http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9738&Itemid=59
By Tom Ivan
Speaking to IGN, Koller said that the system would evolve over time, initially via firmware updates, and then most likely via hardware updates further down the line.
“We've talked about the PSP being a 10 year product, but a 10 year product in the continued... how can I put this... in the continued lifecycle, so we obviously had the 1000, we have the 2000, so the PSP as it was first launched in March 2005 isn't going to the be the PSP that it ends up as in 10 years, but it will still be a very strong portable gaming device that is centered in gaming and has a lot of multi-functional features.
“We look at it just like our console business being a 10 year cycle, but we do see iterations as we go along to really adjust to the market. What we've done is, the 2000 series adjusted to the market in terms of making it more portable. What we're seeing now, at least in the near- to mid-term, is going to be firmware updates that add features and other functions that the consumer's asked for.”
Koller goes on to note that the introduction of the PSP 2000 led to an “an incredible jump in demand - so much so that we really had a worldwide demand bump that was very, very significant and allowed us to increase our total shipments worldwide… In North America, we saw an 85% jump since the price drop in April of last year and we've really seen a wide variety of casual gamers get into the PSP market.”
The interview also covers Sony’s ongoing UMD strategy, its plans for a PSP-only store, and how the handheld could potentially tie into Sony’s upcoming virtual world Home.
