It has been announced all over the internet the unveiling of the top secret of E3: the PSP Go, the next step in the evolution of Sony's PlayStation portable line. It is complete with slide-out controls, 16GB of flash memory, no UMD drive and a US$249 price tag. It is said to be released in North America and Europe on October this year.
To summarize things, the new, thinner-and-lighter Go packs in a 3.8-inch display (not touch-sensitive, as had been rumored earlier), slide-out controls (with, unfortunately, just a single analog stick that was tucked to the right side of the four-key directional pad), 16GB of internal flash storage, and a Memory Stick Micro slot, and no UMD disc drive.
Sony also announced a trio of upcoming (and mostly predicted) PSP titles: Gran Turismo (set for Oct. 1, with 800 cars, 35 tracks, four-person ad hoc multiplayer, all running at 60 frames/second), Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (a direct sequel to MGS3, due in 2010), and the first Resident Evil title for PSP (also in 2010).
So, what do you think? Anyone want to trade up for the PSP Go? Or will you hang onto your old PSP?
Below are some of the detailed specs:
* Exact dimensions for the Go: 5 by 0.65 by 2.71 inches, weighs in at 5.7 ounces (about a tenth of an inch thinner and an ounce lighter than the current PSP-3000);
* You'll be able to connect the Bluetooth-enabled Go to a Bluetooth headset or a PS3 controller; no word on cell phones, though;
* Expect an updated version of the PlayStation media manager for PC, dubbed Media Go, with an updated interface, along with SensMe, a "mood-based music recommendation system" for the PSP;
* A new "game sleep" function will let you access the Go's XrossMediaBar while a game is paused
* You'll be able to listen to tunes and watch videos (but not play games, of course) after sliding the Go shut;
* Upcoming accessories include a charging cradle and video-out cables.
