PSP Release...

[Reaver]

Yep, it's out. I have mine beside me as we speak. I think now, more than ever, that this little beauty will BURY the DS... It's an elegant design (albeit not as comfortable as a controller, and I still don't know that I like the joystick...), the screen is absolutely flawless, and the gameplay is fantastic, even for first wave titles.

The lack of ability to burn on to blank UMDs is still a huge issue to me, and one that I know will be remedied eventually, I just don't like the idea of laying down $150 for a 1GB MS Duo to save movies on... We'll see.

But three local stores here in the Anaheim/Placentia area are sold out as of now, 9:18 am... If you don't have yours now, be prepaired to wait...

[Alchimedes]

What does it have that some people are raving about?

[mamabot]

Reaver, do you know if it has an address book feature? That is the one thing my brother said would be the deciding factor on him getting one.

Nathan has a DS and he loves it. The only probelm is that there are not that many DS games available. Will the PSP run into the same problem?

[Reaver]

Reaver, do you know if it has an address book feature? That is the one thing my brother said would be the deciding factor on him getting one.

Not yet. But I'm 98% sure it's coming. There is supposed to be an email/messaging upgrade on the way, as well as support for periferals such as add-on USB cameras...

Nathan has a DS and he loves it. The only probelm is that there are not that many DS games available. Will the PSP run into the same problem?

I doubt it. Sony has several studios on board making games already. I think there were 25-30 titles at release. Many more are in the works. Like any new system, it takes a little while. Since it's a modified PS2 OS, though, I can see a lot of porting of older games to the PSP as well. PS1 games could play on it without a problem, but some PS2 games will have to be trimmed a bit, as they did with SpiderMan 2... Plus, you'll have to buy them again, on UMDs...

[Reaver]

What does it have that some people are raving about?

Not exactly sure what you're asking... Raving good, or raving bad? It has a beautiful screen, great design, fast processor, WiFi built-in, easy to use controls, MP3 & MPEG-4 support for movies and music... It's simply a beautiful, well-rounded machine...

[Alchimedes]

Not exactly sure what you're asking... Raving good, or raving bad? It has a beautiful screen, great design, fast processor, WiFi built-in, easy to use controls, MP3 & MPEG-4 support for movies and music... It's simply a beautiful, well-rounded machine...

I just wanted some info, not negative, sorry, I should have been more clear.

[Reaver]

I just wanted some info, not negative, sorry, I should have been more clear.

No worries at all. Anything specific that I didn't cover?

[Alchimedes]

No worries at all. Anything specific that I didn't cover?

What is this system to able to do that others can't?

[Reaver]

By others, do you mean the DS? Or are you including Zodiac and Gizmondo?

The display is better than anything out there, by far. This thing is crystal clear. I'm a visual person, so that's a big deal to me. And the screen is bigger than all of them as well. It's more like the system was designed aroung the screen, not the other way around. The processor is faster than all of them, which means faster, more enjoyable gaming with less load time. It's Sony, so they'l have more companies developing for them, which means a more varied gaming experience. It is going to have movies released in the standard UMD format, which is a strength an a weakness. It's a strength in that you'll get great quality and sound, made just for this device. It's a weakness in that you'll have to buy them. And I dn't see many people buying movies twice, so they can have them at home and on their PSP. You can always convert your DVDs into MPEG-4 format, and toss them onto a Memory Stick, but there's conversion time to think about there... Even so, that's probably the route I'll take, until someone comes out with a device that allows tou to pop your DVD into your PC, and burn a downsized copy onto a UMD.. That would be sweet...

[testtrack321]

I'm going to stop by a store near us and go check out the unit on display, I can't afford one right now. I don't think the PSP will bury the DS nor the GBA until Sony comes out with the second revision and more people know what a PSP is and that Sony has a handheld. Remember, it took Apple 3 years to get people to know about the iPod....

[AO*]

I'm going to stop by a store near us and go check out the unit on display, I can't afford one right now. I don't think the PSP will bury the DS nor the GBA until Sony comes out with the second revision and more people know what a PSP is and that Sony has a handheld. Remember, it took Apple 3 years to get people to know about the iPod....

While what everyone says here is just our own opinions, which don't mean much, I think you're off. The ipod was at the time somewhat of a brand new device. There were a few other mp3 players out at the time but the whole genre was new so people were skeptical. Portable gaming on the other hand has been around for a long time, technically even before the Gameboy which is what started the current incarnation of portable gaming being systems with interchangable games. Portable gaming isn't a new concept customers have to ponder if it will last before they make their investment. It's obviously going to last and the wow factor after you've sat down with a PSP for a while is so overwhelming that I litterally said "DS what?... DS Who?.. DS?" Nintendo is screwed.

I own a DS as well as a PSP and I haven't touched my DS since probably mid December. I'm looking forward to a few DS games coming out this year, but they're not coming out until late into the year and to think that I will have probably not touched my DS for 12 months by the time these games come out, is LAME on nintendo's part. There are even rumors that Nintendo is going to reveal their next Game Boy at E3 in May and that's going to piss off so many DS owners. The next Game Boy is rumored to be $100 and at that price they cannot release a portable Gamecube, which is the only thing imaginable that can save their hide.

It's all about games. To this day there are 4-6 DS titles in the 8/10 in reviews range, and on launch day for the PSP this past week there were already that many for PSP. That's just sad. Technically you couldn't go wrong picking up any PSP game on launch day, they all had respectable reviews, unlike the DS' launch line up which had a few 3/10ish titles out of the slim launch line up.

Other than the games, the PSP's other features are sweet. You can watch pretty much DVD quality movies on UMD discs or encode movies yourself and watch them on memory sticks (roughly 3 movies on one 1 gig memory stick depending on how you encode it). Or you can take that 1 gig memory stick and fill it up with mp3s, or photos and view them on the PSP screen.

The future for this device is bright. Not only will there most likely be date book type applications available but you'll be able to surf the web, which is already possible with a little hacking.

To sum up the good...
- Really solid launch games available
- Future best sellers on the way this year like Grand Theft Auto: PSP
- MP3 Player
- Watch Movies
- Display Photos
- WiFi gaming with people locally (supported by most multi player games)
- WiFi gaming with people over the internet (supported by some games)
- Downloadable content
- You can play a mutliplayer game with two PSPs and only one copy of the game.
- Gadget of the year - only to be dethroned if PS3 or Xbox 2 come out this year.

The down sides....

- While there are good games here now, and a few good/great ones coming out the release dates list for games coming out this year still looks a lil slim.
- Finding one isn't going to be easy.
- The games are too pricey $40-50
- Battery life isn't as good as DS, but the up side is the PSP uses a removable battery so you can either buy multiples or wait until the technology improves and someone releases a rechargable battery that lasts longer.
- Memory sticks are expensive, but in time with so many people buying them the prices should drop.

Most stupid thing I've heard a sales person say about the PSP vs DS so far....
"PSP is so much less bulky than the DS. The DS is at least 2lbs more heavy than the PSP." :bow:

[Monorail Man]

IMHO, the DS was what we call a 'responce product'. A product that was strictly developed and created to specially compete with another product (PSP).

[Soulquarian]

The Nintendo DS doesn't have any killer apps yet. You know, those games that are so cool, and so talked about that they are a deciding factor in which a system might be purchased? PSP has several. Including the holy grail of Playstation gaming... Grand Theft Auto. If that game is done right, then you can pretty much declare this generation of the handheld console wars over, even though it has barely begun. Gran Turismo 4 will be coming out soon also... All they need is a good solid RPG (Kingdom Hearts anyone?) and it's a done deal...

[AO*]

IMHO, the DS was what we call a 'responce product'. A product that was strictly developed and created to specially compete with another product (PSP).

Nintendo did a good job of selling 5 million units and stealing a lot of Sony's thunder. A lot of people out there don't find it logical to buy 2 systems like these in one year.

Sony could have done a little better to advertise the system. If they set up demos in the stores so people could see this gem, wow, they would have been sold out... like they are anyways. Wonder how long until they catch up with the sales of the DS and pass it up.

[AO*]

The Nintendo DS doesn't have any killer apps yet. You know, those games that are so cool, and so talked about that they are a deciding factor in which a system might be purchased? PSP has several. Including the holy grail of Playstation gaming... Grand Theft Auto. If that game is done right, then you can pretty much declare this generation of the handheld console wars over, even though it has barely begun. Gran Turismo 4 will be coming out soon also... All they need is a good solid RPG (Kingdom Hearts anyone?) and it's a done deal...

Well.. GBA has Kingdom Hearts, but it's not really a killer app, just a great title to own, not a system seller.

I'm looking forward to Mario Kart DS (better be more than just a typical Mario Kart 64 rehash) and Animal Crossing.

[Soulquarian]

I own the GBA Kingdom Hearts and I'm not really digging it. I'm done with the whole card game genre. If it were like the PS2 version, I think it would have been cooler.

I think Sony will be ok. I have yet to see someone with a Nintendo DS in public, and already within the past 2 or 3 days I have seen several with PSPs. Most gadget owners will pony up the cash for the system considering all the things it does, and you know once E3 gets here, there will be even more hype as I'm sure they'll be announcing more peripherals (hard drive possibly). By Christmas time, Sony will have a strong hold on the market that Nintendo has dominated for over a decade.

[Mr Ness]

The Nintendo DS doesn't have any killer apps yet. You know, those games that are so cool, and so talked about that they are a deciding factor in which a system might be purchased? PSP has several. Including the holy grail of Playstation gaming... Grand Theft Auto. If that game is done right, then you can pretty much declare this generation of the handheld console wars over, even though it has barely begun. Gran Turismo 4 will be coming out soon also... All they need is a good solid RPG (Kingdom Hearts anyone?) and it's a done deal...

Square-Enix, it appears, has more or less left the PSP for the more safer grounds of the DS.

The inherent problem with the PSP is the market that the product is aiming at. The PSP is aimed at a market that is already saturated with MP3 players, portable movie players, and other such data storage devices.

The DS, on the other hand, is more comfortably aimed at a younger market which is much less saturated with GameBoy like devices.

I'm going to nitpick the following section simply because it's conventiently already in list form :-P

To sum up the good...
- Really solid launch games available
I wouldn't go so far as to so "really solid" but yes, it is a slightly more respectable list that the DS's launch.

- Future best sellers on the way this year like Grand Theft Auto: PSP

- MP3 Player
The memory cards required to store a respectable amount of music are still very expensive.

- Watch Movies
Who's going to purchase movies on UMD for use ONLY on the PSP?
- Display Photos

- WiFi gaming with people locally (supported by most multi player games)
- WiFi gaming with people over the internet (supported by some games)
- Downloadable content All supported by the DS (and in the case of Downloadable content, the DS's program is better)

- You can play a mutliplayer game with two PSPs and only one copy of the game. Supported to a certain extent by the GBA, but also available on the DS for up to FOUR players.

- Gadget of the year - only to be dethroned if PS3 or Xbox 2 come out this year. Opinion

The down sides....

- While there are good games here now, and a few good/great ones coming out the release dates list for games coming out this year still looks a lil slim. It's usually this way in the first few months to a year (look at the PS2 launch)
- Finding one isn't going to be easy.
- The games are too pricey $40-50 They'll come done in price when games become more available and retailers want to compete

- Battery life isn't as good as DS, but the up side is the PSP uses a removable battery so you can either buy multiples or wait until the technology improves and someone releases a rechargable battery that lasts longer.

- Memory sticks are expensive, but in time with so many people buying them the prices should drop. Supply and demand would dictate otherwise...

A common misconception about the DS is that it is meant to directly compete with the PSP. However, Nintendo's strategy from the beginning is that it is a "third pillar." Nintendo will continue supporting the GBA for the forseeable future. That is why it's the Nintendo DS instead of the GameBoy DS.

A more accurate list between the PSP and the DS:

DS:

Pro:
-Infinitly more durable
-Cheaper
-More 3rd Party Developer Support (by just a little at this point)
-Longer Battery Life
-Screens naturally protected by clam shell design
-Nintendo has experience in the handheld market.
-Card design for storage means more durable games and no necessity for memory cards

Con:
-Graphics are less technically impressive
-Resolution for the two screens is just slightly less than the resolution for the PSP screen
-Two screens can be viewed as slightly gimmicky

PSP
Pro:
-Design is visually pleasing
-Graphics are above that of the DS
-System has additional features

Con:
-Flimsy: Sony is known for poor product quality
-PSP's additional features (Movies, Music, etc) are limited in their abilities at best
-Unnecessarily expensive (release price is much less in Japan (approx. $190 in dollars)
-Sony is new to the handheld community

BOTH
Pro:
-WiFi internet gameplay
-Good games in the works

Con:
-Expensive compared to the normal $99 pricetag for new release handheld system
-less than stellar battery lives
-Not ergonomically pleasing
-Games currently out leave much to be desired

Right now, I'm taking a wait and see approach. I own both a GBA and GameCube, but if the PSP looks promissing down the road, I might invest into it.

[disneyland dude]

IMO one system can't be better then the other becuase nintendo and sony cater to different audiences.

[Soulquarian]

When it all boils down, it will be about the games. And if you are to say that the DS and PSP don't compete because they cater to different markets, then in theory you could say the same thing about the Gamecube and PS2...

Nintendo's Gameboy systems haven't been appealing since Pokemon got over-exposed. Nintendo had a firm grip on the handheld market because every company that tried to compete (Bandai, Neo-Geo, Atari, Tiger, Sega, etc.) all tried to cater to that niche. However, by recognizing that MOST gamers are between the ages of about 22 - 35, Sony has opened up to a market that has been denied for 14 years. Look at how succesful Grand Theft Auto was. That showed everyone that older gamers exist, and hey exist in large numbers with lots of money too.

To be honest with you, I don't expect Nintendo to last much longer in the console ears anyway. If it doesn't change something about its startegy, than it may pull a sega and only make software.

And Nintendo's third part developers suck, honestly. You can always depend on Nintendo to deliver with its 1st party games, but everything else isn't nearly as polished or flat out good.

What's wrong with the PSP being able to play Movies and Music? It's an added feature that makes it cooler than the DS. Plus, people are already watching movies that they've encoded from their computers, and Gamespot has already listed ways to do so. The PSP itself isn't even what I would call "expensive" considering all the things that you get. It's more powerful than any handheld ever, and more powerful the the PSX. Clearly worth the 150. price tag.

Anyway you look at it, Nintendo is shacking in their boots. They always put up their game faces and make ridiculously stupid comments about the competition (i.e. "Gamers don't want to play games online" WTF? Look at Xbox Live and the PC gamers Nintendo!!!). Nintendo's monopoly is over...

[Emelius_Browne]

Now to decide....buy an AP or a PSP? hmmm