PSP World

PSP 101: Everything you need to know about the PlayStation Portable

The PlayStation Portable (PSP) was introduced on May 13, 2003 at the E3 video game conference. Nearly two years later, it's ready to take over the mobile gaming market. The PSP is the first portable system from Sony, which has dominated the console world since the original PlayStation was introduced in 1995. It's also Sony's answer to the Nintendo Game Boy and Apple iPod. The PSP has been called a "lifestyle device" because it not only plays games — it lets you enjoy music, movies and digital photos on a 4.3-inch wide screen TFT display. The handheld system — which weighs a half a pound and measures 6.7 inches long, 2.9 inches tall and less than an inch thick — features PlayStation 2 quality graphics, WiFi connectivity, and built-in high-fidelity stereo audio. The PSP supports a new 1.8 GB optical disc format called UMD (Universal Media Disc), Memory Stick Duo cards, and USB 2.0.

The PSP was launched in December 2004 in Japan to overwhelming sales and positive reaction. To make sure there are enough units to go around for the U.S. market, Sony has delayed the European launch until later this year. The PSP will be released in the U.S. on Thursday, March 24, 2005.

Below is everything you'll need to know in order to start your PSP journey. PSPworld will soon publish more in-depth articles on how to download, convert and transfer movies and TV shows to your PSP; how to transfer and organize your favorite tunes on your PSP; and how to get the most out of the photo viewer. Also, PSPworld has already received numerous PSP cases, chargers, games and other gear, and will be publishing several reviews in the coming weeks.

[Lots more PSP information and photos after the jump.]

What you can do with the PSP
As mentioned above, the PSP can do a lot more than just play games. The feature that will probably be used the most after gaming is the ability to play movies in UMD format. In fact, a copy of Spider-Man 2 will be shipping with the first one million PSPs. The first slate of UMD movie titles, which will be available on April 19, includes Hellboy, Resident Evil 2, House of Flying Daggers, and Once Upon A Time In Mexico.

If you're not one of the millions of iPod users, or if you just want to cut down on your in-pocket gadget collection, the PSP can also play music in MP3 or ATRAC format. If that wasn't enough, you can also add your own digital photos to your PSP, and transfer video in MPEG-4 format from your computer and watch your favorite TV show or movie while you're out and about. (All three of these functions require a bigger memory stick than the included one — see below).

While, it's currently a little tricky to transfer music, videos and photos to the PSP, Sony is expected to release software later this year to make the process easier. In the meantime, we suggest you check out iPSP, PSPware, or PSP Video 9.

Oh, and several internet functions such as web browsing and email have been rumored to be coming via a firmware update in the future.

What comes with the PSP
Initially, the PSP will only be available as part of the $250 "PSP Value Pack," which includes a 32 MB Memory Stick Duo, AC Adaptor, Battery Pack, white inner-ear headphones with remote control (functions for play, pause, FF, FR, volume, hold), a black Soft Case, a white Wrist Strap, and a UMD version of Spider-Man 2.

Game Time
Sony says that there are more than 100 PSP titles currently in development worldwide. But only 19 will be available on launch day. These include:

• Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower
• Dynasty Warrior
• Need For Speed Underground Rivals
• Tony Hawk's Underground 2: Remix
• Spider-Man 2
• Wipeout Pure
• NBA
• MLB
• World Tour Soccer
• Gretzky NHL
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour
• NFL Street 2 Unleashed
• Ridge Racer
• Lumines
• Twisted Metal: Head-On
• Ape Escape: On The Loose
• ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails
• Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade
• Metal Gear Acid

Sexy screen
If you have read much about the PSP, you've probably heard someone raving about the screen. The screen on the PSP lives up to the hype. It boasts a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels in a 16:9 widescreen, 4.3 inch TFT-LCD. The wide aspect ratio of the screen makes it great for games, widescreen movies and TV shown in HD.

The PSP comes equipped with a display button for adjusting the screen's brightness. There are four available brightness settings — three available while on battery power and a fourth extra-bright setting for when the PSP is plugged in. It is possible to access this extra-bright setting while on battery power by unplugging the PSP while it is on the extra-bright setting. The downfall of all this greatness is that the screen, while beautiful, is a magnet for scratches and fingerprints, so you'll want to be picking up a screen protector of some sort as soon as you get your PSP. Let me say it again: A screen protector isn't an option, it's an obligation if you care about the well-being of your PSP's screen.

WiFi World
First things first, Wi-Fi is a standard for wireless networking, technically known as 802.11. It works up to 150 feet away and allows devices to wirelessly connect to each other and, where available, the internet. The PSP will feature both "Ad-Hoc" and "Infrastructure" Wi-Fi modes, and a Wi-Fi switch that lets you turn it on and off to save power and offer privacy when desired. Ad-Hoc mode will allow your PSP to connect with up to 15 other PSPs around it. Infrastructure mode will allow the PSP to get online through a wireless internet access point, or "Hot Spot." Once online, you will be able to compete with other PSP players via the internet. You will also be able to share game data between PSPs if the game supports it. Sony recently announced that five of the games available on launch day will be infrastructure mode capable, making the PSP the first gaming platform ever to have launch titles online.

Battery Life
The PSP's rechargeable lithium ion battery is estimated to last for five to six hours of gameplay. If you are only watching movies, it should last for four to five hours, and music-only use is estimated to last for eight to 10. If you're gaming over WiFi, the PSP will only stay juiced for three to four hours.

What you need for your PSP
If you plan to use your PSP for more than gaming, you will definitely need a memory card with a larger capacity than the 32 MB one that is included with the PSP Value Pack. The included Memory Stick Duo card is basically only good for game saves — it would only fit about half an album's worth of songs. And don't even think of doing video with that little thing. You can snag a 1 GB SanDisk card for $130, a 512 MB card for $75, or a 256 MB card for $37.

The other must-have for new PSP owners is a USB cable, which will allow you do to the actual transferring of media between your computer and your PSP/memory card. You might be able to find a cheap one at Best Buy or even EB Games, but an official Sony cable is only $13 online. Note that if you try to find one at your local electronics store, you'll need a USB cable that has a "Mini-B" connector on one end and a "Standard-A" connector on the other.

Accessorize your PSP
The PSP seems to be following the iPod in a trend of new gadgets that create their own sub-economy based on accessories. Companies such as Logitech, Nyko, Intec, and many others have already announced or are already shipping accessories for the PSP. Everything from cases to speaker systems have been shown, along with designer add-ons seen at a PSP-only fashion event. Be sure to check out our accessories section for all of the latest PSP gear.

Where you can get one
Sony is putting out one million PSPs Thursday, so it's not an impossible task to find one — but if you didn't pre-order you're going to be in for a fight. Most nationwide EB Games and GameStop stores have sold through their initial shipments and aren't expecting the second batch for a couple of weeks afterwards. This means you'll have to move to plan B: scouring the retail stores for information. Go around to your local stores (Wal-Mart, Target, Meijer, etc.) and politely ask the folks with the keys to the game cases when they'll be putting the machines out. We suggest you hit up your 24-hour Wal-Mart around 10:00 p.m. Wednesday night. If you're going to try and pick one up at Best Buy, keep in mind that you'll be missing out on the chance for a midnight score — you won't be getting one from them until 8:00 a.m. Thursday. Sony will be holding midnight launch events in New York City and San Francisco. So if you're near there, get there early and send us some photos!