As UK gamers prepare for the launch of the Sony PSP, Serco Usability Services announces further research into handheld gaming devices.    

The Sony PSP, Sony’s long-awaited handheld games device, launches today in the UK to sell out demand. Like the Nintendo DS, which was launched earlier this year, the PSP offers exciting game play possibilities including a high-resolution LCD screen, widescreen format and wireless connectivity. And the features don’t stop there; whilst the PSP is primarily designed for game play, users can also enjoy mp3 music files, videos and digital photos, making it one of the most comprehensive mobile devices on the market.    

Serco Usability Services has led pioneering usability studies into the handheld gaming market and has worked alongside major games manufacturers developing applications. Recently they conducted independent research focussed on the game play functionality using a Sony PSP and other devices including the Nintendo DS, the Gizmondo and the Tapwave Zodiac. The objective of the research was to examine if there were usability issues with the additional features provided by these devices, and if this impacted the overall user experience. The findings of this research are summarized as a set of guidelines available here. 

In response to the additional PSP functionality that Sony has announced, Serco have committed to an ongoing programme of research investigating potential usability issues. Director Owen Daly-Jones says,   

These are exciting times in the mobile technology market, and Sony has upped the stakes with their latest developments. Introducing these new services with the backing of major entertainment companies will reassure consumers, and should ensure uptake.  However, we want to understand is what these services will be like to use, and whether there are issues that designers should be taking into consideration.

The full results of the research will be published later on this year, but in the meantime interim results and news about further research can be viewed here.