Sony Ericsson developing Android/PlayStation Gaming Phone

[Vector]

http://i.engadget.com/2010/08/11/exclusive-sony-ericsson-to-introduce-android-3-0-gaming-platfor/

(mockup)


Here's what we can tell you about the hardware: if you're a gaming fan, this is exactly the kind of phone you've been waiting for. The device is described as cross between the Samsung Captivate and the PSP Go -- in other words, it's a landscape slider with game controls in place of the typical QWERTY keyboard. The D-pad is here, but instead of the small joystick, the device will have what was described as a "long touch pad" for analog controls, along with standard PSP buttons and shoulder buttons. The phone has a large display, described as being between 3.7 and 4.1 inches with WVGA or better resolution, a 5 megapixel camera that we're told might not be final, and it'll likely have a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU on board. The phone is mostly black with some silver highlights, and the gamepad area is white / silver in color. Apparently it's currently branded as a Xperia device, but it looks like it will carry PlayStation branding as well. Those who've seen the phone say it looks "pretty damn sexy." The mockup above probably doesn't do the actual hardware justice, but it should give you an idea of what you'll be dealing with.

In terms of release, it's possible that the phone and ecosystem could be introduced as early of October of this year, but we have yet to confirm.

[nemesiswontdie]

Must.Have.New.Phone!

[Pikminister]

So they gave up on the PSP?

[Vector]

^ You really need to read the article in the link.

[Pikminister]

^ You really need to read the article in the link.

Well I read the original article that dates back to March of this year.

Sony Finally Building Playstation Phone To Take On The iPhone

Based on said article, I got the impression that Sony had given up on the PSP being any competition to such phone/gaming devices.

The fact that they came up with the "Android/Playstation Gaming Phone (APGP?), made me confirm what I got from that previous article. That they gave up on the PSP/PSP Go being any competition to the iPhone, etc.

[Carnivol]

So they gave up on the PSP?

^ You really need to read the article in the link.

Let me try to make a better shot:

"A phone that everytime you want to make a call will need a new firmware update?"
"A phone that'll charge you extra for premium features?"
"A phone that bla bla bla bla blaaaaaaaaa"

Know what, I'll just cut straight to the big punchline:
"A phone with no games?" <- Nothing new about that!

[Sunglasses]

Before starting my rant I just want to make clear that:
A I don't like the iPhone at all 'cause I think is almost pure consumerism and (based on my personal experience at school and with my friends) 90% of those who own an iPhone probably don't know what it actually is, they just care because they have this sprt of nice and shiny toy in their hands;
B I hate the PSP go cause costs 2 times a normal PSP and doesn't offer nothing really new;
C I hate digital delivery-only systems because I prefer to stick to physical media.

This is what i think, if the rumors are true and if too expensive this sort of PSP Phone is going to fail, just like the PSP Go... and I know some of u may think " the Iphone is damn expensive but it still sells like hotcakes", true but how much do softwares cost on Apple Store and PSNStore respectively? Actually there is a huge difference, not to mention that the same game costs always more on PSP Go than on iPhone.

Not trying to start consol war and shit like that, but people over SCE should really open their eyes and make something brand new and original, instead of releasing "new" version of the same system over and over again or wasting time copying ideas introduced in the market by competitors at least 4-5 years ago.

[Vector]

I don't get the impression that it's 'a PSP phone.' It's a Droid phone made for gaming with PlayStation features because it's made by Sony Ericsson. Sony's not giving up on the PSP, this is an all-new peripheral made for people who want to game and make phone calls on the same device. It doesn't really interest me because the price will probably be through the roof and I still enjoy my PSP.

The PSP has a terrible rep because of bad marketing and the failed UMD, and because of it, most people seem to have no fucking clue just how extensive the game library is at this point. Not to mention that it's basically a little PS3 in your pocket(videos, music, images and internet). No one seems to notice or care, though. People just love to blindly hate on it because 'it has no games.'

[Sunglasses]

The PSP has a terrible rep because of bad marketing and the failed UMD, and because of it, most people seem to have no fucking clue just how extensive the game library is at this point. Not to mention that it's basically a little PS3 in your pocket(videos, music, images and internet). No one seems to notice or care, though. People just love to blindly hate on it because 'it has no games.'

It's true what u said, but I also think there are 2 more big problems: the PSP is a 6 years old system and, unfortunately for Sony, Nintendo released the DS 2 years later.
Personally I love the PSP, you can watch movies, listen to the music, show pictures to your friends, it's a fantastic multimedia game system but with some limits as gaming platform: battery life, not so portable (Go version aside), UMD instead of classic cartridge, plus a flawed internet browser (just like the big syster PS3).
Until the DS's launch none cared about those lacks, but not only Nintendo released a portable system fixing all that shit, but they made a fantastic gaming platform with a new way to play, and more appeal for casual gamers.
What is my point? Even if both PSP and DS have a huge gaming library, it's the DS that allows to enjoy more your games... multimedia capabilities are not needed, it's a portable gaming system with no-frills and easy to use and play with.
I like the PSP, I just like the DS more and I hate the PSP Go!

[Pikminister]

I don't get the impression that it's 'a PSP phone.' It's a Droid phone made for gaming with PlayStation features because it's made by Sony Ericsson. Sony's not giving up on the PSP, this is an all-new peripheral made for people who want to game and make phone calls on the same device. It doesn't really interest me because the price will probably be through the roof and I still enjoy my PSP.

The PSP has a terrible rep because of bad marketing and the failed UMD, and because of it, most people seem to have no fucking clue just how extensive the game library is at this point. Not to mention that it's basically a little PS3 in your pocket(videos, music, images and internet). No one seems to notice or care, though. People just love to blindly hate on it because 'it has no games.'

Dude, I'm not saying that Sony gave up on the PSP itself. Freaking handheld is very often #1 in Japan.

What I'm saying is that they initially wanted said handheld to be some sort of competition to the iPhone and similar devices. But they gave up on using the PSP to meet that goal... and this new droid thing confirms it. That's what I'm saying here.

[Canas Renvall]

It's true what u said, but I also think there are 2 more big problems: the PSP is a 6 years old system and, unfortunately for Sony, Nintendo released the DS 2 years later.

DS came out a year before the PSP...

[Sunglasses]

DS came out a year before the PSP...

yeah u'r right ahah, that was the Lite version

[Borman]

Sony Ericsson is NOT the Sony that makes the Playstation Portable, in a roundabout way. Sure, they are Sony, but in many ways, they are not. Big difference.

[Branden_Lucero]

they'll probbaly charge half the price of a PSP Go and half the price of a Droid-X. and bam, there's your sign. what a joke. big reason why i don' trust luxury smart phones is their reliability, whether htc brand or iphone.

[randomwab]

Games + Phone = Pfft

Well done, Sony.