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The new portable version of Sony PlayStation provides an enhanced gaming experience
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SELLING SMALL In terms of design, the PlayStation Portable (PSP) does what the i-Pod did to MP3 players
The second half of 2005 had been boom time for the games market worldwide. With newer versions of the Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo's Gameboy hitting straight at the increasing community of PC gamers, Sony's new version of the PlayStation was only a matter of time. Joining the Nintendo gang of carry-along games consoles, the PlayStation Portable unshackles itself from the earlier slim form factor that sits snugly on your PC table, to a cute, chic-looking hand-held machine, combining the performance of the PS2 and shrinking its size to that of a chocolate bar.
In terms of design, the PlayStation Portable (PSP) does what the i-Pod did to MP3 players. The 4.3 inches wide screen flanked by a digital game-pad and a directional keypad on the left and the Sony trademark square, triangle, circle and cross keys on the right. At the bottom we have the volume controls, and selection keys. What stands out in the portable "avatar" of the PlayStation is the highly sensitive digital game pad, which is much more than just a joystick. The screen resolution is top-class (480X272 pixels), which can display 16.77 million colours, and hence, picture jerks are history. The battery life of three and-a-half hours is not too impressive, but ensures you a few short games. The gadget is Wi-Fi enabled which facilitates a thrilling multi-user experience. The games come in a Universal Media Disk (UMD) with a storage capacity of 1.8 gigabytes.
In a trial with the racing game, Ridge Racer what struck us in the PSP was the superb sound quality and an incredible smoothness and sensitivity of the direction controls. Though the start-up was slow and tests your patience, the video clarity makes up for the delay. The earphones that are thrown in with the PSP are a boon if you are using the gadget in public places or secretly in a classroom.
The PSP features an added bonus of playing UMD movies on the go. The screen is well equipped for movie viewing, but since movies in the UMD format are scarcely available in the market, the PSP remains primarily a gaming device.
A. VISHNU
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