Unlike the Walkman division, the Playstation development team has delivered a constant stream of firmware updates giving additional functionality across the brand for both the PS3 and PSP devices. It’s a great way for companies to push products out the door as quickly as possible so manufacturing costs eventually subside as the software within gradually matures. What happened to the days of a product that was released out of the box with full functionality?

Regardless, the existing processor power of the PSP was software capped at 222mhz, but in actuality is 333mhz. With the release of firmware 3.5, Sony has graciously lifted the limitation on processing speed so software developers can now release games that more feature-rich, graphically intensive, and so forth. Those who employ homebrew software have already had the opportunity to use the full power for a while. Whilst 100mhz won’t be a huge boost, it should allow better multitasking capabilities within the PSP and/or allow more intensive renderings. Perhaps with a patch, this update will get rid of that horrid lag when you attempt to make a goal in the original FIFA for PSP.

[Via Ars Technica]

Years ago if someone ran a news report saying that Nintendo was worth more in market value than Sony it would be quite humorous. After a dominant run in the 90’s, Nintendo had defined console gaming with NES, N64, etc. which was quickly smashed by Playstation empire. As the next generation Gamecube launched and failed, Sony and Microsoft’s console dominance seemed certain.

My my, how things have changed. The PS3, a struggling contender (but certain to rise to the top as evolution occurs), is causing massive headaches at Sony. Microsoft and Nintendo have carved their own comfortable niches that live peacefully amongst each other with no real sense of friction. The only console that seems out of place is the PS3; it desperately tries to cater to the desire amongst entertainment enthusiasts for a rich online marketplace and a outside the box (in terms of interaction) gaming experience. Those words may seem scornful, but then again once you play a PS3 a lot of anti-hype fades in the pure delight of a matured gaming experience with killer graphics.

Too bad Nintendo hasn’t made a portable music player yet.

Nonetheless, Nintendo Co. Ltd. briefly zipped past Sony in market capitalization on Monday to become one of Japan’s 10 most valuable companies as it elbows the PlayStation maker out of its decade-long dominance of the game industry. Further details follow.

Read the rest of this entry »