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Tuesday December 28, 2004 6:30 am
The Top Ten Things You Need to Know About Sony’s PSP
Sony’s small wonder is coming soon to the States. Already a huge success at it’s Japanese launch earlier this month, the system is so hot that many gamers have resorted to importing it at extravagant prices. Here at Gear Live we’re a little more patient, (okay, maybe just a little more broke) but that hasn’t kept us from finding out all we could about the handheld. Some of the things we’ll share about the PSP you may already know, while others features may be surprising. Whatever the case, be sure you read on to make sure you have the inside scoop on one of the biggest releases early next year.
RELATED: Why Sony’s PSP Will Suck
1) First let’s talk about graphics. The graphical power of the PSP is said to be close to that of a Playstation2. And yet many early screenshots show slightly less complicated character and background models. There’s a reason for why things might appear that way, even though they are more impressive than anything else on the handheld market. It’s because screenshots from a PS2 are full screen and need to be that detailed, whereas the PSP screen is smaller and thus can fool the eye into appearing more powerful than it is on paper. Simply put, the character models don’t need to be as detailed, because you won’t notice the difference anyway. That said, we need to keep in mind that these are first-generation PSP titles. Just look at how the PS2 games have evolved since its launch. If handheld games are looking this good at launch, imagine what a couple years of development time will do. You can expect the same leaps, similar to those found with home based consoles, as developers become more familiar with it.
2) The battery time issue is fixable. Everyone was worried about what kind of battery time we would be looking at with such a powerful system. Well as of now, you can expect even the most intensive games to last well beyond 3 hours of play time, while other less graphically intense games can reach up to 6 hours. Better yet, the system can be charged while you play it, and there will also be swappable batteries available if you find your game time will stretch well past 4 hours in one sitting. As an aside, mp3 playback will be in the realm of 9-10 hours, in large part because you can turn off the screen when the unit is tucked in your pocket. Charging will take about 2 hours from a completely drained battery. You can also play the PSP while charging the battery at the same time. There’s more hope too. Sony has already stated that higher capacity batteries are in the works.
3) Music playback. The PSP will be able to play mp3’s right out of the box. The only supported storage (outside the pre-loaded UMD media) will be Memory Stick Duo’s, which could be found in capacities as large as 1GB, and for about $150 if you look hard enough. Battery life and sound quality have been reported to be pretty good, though you will probably want to use your favorite headphones. Many folks are planning to use the PSP as a secondary mp3 player, for when they grow tired of games while on the road.
4) It’s wireless too. The Nintendo DS has already demonstrated the freedom that can be had without carrying your cords everywhere, or dealing with tangles when trying to hook up with more than one person. The PSP follows suit with a powerful wireless functionality that can work up to 100 feet away, even through walls. Theoretically, you can play against someone else on the far side of the floor you’re on. Add in other players, and you can have 8 people going at it wirelessly without any game lag, as can be seen on the launch title Ridge Racers. And this is just the tip of it all, as future wireless titles can have internet connectivity so that you’re playing with a team of folks that span the globe. In fact, the PSP can already log online, but only for firmware updates, at this point. It’s only a matter of time before a third party releases a web browser UMD.
5) Sleep mode. One of the drawbacks to a disc-based system is load time. To help overcome some of the boot-up and loading time for the PSP, it allows you to put the system on sleep mode with a flick of a button, when you have a short break. Turning it back on will jump you immediately back to the point where you left off in your game, in less than a second. Furthermore, sleep mode has been found to have almost no effect on the battery-life, even after being in sleep for 24 hours. This means you can play in short bursts, experiencing the benefits of disc-based data, but minimizing the load times, if you need to keep it off for a little while.
6) Movie playback. The PSP plays back MP4-formatted movies, right off the memory stick. We’re still working on a way to make this thing less complicated, but right now you need at least a couple pieces of software to make the movie conversion. One is Decrypter, to rip movies off of your DVD’s and store them in VOB format files, and in conjunction with that you will need 3GP Converter, a free utility that converts video files to MP4. You will have better luck with smaller videos, and files that are already in AVI format. Sony itself recently released a converter software, but it does not rip your movies off DVD (understandably) and it also costs $10, on top of being Japanese. The 3GP program at least allows an option to change its language setting to English. Things will continue to iron themselves out as the system nears launch here in the US, but imagine how cool it would be to watch a 2-hour film on a brilliant portable wide-screen. The fact that you can do this, with a system that’s rumored to launch at such a low price is unbelievable.
7) Strong third-party support. The PSP should have a huge selection of games available throughout its lifespan, if Sony’s history is any indication. Even at launch, which we are hoping to come around March 2005, if not a little sooner, you’ll be able to jam with the likes of: ATV Off Road Fury, Dynasty Warriors, Bomberman, Hot Shots Golf, Metal Gear Acid, Ridge Racers, WipeOut Pure, NBA Street, NFL Street, Tony Hawk’s Underground 2, and Twisted Metal: World Tour.
8) The price is going to be right. In Japan, the cost of a PSP is $186 US once you make the conversion. It is very possible, in fact it is probable, that the PSP will launch in the US at $150 for the basic unit, and maybe $200 for the expanded Value Pack (includes a memory card, a strap, and a carry-pouch). Sony is looking to put a serious dent on the Nintendo handheld market and if they can match the price of it here, while at the same time offering all sorts of multimedia capabilities and a big leap in graphics, then it will do just that. Competition is always a good thing though, since this will get Nintendo thinking more about what they can produce to match. There could be a price cut on Nintendo’s part, or there could be bundles offered. Is it any coincidence that the DS Metroid game is also set to be released in March?
9) The screen is a marvel. The PSP’s screen has been called the crowning jewel of the system. It is amazingly bright even from multiple angles and from far away. Think about how some of the Sony VAIO laptop screens look like at your local Best Buy and you’ll have an idea of how sweet it will look. Not only that, it’s also in widescreen format so all games will natively give you a larger view of your surroundings, especially racing and FPS games. If you install your photos into the system, it will generate white bars on the side of the screen at first, since they are 4:3, but there is a zoom option on the PSP so that the image takes up the entire screen. You’ll probably be taking more shots with your digital camera from here on out, so that you can show off pictures easier now. The screen is substantially brighter than the Nintendo DS’.
10) Announcements are coming very soon. Word is that Sony is waiting until the holiday season ends so that they can announce all of the US official launch plans. Since it’s practically January already, it’s only going to be just a short couple of months before we have this thing in our hands! Gamestop and other software retailers are already taking pre-orders so we suggest you run out now if you want to be guaranteed one on launch day. We’re so excited to put this thing through its paces, and hopefully now you can understand why.
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Comments:
Good Info! The PSP sounds nice.
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Nice article. I’m glad to finally see something showing the positive aspects of the PSP with out dissing the DS in the process.
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This advertisement brought to you by Sony.
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1 Graphics
Sony kept telling us that the PSP was a mini-PS2 in your pocket. Now that we have screen shots and movies we see overly-simple character models with fewer polygons than characters on the PS1 and games that skimp on textures like Wipeout Pure. Thats okay though because on a tiny screen you wont miss the extra polygons or textures. Just buy our crap and I promise well make better looking games in the future. Honest!
2 Battery
Okay, the battery thing isnt an issue. Really! If you are in the middle of a game and the battery runs out, just plop in another $45 battery and keep playing. Just make sure to keep your spares charged and in a huge bag to carry around with your huge game cases and the charger. Also, make sure to save your game cause those rumors you heard about the game being suspended while you swap the battery were spread by Sony fanboys and arent true.
3 - Music playback
Yep! Now you can play music on your PSP. If you dont believe us, check out the great article about it on IGN that gives us the low-down. 1 directory of music with no ID3 tag support to sort on artist/genre/album. No crossfade like your rio Karma so expect a gap between songs. No album art cover or any imaginative use of the huge screen at all. No real EQ settings for bass and treble. Look out iPod, we have the Walkman of the 21 st century here.
4 - Wireless too
The PSP follows in the footsteps of the Nintendo DS showing that you can have fun without wires. Unlike the DS, you have to manually turn on the wireless capabilities or your battery will loose juice like a sieve. It kind of sucks that you cant just automagically find other players and that you have to worry about the battery slipping away faster than the awesome 3-hours than you may already get, but hey, thats progress!
5 - Sleep mode
One of the drawbacks to a disc-based system is load time. To help overcome some of the boot-up and loading time for the PSP, it allows you to put the system on sleep mode with a flick of a button. You wont really need this feature though, since after a short burst of gaming, your battery will need a recharge anyways.
6 - Movie playback.
The PSP plays back MP4-formatted movies, right off the memory stick. Were still working on a way to make this thing less complicated, but right now you need at least a couple pieces of software to make the movie conversion. One is Decrypter [dvddecrypter.com], to rip movies off of your DVDs and store them in VOB format files, and in conjunction with that you will need 3GP Converter [nurs.or.jp], a free utility that converts video files to MP4. (really, I dont even need to make fun of this one. It is a joke already. It should be noted though that you can only play 320x240 movies, the same resolution movies my phone already plays. So much for a high-resolution screen since you can only play low-resolution movies on it.)
8 - The price is going to be right
If the unit comes in at the totally reasonable price of $185, like it is in Japan right now, you may be a happy camper. Before you have the register biscuit ring you up, make sure to grab a few added necessities to make playing fun. Memory Card - $49 You dont HAVE to have a memory card, but you really do. Extra Battery - $49, go on and read #2 above. Game - $49 You probably want one of these, dont you. We forgot to give you a demo of an awesome touch-screen first-person shooter to try with your new system and you cant play old games with it either so you can buy everything all over again. Oh, I think we forgot the touch-screen too.
9 - The screen is a marvel
The PSPs screen has been called the crowning jewel of the system, which isnt shocking because nothing else on the system is noteworthy. It is like crowning Mrs Butt-Ugly, sure you got a winner, but look at the competition. Seriously though, the screen is bright and ghosts like a 1 st generation LCD monitor. For something that is intended as a movie viewer, we could have made a screen that didnt blur when there was motion or action on the screen, but then we couldnt give it to you at such an amazing price (with accessories). Viewing images from your Sony camera is slow too, unless your Sony camera takes photos in the PSPs native resolution, which it wont. Dont have a Sony camera? If youll step around the counter Ill show you some of our more expensive models.
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wow… how’s the fanboyitis treating you? can’t you take medications for that now? if you’re not worried about the big n making two handheld consoles (well, i guess if you have big hands at least), what do care that sony’s making one?
and your no backwards compatibility no touch screen argument is a little weak, don’t you think? go back to posting on nintendopower.com.
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Good rundown of information and some nice details I wasn’t aware of before. Thanks for sharing.
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Ahhhh Kamalot…. seems like your life’s purpose has turned into finding every possible blog and article about the PSP and ragging on it.
Honestly, did your DS send subliminal signals directing you to do it? Or is it the RF interference that seems to eminate from the DS that’s causing it?
If your DS is soo good, why don’t you keep playing it instead of spending every waking minute obsessing about your campaign of anti-PSP propoganda?
If the PSP is so bad, its failures will come out in the end. There’s no need for you to keep crapping on it.
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the first screenshot, what game it is?
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Kamalot must work for Nintendo
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Kamelot is just plain right
And I hate handhelds…
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Posted by somari on December 28, 2004 at 04:11 PM:
“This advertisement brought to you by Sony.”
Amen brother.
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rofl. (1), it’s a tiny screen, and (3), it’s a huge screen.
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Kamalot obviously doesn’t have a PSP, DOES have a DS and is just about as green as he could be. How tough is it that you can’t have a PSP and settle for a DS? Well, vent some of that on all the comment sections by outright lying and BSing about fake PSP shortcomings. That’s a start.
- PSP battery life rocks. I get 6+ hours w/ full bright playing RR. Fact. What’s that? DS owners getting 6-8 hours or less? Look up the battery life thread on Gamespot in the DS forum.
- PSP screen does ghost a bit. That’s worthy of note because the DS screen is so small and dismally dim that it could be a passive matrix from 1990 and nobody would be able to tell.
- DSBoy here is playing figures like a GOP budget analyst. If you get the $185 VALUE pack (the basic will be $150), you don’t NEED to buy a Memory Stick, genius. And you don’t NEED the extra battery, either. I have yet to be able to kill my PSP in a solid day of gaming.
- PSP following in the footsteps of the DS for wireless? Newsflash smartguy, the PSP WiFi schematics were on the table before the DS was a twinkle in any Otaku’s eye. PSP = long-time-developed portable PS2. DS = rushed-to-market watered-down N64. And hey, is that me updating my PSP firmware via my WLAN at home? Yes, I believe it is.
- ‘Viewing images from your camera is slow, too’ - you might want to check how your pet DS handles this before you go throwing stones, bub. What’s the DS got? Can you hook your DS to your PC and have it be instantly recognized as a USB 2.0 storage device? Didn’t think so.
- Playing “low resolution” movies on my PSP looks a hell of a lot better than your phone, mainly because I can take an anamorphic clip and stretch it to full screen (you know, how an actual TV or movie projector lens does it). The widescreen clips that play fullscreen on my PSP look better than anything you’re ever going to see on the DS… And that’s just with the (simple for us, maybe not to you) current converters available. Of which you only ‘NEED’ one - not two. And again, throwing stones when your own house isn’t exactly in order - video on DS? Let’s see it, then.
- Ooo - my PSP doesn’t display all the info and sort music files as good as a RIO or IPOD! Oh GOD, I may cry any moment! That’s it, I’m chucking mine in the trash. If I can’t see every detail about a song while I’m playing it on my PSP with full subfolder access and movement, then this device SUCKS. And the DS does it SO much better, right? Right?
- Fewer polys than a PS1 on a tiny screen?. Er, that tiny screen with fewer polys is on your DS, not the PSP. I can see the detail of the PS2-level graphics on my PSP just fine. And as the man said, this is just the beginning. Look at Ridge Racers on DS, then on PSP (when you finally get to see one, that is - since you haven’t, obviously). The DS looks like warmed over pockmarked buttock by comparison.
DS fanboys are QUITE up in arms over this PSP thing—as well they should be. Watch them kick and scream as their beloved (hey, I own an SP myself) DS gets Sony’s silver bullet fired straight into its heart. They’re out to finally slay the immortal Gameboy that has destroyed so many other contenders: NeoGeo Pocket, WonderSwan, GamePark, Nomad, GameGear, TurboExpress, Lynx, etc. etc.—That reign is about to end, so naturally the Nintendo fanboy-otaku geeks are going to have a freakin’ FIT in the meantime.
Should be fun to watch. Here, I brought a spare lawnchair. Have a beer.
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Someone just got the ‘LOOK AT ME - I AM A FANBOY F*CKTARD’ award:
“It is like crowning Mrs Butt-Ugly, sure you got a winner, but look at the competition.”
Implying the PSP is ugly compared to the DS… Yikes. With those selective aesthetics, I’d hate to see the girl you settled for.
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heey, i’m from Holland, and I read this article on a psp internet site. (sorry for my bad English!) and I thought that in Holland the competetive minds were big. But, lately I’ve read some American internet sites. And there is a big cliff between the Nintendo fanboys and the Sony gang
. But (you can count me as an Nintendo fanboy) what’s the big deal?? I mean, about a month ago, I was coming home from school and I turned on the tv. Just as I turned it on, the (I don’t know how you call it) Journal was on. And it had an article about the PSP. I was angry, because they never mentioned a thing about the NDS, but they did say that the PSP was gonna kick the GBA SP butt!! I send an e-mail to the Journal to get some more info, ‘bout why they didn’t mentionded the NDS! I did get an e-mail back, but it said nothing. The thing was that it must be an article in the Journal the email said. And that’s the point I mean. Sony will get the most sales, and why??, because it has a movie- and mp3 playback, photo’s system and of course a gaming device. But when I will buy a handheld(yes, I’ve got an GB orginial, GBPocket, 2x GBC and an GBA) I want to GAME, when I want movies on a flight, I have a tv in front of me in an plane. At home we’ve got 4 DVD players. And if I am gonna buy an PSP, then I’m not gonna buy al movies again, just for the PSP. In our next car, there will be defenitly an DVD or tv system. We’re gonna go every year in Spring to Switzerland, and in Autemn to Austria with the car. The trip to Switzerland & Austria is about 9 hours, and I bring my GBA with me, and an MP3 player. But the NDS got’s lots more innovation than the PSP. The PSP is a look-a-like of an pumped up PDA!! 
The NDS gots WiFi function that is gonna go 30 meters (I don’t know to count in feet, I think it’s 3 ft = 1 mtr.) or 90 ft or so. And then the connection get’s weaker. But the managed to get the NDS via xLink online. So I don’t worry ‘bout that. And Nintendo is developing a movieplayer for the GBA (SP) and the NDS. With SD-cards if I’‘m not wrong. These are in Europe lot’s cheaper as Memory Sticks Duo’s will be. But the real gamers will know that the NDS is a real gaming device. In Holland the most boughted consoles are the:
#1 PS2
#2 Gamecube
#3 Xbox
The reason that’s the PS2 on #1 is that, parents will by for the kids the PS2. Why, the name of Sony. You mention Sony in Holland, ooh that’s the PS2. But you mention Nintendo in Holland, isn’t that brand which brought the Gameboy, and the Gamecube on the market?? But everyone in Holland knows who Mario and Donkey Kong are(except for the older people!!
), but you mention ehm, e.g., Jak, you’ll will see ?? on peoples faces!! The point is that Sony bring low-quality games on the market, but they have a large asortiment of games. Nintendo will only bring high-end quality games on the market. I don’t know any flopped GC or GBA game!! And Sony is gonna win the wars, because the brand name!!
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10 Great Things About the N-Gage (not the N-Gage QD)
1. Plays MP3s.
2. Runs the popular Series 60 OS, for which many non-N-Gage-specific apps are already available.
3. Synchronizes built-in PIM software with Mac OS X (iSync) and Windows (Intellisync).
4. Built-in FM radio.
5. Supports on-line play with built-in GPRS radio.
6. Available used for about the same price as a Game Boy Advance SP.
7. Memory expansion with widely-available albeit slow MultiMedia Cards.
8. Includes software that lets me surf the web and check e-mail using the built-in modem.
9. Supports Bluetooth, letting me use a cordless headset instead of Sidetalkin’.
10. Has a built in Media Player [n-gage.com], which supports not only MP3s (#1) but also video clips and streaming media.
I guess the original N-Gage was pretty good after all!
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I don’t understand this “fanboy” mentality. Why the allegiance to someone/something that has none for you?
Get a job and buy both and eBay the lesser of the two. If you can’t afford it, buy neither, this isn’t a “need”. I think I’ll be selling my DS in a few months, but who knows. The point is to enjoy yourself using it, not owning it.
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can you reserve at best?This is the best and
system i’v ever seen.This is the coooooooolest article 
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People. They are just consoles. Products.
However, I feel the need to set the following gentleman straight… just to make sure he doesn’t feel disappointed when the PSP arrives to the US.
“- PSP battery life rocks. I get 6+ hours w/ full bright playing RR. Fact. What’s that? DS owners getting 6-8 hours or less? Look up the battery life thread on Gamespot in the DS forum.”
Play RR with full brightness setting and you will not get 6+ hours. You will at get 3 hours tops. Play WiFi with your friends and get less.
Source: http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-11721-1344-1-5-x
“- PSP screen does ghost a bit. That’s worthy of note because the DS screen is so small and dismally dim that it could be a passive matrix from 1990 and nobody would be able to tell.”
“(hey, I own an SP myself)”
I’ve never heard a GBA(SP) owner feel bad about the size of the screen. Do you realise the DS screens are slighty bigger (and much brighter) than the GBA(SP) screen?
“- DSBoy here is playing figures like a GOP budget analyst. If you get the $185 VALUE pack (the basic will be $150), you don’t NEED to buy a Memory Stick, genius. And you don’t NEED the extra battery, either. I have yet to be able to kill my PSP in a solid day of gaming.”
This is what is called wishful thinking. To avoid disappointment, refrain from it.
“PSP = long-time-developed portable PS2
DS = rushed-to-market watered-down N64”
Only 200,000 PSPs were shipped at launch, and Sony tried avoid losing time (read: DS launch = BAD). At US, 500,000 were made available. At Japan, 500,000 were made available. As soon as Nintendo found that DS units were selling faster than expected, Nintendo increased production by 40%. The PSP was already being produced as fast as possible. On top of that, PSP had very little software complete at the Tokyo Game Show. If I were to choose which handheld to call “rushed-to-market”, it would be the PSP.
“- ‘Viewing images from your camera is slow, too’ - you might want to check how your pet DS handles this before you go throwing stones, bub. What’s the DS got? Can you hook your DS to your PC and have it be instantly recognized as a USB 2.0 storage device? Didn’t think so.”
USB 2.0 is a very nice feature.
“- Playing “low resolution” movies on my PSP looks a hell of a lot better than your phone, mainly because I can take an anamorphic clip and stretch it to full screen (you know, how an actual TV or movie projector lens does it). The widescreen clips that play fullscreen on my PSP look better than anything you’re ever going to see on the DS… And that’s just with the (simple for us, maybe not to you) current converters available. Of which you only ‘NEED’ one - not two. And again, throwing stones when your own house isn’t exactly in order - video on DS? Let’s see it, then.”
Well, most of my movies are 4:3. But watching movies on a PSP will probably be a lot better than on a DS. Watching movies on a DS is already possible. Look it up.
“- Ooo - my PSP doesn’t display all the info and sort music files as good as a RIO or IPOD! Oh GOD, I may cry any moment! That’s it, I’m chucking mine in the trash. If I can’t see every detail about a song while I’m playing it on my PSP with full subfolder access and movement, then this device SUCKS. And the DS does it SO much better, right? Right?”
Again, it’s already possible to use a DS for mp3-playing. Since a GBA SP and a DS can be closed (protected screens), and the battery-life is longer (at least 15 hours on GBA SP with Nintendo’s player), the DS and GBA SP are superior.
“- Fewer polys than a PS1 on a tiny screen?. Er, that tiny screen with fewer polys is on your DS, not the PSP. I can see the detail of the PS2-level graphics on my PSP just fine. And as the man said, this is just the beginning. Look at Ridge Racers on DS, then on PSP (when you finally get to see one, that is - since you haven’t, obviously).”
Agreed. No comment.
“DS fanboys are QUITE up in arms over this PSP thing—as well they should be. Watch them kick and scream as their beloved (hey, I own an SP myself) DS gets Sony’s silver bullet fired straight into its heart. They’re out to finally slay the immortal Gameboy that has destroyed so many other contenders: NeoGeo Pocket, WonderSwan, GamePark, Nomad, GameGear, TurboExpress, Lynx, etc. etc.—That reign is about to end, so naturally the Nintendo fanboy-otaku geeks are going to have a freakin’ FIT in the meantime.”
You own a GBA SP, yet you praise Sony for coming out to “finally slay the immortal Gameboy”. You seem to be very upset about this whole handheld war. Take note, the DS has been sold 2.8 million times. The PSP around 390.000 (in Japan). Just thought you should know.
“Should be fun to watch. Here, I brought a spare lawnchair. Have a beer.”
No thanks. I prefer a good movie, rather than a handheld war that will take years.
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ok psp is gonna rock no doubt about it
so yea all of u ds fans i would do the same thing b/c yea psp is gonna rock!!!!!!!!!!!
i sold my ds on ebay and sold it for more than i paid in the store and that money is going torward the PSP
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WHAT THE HELL IS DS AND PSP!?!?!? Isn’t this the Fans of African Literature forum???
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I think the PSP will win the “war”, but the NDS will be the best Gaming device in the end.
I will buy the PSP just to see if it’s so great that a few of you think.
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I would like to make a comment, I rarely take the time away from game production to state something to a bunch of fans who are obviously disputing over something that is honestly oblivious.
I work in the Video Game Industry, currently developing a Title for PSP as well as PS2. I will leave it nameless at the moment.
Let me state this. There is no handheld war, in fact the NDS is an innovative idea. I would never doubt Nintendo’s strategy when it comes to making FUN games. I have the highest respect for the big N.
So why am I developing for PSP? there is the easier awnser. PSP is an entertainment handheld system. NDS is an innovative GBA upgrade. Anyone wonder why Nintendo Dropped the Gameboy name? Because the NDS was made not to be a successor to the GBA, but in fact a more MATURE gba. There will be another gameboy in the near future no doubt there, wait for more information at E3, and TGS. When Nintendo announces its new console.
As for PSP I take it as a give and take, Sony obviously makes the most money from sales in Japan, Nintendo has always been seeted comfortably behind Sony, and they probally always will be. Nintendo is a fan based company, they give the fans what they want. Sony however has its plus side: Garuntee sales, and Garuntee advertising. Development is great, and wonderful to see the outcome. The down side is the truth. The battery thats in your PSP will eventually loose charge, all battery’s do. I have gone through 6 batteries on my current PSP because of constant testing of our engine. Thats a PSP running for 6 hours a time with 5 batteries waiting pre charged, you get the idea. So why do they go so fast? This is the negative side, Sony makes its money off the down sides. Selling another battery is more cash in the pot.
I do however enjoy reading what fans like and dislike. I honestly say to all of you, the review is quite honest, this coming from someone developing for PSP.
Here is another few mentions:
PSP sales are low, but steadily increasing. There really is few games out, same as NDS. As everyone is complaining about sales, Sony always reaches there desired sales ratio, whether it be from devices breaking and being returned for another (1 replacement= 1 sale, negitive sales income) the PS2 has sold so many because so many of the systems fail after their use time.
Nintendo DS: I enjoy mine, its great to have mario around the office when I need a break. I will mention the use of the screen as a analog stick is a bit annoying, and the thumb pad is often a cuase of blisters. I am use to this however, PSP does have a nice Analog stick, but the accuracy as from what I noticed isnt as accurate as it could be on the first models.
PSP downsides; Right now PSP uses Sharp LCD’s, soon they will switch over to SAMSUNG: Im not downing samsung, but once something goes there it means the manufacturing is going to be boosted, meaning more errors.
PSP errors: if anyone has Vampire Chronicles Tower of chaos, youll notice as you hit the Square and X button there is a bit of a stick. otherwords hitting it as fast as posible for your combos is hard. There is a reason, it is to prevent you from breaking the system. Simple as that.
PSP and NDS: I like both equally. I use my NDS as my pocket assistant, and my PSP as my entertainment system.
Everyone put your grudges aside, and just find some more time to study what it is your complaining about. Just because one persons PSP is working great, doesnt mean all models work as effectivly. same goes for NDS
last comment about RR PSP VS NDS: if you play this game, and say that the graphics are top quality, your also forgetting the size ratio of the 3D models, and the enviroment mapping: NDS and PSP are pretty equal. PSP has a higher particle rate, and 3D processor than NDS of course, but NDS also doesnt waste all the power on eyecandy over gameplay.. I garuntee PSP and NDS will both have its fair share of Cheaply made games (such as the movie industry) there are games that are made to sell for name, and then there are games that are made to sell to sell.
I will get back to work now, I spent a little to much of my coffee break typing this to you guys.
Peace to all
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Thank You “A M”.
You just cleared My mind, soon i will probably be a PSP owner, and if I feel that i’ve made the wrong choice then I will buy The NDS.
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DON’T YOU ALL SEE!!!! SONY IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD!! WE DON’T HAVE A PRAYER!!!!!
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Dudes, calm down, take a deep breath. PSP and the DS don’t have to be enemeys. The winning company will take the spoils, kick the losing companies butt and tell them not to make any more handhelds (unless nintendo loses, they might be able to sneak somthing in). I suggest that both companies devolop some sort of tech to play games with each other. Now that would be the awsomeness
And this goes for all the fanboys: Can’t we all just get along? Peace out.
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These kinda topics reminds me of those which graphics cards or which cpu is the best. It can never be proven.
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You can now find 1 GB Memory sticks for 130 dollars. People are saying that it will be HALF that at US Launch!
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A M does a good job at making you gibbering fans take a look at yourself. Im buying PSP, no doubt. simply because the games that will be on it are for me much more interesting.
Sure you can say that games on NDS are more innovative, but having another Mario isnt something that will atract me. Feel the Magix:XX/XY and Pacman on the NDS look like excellent games, but its not enough for me to buy the system for. Im just not sure if the future of NDS will be very good in terms of software. Picochat on the other side is great, I like drawing and using it during classes would be great. The absence of other direct multimedia features is something bas though…NDS isnt supposed to be like that, but its still a shame…
In PSP on the other side I am much more confident. With PS2 being my favorite console, I can atleast expect alot on PSP. Mercury, Lumines and WipeOutPure are already making me stutter in anticipation. Its multimedia features are also something which is important to me. I only own a cd-walkman for on-the-move entertainment. PSP is an excellent oppertunity for me to make use of newer technologies (MP3 players, Movieplayers, handheld gaming).
I hope that NDSfans and PSPfans can settle down and not have such a grudge towards the competitor’s.
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^^ DS is ok PSP is ok
Xbox owns you all newbs.
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OK “THE PSP IS GOING TO BE GREAT” theres a true but not stupid but how do i put it…oh yea DUUU. ANyone who likes the psps as much as me is cool with me Who is a Sony fanboy here besides me?
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PSP 1 month and 10 days away…WHY SO LONG…......
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA this is driving me crazy *daze* Coming March 25 *deep breath* oh well i can wate for something this good (Dont like the PSP then F-U) 
Fanboys should get a sooner release date.
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Your so right the PSP is gpoing to wreck the DS by FAR
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Me, I’m just going to get a PSP and a DS and enjoy gaming with them. Hey, if I have both, I can play with anyone and get a whole day’s battery life combined…
lighten up, fanboys!
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You know…..my biggest problem with the PSP is that now I am going to have to buy 2 handhelds this year instead of one. It was much simpler when there was only 1 to pick from.
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Man this System is Freakin Awesome… BUT E3 is coming up and I think Nintendo may be releasing some Info/Screenshots Specs for their new GameBoy and I think I may have to wait and see what they have before I Buy.
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Everyone is dissing about the PSP(I wont because i’m a fan of it)But I admit that the movie conversion is really a bit painful.But it is understandable since if you know about the copyright laws. You’ll know that sony is doing this to avoid directly offend the copyright law.
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I live in Tokyo and own both a PSP and DS (received as gifts). After having a long time with both units I have to declare that they are both a waste of time/money. Neither system really offers a full entertainment experience.
Both are 1/2 assed attempts at a great product and they want us to pay for them. Both sets of fanboys just need to take a deep breath and chill out. Unless you absolutely NEED a mobile gaming system isn’t there something else you would be better off spending your hard earned (or your parent’s hard earned I imagine) $$$ on something more worthy?
Summary: DS and PSP = waste of time+money
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I actually have a question.
Is the PSP universal?
I mean can you play european games on an american PSP and vice versa?
Or is it like the PS2, 2 different formats?
Just asking because I am gona buy one in Canada, but if I can’t use it in Europe, I’m a bit screwed.
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well lot of handheld wars going on here. my own 2 cents worth is that that sony and nintendo have always been targeting 2 diffrent markets. they kinda overlap but for the most part nintendo goes for the younger crowd and sony goes for the older crowd. me i like all games and make sorta decent money, combine that with buying used items i got xbox, ps2, gamecube, and a gba sp. havent gotten the sony psp or ds yet cause i am not that big of a handheld fan, but living in japan i probley will get a psp soon just cause i like the games released on sony. which brings me to my main point. forget which is better or smaller or better battery life. your going to buy the dang thing cause of the games you play, for example final fantasy, i love that series so i had a nintendo to play it , then a super nes, then a ps1 then a ps2 then a gba sp. people like the games and we will see a lot of cross platform games but to get down to it you will buy the system that you like the games for. i got the xbox cause i want to play ninja gadian and knights of the old republic and i am waiting for jade empire. bought the game cube for the resedent evil games and some of the rpg games, and ps2 for of course the FF series and grand trusimo. now better graphic are nice but if my only reason to get the xbox was graphics i wouldnt of got it. but now that i do have it ya if a game is out on all 3 systems i will get it for the xbox cause of the graphics. so cut out all the system wars causes in 90% of the cases you aint going to make a person who wants the psp to want the ds or visa verse.
again just my 2 cents worth
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Yes ok the psp is okay if you a f-king billionaire the accessories alone cost the same as buying a home console so there you go
p.s DS’S ROCK
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the people arguing about the ds are retarded… the ds plays crappy pixelated games and really sucks.
as the PSP PLAYS GAMES THAT LOOK 1000000 TIMES BETTER AND DONT SUCK. go buy a psp and burn your ds with gas.
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psp, ps2 see the simalaraty sony just wanted to be in the running for hanheld gaming so what did they do took a ps2 controller and slaped a screen on it and said hey theres a hanheld console lets put that on the market, but wait the batterys only last 4 hours, so who cares we will put fully chardge bats on sale for 50$ then dumbass will buy them in stead of charging the bet they already have in and we will get even more money.
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who the f will buy a nds.When u can buy a psp.Sure it will cost a little to much but look at wats in it. It has a mp3, large screen,and a memory duo with a whole bunch of other stuff.Look at the graphics of a nds and compare it with the psp.The nds has gamecube graphics which suck.Have u played nfsu2 on it?Man its the worst the graphics r fed up.the psp is going to have the underground game nfs underground rivals.have u seen the screen shots there incredible.
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er are you blind everyone knows that graphics wise it goes
xbox
gamecube
snes
ps2
ill admit that the psp hasbetter graphics but its just a normal handheld console where as the ds brings a new way to gaming.
so if you really want to know, my views are that the psp and the ds are both great consoles, but they are not really in compitition with each other as the psp and ds are in diffrent relms of gaming.
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bummers you lot are nerdy BUMMERS
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AND WHATS YOUR POINT
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#1 ps2 or ps3(if coems out)
#2 psp
#3 computer
#4 xbox
by the way i hate halo2
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HALO2 SUCKSCOCK SO DONT EVEN BOTHER PALYIN IT N U GOT A POIN SHADYMAN
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