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Grand Theft Auto for US PSP Launch
GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that a version of the popular Grand Theft Auto series (as well as a version of the Midnight Club 3 game) will be released around the date of the US/EU PSP launch. From the article: "Sony's extremely impressive technology has allowed Rockstar Leeds to do more on a handheld machine than we could have ever imagined ... We are very excited for gamers to experience these two genre-defining franchises in a fashion that could have never before been possible on a portable system."
I like that quote a lot. People love talking about the innovation of the DS, but in my mind the PSP is just as innovative. The DS is combining PDA gaming with GBA gaming and wireless access. The PSP is shrinking the PS2 into a sleek little handheld. Both of these allow us to do things on that we have never been able to do on handhelds before.
That being said, I own a DS and have not been extremely impressed. I own Mario 64 and Feel the Magic. Mario is fun, but suffers greatly from the lack of an analog stick. I'll always prefer to play the N64 version because of this. Feel the Magic is a fun game, but extremely short and I felt like I was cheated out of a few bucks when I beat it so quickly. Also, the entire time I'm playing Feel the Magic I'm terrified that I'm going to end up with a scratched touch screen.
The touch screen may have some cool applications in gaming, but I think the choice to break up the device into two screens was a poor one. In Mario, the bottom screen is honestly more of a distraction than anything, and I almost with I could just shut it off (maybe I can?). I do realize that these are only the launch titles, and launch titles usually suck, but these are my honest early impressions.
I just sorta picked up the DS because I buy most consoles/handhelds, whatever. After seeing screenshots and videos of the PSP in action, I don't see any way I can possibly NOT own one.
This honestly did not start out as a DS/PSP thing, I swear!
My friends blasted me for buying a DS, becuase they have the belief that Nintendo always relies on their franchises way too much and that's why they won't bother with the system. They're not WRONG with what they're saying about there being a lot of Mario/Zelda/Metroid games, but their reasoning for poopooing the DS is because Nintendo seems to rely too much on existing games.
But they're stoked over the PSP, and Sony can do no wrong. However, every single game title that I've seen them go gaga over has been...existing franchises. (Gran Turismo, Metal Gear, GTA, Midnight Club, Ridge Racer...)
They don't exactly like it when I point out the irony. ("Why would I want to get a system where I can play an old and tired game with Mario in it where I can get the PSP and play Gran Turismo?")
I don't see how your points are a factor. Considering the PSP's specs, it's perfectly capable of handling a large scale 3D environment in a game. There's plenty of capacity on one of those UMDs to support it, and the screen size has an adequate amount of resolution to show acceptable detail in a 3D world. It's not how big a screen is, remember, it's how close you are to it. Lastly, your point about rendering building and framerates on the PC don't really apply due to the unfixed nature of the PC. I'm sure they'd optimize it just fine for the fixed-system PSP, much like was done on the PS2 and Xbox versions.
Gee, whenever Nintendo releases a sequal to a franchise, it's bad, but it's great news for Sony!
"Derp de derp."
The problem is data streaming and how that can cut down battery life. GTA has been used as an example of the type of game that will tax the PSP's battery the most because of its graphics and constant disc access.
I'm going to guess that this will either be a game much different to its PS2 brother or very load time heavy.
It's now a card battle game.
Honor Among Slackers. A veri