5 features we want from a Sony PSP redesign

March 13th, 2007, 20:23 Posted By: Shrygue

via Games Radar

Whatever you might think, PSP has been a success. Nearly 25 million of the sleek gaming portables have been sold since it was first launched in Japan at the end of 2004 .

However, PlayStation Portable could use some work. And, if the recently refuelled rumours of a redesigned PSP 2 are to be believed, Sony knows it.

Certainly here at GamesRadar we reckon PSP hasn't yet reached its full potential. Sony just needs to unlock the handheld's strengths and cut down on the weaknesses. So here are five things that we'd like to see included in a reworked PSP, aimed at improving its gaming credentials.

A better LCD screen
Don't get us wrong - PSP's gorgeous, bright screen still makes us grin like it's Christmas. But PSP's refresh rate (that's the speed it can update the image on screen) leaves something to be desired. With a better refresh rate PSP would lose those ghostly trails, and movies and games would look so pretty we'd doubtless be moved to joyful tears.

Integrated GPS and camera
GPS is cool, it's as simple as that. MGS Portable Ops hinted at the gaming possibilities - though only with the GPS attachment available in America and Japan - and combining GPS positioning with in-game action is exciting. Then, with an inbuilt camera, PSP could feature video-phone and camcorder abilities. Make it so, Sony.

Longer battery life
That whirring UMD guzzles battery power, but we'd expect to see Sony bring its laptop experience to bear in extending PSP's juice use. With DS offering a whopping amount of gaming time from a single charge, making PSP more efficient should be job one if Sony really are planning a new version.

Onboard flash memory
At least 5gb, please. This would stop us needing to buy new, easily-losable memory cards, and we could even see a PS3-insprired feature help with PSP's notorious loading times - if Sony let us upload a chunk of the game onto a PSP's harddrive, we could enjoy commuter gaming without the waiting.

No software restrictions
A real pipedream this, but if it was easier to transfer any kind of movies or footage onto PSP or play 'homebrew' games or software, Sony could turn PSP into a techno-geek's wet dream. Plus, it would mean the less experienced of us would still be able to watch next week's episode of Lost on the way to work.

Concept image of redesigned PSP here. Leave feedback via comments.

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