Touchscreen PSP 2 rumors get stoked, then slammed

Originally Posted on Yahoo

Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:43AM EST

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/patterso...u0gtADBLU5X6ws

So, is there a full-on, touchscreen revamp of Sony's PlayStation Portable in our future? Spies for gaming site IGN say yes, and soon, provoking a sarcastic (and kinda weird, frankly) denial from an anonymous source "close to Sony."In its initial story on Monday, IGN claimed that it had heard from "several credible sources" that a successor to the PSP—complete with a "widescreen multitouch interface comparable to that of the iPhone for both in-game control and navigation"—is "on the horizon."

IGN wasn't able to squeeze any more info from its spies, although it noted that the leak was "in line" with other recent rumors, as well as a recent Sony survey that polled gamers on which features—including a touchscreen interface—would make them more likely to buy a new PSP.

Fair enough; rumors of a touchscreen PSP have indeed been floating around for some time now, so the IGN report doesn't come as a huge surprise. What caught my attention, though, was the venom in Sony's response—or rather, an anonymous source "close to Sony," as reported by gaming site MCV:

Clearly, being a quiet time of year, many, what we though to be credible websites, are making up stores about PSP2, and how it allows you to teleport across the globe, travel through time, and will be powered by the horns of baby rhinoceroses.

Hopefully, you can sense a mild tone of sarcasm, which should hopefully indicate how 'on the money' IGN are. Needless to say, we don’t comment on rumour or speculation, but this is nonsense.

First of all … whuh? Assuming the anonymous source "close to Sony" is really a Sony employee … well, talk about forgetting everything you learned in PR school. Indeed, the bizarre, spiteful statement reminds me of those over-the-top "non-denial denials" from the Nixon White House—note how it mentions IGN by name, attacks the rumor as "nonsense" (definition: "words that have no meaning or make no sense," not "it ain't true"), yet never comes out and outright denies it. Tip for next time: Just say "no comment"—and, if you're having a bad day, kick your office door instead of taking it out on IGN.

As to the substance of the touchscreen PSP 2 rumor, well … reaction was mixed to dismissive, which makes me all the more surprised that Sony—or its unnamed surrogate—made such a fuss over the initial report.

Gizmodo called the report "fairly believable" because of the Sony consumer survey, while Wired thinks that Sony will "talk about PSP 2" this year but left the touchsceeen issue alone. Meanwhile, CrunchGear called the story "rubbish" and "completely baseless," while Kotaku has its fingers crossed for dual thumbsticks rather than a touchscreen (hear, hear). And as for me ... well, given Sony's current plight, I'd be surprised if we got a PSP 2 this year, but hey—I'd love to be wrong.

So, what do you think? Will we see a PSP 2 in 2009? And if so, would you rather get the same controller layout, touchscreen controls, or dual joysticks?

haha that is so awesome
but people who bought the psp3000 are gonna be like FUCK !
haha hope they actually make a PSP2

I want dual joysticks yo!

lol im glad... that would have made psp look bad...... cus they copy the ds if they did

idk if i want a touch screen psp. im happy with my psp 2001

lol if they went touchscreen i wouldn't like em as much

i just dont think theres a point to a touch screen

they would have to create a whole new set of games for psp... that are touch screened

Dual Joystick for sure.

They need to stop making shitty PSP's, and come up with something good.

2 Joysticks
Better Graphics
Ethernet Plug
Etc...

kool!

touchscreens are WAY overrated. I love my psp-1001, it's amazing and hasn't ever failed me! I use it for a lot of things and I don't see how a touch screen would be an ADVANTAGE, because what could we possibly use it for? I mean, if you want touch screen, use a damn DS, or iPhone/touch for crying out loud...

touchscreen is too touchy... gonna mess up your psp if you scratch way too jmuch so i go for joystcks

i know, screens weren't meant to be touched. Thats what keyboards\joysticks\buttons are for...

They should like make it thinner, but wider and longer, with touch screen capabilities, so it can be like really cool.

And it should like have a finger print scanner!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by l3ulit

They should like make it thinner, but wider and longer, with touch screen capabilities, so it can be like really cool.

And it should like have a finger print scanner!

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oh yeah that would be nice, but then its going to be like the iphone lol...

LIES why u ask sony knows the psp is dead now and no matter what they do hackers will find out a way to do i for free

I heard Sony declined the rumors of a PSP2 and that there isnt one and never will be one...