Does the New PSP (NGP) Pose Any Threat to the iPod Touch?

Sony's main competitor for the PSP2 is the Nintendo 3DS but then you go onto think, the iPod Touch has a pretty large gaming presence with heaps of support from developers who are willing to create new and innovative games for the iPod Touch. The PSP2 is actually very similar to the iPod Touch in terms of things which it is supposed to do. No doubt it will be able to play music and video as well as awesome games but is pure power enough to beat both Nintendo and Apple? Based on the previous generation, the Nintendo DS sales far surpassed that of the PSP yet it was technologically inferior. Sure it has a touch screen but it wasn't amazing. The same thing could happen with the iPod Touch vs PSP2.

Obviously, Apple has the whole logo thing guaranteeing popularity for the product but the PSP2 boasts graphical power comparable to the PS3 and touchpads on the back and the front basically adding a whole new dimension to gaming. Having not really seen the interface of the new PSP, I can't comment on whther or not it is better than iOS but the familiarity of iOS will give it the upperhand. As more console games such as FIFA are released on iPod Touch, it has become more and more orientated towards gaming.

An iPod is something most people carry with them all the time. If you could fit games with good graphics and length on it then clearly there is a huge potential to use it as a handheld gaming device. Rumour has it that Apple could upgrade the already decent A4 processor with a dual core A5 processor making it an even more capable gaming machine. So how can the PSP2 compete with a device with so much exposure already?

The PSP2 and other handheld gaming devices hold several advantages over the iPod Touch. Firstly, there is the fact that it actually has physical buttons which makes a game so much more playable. Touch games are incredibly playable with the iPod Touch, often using innovative interfaces but when it comes to first person shooters and sports games, you need to have physical buttons. Personally, I cannot play those sorts of games on the iPod Touch even though others can manage.

Secondly, the iPod Touch doesn't really have the support of hardcore gamers and PlayStation exclusive games. The PlayStation has been around for a long time and over this time it has built a huge base of supporters and game series which everyone likes. Some games which will come out on the PSP2 include Resistance, Little Big Planet and Call of Duty which are games that will probably never come to iPod Touch.

Finally, the PSP2 outdoes the iPod Touch in specifications. The 5 inch OLED touch screen looks amazing, the physical buttons and dual analog sticks add so much more control to the game. As well as this, current PSP games and PS1 classics will be able to be played on the device. Add connectivity to social networks and you have a pretty good looking gaming device.

There is the matter that people will not want to carry a million devices in their pockets. If a phone can replace a handheld gaming device and an mp3 player well, people will take it. So the PSP2 has to be something pretty awesome to convince people to use it.