Topic: PSP hitting Japan on December 12 for $185

[- NintendoFan -]

Quote
PSP hitting Japan on December 12 for $185


Sony's PSP is hitting Japan within the year, with a price in the same ballpark as the Nintendo DS. Official word on battery life, to boot.

TOKYO--After months of analyst speculation that the Sony PlayStation Portable might not make it out this year, Sony Computer Entertainment today dispelled these notions when it announced that it will, in fact, release the PSP in Japan on December 12. The next-generation handheld gaming device will be priced at 19,800 yen ($185), which is fairly close to the already-announced price point of the Nintendo DS, which is slated to hit Japan on December 2 for 15,000 yen ($140).

Of further note, the PSP will be available in a number of different packages. The normal edition PSP package will include the handheld itself, an AC adapter, and a battery pack. The PSP will also be offered in a value pack that's 5,000 yen more at 24,800 yen ($232), which, in addition to the accessories included in the normal package, will come with a 32MB Memory Stick Duo, a set of headphones with a remote control, and a carrying case.

The accessories, of course, will also be available for purchase separately. The 32MB Memory Stick Duo and headphones with remote will be offered at 2,800 yen each ($26), and the carrying case will be offered at 2,000 yen ($19). Additional rechargeable batteries will cost 4,800 yen ($45), and a spare AC adapter can be purchased at 3,500 yen ($33).

In addition, today Sony Computer Entertainment finally made an official statement concerning the battery life of the PSP: The handheld's rechargeable Lithium Ion battery will allegedly last for four to six hours for gameplay, on average, and four to five hours for movies, on average.

Also, the PSP's wireless connection, which follows the IEEE802.11b standard, can allegedly reach up to 30 meters indoors at 11Mbps, and 91 meters at 1Mbps. Outdoors, it can reach up to 120 meters at 11Mbps and 460 meters at 1Mbps. The range will decrease if there are obstacles in the vicinity or strong electronic frequencies nearby, such as from microwave ovens or power lines.

Twenty-one PSP titles will be released during December, although SCE hasn't clearly stated as to how many of those games will be available precisely at launch of the PSP. The titles scheduled for release by the end of the year are as follows:

Electronic Arts K.K.: Tiger Woods PGA Tour R, sports
Electronic Arts K.K.: Need for Speed Underground Rivals, racing
Capcom: Vampire Chronicle: The Chaos Tower, fighting
Koei: Shin Sangoku Muso, action
Koei: Mahjong Taikai, table
Konami: Mahjong Fight Club, table
Konami Computer Entertainment Japan: Metal Gear Acid, strategy
Cyberfront: Kollon, puzzle/action
Sega: Puyo Puyo Fever, action puzzle
Sony Computer Entertainment: Dokodemo Issho, chatting game
Sony Computer Entertainment: Minna no Golf Portable, golf
Taito: Puzzle Bobble Pocket, puzzle
Namco: Kotoba no Puzzle Mojipittan Daijiten, puzzle
Namco: Ridge Racer, racing
Hudson: Rengoku: The Tower of Purgatory, SF action RPG
Bandai: Eiyuu Densetsu Gagharv Trilogy: Shiroki Majo, RPG
Bandai: Lumines, sound and light action puzzle
From Software: AC Formula Front, mech simulation
Marvelous Interactive: A.I. series Igo, table
Marvelous Interactive: A.I. series Shougi, table
Marvelous Interactive: A.I. series Mahjong, table

GameSpot will continue to bring you the latest updates on the PSP's imminent launch as they become available.

By Hirohiko Niizumi -- GameSpot
POSTED: 10/27/04 01:36 AM PST

GameSpot

Let's here what you think.......

[kennyb27]

Just ten days after the DS.  This certainly is looking to come out very interesting.  

To be honest, I'm a bit nervous.  I certainly hopes Nintendo sees this and adjusts accordingly.  

[Djunknown]

Looks like Sony's not going in half-assed. As Ian Sane put it "We have competition."

Unfortunately, the approximate 185 dollar mark is a tad misleading. Since this is a disc-based system, its going to need something to save your games on. Unless it has some memory built in, throw in that 26 dollar for the Memory stick and headphones. That's a little over $200. And unless it comes with a sampler cd, don't forget to dole out some cash for at least one game. I believe the article does not mention a price for games, but to give a rough estimate, I'm guessing 30-50 US dollars approximate. So in total that is <$250. The 'Value Pack' does seem to be the better buy, but don't forget the games! That'll be <$280 at the first window please.

The DS? Its possible to just get the system, play around with Picto Chat and the Metroid demo. One game is 30 dollars. I'm claiming ignorance on the price of headphones, but add it up and its under $200.

To be fair, I'm comparing the Japanese vs US prices. Who knows? Maybe SCEA will go a little lower for the U.S launch.

Props to Sony though, for giving a wider range of games from the get-go in Japan. Maybe they'll be 30+ games ready to hit stateside?

[Bill Aurion]

From what can be seen from the Japanese prices, it's actually an estimate of 40-50 dollars per game, with more games being 50 than 40...And If anything, I bet the price of the system will be higher out of Japan...I expect a release price of 200 dollars...

[MattVDB]

"Sony Computer Entertainment: Dokodemo Issho, chatting game"
Why do I find that funny?  Does anybody have a price for that?  It just kills me.

[Infernal Monkey]

blol, 32MB memory stick in the 'Value Pack'. That'll hold what, five MP3's and a few game saves? This thing is going to be freakin' expensive if you actually want to make real use of the MP3 ability.

[DrZoidberg]

This doesn't warrent a thread seperate to the stickied one.

BAD BAD LEROY BROWN.