Video Games

Sony has announced that its coveted PSP-2000 will be released in Japan on Sept. 20.  According to Joystiq, “[t]he handheld will release for ¥19,800 ($162) in six colors (black, white, silver and three pastels)”. 

And as for the actual technical specs of the PSP-2000, check out this post, which notes that its RAM has been doubled and that it can be charged over USB, among other things.  In the US, the PSP-2000 will ring up at the tidy sum of $199 for the entertainment pack, and $169 for the stand-alone unit.  Check out this photo of the manual for the PSP-2000:

Finally the story of Kratos is coming to the PSP, courtesy of Ready At Dawn studios under SCEA’s supervision. God of War: Chains of Olympus takes off with the 10 years during which Kratos was fighting for the gods, not against them. Chains of Olympus creative director Cory Barlog says to 1UP:

“A lot of what we’re telling with the later stories is Kratos when he’s just really realized he’s a puppet of the Gods, really realizing that he’s getting screwed over, and [the PSP game will] flesh out when he did have maybe a little bit of faith and when that faith started to crumble a little bit — when he started to see some cracks in the stories they were telling him.”

Here’s a screenshot for you–the game looks darn good for a PSP game:

Apparently we can expect the same gameplay from this one as the PS2 series, with massive combos, bosses, fights, and storyline. Quote, even though it’s PSP, “we still are aiming for an epic game. It’s gonna be God of War. You’re going to get the God of War experience on the PSP.” Sweet.

Square-Enix recently announced that the long awaited PSP ports of Final Fantasy I and II will be coming in late June and July in a press release:

Los Angeles (Apr. 17, 2007)

Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix™ interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that it is commemorating the 20th anniversary of the FINAL FANTASY® franchise by releasing completely remastered anniversary editions of FINAL FANTASY and FINAL FANTASY II, exclusively for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system. FINAL FANTASY, the global phenomenon that spawned numerous sequels, leading to more than 75 million units in worldwide shipments, will ship to retailers across North America on June 26, 2007 and FINAL FANTASY II will ship to retailers on July 24, 2007. Both titles contain entirely new content, allowing fans to take the best treatment of these classics anywhere their real life adventures may take them.

The screenshots coming out are especially gorgeous:

The delicious games are available for pre-order on Amazon! Get them as fast as you can! I already put in my order for both:

• Final Fantasy
• Final Fantasy II

You can gawk at a few more screenshots if you’d like!

Griffin Technology, maker of various iPod accessories, is bringing a similar revolution in gadgetry to the Playstation Portable. The first three PSP products will be the iTrip, iFM and SmartShare. From the press release:

iTrip
The iTrip has become synonymous with the iPod since it was first introduced in 2003. Letting listeners send audio wirelessly to their stereos has made the iTrip product family the most popular iPod accessories in the world. The iTrip FM Transmitter has now been reinvented for the PlayStation Portable. Offering a sleek, slim design that slides securely onto the bottom of the PSP quickly and easily, without adding bulk, the iTrip’s easy to read display sends audio right to your radio. Rock your game, movies and music through your own home and car systems and you’ll never go back to the stock speakers.
Price: $49.99

iFM
The iFM Radio Tuner and Remote Control integrates FM radio tuning and remote control functionality to the PSP, all in a tiny enclosure. It features a large, easy to read LED for FM tuning, a pass-through port for headphones, and a clip for comfortable use. The integrated remote includes essential controls for easy media playback and functionality. Using the single button switch, listeners can enjoy their favorite FM stations or control music right off their PSP.
Price: $49.99

SmartShare
The SmartShare is a headphone splitter with individual volume controls. It is ideal for watching movies on a PSP as it allows you to share the experience with a friend - perfect for car trips, plane flights, and waiting rooms. Now you can share your audio, not your volume preferences.
Price: $14.99

On display at CES is the PSP-controlled ‘94 Honda Civic. Using the PSP’s built-in WiFi, you can open the doors, turn on the lights, and even drive the car from afar! This could be a disaster should it break into the mainstream market, but thankfully the model is not for sale.