Once upon a time, in the steely age of combat between consoles, rose a hero, game-lovers worldwide fondly knew as the PlayStation Portable (PSP). It enjoyed its heyday, knocking opponents out of the ring with its spiffy library stacked with hits like Lumines, Patapon, Jeanne d'Arc, and countless admired spin-offs of console biggies like Metal Gear Solid, God of War, and the ubiquitous GTA. However, even the mightiest arcades eventually run out of tokens, which brings us to the bittersweet adieu of our handheld hero.
In an affectionate homily delivered over Twitter, former PlayStation kingpin Shawn Layden outpoured his fondness for the PSP with an impressive tombstone, a la engraved PlayStation Portable. Layden, in his exclusive eulogy, offered a peep behind the programming console, revealing a few secret factoids about the incredible journey of the formidable handheld device.
Unveiling a last production memento of the PSP, Layden tweeted a picture of the specially engraved handheld, etched with the words, "In memory of PSP last production." If that didn't get you misty-eyed, here's the wistful zinger – the console had churned out a whopping 82,523,607 units during its production epoch stretching from November 9, 2004, to September 26, 2014. What a journey, right? As Layden pithily understated, "Not bad, lil buddy."
Sadly, not every handheld meets the same fate. The PlayStation Vita, the PSP's successor, ascended the gaming throne in 2011. The Vita showed remarkable progress in terms of technology and presented as classy hardware. However, it was caught in the crosshairs of the thriving smartphone gaming wave, trudging along with noticeably less sales success than its precursor. In the gaming arena, not all heroes wear capes, and sadly, not all gain the same level of fame.
Before you drown in a sea of nostalgia, brace yourself for another splash. Here comes Sony's latest handheld progeny, intriguingly named the PlayStation Portal. As tempting as it might sound to consider it the rightful heir to the PSP, let's not jump onto the bandwagon just yet. Meanwhile, let's bid adieu to our beloved PSP, chuckling reminiscence through its impressive journey.
On a lighter note, how's this for a Sony conspiracy theory? Could there be a secret Sony warehouse, cautiously hiding millions of unsold PSPs? Well, the chances are as slim as the likelihood of discovering an alien settlement on Mars. Nevertheless, the thought does make for an entertaining conversation starter, doesn't it?
Keep your joysticks ready, gamers! The world of handheld gaming is ever-evolving, bringing more exciting technology and new stories to life. As we say our goodbyes to a stalwart, let's also anticipate the exciting saga ahead – one filled with high-definition graphics, immersive storylines, and gameplay that leaves us asking, "Hey, haven't I just blinked yet?"
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