Thanks for the memories, PlayStation Portable. Too bad Sony now sees you as a liability.

Sony has pulled the plug on its landmark PlayStation Portable (PSP) after a successful 10-year run that saw the portable gaming device sell in excess of 76 million units and set the stage for today's ubiquitous smartphone games.

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PSP and other machines solely devoted to games, however, have been struggling against the growing tide of smartphones, tablets and other digital devices and their games.

PSP's demise was also assured by its successor machine, PlayStation Vita. The new machine was introduced by Sony in December 2011 in Japan, and in February 2012 in North America, Europe and Australia.

Shipments of the PSP ended in January 2014 in North America. It will end in June 2014 in Japan, and by the end of 2014 in Europe.

PSP took off among gamers with Ridge Racer (first released in 1993) that astounded with the clarity of the visuals. For many diehard console gamers (consoles meaning those huge consoles that looks like furniture), the PSP was like having that clunky console game in the palm of your hand.

Then the updated PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 models came along that made Monster Hunter; Half-Minute Hero; Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker; God of War: Chains of Olympus and WipEout Pulse so wonderful to play. Many of you 30 somethings will recall your PSP gaming days with delight.

Good luck to the PSP Vita. You're something else, although better is debatable, but you'll never take away the thrills we felt way back then when the PSP was well and truly, The King of Gaming.

TagsPSP, playstation, end, sony