Controls

• The controls on the unit are similar to those of the PlayStation 3. The PSP contains four directional buttons with an analog "nub" stick, the four face buttons with Sony's traditional polygon shapes and two shoulder buttons at the top of the unit.
  
  

Games

• In addition to its own line of playable games, the PSP allows for legal emulations of other PlayStation games. These games are accessed through the PlayStation Network with the PSP's wireless internet, the PS3's hard drive or a PC.
  
  

Function

• The PSP can store and play audio and video files, as well as photos, on its memory stick. These files can be transferred to the device by connecting it to another computer.
  
  

Effects

• The PSP frequently provides updates to its operating software, which can be downloaded from the Internet directly or transferred via a computer memory stick. These updates have included connectivity to the PlayStation 3, web browsers and the ability to play other audio/video formats.
  
  

Sales

• Despite being the largest selling non-Nintendo handheld, the PSP has lagged far behind its Nintendo counterpart, the DS. However, since the release of the more lightweight PSP Slim and Lite model, sales have greatly increased by up to 200 percent in North America.
  
  

Controversy

• Many hackers have managed to decipher and distribute the PSP's code, allowing people to design illegal homebrew games and use other protected software. Sony continues to fight this through their software updates.