Sony's Talkman for the PSP
by Ryan Block 
{ Sep 15th 2005 at 9:35AM }
It would have been a bit difficult for them to rock an
EyeToy for the PSP (though we know they did have a
camera prototype), so instead Sony took a page out of
Nintendo's book with vocal game interaction and announced the Talkman for the PSP. Available in Japan in November for
¥5,800 (about $50), it should be able to translate to understand Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean—you know, the
important languages. Seriously though, anyone else see the humor in a bird asking for the "duty-free store?" No?
Fine.
[Thanks, Aniki; Via
Le Journal Du Geek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
b @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Copying pokemon's and nintendogs' ability to speak with the user? Smart move sony. Why not copy the Revolution controller too? After all, they're showing it tomorrow. I wouldn't be surprised either way: 1. They're not original, so they won't even include the analog buttons. 2. They are so unoriginal that they will copy the analog buttons as they did with the wireless controller. Eat shit sony.
duestown @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
that bird's about to get tore up.
Chris @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Despite finding it an interesting option for my PSP, I can't help but feel a little disappointed.
Is it just me, or does everyone else feel that without Nintendo we'd have no real innovative movements forward in videogaming? (Note to all those gamers not around for "The Early Days", please go read up on the 1Up.com controller article to get a bit of background info.)
With that aside, it could be cool if the voice input is used beyond eye-toy style mini-games.
retro @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
And here's an actual translation of the website:
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.playstation.jp%2Fnews%2F2005%2Fpr_050915_tm.html&langpair=ja%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools
Enjoy the ability to read the page.
John Bennet Ramsee @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Yeah but unlike the DS the PSP mic may be better and more sensative. The DS mic is kinda chinsey and distorts all input even when it is not all theat loud. It cannot distinguish between S and th and other sounds. Not that I would get this but what the hey, if you were in Japan and needed a pocket translator, then it wouldn't be bad to have this device. I don't think its really a rip off since it seems to be used for just a translator. We will have to see if there are any games that revolve around this. If they keep having add ons for the PSP its gonna Form Voltron after owning it for a year (If you can afford Voltron ;))
fistpittingnork @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
This reminds me of the Flying Circus skits where John Cleese would have the translation book and he'd spout off comments like:
"Great boobies, honey buns!"
jc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Guys, it is great that you are all so happy about Nintendo... but for the record they didn't invent videogames.
Keep your loyality, but drop the Sony and Microsoft bashing. You sound like a bunch of programmed kids echoing the latest Sesame Street song. Learn to think for yourself and drop the negativity.
Personally I grew out of Nintendo a long time ago, but I don't feel the need to be negative about them. I respect what Nintendo does and what they are trying to do... but they are just a company, and their main interest is making money. They are the same as any other company.
If you can see past your blind fanatic beliefs and look at the big picture, you will see that there are many companies that have brought advancements to the videogame table. Like it or not, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft have all been involved in bringing better systems to our homes.
You don't need to defend your insecurities about your life and your choices by bashing another company. Feel free to share your voice, but drop the negativity and the thoughtless ranting.
Chris, yes... without Nintendo video games would be different now, but the same can be said about Sony, Microsoft, Atari, Coleco, SEGA and hundreds of other companies.
Zack @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
My hovercraft is full of eels!
sandro @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
I saw this game on a magazine way before the launch of PSP, so, how could this be a copy of Nintendogs? ( which by the way I have ) :-)
Ciao,
alex @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Nice of Sony to leave out all the "unimportant" languages like French, Spanish, German, Italian, etc, huh? Good catch, Engadget!
JinKazama @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
If this can be used as a voice translator outside of gaming that thing is awesome! It would certainly come in handy for me when I'm abroad. The current translators are great for signs etc...(minus the typing). If you can whip out this baby ask directions and get the english translation on the screen put my name on a preorder right now. They would need to add more languages though.
Anybody know if it'll be able to do this?..I can't open the link.
fistpittingnork @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
10. Posted Sep 15, 2005, 10:16 AM ET by alex
Nice of Sony to leave out all the "unimportant" languages like French, Spanish, German, Italian, etc, huh? Good catch, Engadget!
-----
They probably want to focus on just the people that can actually afford PSPs and their games.
Just a sarcastic comment before some of you get your nerdy little panties in a bunch.
Seriously though maybe since European launch is so far behind with the platform itself, perhaps it's safe to say the same applies to a lot of PSP games and accessories.
Ebola @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
hahahhahhahha fistpittingnork I quote
Nice of Sony to leave out all the "unimportant" languages like French, Spanish, German, Italian, etc, huh? Good catch, Engadget!
"They probably want to focus on just the people that can actually afford PSPs and their games"
----------
funny coming from some hick in oklahoma who wears pink. I'm a nerd so what, go wash your pink undies.
Ebola @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
If I were you, I wouldn't link my myspace page on engadget too, dummy. Classy!
Matt E. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
#8 Zack: What heck are you talking about?
#10: They will probably have downloads to support the other languages
Matt E. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
14: Get a grip. Your lack of humor is disturbing. The original poster was merely pointing out how SONY had left a good chunk of international languages out of the product. Jeesh!
ITGuy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Quote JinKazama
"If this can be used as a voice translator outside of gaming that thing is awesome!"
That would be more of a software thing. Using this as a translator was my first thought as well. I really hope to see the PSP evolve into more than just an entertainment device since its capable of so much. I'd like to see the translator, a date book, gps capabilities, along with many other features. I doubt sony tries to cash in on these but lets hope somebody does and then lets hope sony doesn't release a firmware that kills the features.
floink @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Now just add a little SIM-card slot and the proper interfaces and you've got yourself a mobile phone. Or why not a VoIP thingy?
A SonyEricsson mobile phone PSP-addon anyone??
fistpittingnork @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Well ebola, first off.. I may be from Oklahoma, but I'm far from being a redneck hick. But if thats what you need to keep your boner alift then by all means, dig right in.
Of course you're a nerd, we're all geeks in some sort of way, or we probably wouldn't be here, would we?
And why not link to myspace? So what if I offend somebody and they send me a nasty "Show your face in Cleveland and I'll kill you!" message.. [Delete] works fine, and if I feel you're worthy of an arguement, then so does [Reply]
Obviously you failed to pick up the sarcasm in my previous post, so maybe you should re-read my post and/or relax a bit and soak yourself up a sense of humor, hmmm?
Chris @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
jc: Heya, I think my point didn't come across correctly. What I meant to say was that I wish the different companies would experiment a lot more. I loved the fact that Sony tried out the Eye-Toy idea and wished they'd pushed the limits more. I'm just saying I wish more alternate paths were taken by all with regard to innovations. That being said, however, certain technologies (like the voice input) was destined to become a norm sooner rather than later.
Sure, I adore Nintendo, but I also like my PS2 and PSP :)
Tim @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Nintendo's a business, of course they're interested in making a
profit, but they're also loyal to their consumers. Sony is a business but their
sole purpose is to rip the consumer off with proprietary formats and inflated
prices. If they only showed the slightest bit of respect for the people who put
food on their table I might consider supporting their products, but they've done
very little to meet us all half way. Wise up people!
I know, as a consumer, I don't have to buy their products but when I used to I
thought I was buying into a quality product. But you're only greeted with buggy
software, proprietary formats, and lackluster performing equipment. Sony used
to mean something when I was younger but they've burned their bridges as far
as I'm concerned. Yay, you have a mic for your portable too . . . how
imaginative.
floink @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Now just add a little SIM-card slot and the proper interfaces and you've got yourself a mobile phone. Or why not a VoIP thingy?
A SonyEricsson mobile phone PSP-addon anyone??
Matt E. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
#22 Tim:
You Nintendo fanboyism is blinding. You go on and on about SONY proprietary formats and whatnot.
Show me 1 open format Nintendo has released or adhered to. Just 1.
Michael @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
releasing wind waker months early (miyamoto admitted to) with only 5 dungeons, is not being loyal.
metal_gear_jello @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
"Show me 1 open format Nintendo has released or adhered to. Just 1."
Touche
Sean O. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Bagging Sony on proprietary formats probably isn't the best strategy... and I contend that without Sony games wouldn't be that much different... the only worthwhile "innovation" they've made is to add a second analog stick just to get one up on Nintendo's single analog stick. Sure they're just copying what works and that's how business works but I still give them minus points for so blatantly copying everybody else.
Frostie @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Zack's hovercraft line is the actual line in the Monty Python script fistingpork alluded to.
Tim @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Nintendo makes games and in my opinion they do a great job. I'm no fanboy, I'm just a jaded consumer and I'm talking about companies respecting us. Sony is clearly NOT one of those companies. At least Nintendo has the user experience in mind when they create a product, Sony slaps gear together with the promise of advanced technology and doesn't deliver with the goods. They mislead and bait and switch the consumer. What the hell has sony done for you lately Matt?
YoYo-Pete @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
The future application would be a universal translation UMD... Just pop it into the drive, talk into the PSP, and presto!!!
What you just said is repeated in French.
fistpittingnork @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Drop your panties, Sir Frostie, I cannot wait til lunchtime! My nipples explode with delight.
Mza @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Tim you say you are no fanboy, but your lack of critical thinking makes you the text book definition of a fanboy.
Pal @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Feeling sensitive about not including any European languages? Get over it. If the game does well, more will surface. This game is for Japanese people that want to learn English, and some other languages too (China and Korea are Japan's closest members so they'll use those more often).
If I had a PSP, I'd definately get this. I want to learn Chinese someday, so it *could* help. My girlfriend wants to learn Japanese too, but I spoil her by speaking in English all the time, I'm a horrible teacher.
IF I had a PSP...not any time soon. Oh no...not after the announcement of Final Fantasy IV for the DS recently.
Tim @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Whatever, fanboy.
Chris @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
fistpittingnork: Noooobody expects...oh, bugger.
Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
"What the hell has sony done for you lately Matt?"
I'm sorry, does nintendo cloth your kids and burp your baby? Does it take you to the movies when you're lonely and all your friends are out bowling? How about cook you food when you're hungry? Sony might not do anything for you, neither does Nintendo though. They're fucking companies based in Japan. They put out stuff and leave you with the FREE WILL to buy it or not. All they do is offer a product. If you ever, EVER buy anything based off of what they promise will happen later, you're an idiot. You wouldn't buy a car if they promised that at a later time they'll sell you tires, would you? Buy it for what it is, not what it'll become.
Now replying to the first comment(which of course was a rabid Nintendo fanboy having to slam what they feel is a threat to them, since you never see Gizmondo get this attention).
"Copying pokemon's and nintendogs' ability to speak with the user? Smart move Sony."
--Actually PC games have done that a bit, as well as the PS2 had that entire SoCom line of games where you issued voice commands to your team. Honestly, I think this would have been solid to release if it worked with SoCom, maybe the next one?
"Why not copy the Revolution controller too? After all, they're showing it tomorrow."
--That'll be the PS3. I'll be honest, they probably will incorporate part of it. Maybe not. You do realize you're talking about a fictional controller that may or may not be the most rediculous thing to date since the Virtual Boy.
"I wouldn't be surprised either way: 1. They're not original, so they won't even include the analog buttons."
--The PS2 already has Analog buttons, you confused me with this statement...
"2. They are so unoriginal that they will copy the analog buttons as they did with the wireless controller."
--Wireless controllers have existed WAY before the wavebird. I had wireless controllers on my SNES, made by a third party. The wavebird was just successful because rabid Nintendo fanboys such as yourself would eat shit out of their ass if they presented it to you. Again, Sony already has analog buttons on the PS2. Ya know, if you push down X lightly, you go "Vroom" a little, if you press it all the way in, you go "VROOOOOOOOOOOOOM". Chances are you've never played a PS2 because the big N never approved of it, so you wouldn't know.
As for slamming Sony on propietary, people already commented on it... But not in the severity that they should have. Remember how nintendo REFUSED to switch out of cartridges for N64 because they got money from publishers for each catridge(because only N could manufacture, patent reasoning)... Which more or less lead to the shortcomings of the N64? Or how the NES did the same thing, and when Tengen created catridges(the black ones), they sued them and blacklisted any store that sold Tengen catridges? That's way worse than Sony creating their own vessels of data IMO. Name one other format that would have suited the PSP? Something small that stores 2gig of data that they could have used that's cost efficient... Name one other thing.
Yuz @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
#22, Nintendo Play-Yan uses SD cards.
Arguments for proprietary formats on the games themselves are irrelevant (even for Sony) since the games are programmed for specific hardware anyway and there's no point for it except easier pirating.
fistpittingnork @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
"My PSP is smarter than your DS!"
"Yeah? Well my DS can beat up your PSP!"
Another sissy ass slap fight over a game..
brawn·y (br?
adj. brawn·i·er, brawn·i·est
1. Strong and muscular.
2. Hardened; calloused.
See: engadget "fanboys"
Anonymouse @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Why would anyone want to talk to a stupid bird. Thats dumb. Okay, i have to go back to telling my nintendog how much i love him and how i cancelled my meeting so we can play frisbee in the park.
Anyway, to calm the children down then let it be known that there is room in your cargo pants for both a psp and a ds.
Matthew @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
This is ridiculous. I think people are complicating thing too much. The simple truth is that the videogame industry wouldn't be the way it is today if it weren't for Nintendo. Period. In fact, they probably wouldn't even exist. Someone said that Nintendo didn't invent the videogame. That's true. But they re-invented it. Wow. Some people really need to do their research. Nintendo is the absolute most influential company. Period. If no one can see this, then they are truly blind or haven't done their research. That's all.
Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Once upon a time Nazi's ruled Germany too, Matthew. What's your point?
Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Just love the fact that in every PSP thread, the first comment is always a DS user slamming it and throwing it completely off track right from the get-go.
n8 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Yeah, but the conversation always concludes when somebody uses a Nazi analogy.
Alkaiser @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
#17, and Jin Kazama:
If this software is indeed usable as a translator, and it gets marketed properly, expect to see a big surge in PSP sales in Japan.
Every exchange student from Japan I've met here has some Japanese/English electronic dictionary. And everyone's always in awe over who's is best. It's like another form of cell-phone oneupmanship.
I haven't seen one that did voice translation...so if this did...Sony just locked up a niche market right there. I mean, what's the DS offering to compete? Touch-Dic?
Matt E. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
"What the hell has sony done for you lately Matt?"
Well, they gave us the PSP. Certainly, it lacks in some areas such as storage and the UMD being slow. I got mine mostly for video, so I rip what I need to off my DVDs. Most of the games are decent, too.
I have my bones to pick with them, too. I 've had 2 PS2s die on me, 1 5-disc DVD player go south, and 1 61" Rear projection system die on me. That's why I'm not buying SONY exclusively anymore. I got Xbox and will be getting Xbox360. I still play the shit out my N64. I have Gameboy SP, too.
Zell @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
I totally see Tim's point. Yeah, companies are clearly in it for the money, but it feels good to support a company you feel cares about you. While I've never had any of my consoles or portables repaired, I have friends who have. I hear nothing but good things about Nintendo's customer service. I have yet to hear that about Sony, especially when I stood in line at a couple Gamestops while the clerk told little Billy Sony will NOT be replacing his PSP if there are dead pixels. Friend of mine had dead pixels with his DS, Nintendo promptly shipped out a brand new unit before he even mailed in the old one.
Sony, on the other hand, made it clear they did not consider dead pixels a defect and offered absolutely nothing to even make up for that when the machine already costs a great deal. They're snotty and it's insulting.
Everyone can't love Nintendo, and that's fine, but I honestly find fans of other systems biting the hand that once fed them when they bash Nintendo. Nintendo tries. They make gaming affordable and fun. I highly doubt you'll need to take out a second mortgage in order to buy a Revolution.
As a fan of video games you SHOULD feel slighted every time you see another ad for a movie release on UMD, since they greatly outweigh the number of games. I loved the minidisc format, but UMD movies are just ridiculous.
Guy N. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Wow this almost makes it almost as cool as the DS. It'll probably sound better and cost more than a whole DS.
To JC
I understand the feeling. I wish Nintendo would come out with some of the more widely licensed cool games like Burnout 3 (one of the reasons I didn't get the cube; that and Katamari Damacy my current favorite game of all time, in fact that alone would have gotten a cube in my home), but they have their own thing they do and they do it well.
Yea we may have outgrown a good portion of their library but lets not forget that, while they didn't invent video games, they did reinvent them after the Atari fiasco and the following crash of the industry. So I don't think we'd have all the choices we have now if it weren't for Nintendo bravely coming out with the first next gen console following those dark days.
As for fairness to the consumer I would have to say that Nintendo is way ahead of the other companies as well. The main reason I kept my DS and ebayd my psp is because Sony has long been notorious for producing very flimsy hardware and selling it for an obscene price. And I was okay with that (back in the old days) when I would just buy a new $20 cassette walkman (yea those old days) every 10 months. But now they have the psp which I chose not to travel with because I got the feeling that it wouldn't survive an accidental drop on the concrete the way my DS could and my gbaSP has (many times). And from what I've seen on xplay, the cube can take more abuse than a reheaded stepchild (no offense to the redheads out there). I just have a really bad feeling that allot of these psps will be falling apart as soon as the warranties expire. Then all those folks who spent hundreds of dollars on games, movies, and accessories will be out buying another ridiculously expensive psp.
So yes they are all big corporations that try to suck as much money out of us (the consumers) but Sony is really good at the sucking part.
-Guy
Nolan Benbrook @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
Dang Nintendo stealers... Their gunna get it someday...
Justin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
The one thing you can do is buy your PSP at Costco, as they have a Great return policy and will take it back for dead pixels or any other reason.
I Lub my psp and the ds my lady has too. Both for different reasons.
Peace to my gaming brothers $ sista's
Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
I spent $20 at mediaplay to get an extended 2 year warranty, at which point I can send in my PSP and get a store credit refund for the price I originally paid for my PSP($250). Figure by then there'll be a price drop, and if my PSP is used and abused, I just get a new one for $150, and have $100 to spend on anime or games. Did the same with my PS2, and then my PSTwo(which I'll be sending in Sept 2006, just in time to apply the $150 towards my PS3). It's call smart shopping. You complain about the big corps sticking it to you, then shop S-Mart. I know I've dropped my PSP a few times(twice on the walkway to my porch, few times around the house, in the kitchen on hardwood floor, on top of my dog, etc). It hasn't hurt it yet. I honestly think people just fear this thing breaking because it costs $250. It's a hell of a lot more durable than people make it out to be, that's for certain.
Pal @ Dec 18th 2005 9:12PM
"32. Posted Sep 15, 2005, 12:45 PM ET by Tim
Whatever, fanboy."
I don't own a DS either :) I'm still playing GBA games...the system that had no real competition, where the word "fanboy" didn't exist...ah.
48: "I honestly think people just fear this thing breaking because it costs $250."
Noooo... they're afraid since it looks shiny! Not to mention it's mechanical.