Kasavin Weighs In On PSP, DS Battle

Thanks to GameSpot for its Greg Kasavin-authored 'GameSpotting' editorial discussing comparisons between Sony's PSP and Nintendo's DS handheld systems, in a piece subtitled: "Five Capital Letters, Two Little Systems, One Big Bloodbath". Kasavin points out: "It's very, very easy to jump on Sony's bandwagon... it's also very, very easy to root for the relative underdog that Nintendo's lately turned into. But... neither of these companies expects your loyalty or necessarily deserves it. They're both these big, huge Japanese firms designed to pull a serious profit year in and year out." The piece continues: "There's a lot of evidence to suggest that the Nintendo DS is a reactionary device that lacks focus", although concedes: "To be fair, Sony has also done its fair share of double-talking with respect to the PSP", before marginally favoring the PSP, "designed with an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mind-set." Elsewhere, Game Informer also weighs in, with a two-part series "analyzing the upcoming handhelds".

Comments

Greg passed up on one point

[orthancstone]

Greg acted like no games were made for DS functionality...yet he seemed to forget the Metroid game.
I'd have to say that being able to use a stylus to shoot at enemies on the new system would be making use of this new, interesting feature (not just using it to justify having it).

Re:Greg passed up on one point

[El Neepo]

He also seems to think you're going to be REQUIRED to use the touch screen. I doubt a fighting game will require touches on that pad while trying to kick ass.

Re:Greg passed up on one point

[quecojones]

Personally, I think it would be a difficult/annoying time to use the stylus to aim/shoot while using the d-pad to move... but maybe that's just me.

Re:Greg passed up on one point

[Docktor]

But if you played this game at E3 you would realize that the gameplay was horrible. If you're left handed, it's even more awkward, because the buttons on the right side must become your D-pad.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it"

[KDR_11k]

The stove didn't break, why did people invent something as unnecessary as the microwave?

(I thought this analogy is the best way to express my oppinion on the subject)

Ain't broke?

[fr0dicus]

The PSP looks more like the Atari Lynx/Sega Game Gear than anything else I can think of, in terms of (relative to current technology) capabilities, battery life, form factor and screen.

If they weren't broke then could I please have my own reality back?

From what I've seen

[Chris Acheson]

There seems to be a lot more consumer excitement about the Nintendo DS. It might be some sort of geek bias, since I'm going off what I've seen on internet forums, but I can see how the DS would be much more successful.

Obviously the big issue will be what games are available for each system. This remains to be seen, but the backwards compatibility seems like a very big advantage for the DS. The DS will have a massive previous-generation game library, just as the PS2 does. This is less of an issue as a system reaches maturity, but it's important for a newly-launched system.

The other major issue is the price of each system. The DS will cost (so we've been told) $150. That's only $50 more than a GBA SP. The PSP will be priced around $250, resulting in significantly slower consumer uptake. Combined with the earlier launch date of the DS, the PSP will have a difficult time breaking into the market.

I think Sony would have done better to create a PSone-sized machine capable of playing PS1 and PS2 games, as well as audio CDs and DVDs. Sure, it couldn't really be considered a handheld system any more, and you'd need a carrying case for it, but they're trying to market the PSP as an all-in-one media player/game system. Why not make something that actually plays your media? Creating a new disc format specific to the PSP and only allowing it to play Sony's DRM-encumbered music files seems like a mistake to me.

On a not entirely related note, how many of you have thought about the possibility of running Linux on the DS? The features seem perfect for it. We just need a port.

DS isn't THAT original...

[Singletoned]

I've been playing games using a stylus for years on my Palm. Mainly just Rogue/Nethack and Breakout clones, but also some card games and stuff. It's a nice control system but hardly revolutionary.

Personally, I am looking forward to using it with a few strategy RPGs. I'd love a handheld version of Disgaea that's controlled with a stylus, but it doesn't look like I'll get it.

For me the most important feature would be Save to Memory, so that I can save a game at any point, and then resume it at my next journey.

Re:DS isn't THAT original...

[chrismcdirty]

I'm tired of people saying this. Whoever said it was original? They said it was innovative for console games. And it sure is. I've never seen a console game use a touchscreen. I've never seen a console game with two screens. And don't you mention the Game and Watch, Game.com, or some stupid Tiger game. They don't count as console games if there is no actual animation, as far as I'm concerned.

Re:From what I've seen - Popularity

[shakey_deal]

There is a poll next to the game spot article about which handheld people are more interested in. The results are surprising, imho.

Nintendo DS 2222 (51%)
Sony PSP 2091 (48%)

um, neither?

[h0mer]

I know a lot of people on here probably have stuff clipped to their belt and pockets full of gear. That's cool and all but not practical for everyone.

It seems like both of these systems are too big to carry around in a pocket, especially if you're wearing jeans. Also, I don't ride public transportation on the regular. I just don't see where I'm going to play these things, I don't play GBA very often as it is. My free time is at home, and if I'm at home, then I'll probably want to play something with more capabilities than these portable systems.

Nintendo didn't need to make the DS to compete with PSP, they just need to figure out how to stuff cell phone guts in a GBA SP.

Re:um, neither?

[chrismcdirty]

The reason you and others are against convergence devices is because there hasn't been a decent one yet.

True. But I like the size of my GBA screen. But I wouldn't like my phone to be that large. And I wouldn't want my gaming screen any smaller, as it may cause more eye-strain than it already does.

And I don't know about you, but I paid less for my GBA than I would have for my phone if it hadn't come free with a 2-year service agreement. That pretty much killed any problems about the real estate to buy two devices.

Re:um, neither?

[KDR_11k]

A GBA and cell phone have different requirements. For one thing, as mentioned above, a cell phone is supposed to be as small as possible and usable with one hand while a game system has two handed control and needs a bigger screen (which would make the device too large for a cell phone).

Furthermore, a GBA has less buttons than the NGage. While the GBA has almost TOO few buttons, the NGage's 12 buttons aren't conductive to gaming. They have neither a layout that would benefit gaming (buttons are usually aligned in a diamond shape or something exotic like the Gamecube's controls) nor are they easily told apart. Sure, two buttons are marked so you can identify them as important (at least if you know the meaning of the marking, a friend of mine tried an NGage and didn't figure out that the elevation of the 5 and 7 means something), but that's still not very intuitive.
The Gamecube, for example, has the buttons aligned ad shaped so A is clearly identified as the main button, when a new person tries a GC game, they instinctively press the A button first, then try the B button. With the NGage someone who has never seen the system before just looks at the keypad and wonders "what now?". The fact that only a few of these buttons are actually bound to an action doesn't help, either.
You may argue that the NGage is a piece of crap and ideed it is, but the keypad is forced upon it by its cellphone roots. Any cellphone would need it so you can use them with one hand and your SMS typing reflexes still work. Removing it would mean crippling the cell phone.

Re:um, neither?

[blueskatz]

I played both the DS and the PSP at E3, and they were both a lot smaller than you'd think. Both about the same size as the original GBA.

Though I'd be nervous about the PSP in my pocket without something to protect the screen.

The PSP definately looks a whole lot cooler up close, especially the screen. Its very large, and comparitively, the DS screens seem a bit washed out, as far as color. DS screens look exactly like GBA SP screens.

Still, based on the games, I will certainly buy a DS the day it comes out (another animal crossing!). I'll probably wait a few months on the PSP. The only PSP game that interests me enough to buy the system so far is Makai Wars.

Missing One Important Point

[NickFusion]

The PSP is not a machine made for children, with an estimated street price of $299, and sensitive movable parts (the drive mechanism).

As usual, Nintendo, whatever else you say about the DS, has made a cheaper, virtually indestructible game device for kids with solid state, virtually indestructible game carts. We can all moan about carts, but parents love the sturdiness of the Nintendo line.

And according to the folks developing the hardware, the LCD element of the display will wear out before the touch screen does.

Smart money is on the DS for games, and the PSP as a mobile entertainment system for adults.

Honestly, it's only amongst monied geeks that these two platforms are going to compete for sales.

Re:Missing One Important Point

[Doomstalk]

I honestly don't see the PSP's multimedia capabilities being all that widely used. Their coice to go to a proprietary media, the UMD, means that people with extensive DVD or CD collections will have to purchase their music and movies all over again if they want to use them in the PSP. If you start a collection on the PSP, you're going to have to buy it all over again to use it on your home entertainment system, or be left hoping that Sony evetually releases a standalone player.

Secondly, none of the music labels/movie studios have adopted the UMD as an approved format, meaning there's a strong chance that Sony Pictures and Sony Music will companies producing content on it.

Thirdly, in terms of movie playback, the PSP is severely harmed by battery life. The numbers I've read say it will have less than 3 hours' worth of power in movie playback mode. That means if you want to watch a long film like, oh say, any of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, you'd better have an outlet nearby. Additionally, it means that after watching shorter movies, you're not going to have much battery left to play games, meaning you'll have to choice on which you want on each outing.

Finally, there's the backlit screen. On first thought, the idea of laptop style screen technology in a handheld, but if you've ever tried to use your laptop outdoors on a sunny day, you'll know just how easily that backlight is drowned out. Chances are good that on any given car/train trip you're going to pass through a patch of sunlight, severely imparing how easily you can see the screen. Oh yeah, and let's not forget the color shift issues that occur when you view a laptop screen from any angle except straight on.

Re:Missing One Important Point

[SkyWalk423]

Finally, there's the backlit screen. On first thought, the idea of laptop style screen technology in a handheld, but if you've ever tried to use your laptop outdoors on a sunny day, you'll know just how easily that backlight is drowned out. Chances are good that on any given car/train trip you're going to pass through a patch of sunlight, severely imparing how easily you can see the screen. Oh yeah, and let's not forget the color shift issues that occur when you view a laptop screen from any angle except straight on.

I swear there's no pleasing some people. Would you rather have a non-backlit screen like the original GBA? Back when it came out folks griped about needing a bright light to see the screen. Now we're getting a backlit LCD and folks are griping about possibly having too much light to see the screen?!? And tell me, when will you EVER watch your PSP at an angle?? Maybe your buddy watching LOTR over your shoulder in the car will have a bad angle. Is that a reason to not buy one?

I love complaining for complaining's sake. There's generally not enough complaining going on.

PSP Battery Life

[dar]

With battery life measured in the 2-3 hour range (for gaming), I have no interest in the PSP.

The jury is still out for the DS.

Results from another poll

[Chris Acheson]

Check out these two recent polls that GameFAQs did:

DS Poll
PSP Poll

I find it interesting that in both polls, the highest result was "Maybe, it depends on the price" - around 30% for both polls. I would guess that this would be even more of a factor for the general population. These polls are only sampling the opinions of those who frequent gaming websites.

Who says that is has to be a battle?

[Demon-Xanth]

There is room for two consoles, one high end and fragile, and one low end and durable. Nintendo has pulled out a very durable design setup with the SP/DS. The screens don't get scratched because of the folding nature (my GBA's screen cover got replaced twice), and they can take a fall easy. There's not much to break from a moderate drop. And the price is low enough that people don't get paranoid about them. Now take a PSP, nice large display, excellent graphics, but the design is more inherantly prone to have problems.

Personally, I'm looking forwards to both. My GBA and NGPC coexisted (and still do). I don't mind adding a PSP and DS to the mix. Probably won't happen because of the cost, but I'd like it.

There's a place for a Jeep Wrangler, and there's a place for a Chevrolet Corvette. One doesn't exactly take a signifigant number of sales away from the other.

Respect for GameSpot...down one.

[metroid composite]

First, whenever I see a "DS or PSP" argument on a game forum, I want to slap the people. "None" "Both" or "I'll wait till they actually have games thank you" sound like more sensible replies in all honesty.

Second, "PSP will have more games" seems like BS. Last I checked (and correct me if I'm wrong) there were about 100 third parties working on each system, and about equal number of third party games announced for each. (And then Nintendo wins the first party, of course).

Historically, poor battery life and high price is downright DEATH in the portable world. Other than Sony being stronger than Atari/Sega, what's different this time?

I'm going to paraphrase the analysis of a GameFAQs user (HoratioQHornblower) who owns a shop and so seems to know more about what will sell than I do. Here's the thing: handheld gaming is different than home console gaming. For instance, while racing games sell just fine on big consoles, they sell poorly on handelds. Who's going to buy the PSP version of GT4 when they can buy the PS2 version and play it properly on a big screen? Handheld gaming (according to him) is more centered around platformers (Marios, Metroids) and strategy games (Fire Emblem, FFTA). Roughly speaking, the list of DS games seem more suited to a handheld, whereas the PSP games are mostly scaled down console games, often literally ports of PS1 games.

Again, I'm not really doing HoratioQHornblower's argument justice, but his prediction for his store was that people woud buy the PSP first (better marketing) but return it after a couple of weeks when they find out Metal Gear Acid is a card RPG and the battery life is low. On the other hand, the DS, even ignoring the innovation, has a library which guarantees a certain level of success as a handheld, even if initial hype is lower.

Corrections

[Doomstalk]

Oops, sorry. My thoughts ran ahead of my words in a few spots. Here're some corrections so it makes more sense:

"Secondly, none of the music labels/movie studios have adopted the UMD as an approved format, meaning there's a strong chance that Sony Pictures and Sony Music will be the only companies producing content on it."

"On first thought, the idea of laptop style screen technology in a handheld ,i>seems like a good one, but if you've ever tried to use your laptop outdoors on a sunny day, you'll know just how easily that backlight is drowned out."

My take

[mfterman]

In general, I'm with the PSP people in terms of the overall design. Dual screens with a stylus strikes me as an attempt to be clever. Clever doesn't really work with these types of machines. Something simple and elegant works much better in these cases. The DS is relying on a dual screen gimmick and in my experience, gimmicks don't do too well.

The PSP has a very clean ergonomic design. The only thing that the PSP is missing is a second analog control. If it had that, I would say that it would be absolutely perfect in layout.

The two issues that worry me are proprietary media and data formats. I'd feel happier if it had some industry standard small data disk format. I'd also feel happier if they announced it could support a lot of media formats, including MPEG, MP3 and Ogg. To my mind, something that could play good games and support those formats would be something I would be seriously tempted in buying.

The price is also something where I think Sony may be rushing in too soon. Steve Jobs blew it with the Newton because while the concept was good the technology hadn't hit the right price point. While I think the PSP has a clean design, if it's too expensive, we've got yet another overprinced and overambitious piece of hardware to add to the list of other bold experiments.

I don't know if I'm the only one...

[M.C. Hampster]

But the reason I love my GBA so much is that it is not 3D. The PSP sounds really cool, looks slick, and if it can deal with the battery life issue (which I'm not sure they can with a spinning disk and laser), should be a winner. However, if most of the games are going to be just like my console games but on a smaller screen, who cares? I like the simplicity of the games I find on the GBA, especially considering when and how I use it.

Personally, I think I'm going to like the DS more, but I don't know if that's just the Nintendo fanboy in me. The question of who will win this war is still up in the air for me. While Nintendo has been challenged in the past, I don't think it's ever been by the likes of Sony. Most people I talk to just equate the Playstation to video games. They'll refer to any of the 3 consoles as a "Playstation". It's almost synonymous with gaming for most. Of course, these are not probably the people that will be buying a portable gaming system, so I'm not sure if Sony's "mindshare" will be enough to carry the PSP.