Thu, Aug 12, 2010 | 03:29 BST
Report: Sony working on PlayStation-branded Android phone
Ever felt the need to tell your grandmother who lives in the middle of nowhere about the pious, upstanding life you’ve been leading while also slaying/doing the nasty with the entire Greek pantheon on the same device?
Well, that’s kind of weird. But soon, you’ll be able to.
Engadget reports that Sony Ericsson’s mad phone scientists have sown together a PSPgo and a Samsung Captivate to create a grotesque technological monster that anonymous sources have described as “pretty damn sexy.” Apparently, it will run Google’s Android 3.0 OS and support a brand new section of the Android marketplace devoted specifically to games.
So far, series like God of War, Modern Warfare, and LittleBigPlanet have been mentioned as potential reasons you’ll inevitably ignore most of your calls, but as of now, pre-existing PSP and PSX games are being used to demonstrate the hardware.
Sounds great so far, right? But so did the N-Gage, right up until the part where it was a taco. Fortunately, the PlayStation phone seems to be aiming more for “handheld gaming device” and less for “delicious midnight drive-through snack” with a D-pad, “long touch pad” for analog controls, and PlayStation shoe-ins like shoulder buttons and the trademark X, circle, square, and triangle layout.
According to the report, the bouncing baby to Google and Sony’s proud mom and pop could be out as early as October. Perfect timing, too, seeing as that’s right around the time we were planning on getting fed up with AT&T’s crappy service and flinging our iPhone out a window.
17 comments
#1
ExclusivesMostly
12/08/10, 5:34 am
Yeah I’d definately trade my iPhone for a properly made playstation phone.
#2
Crysis
12/08/10, 6:01 am
*Drools.
so i’m going to guess it’ll cost more than a good deal on a ps3, likely between $450-500
First day purchase for me, especially if it can play ps2 games, but i’m poor & don’t want to spend over $200, but $250 is the mex i would pay for something like that, not likely tho after all-the psp3000 is still selling @ $270 & the pspgo is selling @ $369 a
#3
Boris Fett
12/08/10, 7:01 am
Please, please, please do not call it the PlayStation Phone, Sony. That would be unbearably cringe-worthy.
#4
Crysis
12/08/10, 7:03 am
how bout the PSPhone?
#5
Crysis
12/08/10, 7:10 am
There’s already a psone emulator for android phones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nmDZ4mE-kY
also, phone developers should take notes with how all the buttons were on screen but transperant, why not do that with every other game!? Apple says “you don’t need buttons” well that’s a damn right lie, even on-screen buttons are decent
#6
freedoms_stain
12/08/10, 7:18 am
There’s already a section of the Android market dedicated to games, do they mean new section dedicated to games for this new phone?
#7
Nathan Mckane
12/08/10, 7:48 am
It’s gotta be faster than the current PSP or I’m not sold on it. That’s not to say as fast as xbox360 or even close to that kind of thing, but I’m hoping for the same kind of GPU used in iphone. However I’m wondering if it is called PSP2!
#8
freedoms_stain
12/08/10, 8:21 am
Well, from what I can gather the current psp has a 333mhz CPU, in perspective high end Android phones such as the htc Desire I’m sending this post on is running a 1ghz CPU, even mid range Android phones are packing 600mhz+ processors these days.
#9
Robo_1
12/08/10, 8:22 am
This changes everything???
Depends. If this is their planned successor to PSP, then I seriously hope it’s not just a repackaged PSP. Surely the fact that the device has been ravaged by piracy is enough of an incentive to start with fresh tech. Hopefully this device can emulate PSP and PSone games, as well as playing the super new PSP2 specific games.
The android link could be a big deal for people though. Instead of going head to head with the app store with the playstation network, they build Android support into the device and they’ve suddenly got a comparable service built in from the get go.
I’ll be very keen to follow more news on this, and see what comes of it.
#10
Kerplunk
12/08/10, 8:34 am
@3 We’ve already seen how well the brand “PlayStation” has supported Sony through the PS3′s troubled introduction. It would make sense to exploit that brand strength. Just like Apple exploit “i-this” or “i-that”.
#11
Tonka
12/08/10, 8:43 am
About fucking time
#12
Boris Fett
12/08/10, 8:58 am
@10 I never said there was anything wrong with the PlayStation brand name.
#13
bowenFTW
12/08/10, 9:07 am
Sounds to me like an unstoppable force. Hopefuly this will be a real collaboration and not just Sony piggy backing on Google. The combination of Sony titles and the Google infrastructure must have Apple and MS bricking it. Finally there is a real chance of competing with the iPhone and delivering a truly portable gaming device, rather than the incredible iPhone with shit games tacked on.
#14
Kerplunk
12/08/10, 9:12 am
@12 I never implied you did. Guilty conscience, much?
#15
mojo
12/08/10, 10:37 am
sounds neat!!
UIll be watching this.
Could be the first device replacing my 6 year old samsung mobile..
#16
Hybridpsycho
12/08/10, 11:38 am
gief
I’ll defo be watching this
#17
frostquake
13/08/10, 6:16 am
I am Dreading and Looking forward to this…Well until the NDSP..Nintendo DS Phone….
Sony can do this SUPER PERFECT…or HORRIBLY WRONG…The contract could be outrageous, because Sony is known for OVER PRICING and we all know it.
Also if if you have to Join some kind of Phone Plus contract then forget about it. The one thing the iPhone gets right, is touch..If Sony can copy the touch sensitivity perfectly, then Yeah…I am SUPER NERVOUS about this but am also SUPER INTRIGUED.
Color me interested!!