One of the most interesting pieces of PSP software here isn't even a game. Talkman is a voice-based translation system that uses a small microphone that plugs into the PSP's USB port. To make sure that TGS attendees fully experienced the software, bilingual hostesses demonstrated Talkman in a soundproof booth that blocked out the cacophonous show floor.
Although the interface is cartoony -- all the translation is handled through Max, a rather hideously designed purple bird -- the software underneath is sophisticated. First, you pick out a location or theme to the phrases you want to translate -- anything from "hospital" to "restaurant" to "nightlife." Then, you speak into the microphone.
Max spits out a list of phrases he thinks you might be saying. If what you said appears on the list, select it and Max will speak it back in any one of four languages -- Chinese, Korean, English or Japanese. I tried some English and Japanese phrases, and Max recognized most everything perfectly. I'll definitely be picking this up when Sony releases it in Japan on Nov. 17.
