PSP to Add GPS for a New Breed of Games
Navigation, maps and GPS-supporting games are coming soon to a PSP near you. Yesterday’s revelation that the next-generation PSP will likely be equipped with a mic for Skype calls really didn’t seem to impress anyone. We don’t post often about PSP-related news but we thought we might give it one more shot. Word on the street is that Sony is currently putting some serious work into the development of a GPS attachment for the PSP. As soon as next year in fact, gamers may be able to start enjoying a new breed of portable gaming that ties location in with game play. There are tons of possibilities that we can think of right away and we’re sure that game labs will come up with plenty that we would have never even considered. In fact according to Senior Marketing Manager John Koller, Sony is already working on GPS gaming in its own labs as well as talking to third-party labs. Of course GPS-equipped PSPs will also support mapping and navigation, potentially replacing in-car units and even navigation on mobile phones. Navigating with that nice big screen should be a nice change for those who have been using Windows Mobile or S60 handsets for the past few years. Pricing and timing are both still a mystery at this point of course but we look forward to seeing the PSP get some GPS love sooner rather than later. We have to also wonder if the upcoming PSP 3000 will an internal GPS integration. It would certainly be nice to avoid having to worry about an external attachment.
Tags: Gaming, GPS, Navigation, playstation, portable, psp, sony
Another version of the PSP? Well, I think this version has enough significant change that it will be worth while. I still have the 1st generation, granted I bought it overseas in a different color other than black. It looks like Sony is pushing real hard with this. More PS3 integration would be nice.
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They should improve multiplayer gaming rather than adding GPS.. sure they might pick up a few new customers to kind of “seal the deal” but…
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GPS integrated games!!! The first game that used GPS was Metal Gear Portable Ops where you needed to travel to different regions to collect different soldiers on your team, it was a cool concept if you ask me. Also, I heard Hot Shots Golf 2 would implement GPS as well so the (+|___|รท) is looking good.
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this has been out for awhile in Japan……
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As I heard someone say, “make it a phone already”
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@ Chris, I agree with you man. They need to just create a TRUE “gaming phone” I own an iPhone 3G and don’t get me wrong, I like the games and apps that are out so far but I still haven’t seen a game that will actually make a person just throw their psp aside to play monkeyball. I feel Sony would do so much better in the mobile phone arena then they have in the past if they just listen to their customers more often…
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… the Gizmondo? Remember? Stefan Ericson, the mobster turned ceo that crashed a ferrari enzo in malibu? His little company had the Gizmondo that had GPS integrated into it. Although that device kinda flopped, it still existed so this isn’t an entirely new idea.
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