Sony NGP and Nintendo 3DS Prepare to Annihilate Smartphone and Tablet Gaming

Facing new competition from smartphones and tablets, portable gaming devices like the Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS are taking their own approaches to ward off the threat.
Sony NGP and Nintendo 3DS Prepare to Annihilate Smartphone and Tablet Gaming
NEXT GENERATION: Two next generation portable gaming devices, codenamed 'NGP' from Sony Computer Entertainment, are on display at an event in Tokyo on Jan. 27. TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES (Toru Yamanaka/Getty Images )
2/20/2011
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/108424352.jpg" alt="NEXT GENERATION: Two next generation portable gaming devices, codenamed 'NGP' from Sony Computer Entertainment, are on display at an event in Tokyo on Jan. 27. TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES (Toru Yamanaka/Getty Images )" title="NEXT GENERATION: Two next generation portable gaming devices, codenamed 'NGP' from Sony Computer Entertainment, are on display at an event in Tokyo on Jan. 27. TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES (Toru Yamanaka/Getty Images )" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1807990"/></a>
NEXT GENERATION: Two next generation portable gaming devices, codenamed 'NGP' from Sony Computer Entertainment, are on display at an event in Tokyo on Jan. 27. TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES (Toru Yamanaka/Getty Images )
Facing new competition from smartphones and tablets, portable gaming devices like the Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS are taking their own approaches to ward off the threat.

By allowing gameplay in addition to the near endless surplus of services from apps, smartphones and tablets have stepped on territory once ruled by portable gaming devices. Nintendo and Sony, however, have a few tricks up their sleeves.

Sony is taking the road of technical superiority, with its next-generation portable gaming device, codenamed the Next Generation Portable (NGP). It will pack enough muscle to even handle games built for the PS3.

The Sony NGP will feature a quad-code CPU, which is the highest number of cores ever seen in a mobile device and even beats most desktop computers. Compared to its predecessor, the PSP, the NGP will feature a larger, 5-inch OLED screen.

For controls it will have a multi-touch screen, multi-touch rear pad, an additional analog stick, and a six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer) that will let users tilt and move the device to control a game similar to an iPhone.

Finally, to match features of upcoming next-generation smartphones and tablets, the NGP will have front and rear facing cameras, a built-in microphone, stereo speaker, GPS, three-axis electronic compass, Bluetooth, and WiFi and 3G connectivity to access the Web.

Nintendo is countering the threat by infusing 3-D technology into its upcoming portable gaming device, the 3DS. It will be capable of displaying 3-D images without requiring a user to wear specialized glasses.

The Nintendo 3DS will also be equipped with stereo rear cameras that will allow users to take 3-D photos that can be viewed instantly on the 3-D screen. It will also feature some upgrades including an additional analog stick and a six-axis motion sensing system.