As tempting as it'll be to import Japan's latest PSP-2000 when it releases on April 24th (for a limited time), we simply won't stand for Bronze triumphing over brains. Debuting in a new Matte Bronze Value Pack priced at ¥23,800 ($228) , the third-place color will finish in matte "for the first time for PSP." The bundle will include an AC adaptor, battery, pouch, handstrap, cloth, D-Terminal AV cable and a why-even-bother 32MB Memory Stick.

Expected to launch on the same day: A ¥4,800 ($46) cradle and charger for the PSP-2000. It's the ideal device for those 1Seg watchers and mediaphiles who would prefer to interact via the included remote whenever the PSP's hooked up to a relatively distant television. The cradle will also be available in bundled form, with a ¥6,500 ($62) package tossing in a D-Terminal AV cable.

Read -- Matte Bronze Value Pack
Read -- Cradle

On February 28th, the Japanese PSP-2000 is set to arrive in yet another fresh new color: Mint Green. This subtle and unnervingly attractive addition to the rainbow riot going on over there will cost ¥19,800, or roughly $181. Its qualities can likely be analyzed for several more sentences, but we don't want to make it too obvious that this simple news story is in desperate need of filler text. Best we end it off quickly with another play on the "Mint Green" name.

Will this PSP color become available in America? Don't hold your breath.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Following the news of impending Skype support on Slim PSPs, some were left wondering why the plumper PlayStation Portable failed to answer the voice over IP call. Speaking to SCEE's director of corporate communications Nick Sharples, Pocket Gamer has ascertained the simple answer. It has nothing to do with looks, and everything to do with the older PSP's waning memory and inability to remember long strings of numbers (just like grandpa).

"We had studied the possibility of supporting Skype with PSP-1000 but had to give it up because of the smaller size of main memory on PSP-1000 series," said Sharples. If you recall, the PSP-2000 benefits from 64MB of internal memory (as opposed to 32MB in the older model) which is used for UMD caching and the reduction of game loading times. The same enhancement also enables Skype to run and thus excludes the original PSP from online chatting. We certainly hope early adopters don't get too hung up on the disappointment [Goodbye! - Ed].

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Many game companies have already proven that you can't make good games on mobile phones -- in a few weeks, Sony will find out if the reverse is also true. With a late January software patch to the new PSP Slim, the Skype service will be accessible through the handheld. The press release we received from Sony didn't specify exactly why PSPhat isn't compatible with the service -- probably because it would try to eat any microphone attachment that tried to plug into it. Fatty.

For those not in the know, Skype is a voice chat program with nearly 250 million registered users worldwide. Any Skype user accessing the program from the PSP can chat with another user free of charge -- however, for a fee, the SkypeOut and SkypeIn features allow users to make and receive calls to and from regular phones.

Sony hasn't done a great job of keeping this news under their belt, but regardless, we're intrigued to see exactly how well the service will work on the handheld. We'll make sure to keep you updated when more details arise.

Wonder why you see so many iterations on portable hardware instead of actual iterations? Here's your answer: Japanese people love them. If you need proof, check out this new release from Sony that says that the new PSP Slim (our name, not theirs) managed to sell 1 million units in two months in Japan. The kicker? That's two weeks quicker that the PSP reached the same milestone there.

Sure, there are other factors you could chalk it up to (a lower price point leaps to mind) but you still have to admit it: A million people rushing to buy a console that's been on the market for nearly three years is pretty darn impressive.

[Via PSPF]

Shiny founder Dave Perry has been very vocal about consoles as of late. After estimating Wii's death clock, the Earthworm Jim designer has set his sights on Sony's PSP.

In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Perry refers to redesign as a "head in the sand" move while saying that Sony should "restart the PSP program" and specifically calls for the removal of UMD in favor of digital download.

Perry also suggests that the transition to an UMD-less PSP would be relatively painless, asserting that it would be easy to create software to authenticate and re-download for free titles you already own.

While we agree that digital distribution is on the rise, we're not sure if there's financial benefit for the consumer. A 1.0 GB memory stick can cost over $30, and then you still have the buy the titles (which may not drop in price should they go download). If you want to carry more than a few games around, you're going to need multiple memory sticks. If Sony does heed Perry's advice (and we see no evidence as to why they would), maybe they could replace the UMD slot with a decent hard drive, instead.

Thanks in no small part to a price drop and a new model, Microsoft's Xbox 360 scored a 260% sales increase in the United Kingdom from two weeks prior, according to ChartTrack (via MCV). The Elite model was released in the territory August 24 for £299.99, while the Pro and Arcade models received price drops to £249.99 and £179.99, respectively. The momentum is also likely to be helped by a certain Covenant-crushing behemoth set to deploy later this month.

Though Microsoft may be having its (VH1) Best Week Ever, Sony's PlayStation Portable had its worst. ChartTrack is reporting the PSP had its worst week of sales since its launch September 1, 2005. Both SCEE and ChartTrack blame the sales drop-off on the impending launch of the PSP-2000 model, coming September 14 (sans ceramic white) and believe the redesign will boost the PSP's sales.

Chart-Track did not provide specific numbers for either console's sales.

Read -- 260% sales jump for Xbox 360
Read -- SCEE looks forward after worst week ever for PSP

They're definitely not available today in the United Kingdom, but on September 14 the PSP Slim will be released into the wild. Not appearing on launch day, however, is the ceramic white model.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, a Sony representative refuted claims from a CVG article that said official TV cables for the portable will make launch, but confirmed rumblings that only the black model will be available on next Friday.

British gamers looking for a lighter-shaded PSP Slim will have to wait until October, according to the spokesperson.

Sony has issued forth a press release stating that the newly slimmed PSPs (the PSP-2000 to the tech savvy) are now available in the wild. You'll still have to buy the silvery systems as part of the $199.99 "Entertainment Pack," which comes with a copy of Daxter, the Family Guy -- Freakin' Sweet Collection on UMD, and a 1GB Memory Stick.

Funny thing though, calls to all of our local game stores turned up squat, both in terms of consoles and in info. In order, we heard "We don't know.", "There's no date.", "It's not in our system." and "Christmas." Have any of you had better luck?

Yes. Colours with a "u." Some specially designed PSPs will be available only within Sony Europe's territories when the 2000 models launch on September 5th. In "Simpsons Yellow" and "Spider-man Black and Red" flavours, these new designs are clearly geared towards movie-buffs but also make a more colourful alternative to the current selection of black, silver and white.

Americans will be able to choose from "Darth Vader White," black and silver -- if you really want a garish yellow PSP Slim, you can always import.