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PSP2 May Offer Early PS3 Graphics, Ports

- By - Source : Joystiq

Sony may be planning ubiquitous gameplay between the PSP2, PlayStation 3 and possibly even the Sony Ericsson Z1.

Recently a set of images emerged depicting the latest prototype build of Sony's upcoming PSP2. The images verified everything we've heard about the device in previous reports-- front and rear-facing cameras, a rear-mounted touch "trackpad" and dual analog sliders with concave indentations (rather than the current convex version found on the PSP). Additionally it features a similar slide-out design as seen with the PSPgo and doesn't sport a UMD drive.

So much for backwards compatibility.

However on Tuesday IGN followed-up with additional information provided by a developer who already had hands-on experience with the device. According to the unnamed source, the machine is a "beast," packing hardware that can produce results equal to early PlayStation 3 games. While the source didn't provide specific numbers (as in core amount and clock speed), the source said that it's just over half as powerful as the PS3.

With that said, the PSP2 will be able to handle games of comparable graphical quality because it will be rendering to a smaller display with a resolution lower than 1080p. It's speculated that Sony is aiming to create an environment where developers can create games for both platforms. Players could essentially begin a game on the PlayStation 3 and then continue on the PSP2 until they return to the PlayStation 3 later. Like many Blu-ray movies currently on the market, PlayStation 3 games may eventually offer "portable" versions that can be installed separately to the PSP2 unit.

We're betting that the PSP2 will finally rear it's head at E3 2011, but we may actually learn more details when Sony Ericsson supposedly reveals the Z1 (aka PlayStation Phone) in February. Now that it's apparent the PSP2 and PlayStation Phone are indeed two different devices, we're now wondering if Sony Ericsson's Z1 will play a part in Sony's overall ubiquitous gameplay experience. That may be out of the question in regards to PlayStation 3-quality games, but like Microsoft's setup between the Xbox 360, Windows Phone 7 and Windows on the PC, there will be without a doubt some type of gameplay across all three Sony-based products via the PlayStation Network.

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jmack5864 12/09/2010 9:52 PM
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OOOOOOOH! O_O

nevertell 12/09/2010 9:54 PM
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This is going to be one of the most overhyped products EVER!

requiemsallure 12/09/2010 10:33 PM
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FLanighan 12/09/2010 10:39 PM
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I hope microsoft will make an xbox 180 to compete

anthonyla65 12/09/2010 10:47 PM
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PS3 games aren't made to run in 1080p native anyways. They're on 720p generally upscaled to 1080p. Now I'm happy the PSP2 isn't the PSP Phone. I didn't like the idea combining a hardcore gaming device and a phone. This should be promising. Much better than the 3DS I hope. Hopefully I should be getting both the PSP Phone and PSP2 to try,

joytech22 12/09/2010 11:00 PM
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Looks promising, i kind of expected portable consoles to reach a time in their development where they would gain close to half the performance of today's consoles.

It happens, i mean the first PSP was more powerful than most consoles before it, the same thing is likely to happen in the future. The only problem is that heat dissipation has started to make life a little harder on handheld gadgets.

amk09 12/09/2010 11:23 PM
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requiemsallure :
hype hype hype, seriously the PS3 doesn't output 1080p games either it doesnt even reach 720p on any of its games, as the games are not coded in that resolution.



Eh i'm not so sure i agree with you on saying that the ps3 doesnt even reach 720p on any of its games, because it's simply not true.


As for the PSP2, this looks promising, if it can produce games that look better than games on PS2 then I would enjoy this very much, as I still get enjoyment from some games on the PS2. I wouldnt go to far as to expect PS3 level graphics though.

tayb 12/09/2010 11:37 PM
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Yeah and the PS2 was going to rival Toy Story graphics...

The Sony hype machine is worse than Apple.

whooleo 12/09/2010 11:39 PM
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Geforce 6 graphics maybe but I don't know about PS3 7 series graphics...

adamboy64 12/09/2010 11:44 PM
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So much PS3 hate.. lolz.

I do think saying that the PSP2 will reach PS3 graphics is total hype and no substance, however.

I can't wait to hear about the launch line-up of the PSP2... it'll have a lot to compete with the 3DS. No backwards compatibility on the PSP2 makes me sad though..

whooleo 12/09/2010 11:48 PM
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How the hell would they fit a Cell in there and a powerful GPU... Maybe there was a good reason why the early dev kits were reportedly overheating... Or this is all hype like the PS3 at launch: "Oooo best graphics and performance".... I don't think so.

miloo 12/10/2010 12:06 PM
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oh man ~ cant wait >_<
i still in love with my psp and my mhp3 LOL

hopefully psp2 will be compatible with all psp1 games, that will be freaking awesome ~
go go go sony

megamanx00 12/10/2010 12:12 PM
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I wouldn't be surpisedif the GPU was as fast, or even a little faster than the RSX in the PS3 simply because the RSX is based on the ol 7800 series and GPUs have come a long way since then. When you consider the specs, 550MHz 24 ALUs 8 Vertex 24 TMUs 8 ROPs, 256 MB RAM they seem puny compared even to modern low end GPUs like the 5570 or a GT 430.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSX_'Reality_Synthesizer'

As for the CPU, I'd expect something more like half the Cell CPU with enhancements to make it more programmer friendly. That way a developer could get almost as much or more out of it as they would the more complex and less programmer friendly version in the PS3 in the same amount of time. I suppose we shall see though.

jazn1337 12/10/2010 12:38 PM
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So no battery life then.

feeddagoat 12/10/2010 1:57 AM
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Im starting to get more excited about this. Bet it will cost a bomb tho but it could be worth it. Still skeptical tho about battery and where they will cut corners to reduce cost.

m3kw9 12/10/2010 2:18 AM
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I'm hoping next gen handhelds have iPhone retina type screens, that'd make games look next gen if you have enough power to push enough polygons for that resolution.

nforce4max 12/10/2010 2:22 AM
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In order for that to work both the cpu and gpu must have the same micro code as the ps3 if titles were to be easily compatible with both systems unless they (game developers) were to actually use something that has been around for decades called modular kernel and programming models that allowed for fast and easy porting between both systems. If they did console ports to Windows and OSX systems would perform greatly better than they do now. To add to additional criticism, 8th core is disabled across all models of the ps3. To little ram despite improvements to the os but 256mb isn't much for developers to work with. The RSX should have used a G71 core instead as it was much smaller and cheaper to produce while being faster in performance. The vram was ok then but now it isn't special but just make building emulators that more difficult due to unique coding added to each game.

mman74 12/10/2010 3:13 AM
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requiemsallure :
hype hype hype, seriously the PS3 doesn't output 1080p games either it doesnt even reach 720p on any of its games, as the games are not coded in that resolution.


That is absolute rubbish. There is a massive list of NATIVE 720 & 1080p PS3 games.

mman74 12/10/2010 3:15 AM
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Please Toms - do something about these massive adverts that are ruining the comments section!

icepick314 12/10/2010 3:15 AM
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wait a min...

no UMD for backward compatibility and download only?

do I smell another failure in the likes of PSP Go?

servarus 12/10/2010 4:11 AM
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mman74 :
That is absolute rubbish. There is a massive list of NATIVE 720 & 1080p PS3 games.


Agreed.

guanyu210379 12/10/2010 9:53 AM
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Hmm...if this thing:
1. Has at least 6 hours of battery stamina for playing games.
2. Is able to handle 1080p divx videos with a hdmi output.
I will definitely get myself one.

Griffolion 12/10/2010 10:25 AM
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Playing PS3 games at 1080p on a 24" television gives about 100 PPI pixel density, this reduces to about 50 PPI at 42".

If the PSP2 can give a great pixel density by virtue of the small screen then a powerful GPU will take care of the HD level graphics, even if the physical resolution is 720.

Definately going to get one of these when they arrive!

mr2ange 12/10/2010 2:16 PM
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Flanighan :
I hope microsoft will make an xbox 180 to compete



what a load of shit, there are tons of games that run in 720p, and a few that run in 1080 (very few admittedly) - but thats the same for the 360.

So say that NONE run in 720 is utter rubbish.

applegetsmelaid 12/11/2010 2:37 AM
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Hopefully it will play Super Street Fighter 4!