At their GamesCom 2009 press conference, Sony announced that the PlayStation Portable will be get a Digital Reader program. It will be available through the PSN in North America and Europe in December.

You won't be using your PSP to read Charles Dickens, though. The Reader will launch with something perhaps a bit more interesting to gamers: comic books. Hundreds of digital comics will be available from the outset from big and small publishers. "Marvel is really excited about this innovative new approach to comic book content," said Marvel executive vice president Ira Rubenstein during the press conference.

You'll download the comics directly to your PSP and then "flip" through them with the handheld's controls. Straightforward enough. Though the Reader will start with comics, Sony plans to expand to additional content in the future. Maybe you'll be able to get your Dickens fix, after all.

(Photo courtesy of VG247)