PSP to be online at launch

[Lord Nepenthean]

http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=4324

Sony has been playing hardball lately with the PSP, launch titles, pricing, dates, all revealed to the public. The hype train is rolling, it's undeniable. But what could make the situation for Sony even better? Online play.

Online play could definitely boost the PSP's popularity. The PSP already has online capabilities, Sony has merely left it up to the developers to create online enabled games. Well, actually, that's we we thought and most expected. Actually, Sony themselves, or rather, Sony's internally developed titles (989), will indeed be online.

This does mean that Gretzky NHL, MLB, and NBA all for the PSP will be online. All the titles will feature lobby meet-ups, head to head 2 player multiplay, and stat-tracking.

Update: Don't like sports games? ATV: Blazin Trails and Twisted Metal, launch titles for the PSP, have both been confirmed to have online play!

That's pretty big news for Nintendo.  Apparently Nintendo has a rumored online plan, but that's not definite.  And if PSP has it built in at launch, they have a clear advantage from a marketing standpoint.  As much as I don't want to have Sony dominating handhelds too for the next ten years, it looks like it could happen.

[Izret101]

You could guess that it was going to be online from launch if you read up on any of the games.

It is going to be very cool. N-Gage had online from release and that got them nowhere though. It is all going to be how well it works not just the fact they have it.

Guess all we can do is wait and watch.

I told everyone that this wasn't going to be Nintendo by a mile.
It is going to end up being pretty close.

[Antimind]

I still think Nintendo will come out on top in the end. Price and the "kiddie" factor pure an simple. At any rate Terz has a point about online play. It does work well for the Xbox cause of Halo but other than that and some sports titles... How many folks are really interested in online play? I don't think it would make a damned of a difference if they came out with an Everquest Online for PSP cause those dorks already play the PC version and shun the outdoors anyway!...heh

Also in all honesty, how many of you play your handhelds more at home than anywhere else? How many only take handhelds out of the house when going on a road trip? Does anyone actually carry their handheld around with them? I sure as hell don't. I play my GBA via Game Boy Player 95% of the time and my DS while laying on my bed or "droppin the kids off at the pool" (but you didn't need to know that).

Another reason I think mobile online isn't really an issue is connection speed and/or availability. How many folks would actually go out and buy wireless gear if they don't already have it just for a handheld? How many of you live near a zillion hotspots? How many of you just don't care?...lol

[Sauza12]

If they came out with a good game for online play (Like a Halo or Star Wars Battlefront) then I could definatley see me getting all of that stuff.  As it stands right now, I only like playing sports games evry once in a while against actual people.

I do take my handheld games out with me, but I haven't gotten a good Gameboy game in so long that I haven't done it much lately.