14 DAY TRIAL // Concurrent with the release of the PlayStation Portable Go!, which is set to be launched shortly, Sony has announced that it plans to introduce a new line of small titles called PSP Minis, which are set to be quick-to-create, easy-to-approve and -to-download by the player, offering experiences akin to those offered by small indie games on the XBLA or by most iPhone releases. But it seems that the PSP Mini line might have just enough limitations placed on it to be less than attractive to developers.
Justin Cooney, who is a senior account manager to Sony Computer Entertainment America, has said at the Austin GDC, while talking to Gamasutra, that, “When you look at it from a testing perspective, you have to do more QA. Would defeat the purpose of having a dedicated service for smaller content. It increases the barriers.” The games will not be offering any downlodable content, will not be multiplayer-enabled via the network and will not be able to receive updates.
Sony has previously announced that they will also be limited in size to 100 MB as a download package. The upside is that the approval process for the Mini line will be of three to five days, which means that they will be getting to the player much faster than the regular PlayStation Portable video games.
iPhone games that are equivalent to the PSP Mini initiative are able to receive DLC, can get software updates and even offer online multiplayer. Still, Cooney believes that, even with the limitations that Sony places on the products, those who create games for the Apple device will be happy to also port them on the PSP in order to reach a wider audience. On October 1, when the PSP Mini series releases alongside the PSP Go!, players will be getting 15 games, like Fieldrunners and Hero of Sparta.