Getting a big bonus at work on Friday, and I want to get myself something nice. I'm thinkgin about replacing my old Gameboy Advance (not SP, just good old fashioned unbacklight Advance).

I like the DS. Nintendo has always made a great handheld game machine. I like cartridge's for portables, and the backwards compatability is cool. And it's cheap compared to the PSP.

The PSP is cool though. Good screen (if your lucky) and great graphics. But alot of the features are kinda hit and miss for me. I have an iPod, so I don't need an mp3 player. I don't have time to watch a movie on it, so UMD's are iffy at best, and with Sony's wacky media format issues and general stickler-ish-ness (made up a new word! To be a Stickler for the curious) of copyright protection, I can't imagine puting my own media together to be fun or easy.

Also, why don't any Video Game retailers like Best buy, Fry's, The Mall's have PSP's for trying out. I still have yet to see one in person.

So. I guess the question is, "Is there a reason to spend and extra hundred-ish on a PSP?" Any killer games coming?

The same for the DS. If I get one, what are the killer apps I just have to have? Why shouldn't I get one?

CN. Convince me to buy a PSP over a DS.

 

Ive played a friends PSP and the thing is sweet. err about the games, There making like a GTA 3 with the old map but with all the new things like plane, helicopters, and motorcycles. So Statin island with all the cool shiot

 

It depends what games you like. I bought a ds cause I like the mario and zelda games. Plus the psp the games and the movies aren't really in my budget. Personally I think the psp is a rip off. The ds plays high res ds games and gameboy games, whereas with the psp you have to buy the games and movies in a seperate format.

 

Thats why i really never bought a Nintento thing, was never really into those games, it was always realistic stuff for me.

 

I love a good RPG. That's what sucks. PSP gets a new Final Fantasy game, where-as the DS gets a re-hash of an old one. But the DS does have Final Fantasy Tactics thru the backwards compatabilty feature. Such a hard choice. I've been looking at the upcoming titles for both systems and theres not really anything big coming for a while, but there is a new Metroid Prime and a new Zelda coming to the DS. I think I've made up my mind already, but I want to see what the general consensus is.

Has the PSP out-roxzord the DS? Or has the value of the DS (around a hundred on Craigslist) pulled the win?

Also, Lynx for life. Too bad Atari can't make a system to save it's life.

 

I have a PSP. It's sweet if you can afford the games. Screen is too shiny and lacks protection. You can get a screen guard for ~$5 at Toys R Us.

 

Psp's are sick. 4 of my friends have them and they all play wireless link'd play-- its awesome.

Plus- its not only games- it's also music and videos and pictures.

 

let me chime in...

because I have both (you are welcome to see them both sometime if we can arrange something).

I was in japan and in need of some portable gaming. I had wisely decided to leave my modded GBA (backlight) at home in the US so that I would not play games. =P

After much decision, I bought a DS -

DS is:
Region free (OS can be set to english or japanese as well; possibly other languages, i forget)
Wireless Multiplayer
Chat capable, but no web browsing of any kinda
Cheaper ^^
Very promising titles down the line (DS-wars, Animal Crossign, Mario Kart, Zelda, etc.)
Back-compatible with GBA games (and GBA only... also, purportedly NO multiplayer for GBA)
"rumored" to soon have the same download capability as the Next Gen GC; also Rumored to have ability to join Nintendo sponsored hotspots for online play of games.

But Also the DS is:
Bulkier and less sexy
Battery is more difficult to replace (but IS user sericeable)*
The launch games suck. Badly =x
Smaller individual screens


About a week to go on mission "Don't buy a M-F-ing PSP" I bought a PSP =P I have the JP vers... insane? no:
The psp is:
REGION FREE (GAMES ONLY)
OS can be set to Japanese, English, and several other languages no one cares about (jk... french, russian, german are available... I think 3 others are as well)
Region specific for UMDs (JP ver have access to pr0n and more music/videos, mostly of jp artists | NA ver have access to far far more movies at a cheaper price)
Wireless + IR port (no IR support yet, but one IS built in)
SUPER bright and clear screen
Multimedia "friendly"
Really cool games
Sexy as hell.
Downloadable game content.
Online play.

But also it is:
More expensive. Games are slightly more expensive (factoring across the board average).
Slightly harder to take care of *
Accessories more expensive **
Shorter battery Life

BOTH the DS and PSP have user serviceable batteries. In the PSP's case, you can buy a separate battery rather easily and, should you want to, it's a really simple affair to pop out a spent battery and pop in a fresh one and continue playing. In the DS's case, batteries are not as easily found (I _think_ you need to order them)... not that it matters, unless you have SOMEhow found a charger for a battery and habitually carry a screwdriver to open the battery panel.

The PSP has a shorter batt life, especially if you watch movies, etc.. the DS has a longer battery life (I think it's 6hrs vs. 10 hrs.)... so generally speaking, you might want to swap batteries with the psp (i never do), whereas you are only meant to 'swap' batteries on the DS when one dies completely.

The DS has good screen protection in the sense that it's a clam shell design... however, as you are scribbling on the touch screen, i HIGHLY recommend some sort of protective film... Let me tell you, the demo units in japan? the touch screens are F---ED up like you would not believe... and that's just from use, not idiot kids licking them or whatever.

The PSP by contrast... you don't really need a protective film... because the it's all one integrated faceplate and you never touch the screen anyway. It might get smudgy or whatever - just wipe it =P The screen itself is actually underneath a sort of clear coating of somekind that constitutes the psp's surface. But You definitely want a soft case of some sort to avoid scratches ont hat surface.

Just cuz you have a clear bra, you don't go ramming tumbleweeds and junk you know?

The game carts on a DS are kinda like a SD card (roughly the same dimensions) and so are easy to take around... and lose. The game carts on a PSP are shaped like a rotary engine "piston"... some stores will warn you about snapping them in half... just don't sit on them or snap them in half =P But the disc is partly exposed, so caring for them... well, you should always put it away into a case of some kind to avoid dirt and scratches.

The DS comes with a handstrap (useful - the unit is sturdy, but don't drop it =p) whereas you ought to get one for the PSP (definitely don't even try dropping it; i don't want to find out how sturdy it is or isn't). A Digi Cam hand strap will generally suffice.

Get a soft pouch of some sort. THe PSP ones suck, but it will fit in the DS ones.

There are cheaper accessories for the DS. The PSP uses Memory Stick DUO (pro) sizes only... SanDisk makes slightly cheaper ones, but they are pricey. 32mb is crap... downloadable content (first 3 of 10 planned) for Wipeout Pure is already some 20mb Sony branded accessories are more expensive, but it's not like logitech, etc. is that much cheaper.

The launch games for the DS pretty much blow, but better games are starting to come out. The launch games for the PSP are really good, but there aren't that many good games out.

PSP is more like a multimedia entertainment unit. You can put songs on there with SonicStage (it's not a bad program =P get over yourselves people...), and you CAN put videos on there as well with 3rd party freeware (in fact, I imagine one could even put bootleg downloaded movies... not that I condone or suggest such a course of action). There is currently no supported chat or webbrowsing function, but i imagine that could come about in the future.

DS is overall cheaper, and more of a pure game portable. The PSP is going to be more expensive, and is multifunction entertainment portable. I currently play the PSP far more than I do the DS however.

There's a good chance imho that both will see a Final Fantasy game of some sort. I think good games are coming for the PSP as well... Sony wont let it go the way of the N'Crap =P

Hope this helps

 

^^^ Very nice write up.

And yes, the PSP top is lucite (same "clear plastic" that the iPod uses), so it's pretty durable, but it's prone to smudges.

 

Sorry that got so long... a few more things ^^;

There is NO comparison between the screens... the PSP screen is worlds beyond either DS screen. If DS is "high res" then the PSP is a widescreen HD Plasma TV that Bill Gates is excited to see. You wouldn't want to watch movies on the DS screens, but as soon as you play a PSP you think damn... movies would be sick on this.

On the PSP I can recommend without reservation Lumines, Metal Gear Acid, and Wipe Out Pure. These three games will be pretty much all you need and are the general consensus as "MUST own WTF is wrong with you go buy it already zomgwtfbbq". For the DS... Uhm, Meteos... which is made by the same peeps as Lumines.... except lumines is better >< Nintendogs (i have the jp version ^^) is good, but don't underestimate how quickly you can tire of having to play/take care of it every day or every other day.... PacPix is great, but single player, Kirby is great, but really hard and single player, and Puyo Pop fever is a great puzzle game but ridiculously hard =P Actually, most of the really good DS games right now are, imho, puzzle games =P or else single player =P

No matter what, the DS is going to have a more kiddie slant... the PSP is going to have a more adult slant. That's just the way it is.

Right now I have DS (btw, the new blue color really goes well with WRB wrx ^^ they didn't have it in japan ;_; funny story on why...) with Puyo Pop fever, Nintendogs, Electro Plankton, Meteos.

On PSP i have Hellboy (movie), Coded Arms, Wipeout Pure, Lumines, Metal Gear Acid, Untold Legends.

Edit: I should read more ^^

Media formats for the PSP are not hard at all =P of course, I own a a Hi-MD player so i'm fairly used to it, but you can drag and drop mp3s onto the psp =P that's not hard if you ask me. Videos, you convert and upload through a FREE 3rd party program. That's not hard, although it is occasionally mysterious why one file will and another wont convert *shrug*.

Also... your PSP can also serve as a portable USB drive. Not the fastest perhaps, but you certainly can use it to shuttle files around or take them with you (and it's certainly more pimp than a plain usb drive... although you do need the cord =p ). Also, it serves as a pretty nice portable digital photo album.

Again i'm in South San Jo, if you want you can check these out sometime... nothing like the real thing. PM me or something.

OH, and why the user serviceable battery is such a big deal - hey, if you have an ipod, and the battery dies or loses capacity guess what? you need to send that thing away for weels, pay bawlz-out more money, and then have to reupload all your songs. and do that FOREVER. And hey, if something goes wrong with the battery pre maturely (which is possible...), send it in.... and in.... and in... A user serviceable battery in anything you get is a VERY good thing. Both DS and PSP have user serviceable batteries (although the ds mentions it's better if they do it, you certainly can DIY) so this is a non-differentiating issue between them... just a side note.

 

If all you cared about was games, and the gaming aspect?

I have an ipod, a handfull of USB keys, and no reason to start buying another video format. Are the games that much better?

And it has been confirmed. Both Systems get a Final Fantsy. The DS gets a Dual Scren verison of Final Fantasy III, and the PSP is getting Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII - one of four new FFVII Games coming out in the Advent Rising set.

 

the ds is slightly more awkward and uncomfortable to hold, truth be told...
it depends ont he type of games you like to play... sports games are never going to come out on the DS for example.

Some of the stylus games are pretty fun really... Also, i don't think turn based strat games are really going to make it onto the psp. or pokemon for that matter. It's easy to name games that will more than likely be on the DS but never be on the PSP... harder to do the reverse... but that doesn't mean there aren't going to be kick *** games for the PSP that will never be on the DS (for example, Lumines and Metal Gear Acid are two already... ).

Again in the end, the DS is going be aimed towards a younger crowd and the PSP towards an older crowd, and the games will pretty much reflect this (generally speaking)

Again, depends on your personal preferences/game genres... I'd probably still give the slight advantage to the PSP

 

I havent spent much time with the DS.. but i bought a PSP..
Overpayed for it.. actually..

there is alot of nonsense going around as it turns out.
There was a dead pixel issue which is really no big deal. Luckily I managed to get PSP with no dead pixels at all.

I picked up 4 of the first games that came out. The graphics are amazing for a handheld unit.

For the most part the games are ho-hum.
Im expecting, in keeping with sonys tradition of a good range of titles that there will be hundreds of games to choose from shortly.. I think this christmas will probably be big for the psp and psp games.

Title you might consider avoiding - Need for speed - Underground Rivals.
Gets to be boring and tedious.. and the graphics are dark.

In addition to that, Ive got metal gear acid which is a turn based strategy shooter
twisted metal head on.. if you know the series the game is apparently very similar .. for me it gets tedious to control.
Dynasty warriors, which is sufficiently fun even though ive been stuck in the same mission for a while.

the other benefits of the psp.. if you dont update your firmware to sonys newest security patches (just means preventing you from doing certain things), you can install emulators on your psp that will play any game roms for gameboy advance psp, gameboy, supernintendo, and others.

My buddy upgraded his memory card to a 1gb memory card (comes with 32Mb) and he dumped about 1000 roms on his memory card with an emulator.
A nice thing about this is not only having access to tons of games in a single unit, but also since the umd drive isnt spinning up, the battery life probably triples.

if you do install the sony patches, you wont be able to do this.. until they figureout how to break sonys security scheme again.. this might happen tommorow

anyway .. just some thoughts.

tedshred.

 

Yeah i got mine in japan (non value pack... didn't seem worth it to me) for ~$188 USD... 512 mb is more than sufficient for save game data and downloadable content (currently that's Derby time, Minna de Golf, and Wipeout Pure... WP has very regular content available). I'd say 128 is bare min you'd really want to have for just games, and 256 being a very safe margin for just games. For additional multimedia, 256 is the bare min with 512 being the safe margin.

1gb is for the big rollers

I dunno if it's worth it for ROMS... and only the second patch really addresses the roms... first patch improves wireless, etc... I'd do it anyway. IMHO, i don't really care too much about having a ton of really old games on my psp... AND, i'd rather not mess with the PSP to do it. That's my take though....

I have yet to see a dead pixel... and I agree that issue is over played. I've seen ~30 PSP units all over japan without seeing any dead pixels... including one instance where a store decided to dismantle a psp and show you just how clear the screen is.... and thin. It's about 3 3x5 cards thick. It's amazing. Ok, maybe more like 4 or 5...

To clarify (and i'm sure net searches, etc. can get you more info about games)...

Lumines is a music + puzzle game... most reviewers compare all puzzle games to tetris, but that's going to be a pretty poor comparison for most modern puzzle games. There's some really awesome music and graphics, game play is simple yet addictive, and the music really becomes 'interactive'...

Metal Gear acid is... trippy =P It's a metal gear stealth action game, but it is turn based... and actions are carried out via cards. It's not as retarded as you might think, and it's got all the trappings of any other metal gear.

WipeOut Pure is a great racer game... none of the BS of nitro or whatever in other games (although I'm told Ridge Racer is quite good), great music, and good challenge... and blowing up opponents (should that be your style) is fun too.

Untold Legends is basically Diablo II but not as cool. I imagine MP would be really fun, but SP gets old after ~month or so.

Coded arms is a FPS with really good graphics. Sort of like if Matrix was a FPS... but the variety of things in the game will feel a little limited... then sporadically get varied. Again, i imagine MP would be pretty fun, SP isn't too bad.

Christmas is big for everything =P =) Incidentally, many of the DS games that support multiplayer currently support downloadable play... in essence only one person needs the cart to have multiplayer, although the game typically becomes slightly more limited compared to if all participants have the cart. The PSP ALSO supports this feature, HOWEVER none of the psp games currently utilize it. I imagine it wont be long before someone realizes it, and releases a low price sleeper hit.

 

you are right.. only the second patch affect the ability to play roms.

admittedly, I have not installed any patches so i dont know if you can install one without the other.

on the other hand.. you dont have to do any modification to your psp to play the roms.
my PSP is bone stock.. and my buddy gave me his old 32mb memory stick with about 100 games on it and put it in my psp and games ran without a hitch.

t-