PS3 to PSP Connectivity Tidbits

With the imminent release of Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3), news of the groundbreaking features of the console have begun leaking from press sources around the globe.

Japan's Famitsu magazine recently conducted an interview with Sony's Izumi Kawanishi, head of development for the PS3 and the PSP hardware, and Mr. Kawanishi shed some light on some of the surprising connectivity bells and whistles for the new console and its portable sibling.

Kawanishi confirmed in the interview that the PSP is able to be used as a remote viewer for all of the PS3's media content. This includes any Blu-Ray Disc films, as well as video game content. At launch, the two systems will need to be in direct range of each other to access the feature, yet Sony plans to bring a network option that will allow wireless connectivity for the two consoles over the internet.

Kawanishi also whetted Sony fans' appetites with the news of a future remote-controller option where the PSP can be used as a game controller for PS3 games, serving as sort of an upgraded, wireless Dreamcast controller to display related game footage on the PSP's viewscreen while the main action takes place on your (hopefully HD-compatible) television. The developer revealed that he had always planned for this connectivity option for the PSP, and it was the impetus behind creating the handheld with a 16:9 aspect ratio (identical to HD TVs.)

The developer stressed the fact that PS3 owners would need to purchase the 60 gig version of the console (with Wi-Fi included) in order to access the connectivity options for the PSP. The jury is still out on using a USB Wi-Fi connection with a 20 gig model to achieve the same connectivity or by hooking it directly to a wireless router. To be on the safe side, splurge on the extra $100 for the 60 gig model if you're worried about losing out on the PSP-to-PS3 options.

Kawanishi also re-confirmed the fact that the PS3 will be region-free. "It's often been the case that past game systems would have a region code system, and would not play overseas games," the developer mentioned. "However, PlayStation 3 game software does not have this region code. In other words, if you can get your hands on overseas software, you can play as is. There are exceptions, however, so SCE does not make guarantees about operation."