Split-Screen :: The Game-Geek’s Daily Read

By Ravi Sinha

I see them all the time. No, not the dead. Though I do confess to fantasizing about what should be done to the annoying, excess living. I’m talking about rumours for the PSP2. Or the PSP4000. Or whatever the hell they decide to call it this week. I don’t hate the PSP or Sony – in fact, I believe that now is as good a time as any for the handheld to dominate. It’s for that very same reason, that very same plan of success after years of stagnation, that I find news of the next PSP to be so baffling. The latest is Pocket Gamer’s talk with an “inside source” about the PSP2 coming out this Christmas. They detail such miraculous features as dual analog sticks, a sliding touch-screen that opens up to reveal the controls and digital downloads from the Playstation Store.

Forget the fact that I’ve seen those pictures for God knows how many months, and that the entire article’s statements on the PSP2 are based on them. Forget all this “Well, Nintendo has been very successful with the DSi and the Apple iPhone has the new Metal Gear…Sony must have a new PSP planned to counter that!” talk. You can even forget that Sony has already updated the PSP line with the 3000 series this past October 2008. Here are the facts of the matter: Sony has never, ever given any slight hint that they’ve a brand spanking new PSP planned. I’m not surprised if they’ve hired some one whose sole job is to debunk all these rumours. Sample this response made to IGN’s last report on the new handheld:

“Clearly, being a quiet time of year, many, what we thought to be credible websites, are making up stories about PSP2, and how it allows you to teleport across the globe, travel through time, and will be powered by the horns of baby rhinoceroses. Hopefully, you can sense a mild tone of sarcasm, which should hopefully indicate how ‘on the money’ IGN are. Needless to say, we don’t comment on rumour or speculation, but this is nonsense.”

Also, if there really is a PSP2 coming, than the loyal bevy of PSP developers – which includes Square-Enix, Level 5 and Capcom among others – sure are keeping mum about it. Almost to the point that they’re completely ignoring the upcoming PSP2 in favour of more pressing projects for it’s predecessor. Why would they do that? Don’t they know that the sheer number of additional features like dual shock support, DS-style touch-screen gameplay and the power of space-time can be found on a single console? Answer to a rhetorical question: Do they care?

I’ve said it before. I’ve reported on it. I’ve lost tempers over it, I’ve retreated into a corner and laughed disturbingly about it…now I’m just plain tired of it. Newsflash: There is no PSP2 in development. If there ever will be, you can bet Sony will tell you given the amount of noise they generated for the first PSP, announcing it a whole two years before it’s NA launch. I’m not saying there could never be a PSP2 or PSP4000 for as long I live. Just that if one is going to announce it coming before Christmas, they should either back it up with an official announcement or name their source rather than have their whole argument fall apart with “this hasn’t been confirmed”.