Something About Bananas

Yesterday on June 2nd 2009 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. unveiled their latest piece of gaming hardware, the PSPgo at their E3 keynote.

I have talked about this gadget before when images of it where leaked on the web days before E3. Read that blog for more info.

As I said in that blog post I wanted Sony to make the device an iPod Touch competitor as well as a Nintendo DS competitor by incorporating a multi-touch display with a much improved music application.

Disappointingly the PSPgo had no touch screen announced at the keynote and the only new software update was an automatic music playlist creator called SenseMe that sounds like an iTunes Genius rip-off (which I think is rubbish) and will be available on the older PSP too.

The new PSP is more an evolution than a revolution, just like when they added a microphone to the PSP 2000 and called it the 3000. Of course this time the changes are a bit more drastic but none the less it's still not a next gen PSP so to say. It's specs will be the same or similar and it will play the same games. By this, I mean it's not PSP 2. For example the PS3 has much more powerful hardware than the PS2 so developers can make much more graphically intense games with more intelligent physic and A.I. The PSPgo however will play the same games as the PSP original. No next gen mobile gaming graphics, physics etc. It is simply a new look with some cool new features.

Here are the announced new hardware and software features:

• No new PSPgo system software (the firmware/operating system) announced so it assumedly uses the same PSP system software as the current PSP which is currently version 5.50 (not good for the current music system haters like myself).

• An automatic playlist creator based on your current mood called SenseMe that will be available for the old PSP too. The current PSP Music system uses a folder directory structure just like browsing the Music folder in Windows so they may change to a better Artist/Album structure like Windows Media Player or the iPod to support the playlist creating. This would satisfy my MP3 playing needs. I just want a proper shuffle feature that doesn't limit me to the current folder! (Please note only the playlist creator has been confirmed. The rest is me just praying)

• The PSP's media transferring application for WIndows known as Media Manager will be relaunched as Media Go and will have an integrated Playstation Store.

• Video deliver service launching with 9,400 TV shows and 1,900 films.

• Game sleep function enabling gamers to pause their game and access the XMB menu without having to re-boot the game.

The new PSP go will be launching October 1st of this year in North America and Europe for $249 and €249 and will be available in Piano Black and Pearl White. Japan will have to wait until November 1st and pay ¥26,800.