Sony announced the North American first party software launch details for its PSP handheld entertainment system. Sony's PSP launch titles include established franchises but developed specifically for the portable gaming experience.
Ape Escape: On the Loose, ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails, Gretzky NHL, MLB, NBA, Twisted Metal: Head On, Wipeout Pure and World Tour Soccer will be available during the launch window and will be priced at USD39.99.
As we already know, the PSP features a 4.3-inch, 16:9 wide screen TFT LCD and is complete with built-in stereo speakers, exterior headphone connector and diverse input/output connectors such as USB 2.0, and 802.11b (Wi-Fi) wireless LAN, enabling users to connect to the Internet and play online via a wireless network.
Inspired by hit franchises, all eight first party titles are being specifically developed and optimized for the PSP by Sony developers in an effort to ensure that PSP will launch with a broad cross section of entertainment genres.
Consumers can find the following titles during the launch window (listed in alphabetical order):
- Ape Escape: On the Loose
Genre: Action Platform
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment Japan
Players: Single-player, Multi-player (2) via Ad Hoc Connectivity
Featuring multiplayer functionality and a wide variety of mini-games for players of all ages, this imaginative game provides players the challenge of capturing more than 200 monkeys in eight vibrant worlds spanning across over 20 levels in order to prevent them from changing history.
- ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails
Genre: Racing
Developer: Climax Group Incorporated
Players: Single-player, Multi-player (4) via Ad Hoc Connectivity and Infrastructure Mode
Intense, free-roaming, off-road racing takes on a whole new meaning, as gamers will be able to blaze their own trail, anytime. Riders will be able to choose from more than 24 highly detailed ATVs as they tear it up on more than 30 unique environments with six distinct terrain types.
- Gretzky NHL
Genre: Sports
Developer: Page 44 Studios
Players: Single-player, Multi-player (2) via Ad Hoc Connectivity and Infrastructure Mode
Officially licensed by the NHL and NHLPA, Gretzky NHL offers the Gretzky Challenge with unlockables from his past days as an Edmonton Oiler, Los Angeles King or New York Ranger. Combining authentic gameplay and intuitive play controls, Gretzky NHL for the PSP delivers the look, feel and passion of hockey with a true-to-life simulation.
- MLB
Genre: Sports
Developer: 989 Sports
Players: Single-player, Multi-player (2) via Ad Hoc Connectivity and Infrastructure Mode
Featuring the all-new Playmaker Fielding Marker, Release Point Pitching with Confidence Meter, and Branch Point Technology (BPT). MLB for the PSP promises to provide gamers with a true-to-life experience from the diamond.
- NBA
Genre: Sports
Developer: 989 Sports
Players: Single-player, Multi-player (2) via Ad Hoc Connectivity and Infrastructure Mode
NBA for the PSP will provide gamers with all the fast-breaks, precision passing, and above the rim action as it test the skills of all players with a variety of gameplay options including Full Season Mode, Paint Mode and the PlayStation Skills Challenge Mode.
- Twisted Metal: Head On
Genre: Car Combat
Developer: Incognito Inc. Entertainment
Players: Single-player, Multi-player (6) via Ad Hoc Connectivity and Infrastructure Mode Complete with all the fast-paced vehicular combat and destruction that gamers have come to know and love, Twisted Metal: Head-On allows gamers to strap themselves into one of 14 lethal machines, equipped with machine guns, turbo boost and a special attack, unique to each vehicle.
- Wipeout Pure
Genre: Action-Oriented Racing
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (Studio Liverpool)
Players: Single-player, Multi-player (8) via Ad Hoc Connectivity
The latest edition to the popular anti-gravity racing series provides intense, anti gravity combat racing as players choose from five different speed classes and numerous weapons, and race relentlessly around 16 futuristic, race environments.
- World Tour Soccer
Genre: Sports
Developer: 989 Sports
Players: Single-player, Multi-player (2) via Ad Hoc Connectivity
Featuring 128 club teams, 86 international teams, nine international and nine classic club teams from the past, seven league all-star teams, six international super teams and eight different stadiums, World Tour Soccer for the PSP provides gamers with the ultimate soccer experience.
The company will release a single-SKU configuration called the PSP Value Pack for a suggested retail price of USD 249.99. In addition to the PSP hardware, the PSP Value Pack will contain 32 MB Memory Stick Duo, headphones with remote control, battery pack, AC adaptor, soft case, hand strap and cleaning cloth, movie/music/game video sampler UMD disc including multiple non-interactive game demos, and for the first one million PSP Value Packs shipped, a special UMD video release of the feature film Spider-Man 2 from Sony Pictures Entertainment.
