Can they just release one with two analog nubs?

I don't see it, just the fact that they got 8 more years to go.

any MP3 player can last 10 years

Yeah, but if they consider it just like their console business, then they'll have a PSP 2 out in 2010, but keep the PSP 1 alive for another 5 years.

Well, Sony is probably thinking that the PSP will be around sometime after the PSP2 is introduced. Which I suspect they'll start talking about sometime around 2010. Traditionally it should be sooner, but the DS is selling well enough, that I doubt Nintendo will announce a successor too terribly soon, and Sony is probably going to sit on the PSP until Nintendo makes its move.

'add features and other functions that the consumer's asked for.'

Good Sony. Your rhetoric has an air of humility about it now that was sorely lacking during the run up to the PS3's release.

The customer is always right.

I wish PSP 2 came out, so I could use it to remote the PSP1 to turn on my music on the PS3.

10 years? Can't wait to see how it competes with the DS 2.

Not surprised by this. Kudos to Sony for supporting their products for so long. The PS2 came out in 2000 and is still going strong, just look at the sales numbers. I can see the PS3 lasting until 2016 at the earliest.

On another note, I have a PC that's nearing 10 years. It runs on Win98SE, has 128 megs of RAM and a 32 meg vid card, and runs just fine. XD

I give nintendo ds life cycle 2-3 years and a new gameboy comes out. maybe they will announce wiiboy or gameboywii at e3 if there is still a convention this year.

YES! Im so glad portable gaming will be continued to be done the best way, on the PSP. You can't just THROW in 2 analog sticks. It's a PORTABLE system not a full PlayStation. Just last week people wanted BlueRay playablility in it WTF? There is other hardware obviously where the second stick *should* be

I try not to be a hata', but I just could never see slinging A PSP around. Great game machine for sure, but too big, too delicate (with the laser reader and glossy finish) and too short on battery life to be good on the go, for me anyway. And if you've got a machine that can handle full ports of PS and PS2 titles, where the F is the dual analog??? I do get a little disappointed with the limitations of my DS though, put the brains of the PSP (ditch the UMD reader) in the shell of the DS, and I think you'd have the perfect machine.

@illmatic291: But they clearly want to tease us with Playstation titles, only they just can't play like Playstation titles.

Not going to happen. They either can't change the hardware too much, or they'll start running into compatability issues with older games or newer games on the older PSP. Doing the former won't sustain the ailing portable "video-game" player, doing the latter will shoo away a large portion of new adopters away. People don't like having to figure out whether a given game will play on a specific version of console.

PS2 longevity seems to have spoiled them as far as their expectations for a viable console lifespan.

It may get a 5 year run, but the PSP just doesn't have the kind of following and growth potential necessary to make 10 years reasonable. Sony's going to have to sell people on their next handheld in a much better way.

There are a few decent games out, but by and large it's an entertainment center, not a handheld gaming platform. In pushing Blu-Ray and pushing out lower definitions, I just don't think that the PSP is going to survive Sony's PR department. You can't tell people that DVD quality video is rubbish while selling them on a handhelp player of DVD quality videos.

@UmeShoryu: I'm not sure if the PSP can really be compared to the PS2 in terms of sales figures, success and market domination. It's doing alright, but it's becoming increasingly evident who's "winning" this time around. And no, I'm not a fanboy :P

@mr.dandy: I'm all for that. Take the brain of a psp, give it two analog sticks, a touch screen, mp3, a camera, and what do you have? The ugliest piece of gaming heaven ever created.

I like it that the DS and the PSP are quite different, it means you can justify getting both, as they do their own things. Just like the Wii and the PS3.

I hope that difference continues into the next gen of handhelds too.

DS 2 - Top screen 16:9 - 512 or 1 gig internal flash mem, channel based set up to allow VC and DSware game downloads via wi-fi. Strictly a games machine.

PSP2 - Same screen size, but higher resolution and a lot more processor power. Probably similar to what you see now, but just really juiced up, and probably a touch screen like the Iphone (this isn't copying the DS, its jut common sense)

Thats hardly a stretch of the imagination is it?

They will wait for Nintendos next move and give them a proper answer...

I can see a 10 year life span for the PSP. Time and cost are big factors when it comes to the minimization of new technology, which means it'll be a while before we see any technology capable of being cost effectively inserted into a slim, portable device that is also worthy of meriting a complete hardware redesign of the entire PSP platform. Instead we will get small incremental upgrades to the core system, ala the original Gameboy.

The PSP-2000 is Sony's Gameboy Pocket. We will probably see a few more form factor redesign as time goes on ( think Gameboy SP and Micro). These are meaningless of couse, unless you want a slimmer, svelter looking system. However, things will get interesting if (or when) sony starts adding new features. Think of a PSP-3000 with added six-axis control, or a second analog stick. It would work perfectly with all older PSP-1000/2000 games, but games designed specifically for the PSP-3000 won't work on the older system, meaning you'll have to decide whether the new games merit the purchase of an updated PSP (this would be the Color version in my Gameboy analogy).

Actually, this is good news to me. I've yet to add a PSP to my gaming platforms collection while waiting for its library to pick up (which it has, in spades) so the news that Sony's going to remain dedicated to the platform is great for a late adopter like me.

That said, I hope it won't be a case of releasing new PSP-Slimmers, or some case like that. The PSP Slim (combined with the old PSP battery naturally) is sexy enough, thanks.

I have to agree that the idea of the PSP lasting 10 years is pretty unlikely. Manufacturers always claim that the newest product will be supported for longer than the standard 5-6 year cycle. It will be tremendously outdated by that time if they do not make major changes meriting the name PSP2. If they decide to make minor changes they're going to stratify the base depending on which model users have. This will mean either compatibility issues, or underutilization of the new features in order to include owners of older models. It's a strategy that didn't work well for the Atari 5200, and I don't see it working well here if they try it. They've already risked alienating some of their original consumer base by bringing out the PSP-2000, and now that they've adopted that, it will be very difficult for them to sell a further upgraded version over the one they've just finished convincing consumers to purchase.

Nope... If they think the PSP has ten years to go, they should be prepared to lose bug sums of money...

@almattitude_v1: oops... i meant BIG, not bug, BIG sums of money...

I can't remember the last time I picked up my PSP. Foolishly, it was probably when decided to take it with me when I moved to Japan last summer, taking up precious space in my extremely limited weight allowance on the plane. I can count the number of games I've actually enjoyed and played for more than 20 minutes on one hand. Specifically, Wipeout (largely because I was still in awe at the general shininess of it all), Lumines (great little puzzler) and Killzone (THAT'S how you adapt a console game for a handheld, you don't just port it).

Meanwhile, my DS gets daily usage.

@greatinsight: Daxter? What about Daxter! That was the best! And GTA multiplayer, and MGS mulitplayer... other than that, the PSP deserves a 3 year lifespan (which should have ended a few days ago)...

And I also dont think that game companies are gona wana make games for the PSP for the next 7 years...

@mr.dandy: "too short on battery life"

LOL, right. Because most bus/train travel take longer than 1 hour for most people. And if you're referring plane travel, 4-5 hours is more than enough if you're planning to watch in-flight entertainment, get a decent sleep, and not arriving at your destination jetlagged.

@greatinsight: "I can't remember the last time I picked up my PSP"

And yet you remember those other times you don't play your PSP. Hmm.

The console's good enough to last another eight years, I think.

@psycoking: this i agree with.

@greatinsight: For God's sake, what do you call God of War? Crisis Core? Disgaea? Jeanne 'D Arc? Puzzle Quest? Unless you're a fan of racing games and puzzle games specifically, I can name you ALOT, alot of titles that are worth it.

I do believe SONY says this about EVERY friggin' conosle they release.

10 years?

3 arguments that could be:
**************************
1. Nintendo "DS 2" hardware dosent go over PSP specs. Which is not that unlikely tbh.

2. Remote play(PS3 or a cheap PSP gaming base station etc) becomes king of "on the go gaming". Small stuff, PSP, is expensive, but a linkable true PSP to PS2 tech remote play box could work market wise.

3. PSP gets new versions, alla PSP-3000 and so on, that improve the model, but does not make the other models unplayable. Eg adding a second analog, or adding a touch screen. Games can still be played on the older models, but ofc the controls would suck.
Ergo, reselling old new tech. :)

how much more can we get from ps2 quality hardware? what can be done that hasnt been done before? sure, the ds has even more outdated hardware, but it has a completely different gaming interface. whereas the psp interface is actually a step down from ps2, while having basically the same capabilities.

sure, it has some good games, but imo these games would have been more suited for ps2. two analog sticks, a little more power to work with. what if chains of olympus started development as a ps2 game? what if crisis core did? these games would have undoubtedly been better built from the ground up on ps2.

I see this as a possibility.Look at the resurgence of PSP sales as of late. I just recently received one as a gift from my gf and I love it.I think as long as Sony continues to release updates/upgrades such as Messenger,Skype,Internet Radio,Remote play and more then the life span is greatly increased.They have come up with a ingenious idea in linking the psp to the PS3 through remote play.Basically,your PS3 content on the go.They just need to make more PS1 titles available on the psn and make more psn titles remote playable.

@dexterr: The DS has already been out longer then 3 years, wtf are you going on about?

When Sony announces as the specs for the PSP2, the DS2 will not match them, because Sony has always proven to take the high, more costly road where Nintendo takes the lower cost, profit for every unit sold road and so far, it has worked.

Whatever happens, they are very likely to launch close to each other and if Sony's smart, closer in price point as the cost of the PSP allowed Nintendo to shore up it's install base with the DS and along with the games, it has taken on a lead that the PSP will never beat, not within this life cycle.

The next round will be highly interesting as we might have Microsoft finally stepping into the fray on the portable console front, along with whatever the Iphone brings to the table.

Nintendo re-tooled and re-branded the Gameboy for how many years? Don't think 10 years of PSP isn't possible and don't be surprised if Sony redesigns the PSP to rival the iPhone. Don't laugh, seriously.

what's this rhetoric about battery life? psp slim has battery life as good if not better than ds. i own both but psp slim is getting more love than ds. monster hunter alone is a 200 hour game. i still have wipeout pulse, final fantasy7 cc, syphon filter, metal gear PO and jean d'arc to finish. i challenge anyone to say god of war isn't one of the best portable games ever made.
psp isn't going anywhere. then again neither is ds.

If they're releasing games I can play on the PSP that I currently own ten years from now, I'll be a happy happy person.

the gameboy basically had no competition, not to mention the capabilities of handheld systems back then were extremely limited. seeing a game in color was actually a big improvement back then. when nintendo released a new gameboy, people bought it, because it was the only kid on the block.

and about the iphone...shouldnt people be concerned with how the thing is selling compared to other phones, let alone its ability to play games? the ds sells 600k a month in the us alone, how can the iphone compete with that?

You can only update the hardware so much before backwards compatibility becomes a liability. Granted, this isn't an issue so much on the home console side of things, but hardware limitations have always been more severe on a portable device.

One major reason is the media you are using. Nintendo did a good job keeping those original GameBoy carts in play for as long as they did, but at some point you have to ax the old tech to make your new product competitive.

Maybe it's just MHO, but UMD need to DIE a quick death. With flash memory prices constantly falling, I could not see relying on an optical format for a portable player too much longer. The drives are power hogs, slow, and take up much of the bulk of a portable device. The disc sizes (900MB-1.8GB)will also be limiting for developers eventually (if not already).

Give me a PSP2 with dual analog nubs and a sleeker design sans an optical drive. If you say anything even remotely sounding like 'mini-bluray' your tongue gets cut ;-)

I'm a handheld-only gamer only and the PSP fits my gaming needs more than adequately. To many more years with the little-black/white/etc.-engine-that-could.

Handheld gaming is a fine and noble past time.

@ Foxstar Sixtail: ds2 is going to be the equivalent of a gamecube. just like gameboy color was a portable NES, gba was a portable SNES and DS is a portable N64 but better. although i love the psp, development on it was stupid until recently. nintendo understands that portable gaming needs specific development needs. shoehorning a console game on a portable isn't always the best idea. worse is adding a bunch of multimedia functions without a killer app is a great way to get beaten by the competition. so...even though psp development is good at present, DS development has been great for longer. DS is about to get some attention from ninja gaiden, ff:cc, advanced wars contra4 and etrian odyssey. then there's dragon quest 9, ff4 and dodgeball. sometimes i wonder why i need consoles... then i play ut3 and warhawk and remember why.

but if the ds2 was as powerful as a gamecube, it would basically be a portable wii. the amount of horsepower and the control setup would be very similar.

maybe thats nintendo's plan...rebrand their next handheld system, call it "miniwii" (with 2 screens!) and let the cash flow in. then the wii and miniwii can have ported games coming to each other!

@Thorax: The lack of two nubs is what is stopping me from buying one.

Hehehe - I said nubs.

I have most of the systems, but ever since I got my PSP when they came out it's been my main gaming system. Sometimes it even feels like the Dreamcast has come back as a handheld. If the PS2 can do nearly ten, I could see the PSP doing the same if it really catches on with the mainstream in some capacity.

Actually what I would like to see is a true handheld PS2. Something that you can actually stick in a PS2 disc and play. It will probably look like a dual shock controller with an LCD screen sticking out of the top. The CD sits behind the LCD screen. You can even add the jacks for TV out and have built-in wireless receiver for a second controller. Ok, it will not be the snazziest handheld around, but it will have an instant catalog of games you can play.

Or how about a car version of the PS2 that looks like a 10" screen that is powered by a 12v car adapter. It can hang by a strap that you put around the headrest of the seat in front of you. Your kids would love it because they can play PS2 games while you drive around town.

Or how about a version that comes in a laptop form factor. You flip open the lid, which has a screen just like a laptop, and can play your ps2 games.

These ideas might not be feasible, but I am just throwing it out there.

@Kanik: "The lack of two nubs is what is stopping me from buying one."

I don't get this argument. Most of the time, the 2nd analogue stick is only used for minor stuff (ie. camera adjustment. You can re-assigned such function on other buttons. Also, did it stop you from buying DS since it doesn't even have any kind of analogue stick?

This isnt anything new. The only way they kept the PS1 and 2 selling so many units is through hardware changes that had people replacing their units for new ones. I know a handful of people who dropped their PS2 for the PS2+ then dropped the PS2+ for the PS2 Slim. Then the PS2 Slim for the PS2 Slim Silver (ok, not too many people did that last one) but the same thing goes for any hardware unit that wants longevity. The Xbox wasnt made for longevity in mind. It went through very few hardware changes over it's years, and never had a remodel. The DS could beat 10 years with all of it's upgrades, color changes, size changes. Even when the DS 2 comes out (should it ever come out) the DS would most likely still have another 5 + years to go just like the GBA did through all of it's changes (SP and Micro anyone?)

@ sitsalot: no it wouldn't. wii still has twice the cpu power and twice the ram of gamecube. the gpu is more powerful as well. like i said, portable gamecube. just because 3rd party developers want to be lazy, worthless bastards and not use the extra power doesn't mean it's not there. but i see your other point and it makes sens e. we'll see. nintendo may doom us all with mini game comps with the next ds. sony will be our only savior for real games.

@SoloMonster: Anything that had to take a normal size PS2 disc would be a huge, huge step backwards, very likely cost more then a PS2 and would be unlikely to turn much, if any profit. It would be a very bad handheld and the the battery life would be utter shit.

The PS2 in a car is somewhat more viable, but for all the trouble in it, you could just take a slim PS2, stick it in a car and run it that way with little to no modifcations needed.

It sounds like you won't be able to use your launch PSP for new content in year 10.

This 10-year BS from Sony has been smoke n mirrors since the beginning, I can't stand it. Who was buying NEW games for the PSX from 1995-2005?? The Playstation 2 might make it because the Wii's similar power will keep it alive + userbase. That doesn't mean they can say 10 YEARZ for everything they make now!

@Striderhayasa - Phillyyakk on PSN and Live.:Stop blaming Nintendo for 'minigames' Third parties have put out more Minigames for the Wii and DS then Nintendo. And third parties make up about 70% of the games on PSone, PS2 AND PS3. You can't blame them for making games that take low dev times and cost, but massive profit.

Good thing i haven't bought one yet.:p

@Foxstar Sixtail: but didnt nintendo invent the mini-game with mario party? its their fault and it always has been!

joking aside, it is partically nintendo's fault for this mini game crap. the wii opened the door for cheap games to be successful on a new console. for the first time, a console manufacturer made a new console with significantly less power than the competition.

it has to be much easier to port a ps2 game to wii than 360 or ps3. allowing shovelware to grace the system right at the beginning, rather than halfway through the lifespan or something.