PSony
PSP Communities By:
John Kunza| PSony
PSP Communities By:
John Kunza |
|
| ::Introduction
|
Sony's Play Station Portable
(PSP) is a product that has revolutionized the way people play video
games. However, it is more than just a gaming device. Legally, the PSP also plays UMD Media, plays mp3's and video, surfs the Internet and stores photos. Illegally, it does so much more, which will be described later. As of October 21st, Sony has shipped more than 10 million PSPs worldwide, and sold 4.47 million units in North America, 3 million in Japan and Asia and 2.53 million in Europe. The PSP was designed for mobility in mind, it has an internal wireless card that is capable of automatically connecting to any wireless network in range, however it wasn't until Sony released version 2.0 of the PSP operating system before an official web browser was incorporated into the PSP. Sony markets the PSP as a mobile device, saying the following on their official PSP website: The PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) has a slim 6.7" x 2.9" frame that packs a powerful multimedia punch, enabling you to enjoy your favorite games, music, videos and photos instantly, anywhere. Factor in the PSP system's brilliant high-resolution screen and cutting-edge wireless connectivity and Internet Browser – and you may just have a revolution in your hands. The PSP is more than just a device that allows you to surf the Internet and to keep up with your favorite website. Since its North America launch on March 24, 2005 (it was launched a year earlier in Japan), several online communities have been created to meet the needs of the PSP gaming community, which is the focus of this website. The PSP community is divided by language barriers, geography and culture, and this divide is seen most clearly when it comes to the communities that communicate in English and in Japanese. The PSP is unique because individuals have been able to crack the operating system and write programs not supported by Sony. The programs that run on cracked operating systems have been called homebrew applications and this effort was spearheaded by the large English speaking community. The need for individuals who could share information on their homebrew applications created a large demand in online communities. We'll start our tour of the PSP virtual community by discussing homebrew applications. But first, let's get acquainted with the PSP. Front View  Back View  |
|