Sony NGP: PSP2 Next Generation Of PSP

The PSP2's name is NGP

Sony�s codename for the PSP2 is NGP. It stands for Next Generation Portable.

The PSP2 specifications are pretty tasty

Sony PSP�s replacement has a five-inch, 16 million colour 960�544 OLED touchscreen, twin cameras, twin speakers and a microphone. There are also twin analogue sticks and a ridiculously powerful quad-core processor based on the ARM Cortex A9. Expect four to five hours from the battery.

It�s got twin sticks

The �biggest criticism� of the original Sony PSP, according to GamesRadar�s Justin Towell, was that it had no second stick. �Why is a second stick so important? It allows you to move your character with one stick while looking with the other.�

The PSP2 specs include a touch-sensitive back

The rumour factory got this one right: the Sony NGP includes a touch-sensitive back so you can control the on-screen action without hiding it behind your fingers. The screen�s multi-touch too. The combination of a touchy front and back is fascinating � Sony talks about it enabling �touch, grab, trace, push and pull hand movements.�

The PSP2 specs include POWERVR graphics

Sony NGP doesn�t just have that nifty quad-core processor: it�s got a quad-core Imagination Technologies PowerVR graphics processor too. We can summarise its spec in one word: mighty.

The PSP2 specifications include GPS

Sony promises that the PSP2's built-in GPS will mean some interesting location-awaregames via the PlayStation Network, and an application called Near will let you know if your friends are, you�ve guessed it, near you. The PSP2 also includes a three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer and three-axis electronic compass for handheld-waggling motion-controlled tomfoolery.

The PSP2 design looks a bit like a PSP or PSPgo

Sony calls the PSP2's shape Super Oval Design, which is one in the eye for anyone who expected mere Ordinary Oval Design. It looks quite like a PSP, we think. It�ll be 13mm longer than the PSP-3000 at 182mm in length � that�s big. Thickness? 18.6mm.

..

The PSP2 UK price will be so low, Sony will lose money

That�s what a little bird told Eurogamer, anyway.

PSP2 games won�t be download-only

The rumour mill predicted download-only games, but while the NGP does indeed support downloadable games the device introduces yet another new format, �a small flash memory based card dedicated for NGP software titles�. What Sony has said is that the games will be �PS3 quality� � quite some achievement if it pans out.

Trophies will be coming too

It seems that Sony�s Trophies system from the PlayStation Network will also appear so you can score points wherever you play � even on your Android mobile�.

The PSP2 will play Android games; Android will get PlayStation games

The newly announced PS Suite is fascinating: it�ll bring PlayStation games to Android, and casual games from Android to the NGP. Could we also see games become cross-platform with the PS3?

The PSP2 will have a 3G connection (and Wi-Fi)

The NGP has all the connectivity options you could ask for: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, and 3G. That always-on connectivity means it�s ideal for socialgames too � so much so that Sony�s gone rabbit-ears crazy in the press release, promising �infinite possibilities for users to �encounter�, �connect�, �discover�, �share� and �play� with friends wherever they are.� Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) says that every game title for NGP will be provided with a space called LiveArea where �users can share the fun and excitement with other players�.

The PSP2 UK release date will be late 2011

Sony�s a bit vague on this one. �NGP will arrive at the end of 2011�, it says. In time for a lot of Christmas stockings then�

[http://www.techradar.com]