Next PlayStation to go wireless
• Game of the Week: 'Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour'
By Marc Saltzman
Gannett News Service
Sony's portable PlayStation device, which is expected to launch in fall of 2004, will combine a host of impressive technologies, including wireless, the company said at a recent meeting for its publishing and development partners. The PlayStation Portable, or PSP, will be Sony's first foray into the handheld gaming market, which is dominated by Nintendo's Game Boy.
Sony says the PSP will be equipped with 802.11b Wi-Fi networking, allowing gamers to play across the Internet or local networks. The portable unit also will have a high-speed USB 2.0 port to connect to computers and a Memory Stick slot to load digital camera images or digital music.
Previously, Sony said the pocket-sized device would load games from 2.4-inch DVD-style discs called Universal Media Discs, which will be capable of storing 1.8 gigabytes of information, enough for 3-D video games, music, movies and other media.
Similar to the original PlayStation, the PSP will feature a 32-bit microprocessor brain, but it will process data about 10 times faster. The PSP's graphics chip will be capable of rendering 3-D curved surfaces and true 3-D polygons in 24-bit color images.
Gamers will be able to control the action with a multidirectional "digital pad" controller and analog joystick.
Sony said it plans to give the world its first glimpse of the PSP at the Tokyo Game Show (http://tgs.cesa.or.jp/english) in late September.
Molly Smith, spokesperson for Sony Computer Entertainment America (www.scea.com), spoke to Gannett News Service about the PSP. Here's a partial transcript of the interview:
Question: Who is the PSP for?
Answer: The PSP is for anyone who is seeking a wider range of entertainment options on the go. The portability of the PSP combined with games, movies and music is appealing to all ages, as it offers something for everyone.
Q: What are the company's expectations?
A: We believe that by incorporating all the latest technology and product functionality that consumers have come to expect, we may be able to match the global reach of PlayStation and PlayStation 2.
Q: What feature will fans be most excited about?
A: Our roots are in games, and the introduction of PSP will certainly be an extension of the great gaming experience consumers expect from PlayStation. However, the PSP fun doesn't stop there, as we look to extend our reach into other forms of entertainment and digital applications. PSP has huge potential. One particular area of interest is connectivity with home servers, at hot spots, in cars, offices and with other devices, including PlayStation 2 and other PSP units.
Q: Why launch a portable unit now?
A: We always seek ways to expand our business and provide the consumer an innovative, fun entertainment offering. As we look to expand on the PlayStation brand and experience, we see the PSP as a natural next step in the evolution of digital entertainment, now within the portable arena. And with all of our products, we want to ensure that we introduce the right product at the right time, in an effort to meet and/or exceed consumer expectations. We feel that with the upcoming release of PSP we will be able to achieve this goal again.
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Game of the Week: 'Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour'
Seasoned gamers may recall "Mario Golf," which was one of the finest titles to grace the now-defunct Nintendo 64 platform.
The world's most popular Italian plumber and his friends are back on the fairway with "Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour" (Nintendo, for GameCube, $49.99, rated "E" for everyone, www.nintendo.com).
Up to four players can tee off as or against the likes of Mario, Donkey Kong, Luigi and Peach, plus a handful of secret golfers that must be unlocked. Game personalities can play on both conventional golf courses and an all-new "Mushroom Kingdom" course that features obstacles familiar to "Mario Bros." fans, such as piranha plants and chain chomps.
The arcade sports game also includes an automatic swing mode for beginners and the ability to connect the game to the upcoming "Mario Golf Advance Tour" for the Game Boy Advance.
