PSP Go 15 Games to Start

The PSP Go's launch October 1st will come with easily downloadable small games to match, Sony said during its Gamescom expo keynote. Known as Minis, the titles will be capped at 100MB or less to make them quick downloads over Wi-Fi and are similarly meant to encourage smaller, more independent developers to produce titles that don't have to compete on the same field as full-fledged PSP titles. Prices and other details weren't made public, but up to 50 games should be ready by the end of the year.

Sony also indirectly supported reports that it was luring iPhone developers by noting that at least two of the games for Apple's platform, Fieldrunners and Hero of Sparta, are being ported over to the PSP. That same leak suggested that games would also get consciously iPhone-like pricing of 1, 3 or 5 Euros, likely translating to $1, $3 and $5 US, in a bid to spur casual purchases.

The plans all but confirm an increasing concern from console makers that the iPhone and iPod touch are encroaching on their established markets. Although Sony never mentioned the competitor directly, Nintendo has recently acknowleged that Apple was hurting DS sales. Besides regularly offering games that are less expensive even when they represent largely direct ports of Nintendo DS games like Assassin's Creed or Civilization Revolution, Apple's handhelds are also technically more powerful than either the DS or PSP and have much more advanced app platforms, media playback and networking.

As part of its efforts to extend the PSP's reach, Sony today also promised a digital reader app in November that would give owners auto-formatted versions of comics, including those from Marvel, and added both pink and purple PSP colors (pink pictured below) to the current game system's colors in Europe.

By Electronista Staff

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