PSP: Full US Launch Details

The wait won't be much longer for Europe.

Even though it's not always guaranteed, foreign hardware prices are at least a good indicator of what Europeans might end up paying. Which is why Sony's announcement of the US PSP launch price and game line-up is worth looking at.

The PSP will go on sale in the US on 24 March for $249.99 (£135), which is almost identical to the Japanese price.

The PSP was released in Japan in two versions - a base package containing the PSP only and a Value Pack containing several extras. North Americans will only be able to buy the Value Pack, which contains a soft protective case, a 32MB memory card and earphones, in addition to the PSP itself.

Unlike Japan, though, Sony will be better prepared to face customer demand in North America. The company has promised that it will have 1 million PSPs available during the first week, which is substantially better than the 200,000 initially shipped to retailers in Japan.

Sony is, of course, quick to point out that while the PSP plays games, it can also do a lot of other things.

"PSP will evolve and elevate portable entertainment, giving users the freedom to play full 3D games, watch movies, listen to music and connect wirelessly on their terms, their time and their place," said Kaz Hirai, president and CEO of Sony's American arm.

"More than ever, today's consumer demands access to entertainment outside the home without compromising quality. With more than 100 PSP game titles currently in development worldwide, and the ability to download and listen to digital music and view feature films with breathtaking screen quality, PSP lets users control their entertainment options, all in one package."

But despite the impressive multimedia capabilities, right now the PSP is all about games, and Sony will have 24 titles available around the time it launches in March.

So far, Sony has been coy with details for the European launch of the PSP. The current speculation is that the handheld could launch as late as mid-April, but Sony has yet to make an official announcement.

There are also growing concerns that with the upgraded hardware power, gamers will be expected to pay more for portable games. It's a concern Sony has not allayed. The company has stated that prices for its own games will "start" at $39.99 (£22), leaving open the possibility of higher priced software from Sony and other publishers.

Below are the games that are expected to be available during the launch window of the PSP:

• Ape Escape: On the Loose, Sony - platform
• ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails, Sony - racing
• Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower, Capcom - fighting
• Dynasty Warriors, KOEI - strategy
• FIFA 2005, EA - football
• Gretzky NHL, Sony - ice hockey
• Lumines, Ubisoft - puzzle
• Metal Gear Acid, Konami - strategy
• MLB Baseball, Sony - baseball
• MVP Baseball, EA - baseball
• NBA, Sony - basketball
• NBA Street Showdown, EA - basketball
• Need for Speed Rivals, EA - racing
• NFL Street 2 Unleashed, EA - American football
• Rengoku: Tower of Purgatory, Konami - RPG
• Ridge Racer, Namco - racing
• Smartbomb, Eidos - puzzle
• Spider-Man 2, Activision - action
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour, EA - golf
• Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix, Activision - skateboarding
• Twisted Metal: Head On, Sony - car-action
• Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade, Sony - RPG
• Wipeout Pure, Sony - racing
• World Tour Soccer, Sony - football

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games