No plans for a PSP2- David Reeves

We might have to wait a while for a sucessor to the PSP, according to Sony Computer Entertainment Europe boss David Reeves. "...there are currently no plans for a PSP2" he said, speaking to MCV. "I go to Tokyo quite a lot and no one has referred to it - I think they have their hands full at the moment."

It makes sense. At the moment, there isn't a need to update the PSP hardware. Sony designed the handheld to be the most powerful one on the market and it currently has few contenders on that front. It also sold the PSP as a multimedia player, and it's still more than powerful enough to play high quality music and video. While I still don't think that the PSP's design really lends itself well to good handheld gaming, I don't currently see what Sony's rationale would be in releasing a new one, not to mention the rather sad news that Sony's losing 8,000 workers form its electronics division.

via Kotaku

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2009 will be year of the PSP, says Sony

Sony's marketing machine is in full swing, with PlayStation Canada marketing manger Mark Levitan stating that "...2009 is going to be the year of the PSP."

"We have Resistance: Retribution coming in February but I've seen a lot of the stuff in development and it is not a mistake by any means to a buy a PSP now."

To be honest, I'm still not that sold on the idea of the PSP. Technically, it's an amazing piece of kit, capable of some fantastic graphical feats. But the design of the console seems to encourage PS2 style console games which simply don't work as well on a handheld. Good portable games can't work in the same way that console blockbusters can. They have to be instantly playable and not demand long play sessions. I'm looking forward to seeing the next batch of stuff, but I'm hoping that it'll be properly geared towards the portable format.

here via CVG

PSP meets Xbox 360 Chatpad in unholy union

Although Sony's efforts with predictive text make typing on the PSP less painful than it could otherwise have been, it's still no picnic. As the rest of us sit and twiddle our thumbs in wait for an official keypad for the handheld, which may even launch before the device becomes obsolete, one modder got off his backside and did something about it. Behold, the unholy alliance:

Well done, sir. Now, when the PS3 gets its Wireless Keypad, maybe someone will come up with something less blasphemous.

(via ElectricPig)

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Europe to get PlayStation Network PSP collections on UMD

Thought Sony was quietly giving up on its proprietary UMD format like it was an unsightly dermatological disorder? Think again. SCEE has announced plans to release a pack of three PSN titles on UMD under the name 'PlayStation Network Collection - Power Pack'.

I vote for adding KAPOW! to the end for extra impact.

The Power Pack will contain Beats, Syphon Filter: Combat Ops and flOw. It will be available in October when a certain new piece of hardware with ABSOLUTELY NO BATTERY ISSUES WHATSOEVER comes out. It will be joined by 'PlayStation Network - Puzzle Pack' which includes Lemings, Go! Sudoku and Go! Puzzle. More are in the works, and will be revealed just as Sony can come up with a few more alliterations.

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Sony about-turns on PSP-3000 battery life issue - now same as Slim and Lite

After SCEA's hardware marketing man, John Koller, exposed the cost of installing that super-bright screen on the PSP-3000 - a 20-30 minute drop in battery life - Sony had a bit of a think and came up with a workaround.

It now transpires that the PSP-3000 won't be suffering from a case of the Severely Crippled Battery, offering instead the same amount of juice as the current Slim and Light model. "I'd like to make a correction and clarify that the new PSP will have equivalent battery life to the current PSP, about 4 to 6 hours for games and about 4 to 5 hours for UMD videos," Koller announced on the PlayStation Blog.

PSP to get its own PlayStation store in Japan this autumn

A press release from SCEJ has revealed that the long-awaited PlayStation Store service for PlayStation Portable is in the works and due to arrive in the coming months. The new network service will mean PSP owners no longer have to use the PS3 or PC store to get access to downloadable content, games and demos, but will instead be able to go direct.

It just wouldn't be a proper launch without a bit of new content to celebrate it, so SCEJ will be releasing 'Mainichi Issyo Portable', a PSP version of PS3's download-only Mainichi Issyo, which is an artificial life game that has pushed a lot of PS3 innovations so far, including YouTube functionality.

Furthermore, SCEJ revealed that will allow PSP users to "to play PSP software titles featuring ad-hoc mode over the internet through PS3". Particularly handy for games where there's only ad-hoc multiplayer available and your buddies aren't sitting right next to you. My guess is that it'll still be a royal pain to organise though. Monster Hunter 2nd G falls into that category of game, and given that it's PSP's most popular game in Japan, the move makes a whole lot of sense.

There's no word of when these updates will reach the UK, but my guess is that by "Fall" Sony means "in time for the PSP-3000", so we'll expect as somewhere around the October launch window.

(via MaxConsole)

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SCEA confirms a downside to PSP-3000's enhanced screen

The new PSP model, due in October, offers what looks like a decent upgrade on the handheld's currently dingy screen, but the power to run has got come from somewhere, and unfortunately the battery isn't getting an overhaul along with the rest of the hardware. That unfortunately means it's going to cost you in terms of play time.

SCEA man John Koller has revealed that you can expect a reduced battery life from the new hardware: "Battery life will decrease by a small amount. It's about 20 minutes, maybe 30 minutes, and that's because there's a larger power draw with the brighter screen," Koller acknowledged to GameSpot.

The minimum expected battery life of a current PSP Slim and Lite is around the four and a half hour mark, which will reduce the PSP-3000 down to about 4 hours of game time from a single charge. You can still use larger, extended PSP batteries too of course, which should mean the reduction is not too much of a deal breaker.

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Rumour: upcoming PSP model to be compatible with PS3 controllers?

One sec, just let me find my metric ton of internet salt. There we go. Okay, allegedly, according to a source inside Best Buy, the new PSP-3000 model - recently announced and due in October - isn't just good for its improved brightness and contrast, it's actually got another couple of tricks up its sleeve.

How would the chance to play your PSP games using a DualShock 3 or Sixaxis controller grab you? The new PSP is apparently going to be compatible with PS3 controllers. Neat idea, huh? That must mean Bluetooth - which has itself been vaguely rumoured before.

But wait - how would you hold the screen up so you could actually see it (especially if you don't have a nice fancy modern telly)? Not a problem - it's also going to output video via composite cable in 480i resolution.

I don't know, it sort of sounds plausible. Maybe. Certainly it's one way of overcoming the problem Sony has of everyone in Europe and the US thinking it's a bit over priced for a handheld with a not overwhelming brilliant games catalogue. So... turning it into a games console of its own is not a bad idea.

Still, it's not very likely. We'll let you know if anything concrete comes through though.

(via MaxConsole)

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This week on PlayStation Store - The Last Guy arrives, along with Warhawk: Operation Fallen Star expansion

Ladies and gentlemen, set your jetpacks to WAAAAUGH. Warhawk: Operation Fallen Star expansion has arrived, bringing probably the largest update to the online action game since, err, that one with the dropships. Fallen Star also unlocks the new Tau Crater level and costs £3.99.

Other PSN goodies this week include The Last Guy - top down Google map based crowd management game that has been tearing it up in Japan. It costs £4.99, but if you're not sure about it, you can check out a free demo of the Asakusa level.

There's only one other PS3 demo this week; it's NHL 09 and frankly I'm not even 100% sure what NHL stands for so you'll have to just check it out by yourselves. On PSP however, you've got Pipe Mania to try out, or you can buy Medal of Honor Heroes 2 for £14.99.

And finally, trailers: Tom Clancy's HAWX (what was I saying about not enough flight sims earlier?), Far Cry 2, and the The Last Guy. Plus there's a Last Guy wallpaper and a Graffiti theme. Enjoy.

PSP passes 10m sales barrier in Japan, top 5 games revealed

Big congrats to PSP - the little piece of tech that just refuses to fizzle out. The handheld has just sold its 10 millionth unit in Japan alone. We won't go into what the rival Nintendo DS has done in that time, but at least we can say it's trouncing Microsoft on this count. Arf arf.

You might like to know which games has pushed the sexy black box of tricks over the 10m milestone. People who aren't fans of endlessly milked franchises should look away now:

• 1. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (Capcom)
• 2. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (Capcom)
• 3. Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII (Square Enix)
• 4. Monster Hunter Portable (Capcom)
• 5. Phantasy Star Portable (SEGA)

This isn't the anywhere near the end of the PSP either - there's a brand new bit of hardware coming out in October that should breathe fresh life back into the platform.

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Peculiar PSP branding of the week: Stella Artois

Problem: how do you let people around you know that you're a gamer and prone to domestic violence? Answer: the Stella Artois PSP.

This promotional, limited edition handheld just arrived down under where Stella, apparently, just can't get the Aussies off the VB and on to good wholesome European dishwater fast enough. I've no idea why this would help though.

As you can see it's a PSP with the Stella Artois branding on the rear and it comes with a case of Stella made of hand-stitched velvet showing the same, but in colour. On the console itself, you get a few custom Stella themes and info about the beer. Such as how many it takes to make you think karaoke is a good idea or to just go ahead and fall asleep in your own fluids. (Six by my last count).

Next week: the Marlboro Xbox...

(via SlashGear)

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PSP joins forces with FON WiFi community in Japan

Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has just announced that it will be teaming up with FON to provide free WiFi access to PSP users. FON is a free hotspot community, which works by having members share their connections out to each other, creating a large network of freely accessible wireless access points.

The PSPxFON collaboration opens up around 44,000 hotspots in Japan, including some 2,200 in Tokyo. Should be handy for browsing the internet as well as "downloading demos, clips and wallpapers".

FON is by no means limited to Japan though - BT shares a similar partnership with the service here in the UK. With a bit of luck and if the strategy proves a success, Sony might even consider taking the collaboration worldwide. We'll keep you posted.

(via Edge)

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What's the difference between the new PSP and the old ones? Pics show all

Famitsu apparently got some hands-on time with the new PSP-3000 hardware, and it kindly went ahead and did some side-by-side comparisons. No idea what the text says, but the pics tell a lot of the story. The new model is below the old one in each photo.

Exhibit A

The Sony logo is now on the left hand side. Could this mean that the PlayStation logo is now on the right?!? Honestly, it's a world gone topsy turvy.

Exhibit B

This is more like it - you can clearly see the difference the enhanced screen makes. We're also looking forward to the superb graphics shown off in Eternal Strawberry Demon Slayer Extreme III too.

In lieu of PSN movies and TV shows, Europe gets VidZone streaming

Early next year, Sony will be rolling out a new video streaming service to PAL PS3 owners. The free VidZone service provides music videos to your PS3 and PSP (via remote play).

Actually, VidZone already exists - you can check it out here - and it is apparently one of Europe's leading online music video services. Everything you find on the web version will be incorporated into the PS3 version, including building playlists, personalisation downloading songs, videos and ringtones at a charge.

This is of course a small consolation prize for having to wait, well, god knows how long for a proper PSN movie and TV show download service, such as the rolled out in North America for E3. However, Sony promises that "a comprehensive film, TV and music download service" will launch at a later date. The more, the merrier, eh?

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PSP-3000 officially confirmed, due for release in October

Sony has given the nod to the badly kept secret of the upcoming PSP redesign. The PSP-3000 is a slight but significant tweak to the Slim and Light model. The new hardware now includes an integrated microphone and an improved LCD screen. They will be available in black, silver or white.

David Reeves, head of Sony Europe, was keen to hype the latest model as more communications orientated. The addition of Skype and Go!Messenger in the past year have demonstrated the PSP's communications potential, but forcing users to buy additional headsets and mics has presumably not gone down so well. With a mic on board though, there should be better uptake of the services. It may also serve as incentive for developers to include more VoIP features in their games too.

The LCD screen is where the biggest single improvement is this time. Sony claims the screen quality has been enhanced to offer not just a wider colour gamut for better looking graphics, but also a sharper contrast and an anti-reflective coating to make it easier to see in natural light. One of main gripes has been the struggle to see the screen in sunlight - something the DS Lite manages - so this is a serious lure for me and a good incentive to upgrade from my old 1000 model.

The 3000 is due out in October. They'll be part of bundle packages that include a fairly family friendly (as in naff) choice of games. For 199 Euros you'll get a PSP 3000 and either the Go! Communications software package, or Buzz!: Master Quiz, FIFA '09 or Harry Potter.

Update: UK price has been confirmed as £149.99

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FCC confirms new PSP model, with no PlayStation button

As usual, internet rumours have turned out to half right. Well, right-ish. A few weeks ago, Sony was denying the existence of a new PSP 3000 model. Now the FCC has let slip that there is a new model - the PSP 3001.

The 3001 notably doesn't feature any major external design changes. There's no PlayStation button marked, no sign of a built-in mic, no WiFi upgrade, and apparently no Bluetooth either. All this is a shame, but then an FCC testing report isn't the best indicator either. Sony would no doubt prefer to keep these changes under wraps while it manoeuvres the new hardware into position.

We'll have to wait and see on those counts. We'll also be keen to see if Sony is making any changes to the size and weight of the device, already significantly scaled down for the PSP 2000 Slim and Light model. It is also believed that Sony may be upgrading internals to improve anti-hackery defences and lowering manufacturing costs.

(via Gizmodo)

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Danger! Danger! PSP cameras may be a fire hazard

A PSPFanboy story doing the rounds reveals there may be a serious problem with the PSP's camera accessory, know in Japan as 'Chotto Shot'. One reader was informed by a retailer that there has been a product recall issued, stemming from reports that the devices can get "extremely hot" and sometimes emit a "burning smell". Yeah, well that's what they said about my underpants, and I never issued a product recall, baby.

According to the same retailer, the recall affects anyone who bought the Chotto Shot camera after July 1st, 2008. The camera accessory isn't actually available in the US yet, but it is over here. A quick check of the usual online retailers reveals that few places have any of the units left in stock which seems to corroborate the report.

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N+ Ninja Platformer heading to PSP this month

Wahey, there's life in the old girl yet. And new games too. Later this month, N+ , a seemingly straightforward and graphically understated 2D platformer with a unique Game 2.0 twist, is heading to PSP. Best of all, it's set to sell for a steal at $19.99 when it launches across the pond on August 26th.

In N+, you have to guide your athletic Ninja as he collects coins around a level against the clock. Sounds simple enough, but it rapidly evolves into complex, puzzling levels where you have to quickly weigh up the costs of gunning for a few extra gold coins or dashing for the exit while you still have time.

In addition to the 100 levels (including 50 coop centric ones) you get with the UMD version, PSP players will also be able to design levels and share them online. That's adding a significant bang to an already quite small buck.

This is rapidly starting to look like one of the most promising PSP titles we've seen in, well, too long. No news on when it is due to hit the UK, or at what kind of price. I'd guess at a couple of weeks after the US release and at around £15. More news as we get it.

(via PSX Extreme)

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PSP touchscreen mod

Perhaps a reason why the PSP has been left a long way behind the Nintendo DS is the fact that it doesn't have a touch screen. That's easily fixed though, watch:

See, PSP touchscreen action. Whoever said the PSP homebrew scene was dying? As a concept, it's impressive and seeing as we now know it's possible, it raises the interesting question of whether Sony will implement touchscreen technology in the next generation of PSP. *Looks at iPhone*. *Looks at touchscreen iPhone clones*. Probably.

(via MaxConsole)

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PSP Dreamcast emulator - still a bit rough around the edges

Another week, another incredible feat of homebrewing that Sony will, by the fact that it is homebrewing, look upon with narrowed eyes and disapproving grunts. But seriously, Dreamcast, running on PSP. Frickin' wow.

Oh yeah, the catch. Well, as you can probably see, it isn't exactly running with pace. In fact, it apparently takes up to half an hour to load a game (a bit like chapters in MGS4 , hohohoho), in this case Shenmue, and then it runs at one frame per second. Not what you might call playable.

But it's a start, and major kudos to drkIIRaziel who created it. Who knows, somewhere down the line this may well become a fully functioning, full speed Dreamcast emulator.

(via Joystiq)

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A very unassuming PSP cradle

We've not a decent PSP cradle for a while, so here's one now. There's not much to tell - it's a cradle. For your PSP. Pop the console in it and you don't have to strain your limbs while you're watching a couple of hours of UMD movies.

Plug the cradle in and it'll ensure you don't run of batteries in the process, and emerge from the other side with a full charge. If you suffer from a peculiar kind of long-sightedness that means you can sit far enough away from the tiny screen to need a remote, well there is one.

And that's your lot. What I like most about it is the fact that it doesn't look ridiculous or have a big third -party brand name emblazoned on the front. Yours for a quite reasonable £24.99, courtesy of Play-Asia.

PSP AV cradle (via Tech Digest)

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GPS games coming to PSP?

Well, they were hardly going to arrive on the PS3 now were they? Anyway, it seems there's nothing stopping PSP game developers from making GPS enabled games (apart form that the necessary accessory won't even be out in the US for another God knows how long).

John Koller, Sony's senior marketing manager for PSP, is all over the idea, telling MTV that the peripheral "changes the dynamics of GPS but also changes the way developers think about games on PSP because you can start integrating GPS into [them]."

According to him, Sony is already chatting up third-party game makers and talking ideas with its own dev teams as to how to make the system work and physically possible for an ordinary PSP player to have fun playing.

"There's been a number of things that our first-party worldwide studios have looked at, and they've been trying to look at different options," Koller said. We're keeping our fingers crossed that the first true PSP GPS-enabled game will launch alongside the GPS peripheral in the US in 2009.

(MTV via PS3fanboy)

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Sony, inevitably, denies rising PSP 3000 rumours

It's the post E3 week, a time for speculation to run amok because all the real games news was announced in the fanfare of LA. It's PSPChina.net's turn to prove the wild and speculative rumour mongering, according to calendar they keep on the great games website fridge, and it has duly provided some shaky, supposedly leaked shots of what is supposedly the next PSP. Supposedly.

Currently we're on PSP 2000 (Slim 'n Light) so this would be the next evolution of the hardware. The fist shots were of an empty chassis, which is really no use to anyone at all, but they did come accompanied by details. Details which said that the new model comes with a PlayStation button much akin to the PS3 controller's PlayStation button, a built-in microphone and possibly mobile phone support. I hope that's Bluetooth.

Kotaku has since unearthed some more photos, including one shown above, which was apparently shot by a particularly nervous flea wielding a 5 year-old camera phone while in the grip of an epileptic seizure.

Sony, would you believe it, has responded to these reports by vaguely mumbling something along the lines of "rumour, speculation, etc". I'm tempted to call bullshit on this, particularly given the timing, but all three improvements sound very sensible to me, so much so that I would seriously consider upgrading my aging Japanese import 1000 model for one.

(via CVG)

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Sony is still considering a native PSP Store

A little bit of belated E3 news for you - Sony hasn't forgotten about the PSP and still loosely plans to bring a proper PlayStation Store to the handheld, instead of just making do with the current PC one.

"Having a native store on the portable is something we're looking into," PSP brand manager John Koller told Pocket Gamer.

So far the PSP seems to be making its biggest advances while tethered to the PS3. Remote Play and the ability to transfer video content, either downloaded from the PS3 PlayStation Store or from the upcoming PlayTV service, are its most interesting features. But I wonder how many PS3 owners actually own a PSP, and vice versa. There must be a greater market for people who only own the handhelds system, so a dedicated PSP Store should be an important way of capitalising on those sales.

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E3 2008: Duke Nukem Trilogy trailer carefully reveals nothing at all

I was very glad I found this trailer as I was going to cover the announcement of a version of the original Duke Nukem (and some extra content) destined for PSP. I somehow lost track of it in the E3 fun though, but then I found this trailer.

And what a brilliant video it is too, carefully avoiding all the common pitfalls of normal video game trailers, such as over-bearing emphasis on gameplay footage, not displaying the title logo often enough, not having rocking guitar solos and being about seven minutes too short.

Thankfully the genius behind this one realised that the only thing needed to sell a Duke Nukem re-release is a video with nuclear explosions and over 50 close-up shots of the logo.

In case you didn't catch it, that was Duke Nukem Critical Mass, Duke Nukem Proving Grounds and Duke Nukem Chain Reaction. Be sure to write those down.

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E3 2008: Resistance can't resist a PSP outing

Now that Sony's got its weight behind the Resistance franchise, it sure as hell isn't going to leave it just the cash-draining PS3 to suck up all the revenue like the last dregs from a McDonald's milkshake. Even so, the announcement of a PSP version, called Resistance Regurgitation Retribution, was a bit of a surprise announcement at this year's E3.

Insomniac is of obviously far too busy with R2 to big itself down with a handheld version, so a new developer has been given the task. It is called Bend Studio and we know absolutely nothing about it or its credentials. We assume that it is NOT the Dallas-based Yoga centre which you find when you google it. Here's the trailer (note: the last one was pulled for some reason so we're not sure if this will stick):

Ah, it's our lovely narrator, Captain Rachel Parker, apparently surviving the events of R:FoM, back to witter us senseless with her dulcet Midlands tones. Looks like all the scrapping in London and the rest of England, although successful, didn't amount to much in the long run, leaving the whole of mainland Europe to succumb to the Chimeran invasion.

PSP Firmware 4.05 brings in music visualizers

PSP owners, set your PSPs to Update! via Internet! Confirm! Firmware 4.05 is out and ready to download.

Sony might have been expected to hold back the goods on Firmware updates for its consoles following the PS3 Firmware 2.40 fracas, but not so. It's not letting a few minor niggles get in the way of its tireless march to progress via frequent downloads; not one bit. This latest version brings, amongst "other things", new visualizers for you to ogle while you listen to music.

Very snazzy. Now then Sony, who wants to tweak the Remote Play settings so that I can see PSP visualisations but stream music off the PS3 (while keeping the audio output through my main amp). Sounds complicated but it'll save a ton of battery life!

But what are these mysterious other things? Why, something to do withthis probably.

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PSP Go!View is go!

Sony and Sky have announced that Go!View video on-demand service is now available for PSPs in the UK and RoI. You can sign up over at GoView.tv right now and get a free month long trial subscription.

Go!View essentially consists of a monthly subscription service that allows you to download content directly to your PC and then transfer it over to the handheld. It would have been nice to see a service make proper use of the PSP's wireless network connection, but the standard is probably far too old now to make for a practical download service. Not if you wanted any battery left afterwards anyway.

Because it is Sky, Go!View grants access to a pretty wide range of content provided by a large number of distributers and broadcasters, including Disney-ABC-ESPN Television, BBC Worldwide, Sony Pictures Television International, NBC Universal International Television Distribution, National Geographic and Sky Sports.

The payment system is a little bit more complicated than a straight forward per episode download (although that is available from £1.50 per show), encouraging you to subscribe to various packs. These consist of Entertainment, Comedy and Sports - a single pack costs £5, two cost £8 and all three sets you back £11.

Bionic Commando Rearmed is best on PS3

Capcom's Ben Judd has been talking up some of the features of Bionic Commando Rearmed ahead of the game's imminent PSN launch. In it, he draws attention to the specific extras that the PS3 version provides, which is music to the ears of PlayStation owners who so far have seen far too little uptake of the PS3's more interesting abilities.

Take Remote Play, for example. Only a couple of PSN games currently support it, but BC: Rearmed is all over it. DualShock 3 support is also in there (yes, all games on that other platform have vibration feedback, we know) but there are still a few lingering full-blown PS3 games that don't make use of it, so that's good news. It will be interesting to see if the game makes any use of the Sixaxis motion sensors either. Probably not though, given the Remote Play support.

Trophy support, however, is out. Firmware 2.40 apparently arrived too late for them to be implemented. You will get things called Medals in their place though, and eventually Rearmed will get proper Trophy support via a patch. However, whether the Medals will retroactively unlock their corresponding Trophies is still up in the air.

So Remote Play, vibration support, sort of half-Trophies - sounds like the PS3 version just about has the edge. There are other surprises in store too, but they'll be unveiled "another time" *cough* E3 *cough*.

Bionic Commando: Rearmed (via PlayStation Blog)

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PSP 2 to sport touchscreen and tactile feedback?

According to newly unearthed information, it seems highly likely that Sony will be 'doing a DS' on the next PlayStation Portable and including a touchscreen interface. In a slight show of one-upmanship, the tech will also include "digital tactile pixels" which kind of points to a vibration feedback when areas of the screen are pressed.

This was not drawn from any official announcement though; instead the source of this leak was a patent document.

Normally sources of leaked insider games knowledge like to keep their identities a secret. Not if they're the patent office though - apparently they can all blunder about spilling potential PR gold like loose flakes of dandruff with virtually no consequences.

PS3 sales figures tumble in Japan - PSP still sells loads

A mixture of good and bad news for Sony with this weeks Japanese hardware sales figures, as the PSP heads back to top spot, but the PS3 sinks back below both Nintendo consoles.

Over 50,000 fewer PS3 consoles flew off the shop shelves this week, with an overall total of 20,336 leaving the PS3 in forth spot in the overall table. Though the blow this piece of news will have been will no doubt have been softened by the PSP being the console to retake the top spot with figures of almost 60,000.

The good old PS2 managed almost six and a half thousand consoles sold, thoroughly thrashing the Xbox 360 which struggled to sell over two and a half thousand units. Never let it be said that the Japanese don't have any taste.

So a mixture of good and bad news for Sony, though with 85,000 consoles sold in total, they can't be too down in the dumps. That's even more than the Wii and DS combined.

Source: Next-Gen
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PSP Firmware 4.01 out now

It's the PSP Firmware update that we've all been waiting for - the hugely hyped, seminally important, ground breaking and earth shattering, v4.01 update. Even now my palms are sweating with anticipation at the sheer hugeness of it all. What mysteries await on the other side!? What wonders, what dark, unsettling fantasies?

Oh right, there are release notes:

• Display of search results under Internet Search has been improved for certain languages.
• Playback of video content under Video has been improved for certain file types.

See what I mean? It's incredible that Sony managed to keep it under wraps for so long. PSP owners can go get it now, as if you haven't been spamming the update button for hours already.

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Thief swaps cannabis for PSP, gets nicked

A thief has been given a community order following a dodgy weed-for-games deal that went awry. Steven Priddey, 22, of Worcester was sentenced after convicted of stealing a PSP console from a local shop.

He was spotted on CCTV removing the console from a cabinet and tucking it safely into his trousers after Store Manager Richard Shurmer noticed it was missing. Priddey later told police that he had taken the item because he had previously provided Mr Shurmer with cannabis and, in return, been given permission to take stuff from the store.

Mr Shurmer revealed that he had indeed bought cannabis from Priddey on two occasions but denied giving him permission to take the Sony PSP. He later received an informal police warning.

Presumably this wasn't quite what SCEA marketing execs had in mind when they called the PSP a 'gateway drug', huh. Just how much ganja does a PSP bag you anyway?

(via Worcester News)

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Sony admit that the "piracy problem" has helped PSP shift units

Speaking to MCV, SCEE boss David Reeves has admitted that the ease of piracy with the PSP has helped the dinky little handheld shift so many units.

"There is a piracy problem on PSP. We know about it, we know how it's done. It sometimes fuels the growth of hardware sales, but on balance we are not happy about it," said Reeves at last weeks DevStation conference.

Now Sony may be reluctant to admit it, but it wouldn't be too surprising to discover that the relative ease of piracy may have played a huge part in Sony actually being in the industry long enough to release a handheld.

Think about the PS1 back in the day. How many people did you know who purchased a console, and then proceeded to spend masses of cash on 'copied games' at your local market? I know I knew bloody loads of them.

Source: MCV
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LocoRoco PSP sequel on the way?

Speaking to industry mag MCV, it seems that Sony have let slip on the upcoming release of a sequel to the much adored PSP title LocoRoco.

When speaking of what major titles retailers should be waiting for this year on the PSP, a Sony product manager stated that the "key software titles we have coming out this year for PSP include Echochrome, Buzz The Master Quiz, Secret Agent Clank and LocoRoco 2."

A pretty blatant hint that LocoRoco might just be receiving a sequel. Which is obviously FANTASTIC news for those of us who adored the original. Which should be pretty much every PSP owner out there.

With the PSP going great guns in Japan especially, a healthy set of releases towards the end of the year could see the slinky handheld become THE gift to be giving this Chrimbo. And with LocoRoco 2 on the way, that's a major step in the right direction.

Source: MCV
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