PlayStation+Portable(PSP)

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=**PlayStation Portable (PSP)**= = = //PSP Logo//

**__History__**
Produced by Sony Entertainment, the Playstation Portable, or PSP as it is widely known, is Sony's first stab at a handle held gaming system. With the ability to play movies, games, music, store photos and surf the internet; the Playstation Portable is one of the best and popular handheld gaming systems available.

Released in Japan on December 12, 2004, North America on March 24, 2005 and Australia and Europe on September 1, 2005; the PSP entertainment system broke ground in the handheld gaming sector. Its biggest competitor, the Nintendo DS, also released in 2004, had very limited compatibilities in comparison with the PSP.

**__Gaming__**
The Playstation Portable, although capable of movies, photos, music and internet, still remains to have a "video game" design and feel. The system was produced to feel familiar in the hands of loyal Playstation 1 and 2 players with the four-button directional pad, triangle, square, "x", and circle buttons, an analog stick, and two shoulder buttons located on the top left and right of the device. The graphics of the Playstation Portable are good and comparable to those of the Playstation 1. With many titles from the Playstation 1 and 2 systems available for the Playstation Portable, as well as titles of much loved and sought after series such as Grand Theft Auto exclusive to the PSP; the Playstation Portable handheld gaming device is very appealing to loyal Playstation gamers.

//PSP Front Layout//

**__Multimedia__**
The Playstation Portable is not only known for its gaming but also for its capabilities at playing music. As the iPod has shown us, music matters. The availability of an MP3 player embedded within the Playstation Portable makes it that much more appealing. Most PSPs come standard with an upgradable 32 MB memory card for storing information as well as songs.

One of the most innovative ideas that the PSP team came up with was the idea of having a movie player within the device as well. The high-quality UMDs that are used by the PSP for both games as well as movies ensure that the videos are good in quality. Most if not all big name movies are released in DVD as well as UMD.

The ability to store photographs makes the Playstation Portable one of the most diverse and appealing entertainment devices out. Acting as a movie player, digital photo album, MP3 player and handheld video game system; the Playstation Portable is one of the most innovative entertainment devices available and with a price-tag of CDN$279.99, it costs less than some iPods.

**__Internet__**
Arguably the PSPs most impressing feature is it’s built in Wi-Fi connection, enabling access to the Internet. The PSP even allows for players to connect wirelessly to engage in competitive play or for users to even watch their favorite television show through the Internet.

**__Conclusion__**
The Playstation Portable is without a doubt one of the best and convenient entertainment systems out. Totally revolutionizing the idea of handheld gaming systems which Nintendo Gameboy and Sega Gamegear helped to mold, it is now the leader in its sector and one of the most popular portable entertainment devices.

__References__
Wikipedia. //Playstation Portable// (2006). Online. [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Portable.] Consulted on Dec. 2006. Wikipedia. //The image "PSP Logo"// (2006). Online. [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Portable.] Consulted on Dec. 2006. Amazon. //The image "PSP Front Layout//" (2006). Online. [|http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/85/61/cb5792c008a02f5447672010.L.jpg.] Consulted on Dec. 2006