Sony reveals all about the PSP @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on February 03, 2005

News: The release date, the launch lineup, the bonuses and most importantly, the price.

With less than a month to the magical March release date, Sony has finally made it official: the PSP will launch in North America on March 24.

Initially the system will be sold as a Value Pack for $249.99 U.S./$299.99 CND and it will include a plethora of extras:

32 MB Memory Stick Duo

headphones with remote control

battery pack

AC adaptor

soft case and cleaning cloth

movie/music/game video sampler UMD disc including multiple non-interactive game demos

The first one million PSPs will also include a UMD movie disc of 2004's best movie, Spider-Man 2. A base unit will be released somewhere down the line that will only include the PSP system (which currently retails for $185 in Japan, but it's US pricing is unknown).

Sony has also revealed the "launch window" lineup, which includes 24 games. Interestingly, the Marble Madness-like Mercury is missing from the list even though publisher Ignition Entertainment has been saying it would be a launch title for months. On the other hand, Lumines had yet to be confirmed for a North American release, but there it sits in the launch window, ready to be published by Ubisoft. All games will retail for $40-$50 US and here's the list:

Ape Escape: On the Loose, Sony Computer Entertainment America

ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails, Sony Computer Entertainment
America

Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower, Capcom

Dynasty Warriors(R), Koei

FIFA 2005, Electronic Arts

Gretzky NHL, Sony Computer Entertainment America

Lumines, Ubisoft

Metal Gear Acid, Konami

MLB, Sony Computer Entertainment America

MVP Baseball, Electronic Arts

NBA, Sony Computer Entertainment America

NBA Street Showdown, Electronic Arts

Need for Speed Underground Rivals, Electronic Arts

NFL Street 2 Unleashed, Electronic Arts

Rengoku: Tower of Purgatory, Konami

Ridge Racers, Namco

Smartbomb, Eidos Interactive

Spider-Man 2, Activision

Tiger Woods PGA Tour, Electronic Arts

Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix, Activision

Twisted Metal: Head On(TM), Sony Computer Entertainment America

Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade, Sony Online Entertainment

Wipeout Pure, Sony Computer Entertainment America

World Tour Soccer, Sony Computer Entertainment America

Keep in mind that these are the games in the "launch window" and exact release dates are still to be determined.

So until March 24 comes, keep checking back at Gamning Target for all your PSP updates.