The gaming landscape in 2004 was quite something. Some of the most memorable games and longest lasting franchises were revealed for the first time.
Microsoft had just released the first Xbox, creating competition for Sony’s PlayStation 2, which was the best-selling console of the year. Meanwhile, Nintendo had the GameCube, which was buoyed by its exclusive games but not much else.
However, the best portable console available at the time was Nintendo’s DS, continuing its dominance of that particular market since it had released the Gameboy. But the ceiling for portable consoles was about to be challenged by Sony, which would revolutionise gaming on the go for good.
A new challenger
Nintendo had dominated the portable gaming market, so being dethroned by a competitor did not seem likely in 2004.
Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia launched a portable console that doubled as a phone. It called the N-Gage. The gaming phone failed miserably, with some reports suggesting only 15,000 units were sold by mid-2004.
Sony revealed in the summer if 2004 that it was working on a portable console, set to be released at the end of the year. But how would it fair against Nintendo? That was the question.
The Japanese company tried to answer the question by creating a marketing campaign that would appeal to both fans of the PlayStation and portable gaming.
A new gaming experience
The PSP launched in Japan in December 2004, with gamers in other countries having to wait until March the next year to get their hands on it. The first model cost $249, which was initially criticised for being too expensive. To put that price into perspective, the Nintendo DS was priced at $149.99.
But comments about pricing were soon ignored, as the PSP sales rolled in after launch. Sony sold more than 200,000 units on its first day in Japan and more than 500,000 during the first two days in the US.
Reviews of the new console were positive, with many praising the PSP for its large bright screen and its sleek and intuitive user interface. The PSP also had cutting edge technology such as Wi-Fi connectivity and GPS functionality. It might seem ridiculous to highlight such features today but in 2004 these were brand new for a portable console.
The PSP immediately proved why it was the pre-eminent portable gaming console by showing that games could closely resemble the experience of playing on a PlayStation 2.
While not delivering a one-to-one replication, Sony created scaled down versions of its most famous titles to be playable on the PSP, including Gran Turismo and Grand Theft Auto.
The world was not ready
Despite great sales, especially for a brand-new console, the Nintendo DS still outsold the PSP. To date, the DS has sold 154 million units, while the PSP sold around 81 million. The price might have been a factor, but there were other things that gave Nintendo the edge.
The DS benefitted from Nintendo’s already established dominance, making it an easy choice for most consumers. The DS also had two screens, one of which was a touch screen.
All that said, the PSP was not a failure by any means. Sony advertised the portable console as one that can do more than just play games, and it did those things brilliantly. It could play films, via cartridges or file transfer.
The PSP could also be used as a music player, allowing for curation of playlists through its external storage. Most impressively, its internet connectivity meant that players could browse the web wherever Wi-Fi was available. A lot of what the PSP allowed users to do back then is what can be done on today’s smartphones.
A lasting legacy
Gamers today have a range of choices when selecting a portable gaming console. From the reliable Nintendo Switch to the mind-blowing strength of the Steam Deck, gaming on the go has never been more popular.
While Nintendo can boast about its sales, Sony’s PSP set the high standard for what a portable console could do. It is hard to overstate how ahead of its time the PSP was, being able to play a game, watch a film or listen to music on a hand-held device in 2005 was no small feat.
It's easy to take for granted what our devices can do today. Any smartphone is miles ahead of mobile phones from 20 years ago. The PSP’s features paved the way to imagine and create portable devices that are now common and accessible.
Sony tried to keep innovating with its portable devices, releasing several iterations of the PSP. It followed up with the PS Vita, which did not do well in the market, selling only five million units worldwide.
Perhaps the biggest sign of the PSP’s impressive legacy is that it still experiences interest in the second-hand market. Gamers can pick one up today to experience what made the portable console so special.
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
1999 - 1st round
2000 - 1st round
2001 - Quarter-finalist
2002 - 1st round
2003 - Winner
2004 - Winner
2005 - Winner
2006 - Winner
2007 - Winner
2008 - Finalist
2009 - Winner
2010 - Quarter-finalist
2011 - Quarter-finalist
2012 - Winner
2013 - 2nd round
2014 - Finalist
2015 - Finalist
2016 - Semi-finalist
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
SPECS
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
World Cup final
Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region
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The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
Price: from Dh199,900
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Brief scoreline:
Crystal Palace 2
Milivojevic 76' (pen), Van Aanholt 88'
Huddersfield Town 0
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
MATCH INFO
Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 12’) Liverpool 1 (Minamino 73’)
Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties
Man of the Match: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal)
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
