Move over GameBoy, There's a New Game In Town

[wildside74]

I got this from gamesarefun.com and the news was also posted on the tape for the stock market.


Enhancing its strong platform strategies, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today plans to expand its in-home entertainment to outside the home with a new, all-in-one portable entertainment platform, "PSP(TM)." Scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2004, the company's goal is to extend the reach of PlayStation(R) to a broader audience, allowing consumers to enjoy gaming and other entertainment content anytime, anywhere. Specific details on release plans and pricing will be disclosed at a later date.

The introduction of "PSP" highlights the company's long-awaited foray into the portable entertainment market. With unmatched advantages of the Sony Group, such as global brand awareness, superior technologies in the most advanced semiconductor processes, "PSP" further broadens entertainment experiences into the portable arena.


The foundation of this new platform is Universal Media Disc (UMD), which comprises of a 60mm optical disc (1.8 GB) in a cartridge, developed by the Sony Group, utilizing its latest disc technologies. Compared to the out-dated mask ROM cartridge, optical disc has huge advantages such as shorter turn around time for manufacturing, larger data capacity and lower media costs. The latest copy-protection technology will be applied to offer content developers and publishers a safe and copy-protected environment.


"PSP" will be equipped with a wide screen 480 x 272 pixel (16 by 9) TFT LCD monitor with a backlight, and powered by super chipsets utilizing the latest 90 nm semiconductor technology. For graphics, 3D rendering will be enhanced by the employment of curved surfaces (NURBS) along with conventional polygons. Video quality will also be enhanced with MPEG4, which delivers quality equivalent to DVD video at a low data rate.


"PSP" will have an USB 2.0 port for further expandability and connectivity to other devices, such as "PSP," PlayStation 2 and many other systems, along with a Memory Stick(TM) slot for network applications and data transportability in a wireless environment.


SCEI will offer PC-based development tools starting from fall 2003 for the preparation of a new range of computer entertainment content. A new license scheme for "PSP" software development will be announced in summer 2003. Pursuing the founding principles of the PlayStation business, Sony Computer Entertainment will expand its efforts to support content developers to create new forms of computer entertainment.


Together with its business partners, SCEI aims to aggressively promote this new platform to further broaden the arena of entertainment.


"Just as PlayStation and PlayStation 2 revolutionized in-home computer entertainment, we aim to become a new driving force in the portable entertainment platform arena," said Ken Kutaragi, president and CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "The world of PlayStation encompasses hundreds of millions of users worldwide, most of whom view computer entertainment as part of their everyday lives. We look forward to extending the experience through a portable entertainment platform, and are excited about the possibilities and impact 'PSP' will have on the market. Along with game applications, 'PSP' will have a huge potential for delivering other forms of entertainment as well as live entertainment through the network, anywhere, anytime. This is the 'Walkman' of the 21st century."

"PSP" Specifications
Platform name: PSP(TM)
Display: Wide screen (16:9) TFT LCD with backlight
(480 x 272 dots)
Disc medium: "UMD" 60mm optical secured ROM disc with cartridge (1.8GB)
Video CODEC: MPEG4
Graphics: 3D Polygon/NURBS
Sound: PCM (built-in stereo speakers, stereo headphone output)
I/O: USB 2.0, Memory Stick(TM) slot
Battery: Rechargeable (lithium-ion)

[gcribbs]

bring on the PS1 ports :)

Sony has been talking about this for a long time. I guess they decided now was the time to attack rival Nintendo.

[Josh H]

It will be interesting to see how this fares against the Gameboy.

The key will be how this catches on with kids. As much as I hate the Nintendo=kiddy stereotype, the Gameboy's success is due mainly to it's popularity with kids. Everywhere you go you see kids with GBAs.

[joshd2012]

Sounds like a bunch of crap to me. File this in the "too good to be true" category. Why would Sony create a product and then talk about it? They always talk about there products way before they are to be released. Also, this would have to be at E3 and I have heard none of the gaming news websites mention it. I'm calling this news fake.

[The Franchise]

This is great news. About time someone got a disc based portable going. Sounds like the N-gage and GBA have some competition. Wonder what it looks like.

joshd2012 how do you know it isn't at E3?

[rfduncan]

Originally posted by Josh Hinkle
Gameboy's success is due mainly to it's popularity with kids. Everywhere you go you see kids with GBAs.
Really? I usually see adults with them on the subway and in airports. Seems like the reason the GBA is popular is because of the backwards compatibility too.

[cheapskate]

Sorry lads, looks like it's already been done - years ago! ;)

http://www.classicgaming.com/vcsp/PSp/PSp1.htm

So it's quite possible - a portable PSX? I'd buy it - I never got around to upgrading my Gameboy Color because I didn't like the types of games Nintendo had... boo hoo for me I know :p

If you could use it as a PDA type device also... *dream*

[joshd2012]

God damn it, they just announced it along with some other ****. Oh well, I'm aloud to be wrong.

[FlashStash]

Originally posted by joshd2012
Sounds like a bunch of crap to me. File this in the "too good to be true" category. Why would Sony create a product and then talk about it? They always talk about there products way before they are to be released. Also, this would have to be at E3 and I have heard none of the gaming news websites mention it. I'm calling this news fake.

It's true...it's all over the place, and reported at live transcripts of the Sony conference:

Sony E3 conference update (http://forums.gamerfeed.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=965)

[GizmoDVD]

Sounds like BS....Anyway, how much will this thing cost, $300? Yeah, this thing will be flying off the shelves.

[FlashStash]

Originally posted by GizmoDVD
Sounds like BS....Anyway, how much will this thing cost, $300? Yeah, this thing will be flying off the shelves.

LOL, it doesn't even come out until 2004 and you're already criticizing a non-existant price? It is E3 week you know...when new products are announced?

FS

[GizmoDVD]

Yes...I know. I will be going tomorrow. However a system with those specs, will most likley be in the $200-$300 range.

[joshd2012]

Well, I am looking forward to this. It seems like Sony sat a bunch of portable game players in a room and asked them what they wanted -- then delivered. The specs look amazing and I am eager to see how the games will turn out and which developers will be onboard.

[PixyJunket]

Well.. I'd say that there's no way in hell they could kill the Gameboy.. but I said the same thing when the first PSX came out.

The problem here is that the Gameboy already has Sony's practice of "don't care how good the games are as long as there's a thousand of them on the shelf" in effect.. and Nintendo has a MUCH tighter hold on the portable market than they EVER had on the regular console market. Considering the digital media approach, if they make the games more than the fun and simple fair that is typical of GBA games, it's going to become less of a on-the-go system.

This will be an interesting one to keep eye on.

[GizmoDVD]

The thing is, this is announce for late next year (If its not delayed). We may see the new Gameboy Advance by then as well. Nintendo has been established for nearly 13 years, with thousands of games already made. Is Sony ever decides to do this, it will be VERY hard to compete (look what happened to every other gaming system, Game Gear, Nomad, Turbo Express, Game.com, Neo Geo Pocket, Wonderswan). So far there has not been one handheld that has been able to compete with Nintendo.

[spainlinx0]

In the Nintendo press conference the president had said he heard about the announcement and said it sounded like classic Sony just floating a bunch of specs, and questioned the pricepoint and other things. Still I think Nintendo should take this development more seriously, than by just "releasing good games."

[BigDaddy]

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=2734417

[Trevor]

Sigh......
Makes me remember the Atari Lynx. It came out the same month as the Gameboy and should have kicked it's butt.
Never underestimate the power of better marketing.

[cheapskate]

The Atari Lynx was cool...I always wanted one...

However I think it failed for two reasons...1) it was *way* too big, and 2) it took about 17 D sized batteries (hence the size).

I hope the PSP is truly "portable" unlike the PSOne where, it's portable, as long as you take the extra LCD screen, adapter, carry case etc... I want to be able to throw it in my pocket... I'm needy and high maintenence I know :p

[GizmoDVD]

Sam,

The LYNX was a decent system, but the games... I own one with 25 games...only 2-3 are decent (Rampart, Klax, and Rampage). The system used 6 AA Batteries (same as a Game Gear), and they also lasted a little longer then the Game Gear. However, where was the Lynx sold? Egghead stores. I don't think they were ever sold in places like Toys R US.

Man, I do remember when everyone at school would bring there Lynx and Game Gear and brag....ahhh...memories.

[cheapskate]

The only place I ever saw them for sale was in Pawn Shops... ;)

I remember California Games as being a good one - however, I'm not sure I'd say the same thing if I played it right now - especially the frisbee and hacky sack segments - god, actually that game was awful! :p

[PixyJunket]

Originally posted by Trevor
Sigh......
Makes me remember the Atari Lynx. It came out the same month as the Gameboy and should have kicked it's butt.
Never underestimate the power of better marketing.
The Lynx had horrible games, a hard to view screen, and required a nuclear cylinder to power. Poor marketing was not the reason for the machines demise.

[The Franchise]

Au-contraire pixyboi, I own 2 Lynx consoles (the original massive one, and the redesigned rev 2.0) and it had great games for the time. They said it was like a portable amiga back then. I have almost all the games available for the system. You haven't truly experienced gaming nirvana until you've played "Todd's adventures in Slime World" with 8 people (yes it allowed 8 people link up gaming). Also California games with 4 people was great, as was Blue Lightning etc etc.

Battery life did blow though, but we always used AC adapters.

Wonder what the form/price/battery-life of PSP will be? I think Sony will aim this device to people who have "graduated" from the Gameboy, similarly to that new Tapwave portable console.

[GizmoDVD]

I would be VERY surprised if the PSP was sold for under $200.

[PixyJunket]

There was a redesigned Lynx?! Wow.. I did not know that. Got any pics?

Sure, there are good games for every system made (except the CD-i).. ooverall I remember the games being mostly bad or medicore, or color version of games you could get on the GB. I do remember hearing that the Xenophobe on the system was awesome, plus it had Pac-Land.

Even with a few good games, the cons far outweighed them.

Come to think of it.. I'd really like to get my hands on a Turbo Express.. that thing ate batteries like a mofo too.. but I don't think there's any sane gamer on the planet that won't deny how great that little thing was. Still to this day I'm depressed on how the Turbo got squashed over here. There were too many A+ titles on that machine.

[darkside]

Price could be the problem. The specs are great though. By 2004 though they should be able to get it to market for $200. That may still be too expensive for a handheld though.

3D gaming taking over the portable gaming world is not good news to me. I really prefer 2D games like Castlevania with no camera headaches and all the bugs that come with 3D gaming. Guess that video games are passing me by.

[slop101]

** did you hear that?

that was the sound of nintendo sh*tting their pants.

[GizmoDVD]

Yeah, they seemed to be shaking when they talked about it at there press confrence *rolls eyes*

[slop101]

I just ment that handhelds are the only market that nintendo dominates in - if sony has a great system with a lot of support, they could very easily loose their dominence like they did with consoles.

[darkside]

Originally posted by slop101
I just ment that handhelds are the only market that nintendo dominates in - if sony has a great system with a lot of support, they could very easily loose their dominence like they did with consoles.

Sure. They will probably have a new Game Boy out sooner to compete with it though. Competition is always good for the consumer. Better games and lower prices.

[Trevor]

Not true.

Warbirds, Checkered Flag, Slime World, and several others were great games. Remember, we are comparing these to the original gameboy and gamegear games, not advance games. And the fantastic linking ability, up to 8 lynxes, really added to my enjoyment of the Lynx.

6 AAs isn't that much, and besides, most people I know play their portable gaming systems near an AC or DC plug. Do you really only play your gameboy/whatever on subways or planes?

Originally posted by pixyboi
The Lynx had horrible games, a hard to view screen, and required a nuclear cylinder to power. Poor marketing was not the reason for the machines demise.

[young]

don't forget rampart! or was it castle? there was a golf game too that i liked.

anyway, i still have the lynx in the closet w/ some games! whoo hoo! :D

--
nintendo should definitely take this seriously. i think it will be released at $100. that's right. that's my SWAG.

[Jtnguyen12]

No way is going over $100 cuz.. Nintendo GBA SP only $99.99. I think PSP around $89.99-$99.99 is the Max.

:)

[joshd2012]

It is going to have to be $100 so that it can compete, otherwise its just going to have the NeoGeo effect (few adopt the new format and many others just talk about how they know people who own it). Sony knows this and I'm sure they plan on pricing it around the $100 mark.

[BigPete]

I can't help but be concerned about the longevity of the hardware. Go grab your portable CD player and set it on the table ... note that the disc spinning is silent. Hold the CD player vertical and you'll see the same thing. But hold it at a 45 degree angle to the ground and listen to the CD crash into the laser.

95% of the people who play handheld games hold them at an acute angle. The gyroscopic forces will be horrible on the entire spinning mechanism if it turns with any sort of speed.

They are going to have to be incredibly careful with design and manufacture of these optical cartridges or Sony could end up in a ton of trouble.

[edytwinky]

Competition! You gotta love it!

[Ralph Wiggum]

I don't think the $200 price tag is going to matter.

Sony is not trying to compete with the GBA, they are going to do the same thing they did with the PlayStation brand - create a new market and dominate.

I wouldn't spend $200 on a strictly gaming portable, no matter how great it was. The PSP sounds like it'll be some sort of hybrid with all sorts of additional functionality.

If Sony's past is any indication it'll have superior software support, cool factor, marketing and a sexy design.

[Josh H]

Originally posted by Ralph Wiggum

I wouldn't spend $200 on a strictly gaming portable, no matter how great it was.


Neither would I. Hell, $200 is my max for a console, much less a portable.

In reality, I don't think many would pay $200 for a portable, when they can pay the same (or maybe $100 more) for the top of the line console. Sony would be foolish to launch at that price.

Personally, I likely won't buy this regardless of the price. I don't play games on the go very often, and the only reason I have a GBA is so I can play new 2D games as I prefer them to most 3D games.

It sounds like most games on this portable with be 3D, so I'll likely have no use for it as I get more than enough 3D games on the consoles.

[The Franchise]

I guess some people noticed (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=581&ncid=581&e=3&u=/nm/20030514/tc_nm/tech_japan_nintendo_dc) the announcement and didn't like it.

[joshd2012]

Originally posted by Josh Hinkle
Personally, I likely won't buy this regardless of the price. I don't play games on the go very often, and the only reason I have a GBA is so I can play new 2D games as I prefer them to most 3D games.


Just because it can render 3D images, does not mean that every game will utilize them. 2D games have been a major part of portable gaming, not only because of the lack of power to create a 3D image, but also because of small screen size. I don't think the 2D games are necessarily gone because of the PSP, its just giving developers another option when designing games.

[darkside]

Originally posted by The Franchise
I guess some people noticed (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=581&ncid=581&e=3&u=/nm/20030514/tc_nm/tech_japan_nintendo_dc) the announcement and didn't like it.

Its not coming out for another year. People panic so much in the stock market.

[FlashStash]

Originally posted by GizmoDVD
Yeah, they seemed to be shaking when they talked about it at there press confrence *rolls eyes*

You expected Nintendo to get up there and say "Oh god, Sony's coming out with a handheld...we're doomed!!"? They're going to present a positive front, no matter how they feel..it's called PR.

FS

[jrutz]

Saw this story on Yahoo! (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=530&ncid=530&e=2&u=/ap/20030514/ap_on_bi_st_ma_re/wall_street):

In Japanese corporate news, shares of Nintendo Co. fell 7.7 percent on concerns that competition in the field of portable videogames will get even tougher after Sony Corp. said it plans to launch a hand-held videogame player, PlayStation Portable, toward the end of next year. Nintendo relies heavily on its Game Boy Advance hand-held computer game, the world's best-selling portable game machine, for profits.

I guess pre-release news means something after all!

Jeremy

[drmoze]

Besides the other great Lynx games mentioned above, Stun Runner and Blue Lightning (arcade fighter jet) were also excellent. The screen was pretty good (except it blurred when scrolling). Also, Robotron on the Lynx is the best handheld version to date on any system. (The Midway/GB version stinks.)

As for the TurboExpress, still got 2 of these and well over 100 TG games. I think it's still the only portable to have an active matrix display. And it was beautiful.... $^)

[Joshic]

I would easily pay $200 for a gaming-only high-end portable. People spend $100-200 for cell phones all the time, and replace them every year or two. People spend $300 or more for portable DVD players. Don't be so sure that people won't put down more than $100 for a portable gaming device.

[Josh H]

They would sell at $200, but not in the numbers required to be successful (i.e. several million units).

People that spend $300 on portable dvd players either have a good deal of money and/or are tech geeks that have to have the latest gadgets.

Not too many people really spend $100-200 on cell phones, as you can get phones in that price range much cheaper with sign up deals. Again the people that do pay that much out of their pocket fit the same bill as those described above.

With the gameboy, a huge chunk of the market is kids who's parents have to buy them for them, and older gamers that just want to either be able to play games on the go, play older 2D style games or both, and likely aren't willing to shell out the same amount of $ they paid for their console for a portable.

[Josh H]

Originally posted by joshd2012
Just because it can render 3D images, does not mean that every game will utilize them. 2D games have been a major part of portable gaming, not only because of the lack of power to create a 3D image, but also because of small screen size. I don't think the 2D games are necessarily gone because of the PSP, its just giving developers another option when designing games.

I realize that. However, I expect this PSP will be like the GBA in that a lot of the games will be PSX ports and sequels to PSX games. Givent that the bulk of PSX games were 3D, its likely the bulk of PSP games will be 3D as well.

But time will tell on this I guess.

[joshd2012]

Originally posted by Josh Hinkle
I realize that. However, I expect this PSP will be like the GBA in that a lot of the games will be PSX ports and sequels to PSX games. Givent that the bulk of PSX games were 3D, its likely the bulk of PSP games will be 3D as well.

But time will tell on this I guess.

Well, I'm hoping for a Metal Slug on PSP :up:

[Michael Corvin]

vapor ware.

What did they show at e3? Some sketches on cocktail napkins?

[The Franchise]

The fact of the matter remains that they ARE going to be releasing a portable system next year. Whether or not it lives up to these specs is another argument, but the fact remains that something will come out for sure and Nintnedo will have it's first real competitor in over 10 years. It will be great for consumers because quality will go up and prices will go down.

[tenaciousdave]

I heard the PSP would be as powerful as 100 Pentium 4's. *snickers at people who still believe in Sony's specs*

[diespine]

if the game cartridge format is as cheap as cd or dvd, then all the game companys will be all over it, just like the ps1 and the psp will kill the gameboy

[joshd2012]

Originally posted by diespine
if the game cartridge format is as cheap as cd or dvd, then all the game companys will be all over it, just like the ps1 and the psp will kill the gameboy

I disagree that it will "kill the gameboy" but it will hurt it quite a bit. Sony has been planning their strike for quite a long time (see article at http://www.pspinsider.com) and they are going to make sure they do it right.

What I find extremely funny is that this battle has been fought before. Nintendo didn't want to come out with a disc system so Sony did and took the market. Remember? Scary that it is happening again.

[Chris_D]

On the lynx I loved Chips Challenge, Blue Lightning, Gauntlet, Electrocop, California Games, Gates of Zendacon (what a great shooter!).. all pretty much launch games (the lynx didn't go far :( ). It was really marketing, and the fact that it was just so NOT a portable console (I always played mine with the AC adaptor ;) ) that caused it to die. Gameboy had a mario title at launch which is always good...

Chris

[tanman]

Wow! if those specs are true then N is going to be thrown for a loop. actually they will be in for a loop either way. I really like nintendo and have had every Game boy but this looks really promising.

However, I honestly wish that Sony wouldn't do this. I still seek refuge from the ongoing video game wars in Nintendo's small wonder. I am really tiring of the console wars and wish it would not spread to the handheld market I don't want to own more then one handheld at a time.

[Michael Corvin]

$200 will not fly. And they are doing this on Mini Disc type cartridges? That is funny. I have a MD player and love it but it has hardly taken the world by storm. Maybe they could format this new disc for audio for the MD. A gig. disc. that would be cool.

[Breakfast with Girls]

I would love for this to come to fruition. There needs to be a little competition in the portable market. There are too many good GBA games coming out that I want but I don't want to spend $40 a pop on. ;)

From what I read, it sounds like a proprietary minidisc will be within a cartridge... I don't think production costs will be that much lower as a result. (Edit: I just saw the pictures and changed my mind.) A year ago I bought a PSOne and have been catching up on all the great PlayStation games I missed, and unless there are must-have exclusives, I will probably ignore it.

[Groucho]

I can't wait. Finally I can buy portable games that feature blood and tits so all my school chums can see how mature I am.

[The Franchise]

Sony just announced they plan to ship 10 million (!!) of these PSP's before the end of 2004. This leads me to believe that it will launch sooner than Christmas 2004 since that is an absurd amount. Makes you wonder what they've got up their sleeve?

[goLUCKY]

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030514/psp01.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030514/psp02.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030514/psp03.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030514/psp04.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030514/psp05.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030514/psp06.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030514/psp07.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030514/psp08.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030514/psp09.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20030514/psp10.jpg

[young]

cool! but no pics of the actual device?

[Michael Corvin]

It's a big cocktail napkin.

[Trigger]

Originally posted by young
cool! but no pics of the actual device? They haven't made the actual device yet... patience, young skywalker.

[Joshic]

It's a big cocktail napkin.
My thoughts exactly. LOL.

[The Franchise]

Even if the system does not live up to it's specs, and even if Sony comes out with something equivalent (not superior) to the GBA, I think Nintendo should be worried. People don't buy the GBA because it's the best portable system out there, they buy it because it's the ONLY portable system out there (Wonderswan doesn't count). Competition is good for consumers. Discs are cheaper than cartridges.

If PSP has decent support and ties into whatever Sony has planned for the last year of PS2 and introduction of PS3 then I think you'll see some big changes in the portable landscape.

Scoff right now if you want, but wait and see.... ;)

[Josh H]

I still think that kids will be the key.

I'd love to see actual numbers, but using anecdotal evidence I've seen a lot more kids carrying around the various GB incarnations over the years than I have adults. The sales of games like Pokemon, Yu Gi Oh! etc. provide some backing for this as well, as those are clearly games marketed primarily at kids.

So IMO, the question is can Sony beat out the GB franchise in kids eyes. Can they beat Pokemon, etc.

I also think a lot of older casual gamers (largest part of the market) don't give a crap about portable gaming.

So right now I see Sony selling it to hard core gamers that want to be able to game on the go as well as at home, and then having to rely on getting kids who love their GBs to beg their parents for a PSP.

[Qui Gon Jim]

Originally posted by Groucho
I can't wait. Finally I can buy portable games that feature blood and tits so all my school chums can see how mature I am.
har har
Funniest thing I heard all day!

[mmconhea]

Originally posted by The Franchise
People don't buy the GBA because it's the best portable system out there, they buy it because it's the ONLY portable system out there (Wonderswan doesn't count).


When competition comes, yes, the GBA ends up being the best out there. That's why it always wins. Comeptition is survival of the fittest, or best, and Gameboy has beaten out Lynx, GameGear (twice), TurboGraphix, Game.com, 2 Neo Geo Pockets, 2 WonderSwans, Dreamcast VMUs, Hartung Game Master, R-Zone Headgear (from tiger), Watara Supervision, Nintendo VirtualBoy,Sega Nomad, and all those Tiger Handheld games.

It's leading the race in portable gaming against PalmOS and PocketPC platforms and it can be easily argued that more people buy Gameboys for games than Cellphones for games.

And it looks to easily overtake the N-Gage, and the korean FreeON (who knows about the Sony one at this point).

So tell me... with all these "choices" or all this "competition," why else did the Gameboy last the longest, sell the most, have the most games- and continue to do so? Which ones did you buy instead of the Gameboy?

There was plenty of choice... choices by some of the leaders on portable devices around the world. So don't say there wasn't or isn't any choice. It's consumers that make a monopoly, not Nintendo.

[The Franchise]

Originally posted by mmconhea
When competition comes, yes, the GBA ends up being the best out there. That's why it always wins. Comeptition is survival of the fittest, or best, and Gameboy has beaten out Lynx, GameGear (twice), TurboGraphx, Game.com, 2 Neo Geo Pockets, 2 WonderSwans, Dreamcast VMUs, Hartung Game Master, R-Zone Headgear (from tiger), Watara Supervision, Nintendo VirtualBoy,Sega Nomad, and all those Tiger Handheld games.

It's leading the race in portable gaming against PalmOS and PocketPC platforms and it can be easily argued that more people buy Gameboys for games than Cellphones for games.

And it looks to easily overtake the N-Gage, and the korean FreeON (who knows about the Sony one at this point).

So tell me... with all these "choices" or all this "competition," why else did the Gameboy last the longest, sell the most, have the most games- and continue to do so? Which ones did you buy instead of the Gameboy?

There was plenty of choice... choices by some of the leaders on portable devices around the world. So don't say there wasn't or isn't any choice. It's consumers that make a monopoly, not Nintendo. Whoa tiger. I didn't say anything about a monopoly, nor did I imply the GBA was a poor system. The competition you mention always had something going against it that worked in Nintendo's favor. Almost all of those are color systems that came out way before Li-on batteries and low-power color displays came out. Incidentally most of them were either bulky or had poor battery life or both. I bought an Atari Lynx if you must know (two of them actually).

My point is that none of those portables are what I would call "viable competition". Atari's Lynx was released during the company's downfall, the Turbografx was never that popular as a console to begin with, and the Game Gear was alright, but again was too early for a color portable. All the other systems you menation weren't released by what I would call big-name players. Now, the time is right, and the technology is there as is the $$. Gaming was still somewhat in the fringe when the original portables came out. Now that there is big money involved, you can bet your butt that Sony will throw some clout behind the PSP.

You think with nearly 100M + Playstation users that there wont be a market for this? I'm not saying it will dominate, but the first real competitor for the GameBoy will be good for us as consumers.

[tanman]

The thing is they want how many millions of units out by the end of NEXT YEAR?

Umm....we are already almost in June and they can't show us the slightest design on the PSP. What's going on here?

What does PSP stand for anyways?

[PixyJunket]

The thing I find funniest about this whole thread is that people are convinced that since Sony is using a disc format that they will kill the Gameboy or that the games will somehow be better simply because they're on a disc.

:lol:

[Josh H]

PSP= Playstation Portable.

[darkside]

Originally posted by pixyboi
The thing I find funniest about this whole thread is that people are convinced that since Sony is using a disc format that they will kill the Gameboy or that the games will somehow be better simply because they're on a disc.

:lol:

Of course it will be better. Castlevania can be in its superior 3D version on the PSP. :lol: