusive media called "UMD," which, apart from game contents, also features a profile for video. Products intended for video contents are also planned for development with cooperation from the film industry. UMD's recording capacity is 1.8GB.

About the specifications and release period of the device, there have been no changes from the announcement in May; it is still set for release in Japan before the end of 2004 and in Europe/America Spring 2004. There have also been no announcements of price.

CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, Ken Kutaragi, presented that the PSP is continuing o­n the development schedule as set earlier, and that the PSP is "a completely new platform, with 2004's newest technology. I want you to feel as though this new Playstation is an amazing game machine." He introduced characteristics of the device such as UMB, the wide LCD, and wireless LAN.

Also, the company will put out development tools ranging from the currently offered PC emulator to a tool containing the final LSI. A performance benchmark intended for development is also set for release in the next quarter.

Kutaragi also dropped a reference to the next generation Playstation: "It will make its debut at a premier event during 2005's E3 in the Spring. Playable software will be available at the Tokyo Game Show. It is advancing at exactly a year after the PSP," he said.

Also, Masayuki Chiyatani, the SCEI's CFO, spoke about the PSP's specs, including the 16:9 aspect ratio 4.3" high resolution (480 x 272) LCD display, the wireless LAN (802.11b) that allows up to 16 player connections (via Adhoc), and how the processing system is similar to that of the Playstation. He appealed the device by demonstrating the "funness" of the concepts of "hold," "look," "connect," and "operate." Also, a demonstration of the "TALKMAN" translation application that utilizes the device's microphone function was also held.

TALKMAN can translate 9 languages. The demonstration consisted of playing out the interaction process of checking into a hotel, which appealed to the flexibility aspect of the PSP platform. Also, Japanese software developers from the time at announcement have expanded from 34 to 59, and 59 titles in development were announced. Lists of both of these to follow this article.

Fumiya Takeno, the company's COO, who "presented the dominance of UMD from a business standpoint," explained that the production price of UMD, even at the beginning, will be cheaper than that of dual layered DVDs - 1 media will cost 250 yen to make. He also introduced the merits of being able to repeat production in a short period of time, and production in small lots. Although the PSP will be the first portable gaming unit to include an optical disc drive, the point of this system's predominance over products using Mask ROM was stressed.

Actual models of the PSP were o­n display at the announcement event. Many games were playable, but the PSP units themselves were fixed to the stands.

Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20040712/scei.htm [1]

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