Final PSP details confirmed: launch date, price, software and battery-life detailed inside!

I think you are missing my point.

If PSP is non-region-coded, and I buy a Japanese one asap, I will have an item to fetishise, and to stroke, which will later become a useful toy.

It it IS region coded, it will never be more than an techs-object.

I was just about to write a flippant response to that, pointing to the fact that GT4 will apparently take 4 months to translate into 13 of Europe's finest languages (that's the official reason for the delay)... when I remembered a funny thing Sony brought up back in July...

http://news.spong.com/x?art=7126

Sony has language translator software for the PSP. And just as was being discussed back in July - that could have important repercussions for localisation and universalityation.

And mysteriously, this hasn't been mentioned since, and 'Talkman' hasn't appeared on the software lists. So, I'm going out on a limb here, but maybe that software has been built into the PSP?

Previously I had assumed there would be regional locking just because that's what I thought... but on reflection, I'm not so sure...

1. Nintendo (the most successful ever handheld manufacturer of all time ever) never used regional locking on handhelds.

2. There's no TV signal PAL/NTSC issue on a handheld.

3. Basic economies of scale dictate that one hardware variation would be preferable.

4. Sony is a truly global company, why not try a truly golobal product.

5. The regionally defined limited roll-out we're seeing would be the only one possible anyway (not long ago analysts were banging on about screen shortages and subsequent supply constraints)

6. The PSP might have built-in translator software...

And then the bonus ball... someone who might well know that sort of thing hints that it might not have regional locking...

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Even if I had a money for two handhelds, the problem for me is the software.

What's the deal with these games? They're exactly the same shovelware found on the PS2, just smaller. I think I can find a cheaper way to play Tiger Woods games, considering they're already on five other platformers (soon to be six) outside of this one.

Dude, They could/would have one hardware variation. Region locking could be in firmware.



Because globality is something used for their benefit, not ours. Companies are global so they can deflect their profits to off-shore tax havens, and have their production done by 12-year olds earning cents a day - not so people in London can pay the same software prices as in Singapore, or get the same release dates as New York.


And a "cure cancer" button. D'ya think? Do ya, Barbie?

So far for me the DS wins hand down when it comes to software. Metal Gear Solid should be a superb title but ive seen so little of the PSP to date to make any firm judgement on it as a whole.

One thing that is worrying me is the sudden release of the dates for it. Im may be rushed out for competition.