Sony finally lifted the veil of secrecy off its anticipated hardware follow-up to the PSP last week. And while it wasn't much of a veil to begin with, thanks to numerous leaks prelaunch, there were still a few surprises to be had with the official announcement of the tentatively named Next Generation Portable (NGP). The GameSpot US crew members sounded off on their opinions about the handheld last week. This week, it's the Aussies' turn, with the friendly editorial team members Down Under speaking their mind about what wowed them (and what didn't) about Sony's upcoming piece of hardware.

　　The NGP--look familiar?

　　Randolph Ramsay, Editor, GameSpot AU

　　Sony to release high-powered handheld system that promises a consolelike experience on the go? Now where have I heard that before? Oh, that's right--the original PSP. And apart from success in Japan, I think it's fair to say the original PSP hasn't exactly been the runaway hit other handheld devices of its generation have become (I'm looking at you DS). From the specs and video released so far, I'm extremely impressed by what Sony is attempting with its next handheld. It looks like the NGP will be an absolute powerhouse, featuring some pretty kick-a** capabilities. But I felt exactly the same way about the original PSP when it was first announced. So the biggest question in my head right now is, what will Sony do differently this time around? What does Sony have up its sleeve to make sure the NGP is a monster, the likes of which will send Nintendo quaking in its 3D boots? The PSP experience proved power and pizzazz aren't the only things needed to create a successful portable. What else will the NGP offer to counter the 3DS and other mobile gaming platforms on the iOS and Android?

　　The NGP features a rear touch panel.

　　James Kozanecki, Staff Writer and Community Manager, GameSpot AU

　　If you asked me what I thought was the single most exciting feature of the Next Generation Portable was, I'd have to say the two analog sticks. I was an early adopter of the PSP and imported mine from the US before it launched, in Australia, but it wasn't until I played Coded Arms that I realized how severely gimped the platform was with only one analog stick. Thankfully though, Sony has corrected this, and developers will be able to design games using the conventional dual-analog stick control system that has become standard.

　　I guess the fact that I'm most excited by the inclusion of an extra analog stick goes to show how little an impact the new hardware has had on me. Sure, it has a nice screen. Sure, it plays really pretty games. Sure, it streams music and movies, but so does the original PSP. And I stopped using that device after a few months. In a world dominated by tablet PCs and smartphones, the market for a proper gaming experience on the go is getting overcrowded.

　　Making a handheld capable of playing console-quality games was what Sony achieved with the PSP: It didn’t work then, why would it work now? Perhaps it would have been better off announcing that the PlayStation Phone that we all know is in the works?

　　There are already some impressive titles confirmed for the NGP.

　　Laura Parker, Associate Editor, GameSpot AU

　　I've never found myself attracted to the PSP. The reason for this is simple: All my handheld gaming needs are met by the DS. I've also never been sold on Sony's "rich, deep and engaging" company line in regards to its software lineup for the various iterations of the PSP. I don't think many people have the ability to become seriously engaged or immersed in a gaming experience that has to factor in so many other outside influences, as is often the case when playing games on the go. So when the NGP was announced, I wasn't particularly moved either way. I'm curious to play it of course, but I cannot see myself ever owning one. Of course, this might change depending on how many pet-raising sims are available at launch.

　　The other thing is the name. The games industry is pretty straightforward when it comes to naming stuff; confusing consumers is the last thing that anyone wants to do. So while the PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 all make sense, it is rather hilarious that Sony has gone completely batty in (tentatively) naming its latest console. It doesn't even have the words "PlayStation" in it, which is a bold step for Sony! Of course, it has hinted it's only a tentative name, so it probably will end up calling it the PSP2. But why go to all the trouble of coming up with such a name when everyone is going to refer to it as the PSP2 anyway, and it's going to end up officially calling it that before launch? My only concern is that this time, it's going to say that it'll change the name but in fact it's not going to change it at all, which would be a pity because "NGP" is a crappy name for anything. It seems to me Sony wants to give the impression that this new console can somehow do more than it can; that somehow this device is ushering in a new era of digital entertainment, and no one can live without it. It's a similar marketing strategy to that of the PS3, except targeted toward a more mainstream audience. It sounds like Sony is almost ashamed of the fact that at the end of the day you're supposed to play games on it.

　　However, I'm going to say no more until I have had the chance to play the NGP. I was similarly unimpressed by Microsoft's Kinect and the Nintendo 3DS when they were both announced, but I quickly grew to like both after some quality play time.

　　How much success will Sony have with the NGP?

　　Dan Chiappini, Previews Editor, GameSpot AU

　　OK, let’s get this out of the way straight up: The name--NGP--sucks. Granted, Sony has a history of leading with the left hand and then punching customers in the eye socket with a new, more consumer-friendly moniker before launch, but I’m a little concerned if that trend doesn’t continue. What was wrong with the PlayStation Portable 2? Oh, right, Nintendo’s 3DS, that’s a full third better than a PSP2...

　　I have to admit that after reading last week's news and piecing together what this thing is going to be, my opinion has swung in a big way. The only time I’ve ever preordered a games console was ahead of the original PSP launch. I loved the idea of having my own portable movie theatre and the freedom of games from some of my favorite franchises I could take anywhere. That same year I bought my first DS, and the PSP has been gathering dust and begging for my attention ever since. That’s not to say the PSP didn’t have the software support or the technical aptitude, but the often long load times, the noisy optical drive, and short battery run time certainly put a damper on the relationship. By the time the PSP Go rolled around, I was beginning to get curious about the possibilities of a wholly digital device. No more shuffling UMDs, no more cartridges to try to cram into a carry case; instead, all the games I wanted to play without the mess and fuss. Of course, the PSP Go wasn’t exactly competitively priced for Aussies, clocking in a mere A$50 cheaper than its big brother, the PlayStation 3.

　　Now, like the decision facing every gamer with finite disposable cash, I wonder: Nintendo’s 3DS or Sony’s NGP? People are already pretty well versed on the features of Nintendo’s offering, but my NGP feelings sit in three camps: strengths, weaknesses, and wait-and-sees.

　　Strengths:

　　Open platform: It seems at least in terms of software support, Sony is finally spreading its wings to embrace open ecosystems like Android with its PlayStation Suite. While at this stage it’s unclear whether games and apps can be ported from the Android to an NGP format--or if the NGP will run native Android mobile content--brace yourselves for the incoming flood of bite-sized mobile content that is sure to follow.

　　A single, unified login system: Sony has confirmed that the PlayStation Network account system will integrate with the NGP, and combined with integrated Wi-Fi and 3G, this means you’ll be able to grab content from the couch, from your console, or when you’re out and about.

　　Visuals: Way to make 3DS look like a toy, Sony. Launch support from some of the industry’s biggest names never hurts. Metal Gear Solid 4, Resistance, Little Big Planet, and Uncharted are all huge boons for the device (Even this early in the piece, Uncharted is looking amazing for a handheld game). Plus, Sony still has the lure of easy ports of third-party titles like Activision’s Call of Duty money printer, SEGA’s Yakuza series, and Epic and its ubiquitous Unreal Engine.

　　Backward compatibility: If you’ve got a lousy Internet connection at home or a stack of legacy content, the news that the NGP will support existing downloadable versions of PSP and PSOne games (potentially even with a visual upscale) is a great incentive to upgrade.

　　The NGP looks to be slightly smaller than the current PSP.

　　Wait-and-See:

　　DLC on carts: The idea that retail NGP cartridges will be based on flash memory and include space for future downloadable content is a smart move, but it could become expensive quickly. Needing to leave room for future content consumers may or may not buy means carts will need to have the additional storage room regardless. Flash memory is a cheap medium, but consumers may end up getting stung paying for space they’ll need to pay to fill.

　　Touch Controls/Gyro: I wasn’t thrilled with the gimmicky shoehorning of Sixaxis minigames into PS3 games in a lot of cases, so as impressed as I was with Uncharted’s NGP visuals, I’m reserving my judgment on taking a hand off physical buttons to jump over logs, shimmy up vines with a touch pad, and potentially crack the skull of the bus/train commuter in front of me while lining up a shot with my sniper rifle.

　　Dislike:

　　Sony giveth and Sony taketh away. While it appears Sony's embracing a more open system with Android, there’s still talk that Sony wants to control part of the hardware play with a new memory stick format. Save games and DLC will go on the retail cartridges or the system memory, but from the sounds of it, if you plan to use the NGP for any of its fancy media functionality, such as storing your own photos or music, then you’ll need to stump up for its other type of closed-platform, overpriced flash memory.

　　Am I excited about the new gameplay potential of Sony’s replacement PSP? Definitely. But I’m also approaching it with some trepidation until there’s some more concrete price information and I can put the thing in my hands and try it myself.