Avalanche of PSP games unveiled

Double-click the video window for a full-screen view. Today at Sony's E3 press conference the company showed off the first wave of games for its upcoming portable, the PSP. However, instead of merely announcing titles, SCEA CEO and president Kaz Hirai showed off gameplay footage, although none on the device itself.

Conference attendees were treated to a dizzying video montage of new versions of many classic PlayStation 2 games, which looked almost identical to their original versions. Clips of Gran Turismo, Ridge Racer, Wipeout, Dynasty Warriors, Tony Hawk's Underground 2, Medievil, Ape Escape, Spider-Man 2, Metal Gear Acid, and a Capcom fighting game were shown in rapid succession--and to an enthusiastic response from the crowd.

After the lights came up, Electronic Arts' Don Matrick took the stage to reveal his company's first wave of titles for the PSP, pledging to give the portable the "same degree of support as the PlayStation 2." NBA Street, NFL Street, Need for Speed Underground, and a Tiger Woods PGA golf game will all be available when the PSP launches in America in early 2005. Matrick also showed off footage of all three titles from a PSP emulator on a PC.

Hirai also announced the support of more than 100 third-party publishers for the PSP. In America, 23 companies have signed on, including EA, THQ, and Activision. Konami, Capcom, Namco, and Bandai are among the 34 Japanese publishers on board. Twenty-three European companies, including Ubisoft, Atari, and Codemasters, are also readying PSP titles, as are 19 Korean firms.