PlayStation Portable – People’s Console

After their first success in the gaming platform market, Sony, in addition to the release of the next stationary console, also thought about mobile gaming systems. I didn’t have to wait a long time-already in 1999, the corporation launched PocketStation in the “Japanese” market. The first portable gaming device, unfortunately, did not go beyond the “Japanese” market, and a year later its production was discontinued. Later PocketStation was mainly used as an alternative to MemoryCard – memory cards for PlayStation. Despite such a small failure, the beginning was supposed, although Sony put off the idea in the “distant box” for some time.

Rumors that Sony again made a portable at the beginning of the 00-xx, and in 2003 on E3, the Japanese officially announced the beginning of development-but without demonstrations, telling only about the technical power. A year later, at the same exhibition, the PlayStation Portable was solemnly represented by the “second father of PlayStation” Kazuo Khirai. Then it was mentioned about companies that announced their support for the device and shown several future games;In the fall, in October 2004, Sony set a start date for PSP sales in Japan-December 12th, and the players had to wait for the release in the “American” market until March.

Console sales were excellent, even despite a slight discontent among American buyers (the price was slightly higher).

The first thing I would like to talk about is design. PlayStation Portable looks and feels just great: pleasant glossy plastic, thanks that physical buttons (in the early concepts they were different) and, in general, convenient ergonomics – all this gave a very high -quality game experience, which, without a doubt, would not be possible without the “iron” of the consoli.

You know why I love Sony, so for innovation in my products. No, I’m not for 4K displays in smartphones, when there were enough 1080r for my eyes – I am for “smart” and interesting solutions. From the past of my “console blog”, you know about the PlayStation 3 Cell processor and what was his “highlight” (if you didn’t read it, then make up – this will not become unnecessary knowledge), so, in PSP the developers “performed” no worse.

1) Central processor: Sony Allegrex (CXD2962GG CPU) 333 MHZ;
FPU and VFPU
Integrated graphic core;
2) multimedia processor: Sony Media Engine (CXD1876 CPU) 333 MHZ;
FPU Consults;
Integrated sound core VME;
Integrated hardware decoder MPEG-4 (H.264/AVC);
3) RAM: Samsung (K5E5658HCM-D060) 32 (64) MB DDR SDRAM 333 MHZ;Video memory: 4 MB Edram 166 MHZ (2 MB for integrated graphics and 2 MB for a multimedia processor.

Why start … Okay, let’s say, each gamer is not necessarily thoroughly, but knows the plus minus how the PC and its individual components work, well, like: the system unit consists of one motherboard, one processor (less than two), one (two, four) video cards and dies/dicks of RAM-we are not necessary to talk about the rest now. So, in the PlayStation Portable there were two processors, which, despite the fact that they were technically almost the same, performed different functions.

The first called Allegrex, from the point of view of technology, was APU and, in addition, the central processor functions performed graphic tasks, thanks to the integrated chip. In addition, he could also boast of two accompaniment: one (FPU) was narrowly fired and helped to count physics, and the second – more flexible, but basically, of course, worked to help the graphic nucleus.

The second processor was called Media Engine and worked at the same frequency as its “more main” comrade, but instead of integrated graphics, he received a sound core (VME), and instead of the second accompaniment (VFPU) – a hardware decoder. Thus, roughly speaking, PSP was far from the simplest device from the technological and technological side, and the developers had to use its power correctly.

Indeed, Sony was not so nonukgamblingsites.co.uk confused so much over the “filling” of the console – her schedule was amazing. In a sense, PSP was the reincarnation of PlayStation 2, because she offered almost the same level of graphics. Yes, of course, there were conventions in the form of clarity of textures and permission, but this was the compromise that the developers could offer-after all, the console was at the battery and its time of work should not be limited to hour;In view of the pasival cooling, too high frequencies would also be impossible to do, but without this everything turned out to be very attractive. If you do not believe, then play God of War, Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill and so on.

Okay, graphics, but another thing is important: the PlayStation Portable, despite its portableness and, in a sense, the deceptive frivolity of gaming, proposed, indeed, “big” games. For example, MGS: Portable OPS, the passage of which takes about 10 hours. The game itself is very qualitatively voiced, and the “Katsen” are decorated in the style of a well -set comic book – what can say, Kojima is a genius, although he was not led by the development. And MGS is just one example, and there are many of them. In addition, continuing to talk about this great series, it is worth knowing that PEACE Walker is the key part, first came to PSP, and this, you know, talks about a lot.

Separately, it is worth talking about the ports of the previously released games as the same Flatout 2 (yes, the name was replaced by Flatout: Head on, but in fact this is the same game except the soundtrack and downgrady graphics), in which BugBear Ent. -The creators, added a small customization, while preserving everything for all that they love this race: the opportunity to break the cabin, good as an arcade of physics (because of which the frequency is often packed, but their eyes are easily closed) and, in fact, exciting races.

Moreover, you know what can be better than good games – free good games.

Yes, what to hide, the main catalyst for sales of the portable, at least in the CIS registration, was the opportunity to feast of content, in particular, games, for which, then buyers are not used to buying, especially since they were worth quite tangible money.

Of course, Sony releasing new audits and firmware for the consoles time after time covered a hole in safety, however, for hackers-enthusiasts, this was akin to calling. It is particularly noteworthy that after the unspoken end of the PSP life cycle with Vita’s release, all the same gentlemen “revealed” what seemed to be no longer possible-the 3000th audit. Yes, there was a reservation in the fact that every time after turning it out, I had to activate the firmware, but there is absolutely no complexity in this – I myself do it myself, the second thing.

Since we touched the audit, I think it’s worth talking about them and about them.

The first PSP, the so -called “thousandth” of all models is distinguished by a thicker corps, for which the nickname “NEVBIVAIK” from which is recommended for children to purchase. The portables of this audit were extremely easy to hack, from which the following audits “stubbornly resisted the filibusters on ships with black flags” were very popular so far “.

Despite the fact that the PSP was an ultimatum device, at the beginning of its life cycle it was not perfect, more precisely, its first version, therefore, the next-2000th first of all got rid of the shortcomings of the predecessor. Firstly, speakers-earlier they were located too close to the grip zone and when holding the console they closed with their hands-now they were transferred to the front side. Secondly, the screen, which was already good, but it difficultly displayed the picture in the sun-nothing was visible. Thirdly, they added 32 MB for RAM and even if it didn’t really help in games (there was no difference from the memory card at all), but reduced the load on the UMD drive and extended the life of the prefix. From additional, but not very important buns: they cut the battery capacity, added support for the video output on TVs and cut out the IR port-this did not play special weather.

It would seem that everything is already perfect, but no-Sony says and rolls out another model-3000th, which became not quite successful for a number of reasons. The first reason is extremely few fundamental changes between the previous revision, and those changes that took place, got out for the PSP side: the screen became an order of magnitude better, colorful and with a reduced response, but everything ruined the “effect through the construction”, which Sony was considered to be killerfic. Secondly, the story with free games in the 3000th ended-Sony, this time, reliably and for a long time closed a gap for pirates. Naturally, the key consumers – players did not arrange a similar alignment. “Well, why buy a console with an outwardly worst screen, which cannot be flashed from obvious changes in which a microphone is added to communicate in Skype?»That’s right, there is no need.

Moreover, further there was an even more interesting, although quite typical for the Japanese corporation – experiments. Well, you know, Sony is not Sony, if it does not constrain, the only problem is that sometimes these experiments are too experimental and illogical. Yes, I’m talking about PSP Go Aka N1000, and in my opinion, this is a very strange solution.

I think Sony’s key idea was PSN, so the UMD drive disappeared in the new revision. Okay, the rate on digital content is understandable, because this is primarily saving in production and retail – there are no questions, but they arise in another. Firstly, the main quality for the portable console is ergonomics, which, to put it mildly, is not. Let’s just say that in the middle hands, like mine, in certain games, it is not always convenient to keep PSP, but in Go everything came to the point of absurdity: the stick is too close to the “geometric” buttons, and D-paD-skn apels cling to its control. Sony, apparently, foresaw such problems and added a bluetooth on which you can connect Dualshock 3, which is certainly great. However, the PlayStation Portable is, nevertheless, a portable console-put in his pocket and went, and does not assume that the user will wear an additional gamepad for more convenience. In addition, Sony decided to suddenly come up with another standard of memory cards. For what? It is incomprehensible.

By the end of the life cycle, Sony decided to return the PSP to the classical appearance, releasing a new revision – Street Aka E1000. The new audit of the portable was not particularly distinguished by anything, and of the pluses there were a matte plastic case (possibly) and the price of which was cut out of the device everything that was possible: there were two stereo-dynamics-here you are, one mono, there was a removable speaker-now there is no: to get the seal, Wi-Fi and the microphone were cut out, which was quite funny against the background of the addition of these things earlier, it became worse and the screen, worse and the screen, worse and the screen, worse and the screen, worse and the screen, worseHaving rolled up to the level of the 1000th revision and, further, who has lost the viewing angles-you won’t believe it, but even the seal of the closing compartment of the memory card is removed-this is what the ruble means a penny saving a penny. Otherwise, it was the same console, giving approximately the same game experience. In addition, by 2011, the PlayStation Portable was technically outdated and Sony threw all her strength to launch a new portable-PS Vita, which was supposed to continue the ideas of her predecessor, however, something went wrong. However, this is a topic for a completely different blog ..

Despite the fact that many years have passed since the release and a little less from the so-called “termination of support”, the PlayStation Portable is still relevant. By the word “relevant” I mean that it is still suitable for which it was originally created – games;There are many of them, because the library accumulated over the years has not gone anywhere, but only formed, and if you are interested in the games that came out on this wonderful console – what are you waiting for? Forward!

In addition, the legendary portable is still very good as the PS1 emulator and older consoles, so if you are a fan, then this is another help.

In addition, in the 00-xx Sony positioned PSP as a portable center of multimedia: films, books (here enthusiasts tried), music and all that, even a specially adapted skype (in this the Japanese console was also ahead, because the phones of the middle 00-xx could not boast of the like);But unfortunately, now this is not entirely true-after all, the screen of any, even the budget-budget smartphone itself will be more appropriate, and from the point of view of convenience, the advantage will not be on the side of the portable. And in any case, this is never a reproach – just a statement of the fact. You know, it’s hard to blame the braid for the fact that it is not a lawn mower.

I want to say as the final word: the PlayStation Portable is, no doubt, not just the legendary console, but, I am not afraid of this word, one of the main symbols of the long -leaving zero;And this is what every schoolboy asked his parents for the New Year, by hook or by crook, promising to fix the table. The old woman, as before, can invite you to go to the fascinating world of the video game, the main thing is not to ask her too much.

At this point, I would like to say goodbye to you dear readers, but just until the next blog, which will not have to wait long. Remember: play only good games!