Sony Says PSP Battery Life is Shorter than Quoted

SetupWeasel writes "Gamesindustry.biz is reporting that "Sony Computer Entertainment boss Ken Kutaragi has admitted that graphically intensive games will drain the PSP's battery more rapidly than the quoted figures." Sony also said that this would be corrected in future revisions of the hardware, but we know how well that plan worked for Nokia."

And yet..

[mrseigen]

It will become one of the most popular game consoles on earth. Why is it that Sony can make crappy console hardware, release sub-par sequels and treat their developers like garbage and still be the company on top?

Battery life won't matter to the Sony devoted

[dgrgich]

The initial adopters of this platform will be available to afford extra batteries ($45 each) and therefore, the initial crowd of people buying these will not care that the battery will only give them two-three hours of time in graphically intense games. I base this on the early reports that the purchase price for one of these is going to be in the $199 range - this will make the comfortable price of entry for portable Playstation goodness at $300 once a game and extra battery is purchased. Having said this, I certainly hope that Sony is not looking to replace Nintendo at the top of the handheld game machine pile - I can't see a great deal of average parents giving little Johnny or Belinda a $250 toy that wouldn't survive a drop to the floor!!! I'd guess that Apple has more to worry about than the Mario Bros.

Re:future revisions?

[EddieBurkett]

Nintendo didn't announce the GBA SP until well after the original had been out and sold quite nicely. Although there's no timeframe given on when this future revision of the PSP will come out, I don't see how this won't make people postpone their purchase. Especially at the higher price. Why waste $200 + dollars on something you're going to replace so quickly anyway?

Re:future revisions?

[Guppy06]

"why would someone buy the PSP with a statement like that?"

Look at all the things Sony fixed on the PS2 with "future revisions of the hardware." Oh, you want a progressive-scan DVD player? Want to be able to turn off the PS2 with a remote? Go buy yourself a second PS2.

I have the same issue with my Laptop.

[WarlockD]

I have a Dell Insperon 600m (One of the few with 64megs of onboard video ram) and I have the same power issue.

With my extra battery pack, in place of the CD drive, I truly get a solid 5 hours of battery time. AS LONG AS I play games that don't use 3D. (ie Mame emulation, dosbox, 2d puzzle games.)

However, the second I bring up Dawn of War, Anarchy Online (using the built in wireless), or Prince of Persia, the battery life goes to crap. I am lucky to get an two hours, even with both batteries. (Yes, I have valid copies, and use the CD hack)

They won't "fix" the problem. It can't be. People will just get used to the idea that they can only play non-multiplayer;2D games on their PSP on trips and 3D games with the plug in adaptor.

I'm not surprised

[xenocide2]

Sony has a reputation of not being straight with developers. If you believe Sony's numbers (or don't look at them too hardly), the PS2 is four times superior to the gamecube. Sony's marketing seems more in touch with their consumers. They know how closely these things are compared and publish specs with the consumer in mind, rather than the developer. So when Sony says 4 hours of portable ps2 power, every game developer friend I know did a little Sony math to figure out the REAL number. Given that 4 hours was already a wanting number, the psp will naturally come up shorter.

I'm not sure I want Nintendo to come up and engage in the same detrimental practices telling me their stuff can move 8 times more polygons than it ever will in a commercial game, or reinforcing gender stereotypes in gaming. Making Zelda cel-shaded turned off many consumers, but it beats selling GTA and MGS to preteens.

stop complaining about complaints

[raygundan]

My favorite thing about the GBA SP is that it lasts longer than any flight I've had to take for work. I'm sure if I took a nonstop to australia, I could run it down-- but I'd probably need to sleep before I cashed the battery. It lasts long enough that even if you're not at a save point, you can just turn off the backlight and leave it running for most of a day until you finally arrive somewhere with an outlet you can use.

Somehow, I don't think your suggestion of a home console is likely to do me much good on an 8-hour flight.

Re:For PSP Fans, backup battery may be necessary

[aweraw]

Your post has made me wonder:

To charge the PSP battery, does the battery need to be in the PSP, or can it be charged independently of the main unit?

I don't think I've ever seen a rechargable battery pack, for this kind of device, that was rechargable outside of the products housing.

Anyone know the answer to this question?