PlayStation Portable launch

China Product


Japanese launch

The first shipment of 200,000 PSP units was made available for purchase in Japan on December 12, 2004. All units were sold out within the first two days. Some users reported problems with the launch units, including dead pixels (discolored squares) within the screen and game discs ejecting abruptly if the system is twisted (the latter being restricted to the Japanese units from the initial launch). In Japan, Sony is offering to replace PSPs under warranty as normal, with the caveat that they do not consider a display to be faulty unless four faulty pixels are within 1 cm (0.39 in) of each other.

In Japan, two sales packs are available. The basic package contains the console, battery, and AC adaptor for 20,790 including tax (around US$193, 148, UK106). The "Value Pack" contains the console, battery, AC adaptor, 32MB Memory Stick Pro Duo, headphones with remote, slip-case, and wrist strap, for 26,040 including tax (around US$245, 192, UK133). rosary necklace

Japanese launch games diamond cross pendant

Armored Core: Formula Front (From Software) rosary bracelets

Mahjong Fight Club (Konami)

Minna no Golf Portable (known as Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee in North America) (SCE)

Lumines (Bandai)

Ridge Racers (Namco)

Vampire Chronicle: The Chaos Tower (Capcom)

North American launch

The PSP was released on March 24, 2005 in North America (the United States and Canada). The only package on sale is the Value Pack, identical to the Japanese release save for the inclusion of a UMD of preview videos and a cleaning cloth for $249.99 USD (200 or $299.99 CAD). Sony claimed it would have one million units available for sale in these territories by the end of the 20042005 fiscal year (ending March 31, 2005). In order to accommodate the large demand in North America the European release date was pushed back several months. In the US, the first million units included the movie Spider-Man 2 on UMD, free of charge. In Canada, PSP bundles were made available with Gretzky NHL (a Sony-developed hockey game).

North American launch games

Available at launch:

Title

Publisher

Ape Escape: On the Loose

SCEA

Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower

Capcom

Dynasty Warriors

Koei

Gretzky NHL

SCEA

Lumines

Ubisoft

Metal Gear Acid

Konami

NBA

SCEA

Need for Speed Underground: Rivals

Electronic Arts

NFL Street 2 Unleashed

Electronic Arts

Ridge Racer

Namco Bandai Games

Spider-Man 2

Activision

Tiger Woods PGA Tour

Electronic Arts

Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix

Activision

Twisted Metal: Head-On

SCEA

Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade

Sony Online Entertainment

Wipeout Pure

SCEA

World Tour Soccer

SCEA

Available shortly thereafter:

Title

Publisher

Dead to Rights Reckoning

Namco Bandai Games

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition

Rockstar Games

MVP Baseball

Electronic Arts

Smart Bomb

Eidos Interactive

Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee

SCEA

NBA Street Showdown

Electronic Arts

Rengoku: Tower of Purgatory

Konami

FIFA Soccer

Electronic Arts

ATV Offroad Fury : Blazin' Trails

SCEA

MLB

SCEA

Mercury

Ignition Entertainment

Ad Campaigns

In the US, several waves of TV commercials and other advertisements have been used to market the PSP. The first wave included TV commercials that featured the Franz Ferdinand song "Take Me Out", and a PSP user transforming into various things seen in PSP games and other media. The other TV commercial with this song in the background showed the PSP being used by different people, from the perspective of the PSP. The second wave included TV ads with various young people passing the PSP to one another across the screen, using the device for various purposes. The final, current TV ads are black and white animations featuring two eccentric squirrels interacting. The first of this wave's ads doesn't show the actual PSP, but compares the portable game device to a nut, which can be played outside a tree; similar ads consisting of dust balls,pussy willow, and rats.

Singaporean launch

The PSP was released in Singapore on 12 May, retailing at SGD$455 (217) for the Value Pack. There was no free Spider-Man 2 Video UMD included in the package. However, members are entitled to participate in a pre-order programme from 28 April to 3 May. The special pre-order package, retailing at SGD$499 (238), consists of a value pack, an extended 18 month warranty, a PSP "Goodie" Pack (PSP pouch, UMD case, handstraps and wristbands) and a pair of tickets to the Singapore PSP launch party on 5 May at renowned dance club, Zouk.

European launch

The PSP was released in Europe on 1 September, considerably later than releases in other territories. This, according to Sony press releases, was due to high demand for the system in other territoriesamely North America and Japan. Like the American launch, the Value Pack will be the only available package type, retailing for 179 or 249. An undisclosed number of users (on a "first come, first served" basis) will receive a free Spider-Man 2 Video UMD after registering their systems on SCEE's Your PSP web portal.

SCEE have been much maligned for the delayed launch in Europe and for issuing legal proceedings against small independent retailers selling imported consoles. SCEE argue that their Intellectual Property rights are being infringed, while some argue that SCEE claims are groundless. The PSP has been widely available in Europe prior to the official launch; retailer ElectricBirdLand Limited claims to have shipped several consoles to SCEE's own employees. ElectricBirdLand Limited have been issued with proceedings at the Royal Courts of Justice, SCEE and SCEI are seeking to enjoin them to prevent them from selling imported PSPs. ElectricBirdLand are represented by Managing Director Dan Morelle, they do not have legal representation.

At this time the PSP trademark is owned in the EEA by a small IT company based in Great Britain named OwtaNet Limited. It and several other key trademarks are currently disputed in the European Union, and it is unclear what impact this may or may not have on the launch of the PSP in Europe. Sony's current press releases no longer utilize the 'PSP' acronym. In Europe, the familiar PSP logo is accompanied by a "PlayStation Portable" logotype underneath in in-store marketing and on console (though not game) product boxes and manuals. Once the firmware is updated to v2.00, the PlayStation Portable logotype also appears on the PSP splash screen before a game is loaded.

August 8, 2005, just 3 weeks prior to the EU launch Lik Sang a Hong Kong based exporter of video games etc announced it was also being sued by Sony in Europe for Parallel importation of the PSP.

In the UK, PSP broke all previous sales records more than doubling the previous record-holder - the Nintendo DS - selling an enormous 185,000 units at launch.

The PlayStation Portable units in Europe are preloaded with 1.52 update but the 2.00 update can be found on the demo disk enabling many more features such as web browsing and backgrounds.

European launch games

Ape Academy

Archer Maclean's Mercury

Colin McRae Rally 2005

Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower

Dynasty Warriors

Fired Up

Blackburn Rovers' six fingered Golf

Kao Challengers

Lumines

MediEvil Resurrection

Metal Gear Acid

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition

Need for Speed Underground: Rivals

Ridge Racer

Smart Bomb

Spider-Man 2

TOCA Race Driver 2

Tony Hawks Underground 2 Remix

Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade

Virtua Tennis: World Tour

Wipeout Pure

World Snooker Championship 2005

World Tour Soccer: Challenge Edition

World Rally Championship

Note that this is not a complete list.

Australian and New Zealand launch

The PSP was released in Australia and New Zealand on September 1, 2005. In line with most of the launches, the only package available is the Value Pack, containing the usual contents and non-interactive demo UMD that also contains the 2.0 firmware update. It retails for AU$399.95 (244, US$248), after consumer anger led Sony to reduce the price from its original AU$429.95 (262, US$313).

As with the European launch, a copy of Spider-Man 2 on UMD Video will be available to early purchasers who register their PlayStation Portable through the Australia and New Zealand YourPSP web portals to the first 6,000 people to register.

See also

List of PlayStation Portable games

References

^ Launch titles on PlayStation.com

^ Titles released shortly after launch at PlayStation.com

^ Gibson, Ellie (2005-06-03). "Sony staff defy policy on import PSPs - Dan Morelle". http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=59501. Retrieved 2007-11-02. 

Categories: PlayStation Portable games