Industry experts foresee touch screen operable, UMD-free 'PSP2'

Posted Feb 13, 2008 at 5:49PM by QJ Staff Listed in: PSP Tags: Chris Kohler, PSP2, Sony

Gamasutra's Brandon Sheffield, Wired's Chris Kohler, and Enter the Matrix dev Dave Perry came forward with their own predictions of the evolution of the PSP. They foresee a further iteration of the PSP, the PSP2 as they call it, after Sony's first generation PlayStation Portable polishes up its life cycle, with major changes in its feature set.

Kohler suggests that the PSP2 would be a great opportunity to drop UMD and integrate touch screen operability. The Wired contributor does not believe that UMD will be officially dead, however, and may still have some life on the PSP2.

Sheffield agrees to this as well, and movement for Blu-ray to PSP transfers won't eliminate the movie fraction of the already so-so performing UMD market. But he countered:

I do however thing [sic] that Blu-Ray-to-PSP is a much more enticing proposition than buying UMDs separately, for a host of obvious reasons - not the least of which is the allure of effectively buying one movie for two formats.

But he still points out that the amount of UMDs on the market will give off a visage that the format isn't abandoned, and how Sony can keep up with Nintendo's own race for shelf space and market presence.

Perry believes that the PSP2 will stick to downloadable games, given the staple removable Flash drive. Though the risk of piracy is in the air, and that game retailers will have lesser customers to sell to, he's sure that the rise of easy interconnectivity will eventually lead to just downloadable media for entertainment in the near future anyway.

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Comments

# hmm.. — demologik 2008-02-13 12:42

my prediction..

removable flash media, touch screen, and a new bluray umd format.

# touch screen — BTR711 2008-02-13 12:46

"drop UMD and integrate touch screen "

im all for dropping the UMD, but if they put in a touch screen, i will never buy the psp2 ever! Call me a Nintendo hater! i dont care! touch screens are stupid! I hate the Iphone, the Itouch! every thing with the screen touch able! even those stupid "smartboards at some schools, I HATE THOSE TOO!

# Re: Touch Screen — graykitsune 2008-02-13 12:56

Wtf are you smoking dude?!? The touch screen on the iPhone and iTouch rock. I'm not an apple fan at all, in fact I own nothing apple. My psp is my mp3 player and now a phone with Skype, but the touch screen is awesome. Personally I can't wait for this or the gPhone.

# yes — wolf0491 2008-02-13 12:57

me too

# my prediction — lyoth 2008-02-13 13:04

they would porb go for a blue-ray UMD, since it can store more stuff maybe 5gb on a single disc of blue-ray UMD and will be the size of a UMD

# what? — mreverdred01 2008-02-13 13:12

do you mean a blu-ray disk the size of a umd? That sounds likely. It would just be a new laser in the PSP, making new games have more space on one disk and still being able to play old PSP games. I think they should keep the PSP the same shape and size and then make the whole thing, buttons and all, a touchscreen. Then programmers could even make games have custom buttons. It would open the doors for so much creativity. The DS messed up the idea of a touch screen because you can't use the buttons and the screen at the same time.

# the reason — hellmate.xx 2008-02-13 13:12

the reason they have umd is so they can store game info a umd hold ten time more than a cartige

# Why dont we — Binary 2008-02-13 13:37

DROP PSP untill they can make better games for it.

# Hmm — Korlithiel 2008-02-13 14:00

If they add a touch screen I'm unlikely to buy it, several months of heavy use on my DS right after launch taught me that it is a horrid feature for games.

Now, if it wasn't dealt with in the same way as on the DS (almost all games require the use, seems like it was pushed on the developers) or if you always had the option to not use the touch screen feature, then I would enjoy it.

Another thing to note, people already complain about how easy it is to get the PSP's screen dirty, a touch screen wouldn't help that.

If they dropped UMD support I would be unlikely to support the system, I don't see a reason to buy games at their current price if they were downloads.

Not only do you basically not own the game, it also takes a fair while to download (and I will likely never have the spare bandwidth, gaming takes up too much).

And something unmentioned is that they would likely drop the memory stick pro duo, low theoretical max combined with no real reason since backwards compatibility would be removed with the loss of the UMD drive would mean it makes more sense to just include a hard drive or built-in flash.

# Um. — Techni 2008-02-13 14:03

You do know metacritic and gamerankings both rate PSPs library as better than the DSs right? And has since the PSP came out?

Which makes you a moron for insulting PSPs library

# Industry morons — Techni 2008-02-13 14:04

Yes make a PSP2 that won't play PSP1 games. Very smart.

The point of UMD is high capacity, low publishing cost. Getting rid of it would remove the whole point of the PSP as now developers would cripple their games to keep file sizes down.

# look... — FoonBooter 2008-02-13 14:28

look, they can add whatever the hell they want to it, but if there aren't two analog sticks, i will be very disappointed.

very...

# - — RJ 2008-02-13 14:29

What? No. UMD holds more than enough storage for games. The only way portable games have to get any bigger is with higher resolution (for higher quality textures). But this isn't needed.

# PSP2 100% Bull**** — a500n54 2008-02-13 14:31

Now maybe in a couple of years but not anytime soon. If they did that would completely piss off all current psp owners. Not to mention they can't kill the umd format because of all the people who have them. Imagine having 50+ umd games and not being able to play them on your brand new psp2. The idea of playing only downloadable games sound crazy think about if you wanted to have 10 psp games you would need at least 5gb of memory. Plus at the moment we are still aren't ready to have Digital downloads as our only means of content. Before we are we will need way bigger harddrives and way faster download speeds.

# my take — RJ 2008-02-13 14:35

They won't drop UMD. Else they plan on kicking previous owners in the nuts (which, looking at Skype on the PSP fat, they actually might do).

Touch screen? Yea then they won't be accused of copying Nintendo (PSP1 pretty much is a SNES controller). It won't be taken seriously in the market if it's just blatantly copying.

Needs 2 analogue nubs. And better ones this time. The current one is junk since theres no feedback as it isn't angled.

More battery life = very important. I barely get 4 hours out of my PSP slim.

There's not much wrong with the current PSP I don't think. They better not drop the UMD though.

# Plus — a500n54 2008-02-13 14:38

I would really hate if sony used the touch screen incapabilities

to create a bunch of Nintarded gimmicky games

Nintards say

So what if the lacks any kind of story so what if the games are completely simplistic so what if the graphics are last gen

at least I can touch the screen

# then — Binary 2008-02-13 14:51

why COD4 is on the DS?

# They SHould! — conazo 2008-02-13 15:09

They Should Make a PSP2 That plays 1080p format, has a touch screen play ps1, ps2, ps3, nintendo, nintendo ds, gameboy advance, super nintendo, nintendo64, atari, sega genesis, also must not forget GPS very important so you won't get lost. You know what i mean guys!!! LOL!

# then — StingBlah 2008-02-13 15:19

the games would lose that intuitivity. Like now I can rapidly press buttons. On a touch screen, there may be some lags, and I won't feel like I'm pressing anything (just tapping the screen...)

# no umd is like no cd for ps1...... — na2rul 2008-02-13 15:41

wtf? downloadable wud mean restricting a niche market to an even smaller market. Selling hardcopy of games will ALWAYS be the better choice, u know y. a higher capacity umd is the obvious choice.

touch screen games so far have only been most effective with qwerky little puzzlers. touch screen will only want u to do breaf tap and stroke, so games demanding heavy interaction lik current psp games will fail wit a little stylus. hello? hav they no idea the DS exists which has already captured its market? pff experts.......my a.ss

bigger thumbstick wit dual analog wud b ns and xbox1 graphics. higher storage "anything" disc so they can finally port a GTA San Andreas to a handheld.

# umd size — soopergooman 2008-02-13 16:30

a umd HOLDS ABOUT 2 GIGS. i HAVE A 4 GIG STICK. Stupid! 4 gig+bigger better games( larger maps, better details and opions) UMD means small map with less details. umd+slow read time. flash memory+super fast read times. Need I go on you moron?

# a umd HOLDS ABOUT 2 GIGS. i HAVE A 4 GIG STICK. Stupid! — Techni 2008-02-13 17:55

" a umd HOLDS ABOUT 2 GIGS. i HAVE A 4 GIG STICK. Stupid! "

So you want to be able to bring only 1 game with you at a time?

No developer will ever make a game like that cause 1) Sony wouldn't allow it 2) Gamers wouldn't buy it. It would be too inconvenient being able to carry only 1 game. Hell even 2 1.8 gig games is far too little. I own 34 PSP games. How big of a memory stick will it take to get all my games on to it? Cause no one wants to have to delete/install games everytime your mood changes.

# I think they meant touch screen as in non ds type — YAMI ANUBIS X 2008-02-13 18:51

I think they meant a touch screen for PSP2 but not let it be used in games like for gameplay and such because it would get in the way but make it more like a PDA, multi media device, not a touch screen handheld like the DS.

I mean they meant touch screen for PDA and multi media uses, not gaming uses like the DS and do not worry guys, John Koller already said Sony knew how badly people want a second analog stick in the next PSP.

He was gonna put it into the PSP Slim but said it would be difficult for developers but don't worry so much about the 2nd analog stick, John Koller knows we want one.

It was in an interview.

Touch screen would mostly be more useful for PDA functions rather than gaming and look at PSP and how its grown into such a great multi media device with good apps, I mean its a love and hate with you guys but you can get a camera, GPS, Skype AKA phone type thing but you need headset, internet, RSS channel, almost everything you have always wanted is on it.

Oh and even though half of those are accessories, they were a test AKA they are all gonna be implemented into the PSP2 AKA have in built in camera, GPS and so on.

UMD will be in the next PSP2 but I think what they are trying to say is that they are still gonna have the PSP2 be backwards compatible with UMD's but PSP2 games will be in a different format, maybe like buy off of the Sony Store like the PS1 games.

Still I would rather have a blu ray UMD type drive in PSP2 with 10 gigs or more because if they do that download games into memory stick, you will need tons and tons of space on that stick. Unless they give you 100 gigs built in like an IPOD.

Oh also we all know the next PSP handheld will probably have even more amazing graphics, which means bigger format type discs or something.

The more powerful the graphics, the more memory you need. Sony isnt like Nintendo, where they update there graphics a little every 5 years or so like GB AKA pre NES goes to color AKA NES, then to GBA, which was like SNES, and then to DS aka N64.

Sony went to PS2 type graphics ALMOST, ALMOST I SAID! I bet it will be PS3 type graphics next time.

Oh yeah Sony always changes there format every system. Touch Screen in PSP2 would be more for multi media functions, not gaming, they know how terrible that went with Nintendo.

# PSP2 AAWESOMENESS!!! !! — leo9891 2008-02-14 09:06

This should have 2 analog nubs (with rubber for more grip), better graphics (which it will obviously have), a built in 10 gig harddrive and use memsticks as extra space if needed, backwards compatability, the touch screen im still not so sure about, able to read blu-ray format (for movies and if they do decide to make "Blu-Ray UMDs"), try and keep it thin like the PSP Slim, try and keep the faceplate something simple (dont go all out and make it look like Picaso painted it), as for the touch buttons that i think someone mentioned i say no to that cuz it will b retarded (it will look like the screen shots of the PSP when it first came out, go here to see http://www.pspgames.co.uk/PSP%20Games%20images/Sony%20PSP.jpg and here also http://pspmedia.ign.com/psp/image/article/572/572347/psp-prototype-20041210025435222.jpg but yea thats wat i think idk.

# umd's — majorbb100 2008-02-14 09:57

i think they should give it a 60 or 80 gig hard drive and still a umd drive. then they can sell users to buy umds and rip them to their hard drives, and somehow configure the umds to only rip once for piracys sake. thats my thoughts, and no touch screen bad idea. touch screens are cool but arent good for gaming.

# ummm my 2 cents — sycoblast 2008-02-14 12:13

i dont think we're gonna see close to 1080 graphics

mind you guys this is a portable gaming system so if

they put in a stronger gpu,hard drive (some of you) and all those extra features you guys desire soo much their will be battery life that will be affected ALOT.

but im pro to the 2 analog sticks that is a must for me.

if psp2 after a while give it few years is like ps2 but with a lot more features im good for it. (ps2 graphics more than enuff)

# o yea — sycoblast 2008-02-14 12:16

features beiing more software like using our instant msging on the go etc. like things u see on ur blackberry :)

# i dont like touch screens... — purplepills 2008-02-14 15:09

im sorry but im gonna have to agree with btr711, i dont like touch screens and if the new psp is going to have one, its got to be pretty revelutionary for me to even consider buying it

BTW a ds cartridge holds about 125 MB, while a UMD holds 1.8 GB, so thats nearly 15 times the space in a UMD then in a cartridge

# i think a hard drive would be great — purplepills 2008-02-14 15:15

i think a great adea would be to have like a luxury version, or something of the new psp with like even a 30gb hard drive added on (but still have ones without as like core packs) so that way you could hold tons of music, videos, pictures, and be able to download games onto it because hard drives are much less per gig then memory sticks, also they should release mabye blank umds to put like music and videos, cuz think about it a cd is less then $1 so i dont see how a umd could be that much more

# i dont agree... mostly... — purplepills 2008-02-14 15:27

( i agree with you about the touch screen, and ds part)

ok i dont know why you wouldnt pay as much for a download as you would the game, since games on memory card A. have less load times, B. teke less physical space, and C. greatly improve battery life

I dont see how you dont own the game just because you dont own a hard copy (copy it to a cd and you got youreself a hard copy for less then $.50)

you bet theres parts of the day when your either sleeping, or just not playing games over the internet, in wich case these are the perfect times to download. (i doudt you get less then 6 hours sleep, and this is plenty time to download a psp game)

dont worry about them dropping the duo stick, A. because its a huge profit margin for them, B. because people would get mad and thats generally not good for a company and C. because theres really no reason...

also i dont think theyll be dropping umd, or atleast not supporting it (supporting as in letting people trade in their hard coppies for downloads, or something similar)

also i do agree it does make since to include a hard drive or atleast some built in flash

# hard drives are also high capacity, lower cost — purplepills 2008-02-14 15:30

if they added a hard drive, that would also have much higher capacity then things such as flash, yet are much much cheaper

# yea and they should also give me 100000 — purplepills 2008-02-14 15:33

yea and you knwo what they should also do umm... they should also give like everybody with a psp $100 million dallors cuz like thats just as likely as what you said

# RUBBER! — purplepills 2008-02-14 15:38

they should deffinitly have rubber (or atleast some silicon whatever the heck it it) like in the ps controllers, cuz right now the current ones are made of plastic

# Friends! — leo9891 2008-02-14 15:51

ok i think that the PSP2 should also have a Friends List. and it should b something like the XBOX 360 or PS3 where u make a name for urself and that name is used for all the online games. and u can c wat games ur frends are playin or send invites and stuff like that. but that will only b for when ur at home or at a place with wifi. that and the 2 analog nubs with rubber for more grip and a vibration function would b nice but i think thats pushin it a lil bit. i think the built in hard drive with 10 gigs would be great! (but thats only if they where thinkin of making it so u download the games from the playstation store) well yea thats all i can think of for now...

# back at ya — leo9891 2008-02-14 15:52

how bout we drop ur mom till she stops makin retarded babies

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