Sony is set to slash the price of its PlayStation Portable (PSP) by over

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15 per cent to Rs 7,990 from April 8, ahead of the much-waited launch of its next generation portable codenamed ‘NGP’ which is slated for launch at the yearend. At present, the portable console is available at Rs 9,450.

The move, along with plans to offer two complimentary games with the PS2 consoles, is expected to boost revenues this summer.

Atindriya Bose, country manager, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, told Financial Chronicle the company is also ready to launch three India-centric titles —Cart Kings, Battle Royal and Chandragupta Warriors — this summer. The launch of Cart Kings will be followed by Battle Royal, a strategy game based on characters from Amar Chitra Katha, and Chandragupta Warriors.

The registered Indian publishers of Sony PlayStation — Trine Entertainment, Gameshastra and Immersive Games, will publish all of the three games. Trine had also developed the recently launched

‘Street Cricket’, now available as a complimentary copy with PS2 consoles.

Asked if Sony PlayStation would be collaborating with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment for its upcoming movie Ra.One, which is expected for a Diwali release, Bose said, “We’ve been reached by many Bollywood studios to make games based on their upcoming movies. Some are insisting on a game for this Diwali. Since developing a game requires 10-12 months, we are still looking at all the possibilities. But yes, we expect to make a Bollywood-themed console game by the end of March next year. And all such games would be launched before the movie launch”

On the next generation portable, Bose said, “There are rumours in the market that we may not be able to deliver the NGP by the yearend due to the Japan tragedy. Right now, we have not pressed the panic button and the company has not yet taken any decision regarding delaying the launch. We assure the console will be available in Asia as soon as it gets launched in Europe,” he said.

Sony PlayStation’s rival Nintendo recently launched a portable console 3DS, which has witnessed healthy sales across the world. Though Nintendo has no registered distribution channel in India, a domestic company Milestone Interactive, through its subsidiary Game4, is expected to bring 3DS to India.

amitmudgill@mydigitalfc.com