Ben-DutkaWe've heard there are already over 50 games in the works for the Next Generation Portable (NGP), but how many can we expect on launch day?
Well, a European website claims a "retail source" knows of four titles that will arrive alongside the NGP: Uncharted , ModNation Racers , Wipeout 2048 and some game called Smart As . The source also claimed we'd see a Resistance portable installment "between January and March 2012." Finally, due to the ongoing problems in Japan after the recent crisis, it seems Europe will be the first region to get the NGP; they expect it during the third financial quarter of this year. Sony has clarified that the disaster won't affect the future NGP launch in any region, but that being said, we still don't have an estimated release date or price. Still, it's nice to see a few recognizable names on the launch day list.
This is one unit we'll need to get our hands on…quite literally, too, considering that touch feature.
It´s getting harder and harder to resist getting a portable (PSP, DS, anything), but everytime I think how big my backlog would be if I had one, it gets easier.
The NGP might just be the first gaming device that I buy at launch
Uncharted and WipEout would be great to play on the new handheld. I, more than likely, wont be an early adopter of the NGP, but I'm eager to see the platform grow and succeed for Sony. And I think a quality lineup of software is a great way to make that happen.
I want open world games on this thing, give me an inFamous and a Fallout game and I'm set.
inFamous Portable *drool* But I wouldn't put much stock in a Fallout game. I'm still waiting on Elder Scrolls Travels: Oblivion.
Bring on the next-gen RPGs I say!
No reason why not. If Sony are clever they would do episodic open world games. Unlocking different parts of the game as you progress. If I were them I would look at an ad model as well…anything to get the machine into peoples hands and play games on it, free (with ads) or no free.
Having a snobbish-like premium attitude toward gaming will not give you the penetration you would want, as price really plays an important role.
Sony needs a decent app store as well – and they need homebrew (legitimate) development to make it popular with geeks too.
Let us see if they learn any lessons from the past to make the NGP as popular as possible… I think they will struggle with the cost of premium titles though. With smartphone devices now growing steadily, and more game companies looking at quality iOS and Android titles, the market is going to make another big shift in the coming years.
I hope Sony are ready for that. Eventhough smartphones are not dedicated gaming devices, who is say they will not continually evolve? Who is to say smartphones will not one day have controls similar to the NGP, or a similar slider function like the Xperia Play.
Once the Android gaming eco-system is large enough, the handset makers may feel its time to expand on the smartphone ethos, and start producing smartphones that are like NGP…
Not only that, maybe be even smarter, and tie in a "gaming' subscription service, like you have with music and movies. You pay your cellular operator a certain amount of money every month as part of your data bill, and you get "x" number of games available for free… pick and download…
I hope Sony realise that the model of how games are being bought and being played is changing and its changing fast… they need to be a step ahead. I am not totally convinced by the premium gaming model anymore…
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
Last edited by Qubex on 4/22/2011 10:08:36 PM
I think that it will be very popular amongst the geeks, with or without home brew. Although homebrew would be a very welcome addition to the PlayStation store.
@ World
ummm…. GTA: San Andreas Stories??, You know, since we got Liberty City and Vice City Stories, that's the only missing.
EDIT: Lawless beat me to it.
Last edited by hellish_devil on 4/22/2011 10:21:38 PM
Speaking of open-world games, maybe Burnout Crash is for the NGP?
i love fallout, too. loved the quirky characters you meet, and the exploration. the vats combat was pretty cool too.
Damn, Europe getting it first? That's unlikely, but would be awesome! I'd definitely pick up Uncharted and WipEout to go along with the system, but that teaser of Smart As in that trailer back at announcement didn't interest me, and I'm on the fence about ModNation. They'd want a better launch line-up though. As good as those games should be, it just isn't enough. Although with some of the other announced titles on the horizon, maybe it'll be enough for the first couple of months before the games start flowing.
Now, who's hoping for a GTA:SAStories announcement at E3?
Peace.
P.S. With my recent realisation that my trip ain't happening anytime soon due to the knowledge that my car is on its last legs and I'll need to get another one, as long as it releases by the start of next year, I'm happy.
P.P.S. (and unrelated, sorry) Apparently Square-Enix have filed a trademark for a game called Hitman: Absolution. New game? Classics HD collection? Either way, I want to play me some Hitman!
Last edited by Lawless SXE on 4/22/2011 10:05:34 PM
Uncharted, Modnation and Wipeout are still a far better launch lineup than Nintendogs and cats, Steel Diver and Super Street Fighter IV.
I doubt they're the only release title. I'm expecting huge third party support for this thing, judging by the hardcore gaming universe's reaction to it.
I'm definitely getting NGP before 3DS, but maybe not on launch. I usually wait for the second generation where the kinks have been worked out.
Very true. A system isn't made on Day 1. While those launch titles are essential for the early adopters, the vast majority of owners will wait before picking on up. As long as there is sustained support for it, I see it selling well. And just a note: I just realised that the titles listed in the article are all first party releases, so who knows what 3rd party support we'll have D1. I'd love to see a few developers on that list, particularly Konami, Ubisoft and EA. R* are essential, but they can wait a while.
But with the lacklustre reaction to the 3DS release, I'm wondering how people will latch onto the NGP? Will it be like the initial fast burn sales of the 3DS, or will people be more cautious, knowing that it may underwhelm?
Yeah GTA:SA Stories would be a system seller for me, for sure.
Last edited by Beamboom on 4/23/2011 5:21:28 AM
NGp and Uncharted D1B!
Wipeout would look amazing on this, If it had the same graphics as wipeout hd i would get that and uncharted day 1. I also think playing call of duty zombies while sitting in 5th period English with my friend across the room would be one of the coolest things sony could do with the system.
Last edited by kevinater321 on 4/22/2011 10:19:57 PM
Unless you want your NGP confiscated, I'd stick to playing it at lunch.
A Call of Duty title at launch would be IDEAL! It would set sales on fire.
Ideal for the system sales… Not necessarily for gaming in general 😛
OH MAN…there's one game though that I really want to see come out on NGP launch. Gravity Daze! I think that's the name…but it's that one which has the augmented reality function. I mean…that just looks beautiful and so much fun.
I see potential in that game and I really hope it does succeed!
That was the anime looking game out of teaser trailer, wasn't it? That actually looked quite interesting.
NGP should be backward compatible to PSP games. One reason that Nintendo is so successful is that their consoles and handhelds have backward compatibility. It captures the PSP market and makes a smooth transition.
Rather than starting from scratch, NGP can start with the 60+ million PSP owners. That is a huge advantage.
If I remember correctly, any games downloaded onto the PSP are compatible, but of course, UMDs are not.
It's also compatible with the PS mobile-type games (I'm blanking on the name ATM), which should include lots of IOS ports.
Must have NGP.
I am really looking forward to this device, seems to have so much potential.
Really hope Europe get it this year, i'll be lovin it 😀
sony giving EU something first?
yet alone a new device?
HA!
good joke!
the day EU gets a sony device before the US and asia is the day scooby doo serves me breakfast, homer serves me lunch, and the PM gives me a free ferrari!
i hope they have more then 4 games out on launch otherwise its going to sink faster then the titanic!
wonder when killzone and resistance will be releasing.
i hope they do a infamous game for the NGP, that would be freaking sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
eu isn't getting anything b4 the US. just look at the psn store in the EU for examples. they were the last region to get thre ps3.
i think the ngp needs its own sofware. the psp proved that people don't want lesser ports of console games. it was the unique titles that really stood out but their wasn't enough of them.
if these are unique games, and not ports i'm ok with it.
what ever happened to re psp? that would be a good luanch title. square did a great job with psp. need a few titles from them. i want unique games that i can't play on my console.
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 4/23/2011 6:17:09 AM
So… you want games that you can't play on PS3, then mention RE and Square-Enix, who've primarily done remakes/sequels/spin-offs of popular games on the PSP?
And I think you'll find that such games actually have far greater sales tallies than original games (which is a real shame) like Patapon, LocoRoco and Pursuit Force. I know that most of my PSP games fall into the former category. But the NGP may not need to rely on them so heavily with its multiple input methods. That really opens the door up for original games, however without that established brand, it's always a hard sell.
Peace.
well i was actually pretty impressed with squares psp efforts. i forgot to mention peacewalker. what i'm really saying is i don't want lesser ports of games already on the ps3. that's what i fear.
gow appeared on psp but was its own unique experience that couldn't be found on the ps3. i'm ok with key franchises appearing, but they should not be ports games already on the ps3.
it needs games that differntiate it from the ps3 to set it apart. if it's just a bunch of lesser ports of titles i can already get on the ps3 i know which version i'm getting.
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 4/23/2011 10:02:18 AM
i remember fondly wipeout pure on my original psp, it was one of the first games i got. i look forward to a healthy case of deja vu this holiday season
Nice. Uncharted is a great launch title for this thing, and I'm glad the Resistance iteration is coming out so soon afterwards too.