Joystiq and PSPFB hands on with PSP-2000: Part 2

by Andrew Yoon on Aug 31st 2007 5:56PM

Yesterday, we answered your questions about the newly redesigned PSP, codenamed PSP-2000. Today, we'll explore the load times of games on Sony's redesigned handheld. With added RAM, games are supposed to load faster than the older model. Did we see an improvement? Also, we tackle some more questions from PSP Fanboy readers.

Do games load noticeably faster?
Submitted by: Hashbrown_Hunter

This took a lot of effort to piece together. It seems that games do load faster, although not as significantly as we would hope. In the above side-by-side video of the upcoming Star Wars Battlefront, you can see that although the games were launched at the same time, the PSP-2000 (the silver one) loads slightly faster than the original. It loads the level slightly faster as well. However, going through our games collection resulted in varying results -- some games didn't change at all, while games like Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow actually took longer on PSP-2000! It appears that games with significantly long load times are the ones to benefit the most. Check out our test results here. Check out Gamespot's test results, which feature different games, here.

Is the video out cable included in any of the bundles?
Submitted by: mike

No. The video out cables must be purchased separately. See what they look like here.

What is the cost of both the PSP-2000? Does it cost the same as the current model? Are there any other special packs out there?
Submitted by: Sai
The PSP will cost $169.99, the same price as the current model. There are special bundles you can try and purchase: one includes Daxter, the other includes Star Wars Battlefront. Read more here.

How does the weight of the PSP Slim feel?
Submitted by: Makiyura
It might not look drastically different, but it certainly feels a lot better. The reduced weight is clearly noticeable and one of the system's greatest improvements.

Can you compare the size to the DS Lites? How bigger/thicker/wider is it?
Submitted by: Kahonee

The PSP-2000 is about the size of a DS Phat's bottom half. When stacked next to a DS Lite, it is marginally thinner. However, the system is still the same width as the original, making it much wider than the DS Lite.

PSP-2000

Should I trade in my current PSP for a new one?
Submitted by: iorkara
Ah, the $169 question. I'm completely in love with the new design. However, it doesn't warrant a new purchase, unless you really want TV out. These added features are a nice bonus, but will act mostly as extra incentive for those that have yet to purchase a system.

Do the batteries from the old PSP work in the new one?
Submitted by: Jay

Yes, the old batteries will work, but they will protrude outward. You will need a new battery cover in order to use the longer-life old batteries in the new system.
=====
We're still not done yet exploring everything the new PSP can do. We have more questions to answer, and will finally tell you the truth about battery life in our next edition.

Tags: psp, psp-2000, psplite, PSPLiteHandson

Reader Comments (36)

My question has been answered. Don't re-buy it but extra incentives for those considering PSP.

zOMG

so loud!

Sounds like the Xbox 360

OMG, the psp is such a piece of crap compared to the 360! The XMB doesnt even compare to Live. Sony should just quit.

Wow that post is so wrong for so many reasons,the PSP is more reliable than a x360.One morning you can wake up with a RRoD also the PSP is a portable.Also your is just inflamatory I don't know if I should say "GTFO Hater" or just lol at you.

I meant your post is inflamatory.

BTW Why are these people just flaming here?,really this is just a comparison,if it was about Sony pulling the PSP for good okay but C´mon people you don’t have to act like such aholes I mean this isn’t kotaku or System wars you know.

Thats a little bit of a pathetic comparison isnt it considering the 360 is home console PSP is portable.

You also clearly dont even understand the difference between the XMB which is a menu for navigating the system and live which is a online gaming service not a menu. You see let me educate you since you clearly need it Sony has the XMB and MS have the dashboard hope that didnt confuse you.

Finally would just like to say MS should pack in the console business unless they can make a console that umm let me see oh yeh actually works and at a noise level a little bit less than a jet engine would also be apreciated. I wouldnt even own one if it wasnt for the fact that they are buying the rights to more or less every game.

didnt sony say that only new games that take advantage of the added ram will see improved load times? also, what is the impact on the web browser with the added ram.

Thanks for answering my question...even though the answer was a little disappointing.

The only way to load your games "Fast" is off of the memory stick, and Sony knows it. Any "improvement" short of giving us a way to (legally) dump the UMD's we own to ISO, and then onto our memory card, is an improvement that is not worth making (as far as read times go). This thing will sell so bad, Sony will cry.

lol. WOwzers. that's like .5 milliseconds faster! rediculous.

Well, Sony did say that newer games would take advantage of the increased RAM. I'm not sure we should really expect anything from older games, since they're not coded for it.

ahh. i see..thank you for pointing that out to me. oh wait...the PSP still sucks regardless.

Haha, I got a question. Get ahold of a pandora battery and just see if it boots up. Not asking ya to downgrade it or anything, just see if it works.

I was wondering about that myself...

Yeah, I mean, it would be a excuse to get a third PSP.

Hah.

I might get a PSP sometime in the future if I find myself having to go on freqent long trips. I've never really been into handhelds, though... I sold my DS, and the only handheld I ever remember enjoying was my gameboy advance.

The only reason I don't have a PSP is because I'm scared my kids will destroy it. Too bad warranties don't cover physical damage.

I know there are going to be some of the PSP SDF retaliating with comments like, "If you aren't going to buy one now after these 'improvements' then you never were...". However, I must say that I was seriously considering buying one of these thinking that with double the ram, it would load much faster (computer logic here). But after watching all these comparisons of old vs. new I have to conclue that there is no significant improvement with load times and that was the most important peeve I had with the system to begin with. I guess I will have to pass and just stick with my DS.

People seem to overlook the fact that the DS is so wildly popular is because there are games for it and the system does not take forever to load the games. That's why I chose the system to begin with. Quick load times, fast easy access to 'fun' games, the games didn't even have to be of 'Epic' proportions.

If the PSP was on par with the speed and ease of use as the DS, Sony could have put a serious hurt on Nintendo's handheld market.

Oh well, better luck next time.

If the load times really bug you... you must be in a huge hurry in life. I mean, I play alot of games, and sure some have load times that are annoying, but most are fine.

Though I will agree, when I play my DS its nice for everything to be fast, it in no way makes me regret having a PSP.

Oh, and I'm telling you, little kids and non-gamers don't care nor know about load times, they just get the system because its what they hear is good, they probably don't even think of load times.

Kaemon, you are seriously ignorant to think that anyone who isn't a "gamer" doesn't notice load times. That statement was just so wrong on so many levels. I don't really want to argue with you or anything, so don't reply to this, because I won't read it, but I just felt like giving you a little heads-up there.

Now, Joystiq/PSPFB, I read there was an option to disable the "faster" loading on the new PSP. Could you disable that and run some more tests to see if the old and the new PSPs then load at the same speed (it would be especially helpful for games that are actually slower to load on the new PSP)?

Guess I'm part of the PSP branch of the SDF. I love the PSP myself, it has plenty of excellent games as it is, so much homebrew, the multimedia functions, etc.

I stupidly sold my PSP long ago because I was using an older version of Devhook which would keep corrupting my saves and got rid of it, no point in having a handheld if I can't even save my games. Didn't know that at the time. Sold it just before custom firmware came out, argh. Definately gonna pick up the new slim now.

Hey PSPFanboy, do you know when Sony or someone else will release a new battery cover to cover up the older, thicker batteries in the new PSP? I bet it'll be a new backplate and make it just as thick as the old PSP? I don't care, better battery life is a nice plus.

How much more battery life did you get with the 1800 or even 2200 mAh battery?

Too bad PSP games won't work on my crappy 32" SDTV with no component inputs. : (

There are composite cords avaliable. Also, check the back of your TV anyway - it might be SDTV, but I checked my 32" SDTV (which is ten years old) the other day and while it is, in fact, an SDTV, it does have progressive scan through component, and progressive scan does add quite a bit of clarity.

@"Fatass of Kickassness":

It won't let you play games over the composite cords.

Lmao, obviously there will be bashing against the PSP. Their parent's welfare check won't be enough. As for me, count me in! This will be my fourth PSP (black, white, and gold)(with matching DSLites too (white, black, yellow "w/ a supid pika")).

The load times don't bother since the games that have long load times are crappy anyways.

@ Bobby
There are also "s" cables and normal RCAs just check out Play-asia.com

------- goes back to playing MHF2

"Their parent's welfare check won't be enough."

That was really fucking tasteless dude.

What, are you one of those fifteen year old chav children who take their parents paycheck for granted? Fuck off, kiddy.

Oh was it Kazi? Kinda like ever since the PSP came out 80% of all the posts on this PS threads are DSfanboys with unrelated bashing of the PS systems. Why would I bash their system (DSLite) when I like it too. So, I took a direction of bashing their lives, LMAO!

@ Thornedvenom

These system always get you at accessories. Just like when I bought the Wii. What? The Wiimote and Nunchucks are sold seperately, wow it cost me a fortune just to play with my friends.

@ Fatass of Kickassness

Sorry, did you just call me a kiddy mr. "Fatass of Kickassness." Umm, okay.

And no I am not a spoiled rich kid, I'm a spoiled 25 year old that likes to spend lots of money b/c I earned it through hard years of work in school. Proper education pays off, make sure you do that and you can be an a**hole like me with lots of money. With my position, I have the right to say anything HAHAHHAHA!

Yes, it was tasteless. I'm not going to bother responding to anything else. Pointless arguing with such a diluted asshole.

There are composite cables, but iirc you can't play games over them. We've seen the packaging and only the component ones advertise gaming.

No video out cables included? WHY??? That was one of the main points making me actually root for the new product!

Without that, it's like normal PSP again... oh wait, it has the added functionality, but which can only be exploited if you use the cables. If you already have them, great deal for you, but for me, no deal!

I will just add a little comment:

Please DS fanboy, get out of here.

If you talk about load times, i give you ouedan 1&2 (super long time ) Megaman ZX ( long load times ) luna knights, ff3 ( load and lags ), hotel dusk...

Clearly, the load times are not specialy link with the hardware, but maybe with the ambition of the games. On the psp like on the DS, small games are loading quikly ( and even big optimased ones, like MGS for exemple ). If DS games, mostly load fine, it is because the are small 2d games. Almost all 3D games i have on my DS have loading times equal to the general psp load times.

Second: The AV cable isnt included, but they put a function....and blah blah...
Should i remind you all the there is a audio jack out on the ds, and nowhere to find a head set, even the sheappest, inside the box....IS IT A SHAME TO YOU TO.

I dont say the new psp is flawless, and i whish they could have done better improvement, but as it is , we callit the PSP "SLIM", not the psp2. The main changes where the battery consumption, and the smaller size, with improved ram and slight redesign.

I am hearing something???? what ??? DSphat -> DSlite...nothing new, but a better look, and a little brighter screen ( wich drop the battery life )....but everybody around was wetening their pants ?

How come, when nintendo does the trick people applause, and when sony does, people boo.

COme on guys, specialy psp haters, you dont like the psp, you never intended to buy one, so dont bother to post comments on a thread, and discouraged hobest interested people to buy one, by your messages of childish behavior.

Dyslexic PSP SDF Untie!!

Those load times in the videos still seem a little ridiculous for a handheld.

Yeah that's what I said about Simcity DS; especially for a cartridge. But still love the game.

Joystiq and PSPFB hands on with PSP-2000: Part 2

PSP-2000

Reader Comments (36)

Posted: Aug 31st 2007 6:04PM hvnlysoldr said

Posted: Aug 31st 2007 6:08PM (Unverified) said

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Posted: Aug 31st 2007 6:58PM TwistedBishop said

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Posted: Aug 31st 2007 6:51PM Kaemon said

Posted: Aug 31st 2007 6:53PM Rollins said

Posted: Aug 31st 2007 6:59PM Kaemon said

Posted: Aug 31st 2007 7:03PM Stupidiot said

Posted: Aug 31st 2007 7:29PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Aug 31st 2007 7:37PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Aug 31st 2007 8:03PM Kaemon said

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Posted: Aug 31st 2007 9:50PM JoshMilewski said

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Posted: Aug 31st 2007 10:48PM TwistedBishop said

Posted: Aug 31st 2007 10:54PM ThornedVenom said

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