The iPhone vs. PSP debate has been around for some time now. Some people just can't seem to understand that comparing the iPhone to the PSP isn't as empirical as it sounds. They're two different devices, each with its pros and cons, apples and oranges, cows and sheep. Meanwhile, Sony isn't all that worried, with Ray Maguire more recently stating that the PSP will always win as a dedicated games machine. Taking a cue from that, Sony's Peter Dille has added his own two cents into the boiling pot by saying that there's no competition at all.

Ray Maguire, Sony UK's senior VP and MD, admitted to a couple of things during a recent interview, like how Sony's been letting the PSP slip last year, and how they're confident that it's really going to pick up this year. Sounds like a speech in an AA meeting.

Details after the link.

What happened in the week past for the gaming world? A lot. A whole lot. From word wars to raging one-eyed warriors, superheroic PSP homebrew releases, expansions, dates galore (launch dates, delayed dates, blind dates), we've got it all right here. Whilst the week was more... sedate, if you can call it that, compared to last, that's not to say we saw less action. So let's get this party started, so we can all get ready for the next one! QuickPeek #62 at your service.

SCEE's on a roll now. Not only did they just achieve their first UK number one in two years, in the form of Killzone 2, it has also just been revealed by Ray Maguire that the PlayStation consoles have reached sales milestones. The PS3 is reported to have hit the 2 million mark, while the PSP is at 3 million.

It's like the console wars, except, more portable this time. Just the other day, an analyst claimed that the iPod Touch would become (if it already isn't) a worthy adversary to the PSP. But the way SCEE's Ray Maguire looks at it, the iPod Touch and iPhone may be well off on their own as a handheld device, but when you're talking a "specific games machine," it's PSP all the way.

It wasn't that long ago when the PlayStation 3's game library wasn't anything more than attacking the weak point of giant crabs for massive damage. Back then, Sony kept plugging the console's functionality - but now, SCEE UK's Ray Maguire says that this Christmas, they're "all about the games."

Details after the link.

While it won't be another year before we see the judges of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) weigh in their votes for the best video games of 2009, the group has already confirmed a place and date for the upcoming event - the London Park Lane Hilton on March 10, 2009. More in the full article.

Sony Computer Entertainment UK managing Director Ray Maguire was at the recently-held ELSPA press conference and he had a few things to say about the now popular Byron Report. The boss commented that the report's recommendations are valid today, but when the time comes that brick-and-mortar retailers take a back seat to online stores, things will be done differently to enforce the rating system. More in the full article up next.

March 13, 2007 - After all the rumors and speculation, a Sony exec has finally gone on record to say that a redesigned version of Sony's PSP handheld is in the works.

According to GamesIndustry.biz, SCE UK managing director Ray Maguire told an invited audience of press, teachers and education specialists at the national launch of Sony's PSP in Education initiative that the current PSP is just the "first iteration", and that a "smaller, lighter" system will be introduced in the future.

Maguire also said that any redesigns would not affect the PSP's screen, which is apparently "fixed." Judging by Sony's track record of cutting the size and cost of their redesigned consoles since the PSOne was first introduced, a redesigned PSP could also presumably carry a lower price tag.

Following Maguire's statement, a Sony spokesperson told GamesIndustry.biz that apart from firmware updates, no "immediate changes" are currently planned for the PSP. "In the longest term, of course we are always looking at ways to continue our platform development," said the spokesperson, "and this normal business practice is what Ray was referring to."

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UPDATE (May 15, 2007): We were informed by QJ reader whoelse about a report at PSPGen regarding the "lighter and smaller PSP" allegedly in the works. Apparently, French magazine - The Official Guide of the PSP, has picked up this piece of info causing a bit of resurgence in this rumor.

As of now, there's still no new and official information about the "PSP Light" from the Sony camp. As always we will keep you posted about this matter, but for now, feel free to check out the PSPGen report complete with magazine scans and have your trusty Babelfish and Google Translate ready if you don't understand French.

Good news for Sony fans across Europe! If you're thinking of getting a second PlayStation Portable (or first, depending on how new you are to handheld gaming), then you may want to wait for May 4 to come around. According to Games Industry, there'll be a price cut for the PSP, which will retail for £ 129.99 in the UK and 169.99 Euros elsewhere.

In the United Kingdom, some Platinum PSP titles will also be getting a price cut with this new initiative, namely Ridge Racer 2, Tekken, Killzone, LocoRoco, and Moto GP. The titles will get their prices shaved down to a more manageable £ 14.99.

Said Sony Computer Entertainment UK managing director Ray Maguire of the price cut,

PSP is unique and is constantly evolving. It offers the widest palette of mobile entertainment, from gaming to video, music, photos and Internet. But now the exciting possibility of connecting remotely to PlayStation 3 makes PSP more relevant than ever. So what better time to offer a brand new price point, and the launch of five new Platinum titles?

Well, short of cutting the PS3's price, he's probably right.