EA confirms Need for Speed, Tiger Woods for PSP launch

In June, American Technology Research's PJ McNealy publicly questioned whether or not Sony's PSP would make its scheduled Q1 2005 release date. The reason? At that point, Sony had not sent out the PSP SDK (Software Developer's Kit). "From a developer’s perspective, they would have ideally already had an SDK for a March 2005 launch," he said, "as the later the arrival of an SDK into July or August, the odds of having a game ready drop."

McNealy's report made many wonder how many top-tier games would be available at the PSP's launch. Today, some of those doubts were dispelled by Electronic Arts. The company announced that two games from its flagship franchises--Tiger Woods PGA Tour and Need for Speed Underground--will launch alongside the PSP. The games will simultaneously go on sale with Sony's portable later this year in Japan, and next spring in North America.

Besides confirming the two games would be PSP launch titles, EA also revealed that they would be new, not mere PlayStation 2 ports. As outlined in GameSpot's first look, the Need for Speed game that the public first caught glimpses of at E3 will be titled Need for Speed Underground Rivals. Players will be able to drive an assortment of Japanese custom tuners and American muscle cars on 10 all-new tracks, complete with new environments. Rivals will also take advantage of the PSP's wireless capabilities in a "range of new modes specifically designed for use via Wi-Fi."

While its gameplay will burn far less octane, Tiger Woods PGA Tour will also feature Wi-Fi multiplayer bouts, complete with statistics tracking. Also included will be a wagering feature, which will allow players to earn cash points to upgrade their golfer. Pebble Beach, Harbor Town, Sherwood Country Club, and Paradise Cove will be among the 12 classic Tiger Woods courses featured in the game. GameSpot's first look at the game has more information.