PSP Go 'Pause Game' feature tested, deemed very handy

by Randy Nelson { Sep 18th 2009 at 2:45PM }

We've had a chance to test out the "Pause Game" function of the PSP Go, which was discovered yesterday by GameSpot UK. In the course of using a Go production unit last night, we tried the feature using two different games -- LocoRoco Midnight Carnival and Motorstorm: Arctic Edge -- and timed the process.

Pressing the PlayStation button on the Go brings up two options: Pause Game and Quit Game. We made our LocoRoco jump into the air and pressed it, selected Pause Game, and within 10 seconds reached the XMB (after a progress bar appeared to indicate the saving of the game's current state).

After selecting Pause Game, an icon appears under the Game section of the XMB -- it looks a bit like an egg and is labeled "Resume Game." We selected it and, 10 seconds later, were right back where we'd been, LocoRoco still mid-air. We had similar results with Arctic Edge, only we decided to use some of the system's functions, including the web browser, while the game was on hold. Again, a 10 second load and we were back, this time with a prompt to "press X to resume" the race.

We asked Sony if this feature will eventually make its way to the standard PSP and were told by PlayStation Network's Eric Lempel that it's PSP Go-only. It's a really convenient feature from our testing and has a nice added benefit: The Go can be completely powered off and still retain the game state, unlike with the standard PSP's sleep function. We'll have a full review of the PSP Go soon.

Tags: hardware, psp-go, psp-holiday-showcase-2009, sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

captainprotonx @ Sep 18th 2009 2:47PM

Yeah...hm..k.

I guess.

el serpiente @ Sep 18th 2009 3:23PM

What, is "yeah..hm..k" the new "meh"?

Either way, top notch contribution! I look forward to your next burst of insight!

kinadian @ Sep 18th 2009 2:50PM

Forget the PSP, I'd like to see something like that in the PS3.

Might even be a way for Sony to allow the more "advanced" XMB functions to work while in a game.

Nobledevil @ Sep 18th 2009 2:58PM

Why not have it in both? Heck, they obviously already know how to do it on a small scale, which means they can more easily migrate it upward.

tobz1000 @ Sep 18th 2009 3:17PM

I see no reason why not. The file needed wouldn't be bigger than 256MB, and there's plenty more disk space on the PS3.

Creating illogical sentences to irritate the Internet Grammar Teachers @ Sep 18th 2009 3:24PM

Your logic makes sense but let's not forget: flash memory vs. hard disk.

Platinum_Skeet @ Sep 18th 2009 5:41PM

It sounds good and with some console games the time between save points helps with the difficulty. Portable games are usually played for small increments while console games a lot longer. It sounds good from the start but I can see some developer getting aggravated about this...

mahouneko @ Sep 18th 2009 7:13PM

They could always reserve harddrive space as an extra layer of cache of sorts. I mean, Windows still does this with its Page Files so it's not impossible or anything like that.

Tiptup300 @ Sep 18th 2009 2:51PM

This is something I've always loved about emulators.

Cody @ Sep 18th 2009 3:25PM

I love this feature on the Virtual Console.

I can't believe Nintendo expected us to beat Super Mario Bros. 3 in one sitting back in the day!!

But after that 18th attempt, when I finally did, man was it a pay off!

Duke @ Sep 18th 2009 3:44PM

http://thechive.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/funny-random-hilarious-4-6-09-10.jpg

C'mon Cody...that's you isn't it?

Cody @ Sep 18th 2009 4:09PM

Sorry Duke,

I was not that dashing as a young lad.

BTW I love you're little side jabs at me (and anyone else pro-Nintendo around here), only to pull back the reigns after a few posts like you're doing some sort of tongue in cheek act that nobody's buying. Keep up the good work!

Cody @ Sep 18th 2009 4:11PM

oh, and /sarcasm

Mr. Manly ESC Mcbeefington Ferguson The Second @ Sep 18th 2009 4:50PM

10 seconds is a bit slow but a great feature nonetheless.Save states/QS&QL is something every good game should have.

I hope now that the PSP has save states developers can make their games harder.Not you Big big Japan the last scenario of pursuit force was hellish.

Finally,can we have gameshark-like codes back please?

Vidikron @ Sep 18th 2009 5:30PM

@ESC

Don't confuse true save states with this feature. Although I'm sure they technically work the same, save states in an emulator let you create a save point anywhere and then re-load that save point if you screw up. This is being used as a suspend game feature. So, AFAIK, there's no way to continue further in the game and then later re-load that suspended game. It's just like an advanced pause feature.

CrashSpyro123 @ Sep 18th 2009 2:54PM

Wasn't this feature revealed at E3? How did GameSpot discover this yesterday?

I'd really like to know if you can have multiple games paused at once

Nobledevil @ Sep 18th 2009 2:56PM

This feature and any other surprises coming are one of the reasons why I want a PSPgo. It doubles the RAM of the 2000 and 3000 and quadruples that of the 1000. That basically means more than Sony can do with the system at the same time that it keeps all of the old features.

acefondu @ Sep 18th 2009 2:59PM

"keeps all the old features"

Yeah even UMD....oh wait, right they're useless now....And I really doubt we'll see many if any PSP Go only games that utilize that extra ram. Why would a game company do that for only Go users? They wouldn't, there's no money in that.

S. Tiger @ Sep 18th 2009 3:15PM

Nintendo did it with the DSi.

Nobledevil @ Sep 18th 2009 3:19PM

Um.... so many problems with this. Let's see:

1: UMD isn't a feature, it's a format. And I still have my PSP-2000 for those and they still sell the 3000 for people who want it, which leads to #2

2: How are UMDs useless if there is an entire dedicated system to play them, along with older models people can buy on the cheap if they feel so inclined?

3: I said "[t]hat basically means more than Sony can do with the system." Not devs, Sony. Devs are more interested in processor memory, which I believe is the same since the processor is the same.

4: Why do I feel the need to correct people who are so ignorant? I don't get anything out of it and the person being corrected will likely keep being a d-bag. *sigh*

acefondu @ Sep 18th 2009 3:32PM

So you want to buy a system for $250 just so Sony can add more XMB features? And yes the UMD drive is a feature on the old system, the format is called UMD. Just because you want to phrase it differently and take what I say the wrong way is your issue not mine.

And Sony makes games right? How am I to imply what you meant by saying "Sony" isn't what they will do for game development? Honestly, I'd never expect someone would care $250 worth about save states, and mysterious other "features" that don't exist yet.
Also, I fail to see in my original post where I was a "d-bag." I suppose you've never had a civil discussion online making you socially inept, sorry about that guy, internet therapy is just down the hall. (psst, previous sentence is an example of being a "d-bag.")

And to the DSi guy....wow really? You still put DS games in it right? Yeah you do...

tomlinson731 @ Sep 18th 2009 4:01PM

acefondu, who pissed in your coffee this morning?

If you don't want to spend $250 on the PSP Go then that is fan-freaking-tastic. Isn't the free market great?

I think this is a great feature and would like to see it eventually transferred to other consoles.

acefondu @ Sep 18th 2009 4:05PM

Free market is great, conversing with people online isn't today though.

The feature is cool, I agree, but it doesn't make me want to spend $250 more on a PSP without a UMD drive. Isn't that what this comment section is for? To post opinions? Well that's my opinion, sorry if you drank my coffee.

Punkrawk Bbob @ Sep 18th 2009 4:09PM

Acefondu,

There are DSi exclusive games that won't play on the standard DS/DS Lite. Obviously you lose features too like when GBA games talked to DS carts (Pokemon as a prime example). Then you lose official peripheral support like the shakey thing.

So yes - This can be done. Nintendo has done it. New form factors alienating older users. Nintendo 64 did this with the memory expansion as well.

Remember - Companies don't owe you or earlier adopters diddly squat. Their allegiance lies to whoever is willing to throw more money at them. They are not your friend.

acefondu @ Sep 18th 2009 4:25PM

I never thought they were my friend. I'm just explaining that they haven't swayed me to buy a PSP Go yet, even with this carrot of save states I'm not impressed.

And I agree, early adopters are shafted all the time, but in this case I feel early adopters got the better product anyway. I mean the current PSP you can shove in a 16GB memory stick and boom, you have a quasi-PSP Go that has the same online store access, perhaps without save states but again *shrug.*

Great points about the DSi though. And thank you for actually discussing like a person! Reminds me there are people out there who know how to express thoughts.

S. Tiger @ Sep 18th 2009 4:47PM

Yay, I ended up being right.

Prince_Serlith @ Sep 18th 2009 2:58PM

That actually would be a awesome feature on the PS3. I understand why its not on the standard psp though. PSP Go is shaping up to be its on little thing aside from the standard system.

This among other things open the door to multiple options that can be added to PSP Go and the PS3

Mark @ Sep 18th 2009 3:01PM

Awesome feature. Bring this to the PS3 as well.

Nathan-DTS [He is your father] @ Sep 18th 2009 3:16PM

Nice feature, but the PSP Go will fail. With the 3000 so much cheaper, Sony are killing the Go before its release.

HAAS599 @ Sep 18th 2009 4:09PM

no, they are selling the 3000s before the PSPgo price drop. If you really want a pspgo then sony will gladly sell you one for 250, but any smart shopper will opt for the 3000, which is what sony is counting on.

S. Tiger @ Sep 18th 2009 3:16PM

Firmware this feature for 1k-3k owners! D8

green11420 @ Sep 18th 2009 3:17PM

That's sick

CaramelZappa @ Sep 18th 2009 3:19PM

A feature emulators have had for years is finally making it onto consoles. Hopefully it will make its way tot he PS3, 360, Wii, and DS as well.

S. Tiger @ Sep 18th 2009 4:49PM

The Wii's Virtual Console does it, but I see what you mean about the Wii not having it.

CaramelZappa @ Sep 18th 2009 6:03PM

Well I meant for actual wii games, but good point.

ducttapeBigSexy @ Sep 18th 2009 3:19PM

This still strikes me as something that could be implemented on the non-Go versions of the PSP, provided that the user has enough free space on their memory stick. I understand Sony wants to move PSP Go!s, but still...

Collymilad @ Sep 18th 2009 3:44PM

@Nobledevil.

Um, UMD is a feature. UMD is also a format, but playing UMD's is a feature of original PSP.

I love it when people try to look clever and just end up looking like a pompous "d-bag" :|

Punkrawk Bbob @ Sep 18th 2009 4:13PM

UMD isn't a feature. It's the delivery method. Have you ever heard DS carts being called a "feature". Or CD player's playing CD's as a "feature". Feature implies beyond the expected operation. When a system requires a medium for it to work, it's not a feature. That's just how they deliver the product to you.

You wouldn't call it a feature that your TV shows video would you?

Ashitaka @ Sep 18th 2009 5:17PM

Oh, the irony. So much for trying to look clever, heh Collymilad?

mahouneko @ Sep 18th 2009 8:56PM

@Collymilad:
I came, I read, I downvoted.

Orion @ Sep 18th 2009 3:58PM

Hmm.. did they fix the wobbly looking plastic of the top screen? Nice.

PSN ID: J-Berg @ Sep 18th 2009 3:59PM

Could this functionality be added to the older PSP models via a firmware update? I would really enjoy that.

yomachaser @ Sep 18th 2009 4:29PM

Yes they probably could work it into older ones,but I can pretty much guarantee they won't. They want you to buy a Go so each firmware update that has new stuff that 3000 can't do will eventually push you to buy the Go.

Covnam @ Sep 18th 2009 4:06PM

I'm curious to know what happens when you just slide it closed while playing a game. Does that automatically pause your game or put the system to sleep?

Bradwart @ Sep 18th 2009 4:13PM

That is an interesting question...

Where is Jack Tretton when you need him?

linebeginstoblur @ Sep 18th 2009 4:45PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought closing it just takes away the buttons, so if you were watching a cutscene, maybe you could slide it up and then just slide it back when you need to access the buttons again. At least that's how I assumed it would work.