PSP “minis” hits the PSN Oct. 1

The PS3 wasn’t the only Sony product getting smaller at Gamescon. Today, Sony announced a new line of downloadable titles entitled “minis” as they look to take a run at the market which made application stores for other popular portable devices like the iPhone/iPod Touch successful. The line of digital distribution games will offer owners a more casual and on-the-go experience one would usually find in the app store for your favorite mobile phone. The new initiative is not only supported by established publishers like EA, but the new mini line provides smaller development companies with a broader spectrum of expertise an oppurtunity to express their creativity and technical skills to a large market at low risk with a 100mb file size limit and prices significantly lower than full PSP games. The “minis” line of titles will launch Oct 1st 2009 alongside the release of the download only PSPgo. Sean C.

Full details and screenshots below:

gamescom, Cologne, 18^th August 2009: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) and Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced the imminent arrival of “minis”: a new section on PlayStation®Store that offers a range of all-new downloadable games for PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable). Available exclusively via digital distribution, “minis” will have a 100MB size limit, ensuring they are quick and easy to download to either the upcoming PSP®go or to the more than 52 million units of PSP that exist worldwide, offering innovative entertainment at your fingertips.

The new “minis” section will be available on PlayStation Store on 1^st October in Europe/ PAL territories and in North America, to coincide with the launch of PSPgo, offering more choice, more ways to play and more innovative experiences to immerse yourself in wherever you are. Fifteen games will be available initially, across a wide variety of genres including arcade-style games, racers, parlour games – and a few that defy categorisation! – with more than 50 games on offer by the end of the year in Europe and the PAL territories.

The “minis” development process has been designed to open the door to a broad range of developers to encourage new talent and creative ideas to PSP. “minis” are being developed by some of the most creative studios from across the globe from GameShasta, a medium-sized development team based in India, to HoneySlug a three-man team in Camden, London. Some developers, such as Creat, have already created content for PlayStation Network; others, such as Subatomic Studios. are bringing their experience in the mobile phone market to PSP.

The minis initiative is also supported by traditional game publishers, with industry leader Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ: ERTS) developing a number of games for the programme including Tetris® and Sudoku, with other titles to follow before the end of the year.

”We are very excited to offer so much new content for PSP this year, particularly in this bite-sized form,” said Zeno Colaco, Vice President, Publisher and Developer Relations, SCEE. ”In opening the door to developers everywhere, we are broadening the type of content available to PSP owners, and opening up a world of possibilities to enhance the PSP gaming experience.”

“”minis” is yet another part of our concerted effort to expand content options on PlayStation Store as the demand for digital content will increase with the launch of PSPgo,” said Eric Lempel, Director of PlayStation Network and Strategic Planning, SCEA. “minis will giv developers the opportunity to create and share a variety of new and original content that in some cases, are only available on PSP.”

Arriving on 1st October, “minis” – along with the new PlayStation®Network video delivery service, Digital Comics, and features such as Skype, photos, music, movies and the best handheld games out there – are another reason to take PSP with you wherever you go.