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PSP And DS Duke It Out
With the looming launch of Sony's handheld console, X-Play has a series of articles comparing and contrasting the new and shiny portable gaming consoles. The articles are broken into three parts, The PSP vs. the DS, The DS vs. the PSP, and The Final Verdict. From the final article: "Are two screens better than one? Are graphics all that matter? In this third and final edition of my Sony PSP vs. Nintendo DS editorial, I'll compare each handheld bit-by-bit and determine which of the two is worth your hard-earned cash."
He recommends the PSP. However, it's an extra $100, so only for those with disposable income.
DBA? Software Engineer? My company is hiring! Click
Cyborg_monkey, where are you?
hell hath no fury like a womans scorn for sega...
apples with oranges as well..
This review reads like a hastily put together altar for PSP for whatever reasons. For e.g, the author gives a lot of credit to PSP for something it will have in the future, meanwhile comparing the same with what DS currently has. True the touchscreen may not be the best option for navigability, but a button pad will pale before what a stylus can do when it comes to writing, careful manipulation of onscreen items. Sure yes, in a game you dont need much fine control, but what when DS starts supporting movies, mp3s and productivity apps for kids? Are you going to type using a button pad or are you using a stylus?
The PSP costs 250 or more. DS is available now for around 120. Are you willing to pay more than double for the promise of better games, graphics and a better screen? Havent we learned enough from forking over hundreds to the Nvidia and ATI's?
PSP Loading times??? A kid can be all grown up with in that time..
In the end the author gets it right when he stops comparing PSP with DS since the PSP should be compared with what Nintendo would throw next in to the ring.
I feel Sony is almost at its death throes after poking their finger in to far too many verticals than they could manage. And quality went downhill as well for almost everything they make.
Rapid Nirvana
Because X-Play is the pinnacle of games journalism. An ideal blend of style and content that all should strive to match. . .
Definitely. Not to mention the upcoming games list!
m .php?pl atformid=84
r m.php?pl atformid=74
DS:
http://www.gamesarefun.com/gamesdb/platfor
PSP:
http://www.gamesarefun.com/gamesdb/platfo
DS definitely wins!
I don't see myself buying either given the price point (I could get a good Pocket PC for that), and I'm frankly surprised people would sink that kind of cash into any handheld electronic with smash potential, but I suppose that's just priorities. It does look like a lot of fun.
Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.
-- Dr. Spock, stardate 2822-3.
How can they declare the DS the "Gameplay" winner when the PSP has more launch titles than the DS has total games out 4 months after its release?
People are far too eager to compare systems by their hardware alone or their 'potential' when the only thing that matters are the games available.
I will not pick up the DS. Because frankly, although the DS is innovative and unusual, the PSP has the goodies. MP3 playback, media, etc.
Plus, Sony's 3rd party gaming support is superior. I buy the PSP not because I particularly like Sony, or dislike Nintendo, but because it will provide me with a more satisfactory general experience. That's all there is to it.
from the xtc-vs.-adam-ant dept.
Heh, -1 Flamebait, although I'm not exactly sure which is which...
concrete5: a cms made for marketing, but strong enough for geeks.
I would rathar flip a coin than heed to anything that comes from G4... expecially X-play
You tell kids that these days, and they just don't believe you...
- Crow T. Trollbot
I'll just wait for Penny Arcade to make a comic comparing the two before I make any decisions.
Shades of Grayden
I'm just insulted that G4 could even be mentioned on Slashdot. I mean, all of us loved TTV. In addition to that, anyone that knows anything about websites cringes to look at the horrid webdesign that is g4tv.com. Other than that, an interesting, if hard to read article. Course, I'm not a console gamer, so I don't plan on buying either one. :D
The final verdict is to recommend PSP, even with insane loading times.
I find it hard to swallow. For a portable gaming device, I want it to be up and running instantly, even better if it knew I am about to play and already started and waiting for me.
I have a PDA, and usually-in-suspended-mode laptop and a usually-shut-down PC, guess which one I use most for those tiny yet urgent stuff?
Rock that crushes, Paper & Scissors that don't matter.
"Slashdotters" is not a political party. The editors just post what sounds interesting, and people who comment in the "Games" section tend to have different views from people who comment in "Your Rights Online". Get over it already.
I have seen the future, and it is inconvenient.
Although the DS got the jump on the market, Sony are at an advantage that so many people own and enjoy playing playstation/playstation2
The Gamecube does not sell in volume as well as the PS2 does, and the most common thought from gamers is that sony put more money into their games and will always have the better franchises, therefore people will be more likely to choose Sony when they come to pick one up, even if it isn't the superior choice
Sony have been in gaming for around 10 years now, and they have conquered the market, it will be interesting to see if they can replicate it in handhelds
Business Voyeur
Two weeks ago at GDC they had the PSP on the floor with a bunch of games to demo, and I was extremely impressed. After playing it there I don't see how there is any way I can NOT own a PSP. There were five times as many good games right there on the floor than have come out since the DS launch.
Also I get a little annoyed at all of this "innovation" talk. Just because something is different doesn't mean it's better. I really believe that the DS is a weaker handheld system with all of the extra crap than it would have been without it. People talk about innovation and all of these wacky ideas for games.. Why not start with at least an analog stick for the 3d games? Playing Mario 64 with the directional buttons is not the experience it should/could be.
Hmmpf, the header fooled me into thinking they were using Duke Nukem Forever as a benchmark!
I enjoy large posteriors and I cannot prevaricate.
It seems to me that your choice should depend less on the hardware and more on the games available for the platform.
Personally, I love the Mario series, so it follows that the DS is the only option. Are there going to be many games available only for the PSP?
Firstly, and the one that probably influences the vast majority of less professional reviews (such as this one in my opinion), is the WOW factor. This is that burning desire to own the latest, greatest, most powerful, coolest, piece of gaming kit. The excitement and anticipation of getting hold of that highly powerful and sleek piece of hardware is a very very strong pull.
However, now we need to look at the other side. Once the novelty of having this rather expensive toy has started to wear off, it really comes down to what software is available to run on it. It's quite rare that any new console has very high quality titles available at launch that will still be classed as "classics" in 12 months' time. Generally, they're a bit rushed in order to meet launch deadlines and based on limited experience with development equipment and console hardware.
So you may have this nice, new, slick, piece of harware, but at the end of the day, it's all about the games. I can guarantee (because I've been there myself several times) that once the novelty of having the hardware has worn off, unless the games are there to actually engage you and keep you playing, it's a bad purchase.
The best thing to do, in my opinion, is to look at the launch schedules for both consoles. Look at which titles, coming out over the next six months, you actually want to play. If there's a good handful of titles for a given console, then it's probably worth buying. Otherwise, I can guarantee that it'll end up sitting there gathering dust, or get traded in for the next big thing.
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Hm, after reading the whole review...I've gotta question the last page.
Firstly, beter controls. The analog 'nubs' are known to not control as well as an analog stick. And if you've played Metroid Prime Hunters...
Which has better controls depends on the gam eyou are playing. For example, I would take the PSP's analog nubs for a racing game any day. But for an FPS game, I would take the DS's touch screen any day.
Second, value. What the heck is up with his verdict? He proclaims the PSP has better value?
Okay, firstly, the initial cost. The PSP cost twice as much.
Of course, many people know that initial cost is not what matters (thats why people use Macs). Let's look at the other costs.
Want to use the PSP as a media center? 1 GB cards start around $150, but you still get less than TV resolution. For that price you could buy an extra DS.
Just want to play games? PSP games are $50, compared to DS games at $30. So you pay a LOT more for PSP games over DS.
So it seems to me that in value, the DS blows away the PSP. Cheaper priced system, cheaper priced games.
I've thought this from the first time I heard about the Nintendo DS. The whole thing reeks of 'gimmick'. I mean, it's not even called a 'gameboy' for fear of ruining the brand's good name. As someone who, as a young impressionable kid, begged his parents for both a 32X and a Saturn, I think I can smell a cheap stop-gap console from a mile away.
Okay, so a philosopher, a philologist, and a philatelist walk into a bar...
Many have come to challenge Nintendo in the handheld market, and many have died.
Sony is no doubt the most serious contender, but they have some problems, the way I see it:
- First party development. Face it, N makes good games that sell well. Sony relies on third parties. Until Sony has an answer to Pokemon, Mario and DK, there are millions of kids with 0 interest in PSP (and that's a big market wrt handhelds).
- The discs. The drive will suck batteries, and if it's anything like any DiscMan I've owned, it'll skip with even the slightest bump. Unlike a serial-reading cd discman, you can't buffer everything in their ESP system, either.
- The battery life. From what I hear, the DS battery life is on par with the GBA, which is outstanding. I've never had the battery die in my GBA, and I played it both ways on a 5 hour direct flight (forgot the charger.. didn't need it).
We'll see in the end. IMO, if Nintendo was a couple years earlier to market with N64, PSX never would have gotten a foothold, and would be in my "obsolete console collection", next to 3DO and Jaguar.
Either way, competition is good, and I'm looking forward to being able to afford to get both for my kids by christmas time. Right now, they're all about the DS, and couldn't give a rats ass about the PSP, for the first reason I mentioned.
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
Can you use the PSP to draw penises at your friends? What's the use of it then?
I am trolling
ummm.....they all took place in the 1940's ?
No, I'm willing to pay $100 more for better games, graphics, and screen this Thursday. The PSP launch lineup is suprisingly strong. Far stronger than even the PS2 launch. Launch titles are getting high ratings from both players and reviewers. I can't wait to see what we get in 6 months, a year, or 2+ years.
The DS isn't offering anything significant, hasn't been for nearly 5 months. It's not promising anything significant in the future. I'll probably pick one up eventually for Katamari and FF3, but only if they really get solid reviews. (If and when they actually happen.)
I buy a game unit for the games. The PSP already has those. Thus, I'll buy a PSP.
So first you're complaining we're basing our decision on "promises" (which are actually "deliveries"), and now you think we should base our decision on something nebulous Nintendo is just starting to conceive? After the DS, the Cube, the GBA (yes the GBA with its very meager lineup of original games and overabundance of ports), and the N64 (and dare I say the Virtual Boy)... Nintendo needs to prove they've still got it.
I love Mario and Zelda like the rest. I grew up with them, the NES, the SNES, and I forever hold a special place in my heart for those platforms. But here and now, Nintendo needs to get off its ass and work on producing new stuff. And giving Mario a water gun doesn't count.
I think you're in denial.
Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage
I am thining that as soon as the mass market gets ahold of the psp many homebrew programs are going to come out. Who Knows? the psp may be able to emulate the Ds...(functionality may be different because it only has one screen.)
Also, PSP games cost $50, compared to the $30-40 DS games. Not to mention the cost of memory sticks, if you want to use the PSP's MP3/media viewing features.
Although I agree with what most of what you're saying (potential PSP versus current DS) I have to argue about the buttons/stylus issue.
The PSP, although it has other uses, is a games console. I want to press a button to accelerate, for example, and move an analog stick to change direction - I don't need any fine control of what I'm pointing at at all, just a vague "go in that direction". Don't argue that the DS has more programs that need fine control; in the same way, the PSP has more games that require an analog stick.
Also, I have a long history of losing pens and styluses, where buttons tend to stick with the device.
As for the price... I can buy a G5 from $1299 and a Dell box for $649. We've obviously learned from forking over thousands to Apple.
Guy asked me for a quarter for a cup of coffee. So I bit him.
For a short second I thought that Duke Nukem Forever has been released.
Wrong. Try again.
And you're right that the two platforms differ pretty widely, and I still think that a lot of the DS's potential will be reached eventually, but the fact remains that they're both in the portable gaming arena and have similar release dates. That the DS's game library even four months after launch is less that compelling is further reason for most potential consumers to veer toward the shiny Sony product with its already impressive game lineup.
Honor Among Slackers. A veri
They all have an 'h' in them.
Ive had a DS since xmas and I havnt been able to play it much. Ive done a little bit of mario 64 but thats it. there are no games out yet. sprung isnt my idea of a game. Right now its just a $150 alarm clock. I'm still optimistic though. wheres my pokemon puzzle league
really bored? My blog
...the DS and PSP's success.
DS - Will Nintendo pull it's proverbial head out of it's backside and develop games that aren't amied at 12 year olds and start developing games that challenge the marketplace. This is the age old story of Nintendo not moving out of consistent 'Mario' releases.
PSP - Will the US public be willing to slap down $250 (US) for the PSP and another $250 (US) for 1GB + Memory Cards. This is even before games or movies are even purchased.
I personally have a DS and am sickened by the lack of attention that Nintendo is STILL giving to the crap titles that are coming out.
The DS is an amazing product but no one has even shown that they can not only take advantage of what the DS has to offer but to push the limits of the console with an amazing game.
From what I've seen so far, the types of titles that have come out or are coming out are either kiddie games or re-packaging of old games that have come out of previous incarnations of Nintendo products.
Xbox had Halo to show off what their console can do, I have yet to see an equivelant for not only the Nintendo DS but for the PSP as well.
Dolemite
_______________
Save the World! Use a Quote!
I recommend the GBA SP over either system. It's insanely cheap, plays great games, and the batteries last forever.
I only play portable games when I have a few minutes to spare. GBA SP lets me do this perfectly. What's with the PSP's lame-ass battery life and long load times? Did the designers forget the purpose of a portable console?
And screw the DS and its two screens. Stop overcomplicating matters. If ANYTHING needs simplicity, it's a portable system. Lose the stylus, drop a screen, and go back to what made Game Boy great.
--They say only a fool looks at the finger pointing to the sky...
Just remember that Sony president thinks that they are perfect, but that the controller is broken. http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/01/24/news_61169 85.html
You assume a lot.
While I may not speak for everyone here, I at least DO put my money where my mouth is. I haven't bought a sony product since the PS1 I bought used 6 years ago. Sure, the Playstation 2 has shiny graphics, and the PSP looks shiny as well. But y'know what? I think I'd rather put my money into nintendo, who is at least trying to create innovative games, and who's business practices are at least marginally better than sony's.
So yeah. I do put my money where my mouth is. and will continue to do so, by not buying a PSP. Now the question is... do you, oh would-be inflamitory poster? Or are you as hypocritical as you accuse everyone else of being?
I say no!!!!
-- Thou hast strayed far from the path of the Avatar.
I have a GameCube and a PC when I'm interested in 3D games. I have my GameBoy Advance for old-school classics that are in 2D. Fire Emblem (on the GBA) is easily one of my favorite games ever, and I've yet to play a good 3D Castlevania. Thing is, three-dimensions doesn't hide crappy gameplay.
Wonder why the author didn't mention that part at all? If you were thinking about buying a GBA, then it's almost a no-brainer to go with the DS instead. Also, there's that built in library of >500 games right there, and those games cost a lot less then $50.
Value going to the PSP? Isn't "value" too subjective? If the PSP isn't able to play the games I want, then it's got no value. Vice versa for the DS.
Giving the DS a win in gameplay, when most of the DS article was lambasting the lack of games and gameplay... WTF?
It is more powerful, has a bigger screen, has the capacity for larger games, has standard's compilant wireless and looks the business. The DS has the better battery life, and the touch screen is cool (the mini-games in Mario DS kick arse) but it's basically a gimic. A slightly better one that the Virtual Boy that sits atop my bookshelf, but a gimic none the less.
The battery life isn't really an issue for most people as Ridge Racer can last five hours on a single charge, and very few people with jobs get to play video games for more than five hours a day. I took a spare battery with me last time I flew and it lasted all nine hours with juice to spare. That was mostly gaming, but with a three hour stint of watching Neverwhere off a memory card.
I have a feeling that my DS is going to go the same way as my Gamecube. Dragged out to play the latest Mario Kart and Zelda, but otherwise gathering dust.
One dimensional games that are short in length and aren't very graphically appealing?
P.S. GBA games last at least 11 hours on DS systems. The most I've gotten on one DS Battery Charge is 12 3/4 hours playing Final Fantasy - Tatics Advanced before the battery died.
I know this may get a flame mod but try playing the DS first before commenting on it.
Dolemite
______________________
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I think there are enough people on slashdot that we have people on both sides of the fense. Those of us who like Nintendo and/or Sony are chiming in. Those of us who don't will complain when the next article about patents comes out. (although I must admit, I am also a staunch hater of software patents as well)
Now I will go ahead and say that I think the DS will be the successful handheld. Many will rushout and buy the PSP. But in the end it will come out to cost. The cheaper cost will create a bigger demand for the DS. This will cause more developer support and better games for Nintendo. Resulting in even more people buying the DS.I'll throw $120 down to get a DS and even if I don't use it a whole lot, it won't be a great loss. The PSP just doesn't seem cost effective to me considering the amount of use I'd get out of it. For a parent buying a handheld for their child, this is also a no brainer. Nintendo knows the handheld market, I don't think sony will make it this time and wind up like Nokia and the ngage. I could be wrong though, we'll just have to see.
...they'd both (obviously) take Forever to start and play with.
Of course, if they were using that we would hardly be comparing launch times, much less features...
You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
But that's why there's a new Gameboy in development right now. The DS is not a Gameboy replacement.
Contribute to the online videogame encyclopedia: GamerWiki
apples with oranges as well..
Actually, it's more like Macintoshes and Golden Delicious. Both are very similar.
True the touchscreen may not be the best option for navigability, but a button pad will pale before what a stylus can do when it comes to writing, careful manipulation of onscreen items.
Personally, an analog stick does a better job. You also don't cover one of the screens when using it.
Sure yes, in a game you dont need much fine control, but what when DS starts supporting movies, mp3s and productivity apps for kids? Are you going to type using a button pad or are you using a stylus?
PSP has movies and MP3s now. DS doesn't. Personally, I'd rather use a D-pad over anything for a handheld media player. They can't use an iPod-style interface -- people tried with pPod and got sued.
And "productivity apps"? For the PSP and DS? What are you smoking?
The PSP costs 250 or more. DS is available now for around 120. Are you willing to pay more than double for the promise of better games, graphics and a better screen? Havent we learned enough from forking over hundreds to the Nvidia and ATI's?
I'm willing to pay double for better functionality out of the box, a longer list of game developers, etc...
Have I learned anything from nVidia/ATI? Yes. They make some damn good graphics cards that happen to be really expensive.
PSP Loading times??? A kid can be all grown up with in that time..
Because we all know 30-second loading time (which is about how much the average kid spends waiting for his crappy 56K connection to connect) wastes away a lifetime of childhood.
In the end the author gets it right when he stops comparing PSP with DS since the PSP should be compared with what Nintendo would throw next in to the ring.
Uh, no. That's like comparing the Super Nintendo with the Sega Master System. It's unfair and biased. People should compare what they have today with what's out there today, and make their own decisions.
I feel Sony is almost at its death throes after poking their finger in to far too many verticals than they could manage. And quality went downhill as well for almost everything they make.
While I agree that the their tendrills spread pretty tenuously, I don't think Sony is anywhere close to "death throes". Multi-billion dollar corporations with assets in movies, music and electronics don't go into "death throes" easily. I'd venture to say, if anything, Sony has never been in a stronger position to try some crazy stuff (like the Cell processor).
I don't know. I don't give a crap about open source or all the large corporations. I am not being sarcastic here. I just plain love technology. When it comes down to it - doesn't matter who produced it, if it is "open" or not, or whatever. I just like playing around with technology ;-)
"Ideas without action are worthless."
but I wouldn't pay for either, since I wouldn't play it enough to warrant the price tag. However, i did get a free DS from youknowwhere.com and sold it to someone for $150 because i decided the PSP was a better system. Now i'm trying to get a free psp from obviouslyhere.com. If i wind up getting that, ill keep it, otherwise I probably wont be getting a handheld at all.
- I got my free iPod and a free Nintendo DS....why not
I have 'm both. PSP is Jap import, so I have Jap language games (oh yes!) and DS is already available in Holland. From the first touch to today (8 weeks experience with the PSP), the PSP is a clear winner:
... well, not designed at all. It looks terrible. The DS is fun though, I must admit that. Nintendo again made something nice out of existing concepts. But the PSP moves things to a new battleground. It is going to rule as a lifestylebox.
.... I eg have Ridgeracers on PSP and it is totally awesome. There is nothing on DS that can match it, let alone surpass it. PSP has already more titles available than DS and the 'to come' list is even longer.
- Awesome screen.
- Fantastic design.
- Great Joystick.
- Serious battery life given the hardware.
I use the PSP even for corporate presentations in a one-on-one setting. It really is so much better compared to the DS. The DS looks
A digital TV extension is coming for PSP, so is a keyboard and a productivity suit (browser, email, office tools, scheduler, IM). Together with the wireless connection (which is a breeze to activate) it gives the PSP a whole lot of staying power and a whole lot of service (TV on demand, etc).
I must admit that it is hell to get your stuff over the the PSP in a way and format that it will actually play it. Especially video is difficult, but there already are plenty of tools available to do it, for Windows, Mac and Linux.
Price: yes, the PSP is more expensive. Twice as expensive to be honest, because you will also need to buy a serious memorystick to get the most out of the PSP (1Gb for Euro 140 incl. tax). But it is worth it. I'm no TV man, but I nowadays frequently watch talkshows I normally miss. All on my PSP and all in the time you normally lose (traffic jams, waiting in between meetings and such). And yes, I do own a powerbook and NO, I never thought of using it to watch TV. Don't know why.
And then there is games. No folks, the DS is nowhere compared to the PSP when it comes to games
My personal verdict: Nintendo DS is a nice device without the looks, while the PSP is an overall fantastic device, with the looks and a lot of staying power.
Ya, and it was said that the PS2 was the best out of the consoles.. and yet the Xbox has almost a cult following already.
Did anyone else read that as "PSP And DS - Duke (Nukem) Is Out"?
Wishful thinking, I know.
That author is quite obviously biased!
In the functionality section, he said that the DS can do nothing but play games. Has he not noticed the built in software to chat, wish you a happy birthday and more? He also forgets to mention that the DS can play hundreds of GBA games too whilst, the PSP can only play PSP games, thus meaning that the DS had a bigger library so it is the better buy. I don't see you being able to play PS2 games on the PSP!
Graphics I think his verdict was fair on for the winner as the PSP is obviously much better than the DS in that area but he exaggerated the DS's lesser abilities by saying that GFX are similar to the PS1's (in one of the 3 articles he says that anyway). The Mario 64's GFX on the DS is fairly close to the real thing, and in some parts, even better. Overall, for functionality, I think that they are both equally matched as the PSP's reliance on those custom made disks will prevent further expansion but the DS can use the cartrage slots to add in new hardware.
For value, DS should win simply because it is cheaper, has more games and it doesn't look ugly either. The PSP just looks like a big screen with the controls added on as an afterthought!
He seems to think that the avarage non-child will have $100 to throw around. This is not the case! $100 is still a lot of money, so many people are still going to go for the DS.
and I'm a game nut. It's taken me a long time to come to this conclusion, but I really just don't like either of the new handhelds.
The DS is just plain too gimicky for my blood. I don't WANT to use a stylus or reach my thumb all the way over to play a game. Cute idea, could result in a handful of fun games like Wario Ware, but we're talking glorified palm pilot games here, not console hand held quality. You end up with a handful of refreshingly different games that lack any substance whatsoever. What about Metroid Prime Hunters you ask? Well it only works because you use the touchpad as an analog controller. Can you really look at it? do you even look at what you're touching? No.. your eyes are fixed on the one action screen while you control with your thumb extended across the device uncomfortably.
Then there's the PSP... It looks beautiful, really does. And it has a ton of features like MP3 and video playback... but the battery life is an absolute KILLER for me. 2.5 hours of gameplay? You have to be kidding me. As a person who flys a lot I find the fact that this thing won't make a typical flight greatly disturbing. I don't need 20 hours like the SP gives me, but less than 8 or 9 and I get uncomfortable. less than 3 is simply unacceptable. The features aren't really a selling point either since I can't see using this large thing as an MP3 player, and dropping the big bucks for a big sony mem card for video doesn't appeal to me either. 50 dollar games for a handheld is pushing it, but I could swallow that pill if only I could play them for more than a couple hours at a time.
I really wanted to like one of these... I've been spending time trying to find a system seller... but both of them have drawbacks that seem far too severe to drop big money on.
Neither! Well, unless you want to plunk that much cash into a portable. Personally, I don't find myself waiting somewhere wishing I had a portable very often. I would imagine it coming in handy in mass transit though (if you don't have a laptop).
If I got a portable, I'd find a nice, cheap GBA... at least until some more games came out on the others. I know both portables have some good games, but IMO it makes more sense to wait until they have more good games, then they'll be cheaper when you go to get them. Honestly, most games right now for both portables are remakes of older games (with exceptions), nothing to camp out for IMO.
"When the atomic bomb goes off there's devastation...but when the atomic bong goes off there's celebraaaaation!"
Nope. Here's a hint. It has to do with the truth.
If either of these had a good game of multiplayer Baduk...that would be the killer app for me. Touch screen for the DS would be the best.
Transcend Humanity. Please.
All three have people who say they didn't happen. What they don't have in common is how real they are.
Look at all the biased and rabid fanboys!
So far there are a lot of "DS 4KIDDIES SUXXORS PSP ROXXORS!11one" comments, but after seeing the most recent posts there is still chance for a lot of "Sorny SuX" comments.
The article basically stated how the PSP plays movies, mp3s, is internet ready blah blah blah, but does it play games? It's best selling point is that it's a portable media player. I'd rather buy one from creative that doesn't need expensive memory cards. The DS is actually meant for playing games. I think sony has forgotten what the concept of a console or portable gaming system is actually suppose to be. Not to mention the PSP's battery life of 2-2.5 hours of normal use compared to the 8 hours of the DS.
Yeah. More or less, they never happened. Just like 9/11.
Congratulations, you have just lost your right to free speech! As my constitutional duty I must ask you to stop and if you don't comply, stop you with whatever means necessary.
I will by a PSP the moment i find out how the hell i can play ripped DVDs on it.
1. Can the optical drive in it read/play mini-DVDs/mini-CDs?
2. Can you use the craptacular cheap Memory Sticks (not the Memory MG Sitck Duo Extra Gate Super WHAT THE FSCK?!!/Denis Leary) ones?
if i can drop two or three lowly compressed DiVX movies on a 1 Gig stick, i'm in.
Seriously, i hate fscking Sony and their stupid ass memory cards... i have a $90 2GB microdrive i'd love to use as a movie hard drive to watch on a protable player of some kind.
guns kill people like spoons make Rosie O'Donnell fat.
Nitpicky, I know, but the DS has 802.11something wifi in addition to its (presumably) proprietary short-range protocol. Just no games that use it yet. Are there any PSP games yet that use the wireless connection for Internet play, or are they all currently short-range, too?
Honor Among Slackers. A veri
(functionality may be different because it only has one screen.)
May? MAY? I'd say that's about a 100% certainty. That's like saying your computer may work differently without a mouse.
Jesus, Slashdot needs defnses against people like you. You can't just put two ideas next to each other and draw lines to connect the buzzwords. It might have worked on your vocab tests in 3rd grade but we're a little more advanced now that you've grown up.
-mkb
And while I am interested in both, I will be waiting at least a year before I consider picking any of them up.
With the way consoles have been so far in terms of quality, I am going to play it safe and not be an early adapter. Plus it give both systems some time to build up their librarys and must own titles.
I like how everyone has to make this a versus thing...buy both! If you have to buy one, just look at the games, since that is the biggest "real" difference in my opinion. PSP can have graphics that make me feel i'm looking through pane-glass at the real world, but if none of the games interest me, i don't care. DS can have a plutonium battery but if it doesn't have any good games whats the difference? All the random specs only matter if they offer the same games, which they dont. As its stands now, DS is the only system of the two that has games that interest me...and its cool it still plays my old games. But thats all anyone needs to base it on, unless your just looking for "show off" appeal, which i think the psp wins hands down just cuz you can be like "look at me i'm watchin' spiderman 2!", but if you like Ridge Racer better then Mario buy a PSP, and vice versa.
I really am hoping that Nintendo will pull this one off. I hope they have some damn good ideas as to what to do with that second screen. They really rely on the portable market.
I would hate to see Nintendo go the way of Sega and Atari; beat out of the markets they practically invented (collectively) and are completely dedicated to --by outsiders Sony and Microsoft.
Cool art gallery, if you're into that sort of thing.
I've only played a few games on the DS, but if there is serious complaint over the lack on an analog stick the fault lies with the game developer, not the hardware. The touchscreen can be used to provide much greater control than an analog nub. Also, the author goes on about how the stylus is a clnky interface for interacting with the touch screen, which is true, that's why there is a little thumb nub on the cord for the system. It takes some getting used to but it is really an excellent control scheme.
Seems to me the GameBoy's have been very popular in the past so why would anyone want anything less "GameBoy-like"? And the touch screen is great for a lot of games like Mario 64 and Metroid Hunters...
Personally, an analog stick does a better job. You also don't cover one of the screens when using it.
Might that be because it's very difficult to cover a screen that doesn't exist?
You're forgetting that the two-screen thing is only ONE of the DS's two gimmicks. The touch-control is the other gimmick. They're mutually exclusive to some extent, you're right, but they're still two things the PSP doesn't have, and while you can mimick analog control with a touch screen, it's pretty hard to mimick a second screen with an analog stick.
Twisted Metal does internet play out of the box.
more fanboiz chiming in on how Nintendo is the only innovater in video games these days. Yawn, the PSP looks good (but a little pricey) where as the DS smacks of Virtual Boy. Time will tell, but the PSP looks like a contender.
For me the DS is more attractive with the stylus. I'd love to see some 'mouse control' games, like RTS or 2D games with 'Soldat' control. There's a serious lack of these kinda games for handhelds.
Most of all, I would like to see a gaming oriented hand-top with a touch screen. I've designed one just for fun, but I don't know how realistic it is (bottom of page): http://www.itchstudios.com/psg/main.php?id=retro
The Chair Corp. comic(*00-12)
One screen is a touchscreen so if you're going to use that for additional controls you better put the main view on the other screen to prevent the GUI and your hand from taking away from the visible screen area.
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
Ah, nice. I was not aware. Nintendo seems to have some sweeping online service planned for the DS. Which seems to mean that, in the meantime, Internet play won't be common.
Honor Among Slackers. A veri
preach it, brother.
I got a DS for Christmas and the only native game I've found that isn't kiddie shit is the Spider-Man 2 game that came out at launch.
I'm not showing a bias towards Nintendo here, but given Sony's shoddy track record of quality, would you honestly want to tote around a piece of Sony hardware?
How many of you are on your second PS2 or PS? Practically everyone I know has had to replace their original PS, and a good bit of PS2s are starting to die out as well. First generation Sony hardware has a tendancy to break after awhile.
Mmmm, -funroll-loops
I think the deciding factor for me is expectations I have from portable gaming. When I want to play a portable system, it is usually in short increments. For this reason, I'm looking for 1) Fast Load Times, 2) Simplistic gameplay. This is one of the reasons I love my GBA SP. I can turn it on, play for a little bit, and turn it back off. I also enjoy the fact that I have a large selection of more "old school" classic-style gameplay on my GBA SP since they aren't offered much on the consoles anymore.
When I look at the PSP, I see a mini-console. I don't know if I'm really interested in that sort of thing. I don't want all of the same games I play on my console, I want something different. Now, with that said, the library of DS games right now suck, so I'm passing on that as well until we can see what Nintendo can do.
I thought the writer made an interesting point about women digging the Nintendo DS. I've found that women generally seem to like the things Nintendo has to offer, and not just with the DS. When my wife and I have our couple friends over, it's funny to see the women in the group actually WANT to play video games because they want to play things like Mario Party and Donkey Konga. And my wife loves her Nintendo DS with Wario Ware (although she is wanting another game at this point). I think there is a real opportunity for Nintendo to capture a large number of non-traditional gamers with its products. Unfortunately, it can be a difficult proposition because it seems that most women get their video game experiences through more hardcore gamers, so unless Nintendo can get a foothold in with the hardcore gamers, they may not be able to capture anthing.
Forget the whales - save the babies.
on a few things related to the DS.
First of all why did he "forget" to mention the backwards compatibility of the DS with GBA games? That alone brings 2000+ games to the DS's library.
A definite plus that the PSP does not have.
Another thing, although the DS does not support MP3 playback, movie playback, picture viewing, etc out of the box you can purchase an adapter (the SuperCard) for 40$ US that allows you to plug in a CF card which allows you to watch movies, play mp3s, view images, and whatever else developers can think of. On top of that the adapter can play homebrew NES, Sega Master System, and GBA games as well as other things. And this is only the SuperCard GBA Version...wait until the NDS version comes out! With the touchscreen there i wouldnt be surprised if there was a Linux project out there somewhere
Server crashing; google caches...
DS
PSP
Sig cancelled due to lack of interest
This is just My opinion, but.. are you aware that there IS a new game boy in the works? that the lifetime of the DS could be seriously affected by it? Even the article said it:
"Is not fair to compare the DS vs the PSP it should be compared to the GBA 2."
Imo: This explains it quite well I believe:
Oh yes, mod me down as much as possible. I still wouldnt buy a DS or recommend anyone to buy one, at least not now.
Why do you have to buy a handheld now anyway? just because is new? Ill sit and wait for a price drop (and the news) to make a decission.
Go ahead MOD my day!
More opinions here
Call me crazy, but the PSP will win, here's my reconing:
- PlayStation typically has more adult games (an audience more willing to plunk down the cash for it).
- PlayStation has somewhat dominated the console market recently.
- PlayStation has much more buzz than the billion+1 attempts Nintendo has made over portable device. Good marketing is key.
- Playstation has the movie ability. Something that parents will like (for those long car rides). Keeps kids quiet for a while. Nintendo DS isn't as multi-purpose.
- Hackers wouldn't mind a PSP because it has WiFi and a decent CPU... perfect for getting Linux and perhaps MiniMo running on it.
Overall, the market has grown up. Games aren't just for little kids. The baby boomers kids are now teens/young adults. That's a GIGANTIC market with some cash at hand... and a LOVE of games.
I'm voting PSP because it's got a bit better of an offering, and is perfect for the largest audience.
You need a $40 3rd party cartridge, but you can play divx movies, mp3s and read text on the GBA and DS off a flash card. It's an import called Movie Advance There is a good review on Lik Sang but that site seems to be having troubles so here is a Google cache. Another review is at PlanetGC. The good thing about this is that it isn't controlled by Sony like their fucking UMD that no one else can use. Anyone with a flash card reader can use the DS for movies. The downside is that it's another item to carry with you which is bad for those without big pockets or bags. Given that the old GBA roms are a known format, I'm guessing that there will be a lot more third party apps for the DS than with the PSP. Particularly when someone figures out how to get the DS to play games over WiFi without a physical disk. This is a known feature of the DS, but it's not a public spec yet.
--
Want a free iPod?
Or try a free Nintendo DS, GC, PS2, Xbox. (you only need 4 referrals)
Wired article as proof
So you're asserting that:
You just blew my mind.
In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane. -Oscar Wilde
Big Wire Spool table
Milk crate entertainment center
Couch that was obviously picked out of the trash
Nothing on the walls but old beer spray
No stove, just a pizza oven
65" TV
800 watt subwoofer
XBox
PS2
Gamecube
Like I said, price isn't going to matter if the PSP kicks enough ass.
"I'm just here to regulate funkiness."
Having used both quite a bit, I understand the sheer sexiness of the PSP. I'll probably buy one because it is inherently attractive.
But I don't know what games you played, but the PSP games are horrible. The DS games are not great either, I'll give you that. But there aren't 5 good games for the PSP, so I can't see how there 5x as many for the PSP as the DS.
I didn't buy a DS. It's too big and there's no game I really want. I also didn't buy a PSP. It's way too big and the battery life is horrible.
I expect I will eventually own a PSP, I don't know if I'll ever own a DS.
And what's this about the lack of good games for the DS? Has the reviewer even played Feel The Magic, WarioWare Touched!, or the excellent port of Super Mario 64 (which alone should dispel the myth that the DS can barely produce good 3D graphics)? And that's not even mentioning the dozens of good GBA games that you can play on the unit.
Oh, wait, I just checked the review and found that it's from G4. I guess I shouldn't have set my expectations so high.
Many Bothans died to bring you this sig.
I hate to be a douche and use multiple punctuation marks, but I can't help it. The PSP is a better value... but it lasts for three hours of gameplay. How does that work, exactly? I use portable gaming systems when waiting in lines, bored between classes, and when I'm relaxing and don't feel like going downstairs to the big TV. The only time the PSP is useful is in the latter situation.
If I have an hour to wait between classes, I can play my PSP... but then if I want to play all afternoon while waiting for an evening event, I'm screwed! The last time I took my DS out I was waiting five hours for a stereo installation. I hadn't charged the battery the night before, but I had no problem sitting and playing Wario Ware for the entire time. The PSP would be dead long before I could leave, especially if I had previously used it to listen to MP3s or watch movies.
Why would I use a handheld device that has to be plugged into the wall for extended use?
And then he argues that the PSP has more compelling games, ignoring the massive library of fantastic GBA games available to anyone with a DS. GBA games look ten times better on a DS than on a GBA SP because of the properly backlit screens.
But it's a better value to have a system that's not functionally portable, has a limited selection of slow ports of old PS2 games, has useless MP3 functionality, and plays videos for a few hours than to have a system with hundreds of older games and at least eight hours of battery life. Hmm.
I'm no Nintendo fanboy, but I'd like a portable system to actually be portable. This is like saying "Alienware desktop replacement laptops are much better than tablet PCs" - it's true in a certain context, but based upon arbitrary measures of what makes something a superior product. I don't want to lug a ten pound laptop with ten minutes of battery life around for my portable computing needs, and I don't want to lug a fragile disc-based system with three hours of battery life for my portable gaming needs.
I wonder how that meeting went:
- snowballs-in-an-orphanage, I'm looking at you.
"We seem to have a reputation for only making kiddie games."
"I know, we'll add a pressure sensitive screen!"
"So...like...we'll be touchy *and* kiddie?"
"Yes! Who above the age of 16 could possibly be creeped out by that?"
"But sir..."
"Quiet! Now fetch me the heart of a gamer."
I kid, I kid. Though seriously, GBA games are pretty hard to stomach after, you know, facial hair. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, with your lets-start-the-game-as-an-eight-year-old-throwing
A couple fantastic Metroids, Zeldas, and Castlevanias (and the return of NES) just ain't enough.
...you use the touchpad as a mouse not an analog controller. That makes for FPS mouselook awesomeness. Much better than an analog stick or nub. (even so, it REALLY should have had some kind of analog stick on it... games like Mario 64 just aren't right without one)
The DS was rushed to market, so the platform got here well ahead of the games. For now it's not much more than a vastly superior GBA (visual and sound quality are AWESOME; GBA games are much better on the DS than the SP). It'll be a good year or two yet before its potential really shows in DS-specific games.
However, it's an extra $100, so only for those with disposable income.
Or those who live with their parents and/or leech off them for money. In other words, most of Slashdot.
Tech, life, family, faith: Give me a visit
That one, and one from IGN as well. What games are you playing? the IGN one wore out using Ridge Racer.
Someone mod this funny. Spiderman 2 for the DS is the worst game ever. Well, not the worst. But still, no one with any taste would like that game.
"Count on getting a little less than three hours of 3D game playtime from one charge."
_ vs_Nintendo_DS.html/
http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/51343/Sony_PSP
I bought my PS (used) 5 years ago (give or take a few months), and it still works well. The analog controller stopped functionning well after a year though. I must admit that I don't play often. Once I got tired of GT2 FFT and FF9, I practically stopped playing.
perception is reality
ridge racers,
minna no golf,
darkstalkers chronicle,
THUG2,
world tour soccer,
lumines
- Toby
The TIME technology section has pretty much done away with the small column format and has decided to snazz it up for the PSP. Saying it's pretty much going saying that the DS' ass is gonna be kicked because it's a relic from the Ice Age and you've gotta have the PSP. Although I'm a Sony guy (well maybe neutral I dunno). Nintendo has been making handhelds since 89. This is Sony's first foray into handheld gaming, so I'm siding with Nintendo on this one folks.
In America, you spam computers In Soviet Russia, computers spam you!
The strength of the psp is that it is solid hardware with a variety of applications, a notable considering this is slashdot is that PSP will almost definately be able to be *nixed, given that sony has supported such practices with their other products to an extent in the past. More to the point the PSP is starting to cross hand held media players, laptop ideas, console stylings and easy wireless networking into a product that will have more impact on your life than a little handheld (albeit cool wireless multiplayer) gaming toy. This little thing I can see becoming a very extendable linux PDA media player like system with very little effort.
They are targeting an older market with a larger income and more sensibility too, I assume this will mean that the potential market is larger, and almost completely virginal.
The review seems very light on the multiplayer information. The best thing I have heard about the DS is that for multiplayer games only one person in the game has to have a copy. Does anyone know if the same applies to the PSP?
oh, it was Playstion Portable. Never mind.
Ah, screw it. I'm awaiting a sizeable build-up in titles of the sort I'd care to invest money in before purchasing either one.
Besides, I'm already saving for a Mac laptop which will act as its own joystick.
If my grammar and spelling are off, I am [distracted/tired/careless] (take your pick)
It's also interesting that the reviewer says games are more fun on the DS, PSP games are basically derivatives of boring console games, yet the PSP wins overall? Isn't it about the games here? Castlevania is coming up on the DS as well...
I don't mean to hate all over some of the posters here but many self-respecting adults wouldn't be caught dead playing with either one of these, in public at least. They're for kids and megadorks. That being said, from a marketing perspective the DS is the clear winner because it's designed and marketed for kids who make up the vast majority of the portable game console wielding public. From a functional perspective, who gives a crap? Are kids really going to pop-in "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" and watch it on their 4-inch screens during lunchtime? Would you? I hope not, unless you enjoy getting laughed at. In which case, more power to you. I don't mean to offend, just my little rant.
In deciding whether to buy a PSP, the central question for me will be, "What does this offer me that I don't have on my PS2 at home?" I'm not that excited about playing the same sort of games on a smaller screen. As limited as the Nintendo DS's library is, the games do offer a genuinely new experience. With its short battery length, the PSP isn't that compelling to me for travel--I'd rather take my DS, which also folds up nicely to protect the screens and buttons when not in use.
Wireless networking of the PSP might be a significant draw if it turns out to be popular. There still aren't that many DS's around.
Watching movies while traveling--especially on a new, incompatible format isn't that exciting to me either; I can watch standard DVDs on my laptop, with a bigger screen (but it will probably be appealing to parents for keeping the kids quiet on car trips). However, if I could transfer TV shows from my TiVo to a PSP card, that could be appealing. For most TV shows, a small screen seems less of an imposition than with movies.
It depends on the games you are playing. If youre playing a game that is graphically intensive and is constantly rendering frames several times a second, then of course the battery will last a shorter amount of time. However, if you are simply listening to music from the device, the battery will (and should) last longer since it isn't rendering anything and it's reading off of a memory card and not a spinning disc.
One thing I agree with is that the DS is a stop gap to slow the PSP down. It already has a majority of Nintendo Fans using the system (some keeping away from Sony) and it has given Nintendo time to review their next version of the GameBoy (Gameboy Evolution).
What I don't understand is that the article goes on the say controlling games with a stylus sucks:
But what the hell are you using the stylus for to control Mario 64 DS? The thumb strap is the most stable way of controlling a game EVER!
Unfortunately this only applies to Mario 64 so far as Rayman DS tries to emulate this but fails miserably.
Lets just hope Nintendo hurry up and work out how the Gameboy Evolution will function so that we have a real PSP killer and not a stop gap.
I got a DS for Christmas and the only native game I've found that isn't kiddie shit is the Spider-Man 2 game that came out at launch.
You must be one of those "mature" gamers.
"Our opponent is an alien starship packed with atomic bombs. We have a protractor."
Nah, I'm a big nintendo fanboy, but I'm gonna have to say the PSP is by far a better machine. But frankly, at four times (import) or more than twice (if and when it's released locally in .au) the damn price, it'd sure better be.
I've had a go at both in stores, and I must say I'm _very_ disappointed in the ds. I don't care that it's not as pretty, a flip-top makes up for that. The dual screen is definitely a gimmick though, and the graphics are in no way better than an n64. There's no filtering, and the textures are not perspective-corrected. It's comparable to the old Namco 3d arcade games (think toshinden, ridge-racer) or a slightly souped up ps1.
In summary:
a)The PSP costs ways more
b)It's a fair sight better
c)Nobody, not nobody, not nohow, is going to change their opinions- this story was just flamebait to drive ad revenue.
Send lawyers, guns, and money!
Ok.. the launch was rushed, nothing significant came out for a few months, but seeing what is coming this year (Online play, THE killer games) DS will have incredible value. I see that many people fail to see the potential of DS, and it's ok, since very little of that has been utilized yet. DS is something completely new, it takes time to realize its potential. What comes to simplicity of games, I see that the games are more simple and intuitive play in DS than in GBA, albeit two screens. The beauty of DS is that it can handle traditional gaming easily, so you get innovativity, and if you don't care about that stuff (o_O) the DS supports old school gaming as well (Mario Kart DS anyone?) "Online games = ok. Online Nintendo-games = OMFGYES!!!!!!11 *faints*"
I think that FPS's are the killer app for DS. Have you tried Metroid Hunters (the demo). Aim the gun with your thumb (I just use my thumb, not the stylu nor thumbstrap). It's like a mouse. Then look at reviews for PSP's Coded Arms game. It only has one analog stick, and its implementation sucks, mainly because it's on the same side as the PSP's D-Pad equivalent. I'm worried though, because Hunters keeps on getting pushed back.
There were a few good links posted on the Shacknews forums with info on PSPcasting (watching videos on your PSP)
It's an expensive mobile video solution for sure, but with the high-quality screen it could be very good stuff. I'm going to wait for a few actual reviews, but I could easily see myself watching an episode of BSG on it while driving the kids to soccer practice in my SUV.
Except that in the modern credit happy world 10 dollars a game and 100 dollars a console doesn't mean shit.
What the heck could this possibly mean? Credit doesn't exempt you from paying for goods. If a product costs twice as much it costs twice as much. I am absolutely not willing to pay $250 for a console (handheld or otherwise) but I MIGHT pay $100 for a handheld console that I thought I would enjoy.
Sure, some people (OK, a LOT of people) are irresponsible with their money and spend more than they can afford, but that doesn't mean they have the capability to buy an unlimited amount of goods.
Anyone who would go into debt to buy a game console is a DUMBASS.
Then I'll go get my Gameboy SP and cheap games. It will join my Dreamcast and Palm m515. Just becasue the DS or PSP are out doesn't mean older systems are automatically crap....sure there are not many new Dreamcast games coming out soon but the games that are there can be had for $5...they are still good.
However, people are going to go for the latest and greatest and that's ok becasue I'll use that to my advantage and get the not-so-latest and greatest. My kid doesn't know the difference or even care...the games are good
Hmm. So the DS wins in the only area that matters in a portable system, but still loses overall? The reviewer could have at least made a token effort to hide his bias.
After reading the article, I was going to come here and rant about it. But I thought I would read over the responses first. I find that I no longer need to say anything at all about it. ;) Someone has already covered almost all of what I was going to say.
About all I would add is to pick apart each thing that the author said, and that's been covered further down. Thanks man.
Just to correct some facts:
PSP games are $50
First party PSP games are $40, third party are $50. That's current pricing anyway, we can expect changes I'm sure over time.
1 GB cards start around $150, but you still get less than TV resolution
Actually, they start at $110. And a 512mb (which will easily hold a couple of hours of video at excellent quality) starts at around $55. The picture quality on DVD rips is stunning, the screen on the PSP really is top notch.
---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"
Wow you must be hella-l33t if you've had the PSP for that long before it even comes out! I believe everything you are saying!
What extras can the DS do?
Interms of genuine internet access, or at least some future hack that provides genuine internet access, which wins? Sorry I just can't be bothered to RTFA.
Frankly all I want is something that can play games fine, but for me gaming is secondary.
What do you reccomend for a guy like me who just wants a mp3 player and wireless internet access (for uploading/downloading files and e-mail in PARTICULAR) at the end of the day.
What is best for me ( and YES, you are limited in scope to only the DS and the PSP in your answer!!!)
Xbox had Halo to show off what their console can do
And yet for some reason some people still bought XBoxes.
You need a $40 3rd party extension, but that's still cheaper than the PSP. And it has good reviews too. This was an SP product that happens to work on the DS due to backwards support. The good thing about this is that it isn't controlled by Sony like their fucking UMD that no one else can use. Anyone with a flash card reader can use the DS for movies. The downside is that it's another item to carry with you which is bad for those without big pockets or bags. Given that the old GBA roms are a known format, I'm guessing that there will be a lot more third party apps for the DS than with the PSP. Particularly when someone figures out how to get the DS to play games over WiFi without a physical disk. This is a known feature of the DS, but it's not a public spec yet.
--
Want a free iPod?
Or try a free Nintendo DS, GC, PS2, Xbox. (you only need 4 referrals)
Wired article as proof
another $250 (US) for 1GB + Memory Cards
Where do you shop? 1gb memory card for the PSP is $110. Not that you need a gig, I can easily fit a couple of hours of video at excellent quality on a 0.5gb card (which cost $60).
---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"
Nah, the PSP needs to run things off the proprietary UMD disks. Solve that one. People are already making homebrewed DS games, running off of GBA carts (up to 1GB in size.) Plus, the PSP could *never* *ever* emulate a DS, you honestly know nothing about emulation. Sure you can emulate xbox on your PC, but it is a PC. According to developers, pentium 4 systems have a hard time emulating the DS at realtime speed. (Emulation is a *very* hard thing to do.)
I've got significantly over 3 hours playing Ridge Racer, more again playing Lumines.
One other thing to note - batteries are available and easy to swap out - unlike other handhelds. If you're going on a long hour flight, just take a spare.
---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"
As others have doubtless said, for $250 you already get a 32MB memstick. Based on the games I've seen, this is far more than enough for saves.
If we're talking something other than games here... movies or music... that's a different story again. How much is a 1GB mp3 player? 1GB video player? $200 for iRiver's 256MB mp3 player, and that doesn't take external media...
This is unfortunately a Nintendo trend now. They haven't really had a seriously successful console since the SNES or the GBC. The GBA was mostly ports, the VBA.. nuff said, N64? Cube? DS? So basically, I agree with the sentiment here.
I'm not sure what you're expecting with the PSP lineup... compare the games here to the GBA or DS. The problem is we're really comparing the PSP to the PS2, and thinking "yeah, same old", but really: play Wipeout Pure, THUG2, etc, then go back to Mario Kart Advance or the GBA THPS.
Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage
What follows is a story of portable gaming of olde.
When I first saw the PSP I felt like i had seen it somewhere before. Indeed, after a bit of googleimagery I thought I was seeing double.
Compare this to this. And this to this. Similar, no? The console pictured is the infamous Atari Lynx.
Back in the day, the Atari Lynx launched and had better graphics (they were colour!) and had a 16-bit processor, as opposed to the Nintendo Gameboy's 8-bit Z80. The Lynx was undeniably better in the hardware department. It was meant to trigger a worldwide revolution or something. There would be rioting in electronics stores and wars fought in playgrounds.
And you know what happened to the Lynx? It faded into obscurity. Why? Gaming historians all agree; the Lynx had poor battery life. The system simply wasn't as portable as the Gameboy, nor did the games feature that Nintendo charm that you can't quite describe.
Nintendo has triumphed over every competitor that has launched an assault on their portable gaming stronghold over the last decade and a half. Now Nintendo faces what few would argue is their toughest competition yet. The Big N got complacent and Sony caught them off their guard with the original PlayStation, but battle-hardened Nintendo won't be giving up the portable domain so easily. This battle is going to be tough, and it's going to be decided on which console has the games that are the most fun. And that little battery life issue that lead to the downfall of the notorious Atari Lynx all those years ago.
Obviously you have not seen the Snake on Acid?/p
peterrenshaw ~ Another Scrappy Startup
Maybe a fellow slashdotter can help me, I've never seen a PSP in person. Can anyone shed more details on the screen besides "It's looks sweet". Is it similar to the XBrite screens Sony uses on it's Vaio laptops and LCD displays?
Right. Actually being able to hold the unit and not have to wonk around with a stylus or a thumb strap is nice.
Actually having a great lineup of games to play (I have 6 preordered on top of THUG2, which I already have) is nice. These are games getting high ratings for gameplay and lasting appeal.
I didn't say anything about graphics. It's all about the games: more of them, better gameplay. But having better graphics too just makes it all that much nicer.
Unrealized potential is worthless. Call me back when there's a selection of games good enough to justifying the purchase.
Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage
Seriously, imgaine.
In America, you spam computers In Soviet Russia, computers spam you!
"Lose the stylus, drop a screen, and go back to what made Game Boy great."
It already has what the GB made great. Then they added a stylus screen and 802.11. Try to imagine playing games on-line without the stylus screen. [i]"Hold on, give me 10 minutes to enter my nick here."[/i]
"Derp de derp."
Stop by the locked-down Nintendo DS demos at WalMart someday and try to decipher the touchscreen under all the scratches. If the Sony PSP does nothing else, it should wake Nintendo up from deep, Sleeping Beauty-esque conceptual lethargy. The Game Boy Advance at WalMart closeout prices is a better bargain than either, once you factor in gamebase. The next Game Boy might actually be a clipboard sized thin profile gadget backward compatible to Game Cube dvdiform discs. Wouldn't it be a gas if Nintendo's tricorder could also play the PSP's repertoire?
``Tension, apprehension & dissension have begun!'' - Duffy Wyg&, in Alfred Bester's _The Demolished Man_
Developing that would be a great way to get sued and lose, and probably generate a lawsuit against sony as well.
Nintendo has a few patents on emulation in the handheld console arena.
Big Screen: Nice for about five minutes. Then it's dead. I've managed to start damaging my DS screen and it has a cover on it and I'm relatively careful. That PSP screen would be butchered if I had one of those. Movies: Who watches movies on a mobile device? No one, that's who. Plus you'd have 3 hours of battery (tops) with the UMD constantly spinning to watch the movie. Price: Clear victory for DS. Music: Why would I want an mp3 player that costs more, weighs more, and lacks features (read: Hold switch) compared to it's rivals. GFX: the only clear win for the PSP. Gameplay: I haven't been to impressed with the DS yet but I haven't seen more than one or two things that look on the PSP. I'm atleast seeing some neat shit in the works for the DS.
A PSP and a DS duking it out? No -- not going to waste my time on any of the 3 articles unless a PSP owner is beating the shit out of a DS owner -- to the death.
"Duking it out" my ass (which would also hurt) -- they're fucking tiny portable video game consoles.
If anything, they might prissy slap each other. But no "duking it out."
IronChefMorimoto
a 67mhz ARM9 + 33mhz ARM7 is not a difficult thing to emulate, nor is a 256x192 pixel screen even if there are two of them.
given that mame successfully emulates far more complex hardware, I don't see emulating a DS being a problem.
comparing the DS and PSP is ridiculous
The DS is its own league.
Plus I have a huge collection of old games which I can use
The PSP's controls are not very good though though -- the analogue nub is badly placed and quite fiddly to use, and the digital pad is the same horrid painful thing Sony's been inflicting on players since the PS1.
It seems like Sony spent all their time obsessing about the display and simply didn't think very much about the controls. [I should say "SCE", not Sony -- it's a very SCE thing to do...]
I kinda like the PSP, but the crappy controls put me off quite a bit. A shame. Maybe Nintendo's future GBA replacement will be better...
We live, as we dream -- alone....
The initial price paid for a console is damn near irrelevant after you start buying games for it.
If PSP games are $50 (!), you might as well get the PS2/3 version for around the same price.
On the other hand, the most expensive DS game I've seen was $35.
If discs are cheaper to manufacture than ROM chips, why won't Sony do the right thing and price them to match the DS games?
It's a slippery slope, folks. (Remember the words "What the market will bear". Personally I will NOT bear $50 PORTABLE games)
It's interesting that the cartidges have become cost competitive with discs after all this time!
(within reason, that is)
(auxilary crap : I remember the first game for Atari 2600 that I bought that was THIRTY (OMFG!) DOLLARS! Before that everything was around $15-20. I also foundly remember the first ever 8MB game for a console (Strider for Genesis) and painfully remember the $91.20 I paid for it!)
Why do people insist on comparing apples and oranges?
The DS is marketed toward the younger and much less "hard core" gamer type. Being a mid 20 something DS owner, I would honestly be embarrassed to play my DS out in public. Nevertheless it's a great bathroom buddy and it's well worth the money. Yes, Nintendo pushed the DS out early to beat the PSP, but it was a smart move business wise being so close to Christmas. Sure there are only a few DS games, but don't forget about the other game that fits into the secondary slot. Backwards compatibility is what makes the DS shine.
The PSP on the other hand is a totally different beast. There are the games of course, then there's true movie playback, storage, mp3, etc... It's a multimedia machine that beats to the "hard core" gamers tune.
I've looking forward to owning both and taking advantage of both the DS and PSP's little niches in the gaming world.
For the record, I would love to squash this retarted conception most people have of the Dreamcast's technical abilities. Many, including this moran, seem to think that since the Dreamcast is between the N64 and PS2 chronologically, that also must be the case graphically.
WRONG.
The Dreamcast was easier to program for and actually had more powerful rendering capabilities. It has double the video RAM of the PS2. Compare Soul Calibur with a PS2 launch title, or some of the Shenmue tech demos with later PS2 titles and you will see the DC for what it was: a more powerful system whose potential was not manifest as often as it should have been due to its short life. Yes, current PS2 games probably look better, but those are 5th and 6th generation.
In fact, games ported to the PS2 from the Dreamcast always look better on the DC. Take, for example, Rez, Tennis 2K2 and Headhunter. The DC ones always have better and crisper textures.
The fact is that the Dreamcast had the capability to produce visuals equal to or better in quality than the PS2, and many of its best games demonstrate this.
Don't be a moran like this guy. He has no idea what he's talking about here.
Goodbye NinShito
A hidden killer app for the DS for adults might be the wifi chatting - I can imafine interesting uses for this in public places :)
This is not a signature.
I recommend the GBA SP over either system. It's insanely cheap, plays great games, and the batteries last forever.
I own a GBA SP, and it sucks. The damn thing is too small for my hands, the games are really crappy, the graphics are lame, and I've played most of the stuff on ZSNES. I'm thinking of giving it to my nephew.
And screw the DS and its two screens. Stop overcomplicating matters. If ANYTHING needs simplicity, it's a portable system. Lose the stylus, drop a screen, and go back to what made Game Boy great.
hi hi hi...when I posted a comment on /. that the DS is crap, I was modded as flamebait. Now everybody sees that the DS is crap. How can't it be? what the f*** are we supposed to do with the two screens? who can play a fast action game looking at two screens at the same time? on the other hand, who needs a second screen for a slow thinking-type game?
yeah yeah I know: flamebait -1. At least if you mod me as such, could you care posting the reason?
I'm with you. Unlike the PSP and the DS, the GBA SP is actually portable. It fits in your pocket, it has a lot of great games, and the battery life is outstanding. I don't see how any handheld that's bigger and has a shorter battery life can claim it's an improvement. Unfortunately, Sony and Nintendo are going the wrong direction.
"Dave, I stand still--the conclusions jump to me!" - Bill McNeal, NewsRadio
Come out with Golden Sun 3. Yes, Yes, it would be a rehash, but the Golden Sun series kicked ass hardcore. It's what led me to buy a GBA even though I was winding down on my gaming days.
Eventhough I don't own a DS, I've seen what it can do, and it looks like it was tailormade for a Golden Sun 3
You should definitly try donkey kong jungle beat. (Other than that it is also mario and zelda for me, and rogue squadron iii which looks good but plays like ass.)
why don't you go ass-pump your Mario blowup doll some more, fanboy
Tell that to the developers. Again, emulation isn't that simple. Your forgetting the 3D GPU, dual core 2D chip and APU. Using nintendo's emulator, which I'm guessing is pretty well made since they know the system 100%, developers have a hard time achieving real time speed. The problem is, that x86 can't emulate certain things (not always to do with speed) well at all because of some of its limitations (lack of registers being one.) and either way, the PSP's 333mhz cpu would never ever ever ever ever be able to emulate a DS at full speed.
Of course when you provide dollar figures that are way off, the DS does seem a better value.
In Canada, the DS is $200, PSP with one free game is $350. The games can be purchased for about $50. Therefore, the system is more around $300 in cost. As for DS games, those are much cheaper at around $35-40.
If a user is interested in purchasing a 1GB card, you can buy those easily for $100 if you are willing to possibly wait a week or two for a sale.
Sony seems to be making the PSP slightly cheaper here. Probably a good idea seeing as how the DS hasn't been selling well at all. Despite all those claims of stores selling out of them, there was always an ample supply at every store I ever checked here.
Remember, all of these prices are in Canadian dollars.
The PSP costs 250 or more. DS is available now for around 120. Are you willing to pay more than double for the promise of better games, graphics and a better screen?
If the DS is selling for $120 where you live it must be doing quite badly! The system is CAD$200 here and even with a friendly exchange rate that comes nowhere close to $120. At best, it would come ot $160.
At least Morgan Webb has a nice bod with her gaming senses. From the rumors I read online, I wonder if she is dating Martin Sargent. At least Adam Sessler is funny to watch.
you have no idea what you're talking about. lack of x86 registers is not much of a performance constraint. main memory bandwidth is much more an issue. i've written asm on everything from register starved architectures (6502) to register rich architectures (mips).
3d gpu is not hard to emulate, especially at that low of a resolution. dual core 2d chip, apu, big whoop. mame emulates far more complex hardware easily. go take a look at the source code. it doesn't take magic to emulate.
the x86 might not be an 'elegant' architecture but it has a lot of brute force behind it. emulators require brute force.
and I never said anything about PSP emulating anything. this is about PC emulation.
You may not have noticed it, but the DS' screen is _much_ better than the Gameboy Advance SP. Try playing something like Pinball of the Dead on both systems. My scores actually improve when playing on the DS because of its superior screen; the sprites are much larger and the screen doesn't blur when there's a lot of action.
Anyone remember the load times for the first generation of PS1 games? IMHO most of them were totally unplayable. The PS2 wasn't nearly as bad, but load times could still take too long. I'm praying the PSP will be more like the PS2 than PS1.
Total worldwide GBA sales rival total worldwide PS2 sales. I would call that sucessful, Trolly McTrollington.
Yes, I agree esp after seeing this - Nintendogs.
21st century Tamagotchi. I showed this Flash movie to many people, most of them think it is going to be the killer app for DS.
It's £95 in the UK which is equiv. to $178 at the moment.
OTOH the PSP a touch less than double the cost at £180 ($340).
That's a huge price difference... and will affect sales a lot.
The DS also has the advantage of actually being available (has been for a while) - We don't get the PSP until the end of June, so the DS will undoubtedly win the battle here by default.
In order to have better games, the DS has to HAVE GAMES.
More potential? Of course, it always did. They just haven't even begun to live up to it. Metroid has shown how much potential it has, and then from there, everything else just shows how much more they could do. Heck, some of them don't even take useful advantage of the touch screen, or even both screens. Their release list doesn't look at all impressive to me, either.
Worst yet, it's too late to live up to it now. Thursday is D-Day. The allies have already left port. Nintendo doesn't have enough time to get their killer title out for the DS before they're up against a very real opponent for the first time in the Gameboy's history. They can try to hold ground if they get the good stuff out soon, but it's already pretty apparant that Nintendo's going to be second fiddle again.
They could do a lot with the system, but they haven't done and they aren't doing a lot. The DS came out in December, and here's March. They had a head start, and they've gone nowhere since launch day.
Right now, the PSP's got good games on its side. Not just better graphics, better games. In fact, I wouldn't say the graphics are that much better if you only compare them to Metroid. It's just a list of good games versus two good games and a remake of a good game on the DS side.
The PSP's upcomming list also has some pretty cool stuff on it, and there are some very nice games and big names already in development for it.
Whoa whoa whoa, what's this? Watching Neverwhere? Is this a movie relating to a Gaiman book by the same name?
Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage
^ thats right.
'Trolly McTrollington' was referring to game quality, not game sales. The GBA simply hasn't been too successful with the former (yeah yeah, it probably has five decent original games for it - that isn't a lot).
There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. -- Francis Bacon
but I can't see through my thumb...
Except that in the modern credit happy world 10 dollars a game and 100 dollars a console doesn't mean shit. I've got both machines - the PSP is better, period.
It's twenty dollars a game, that's 40% cheaper, and call me old-fashioned, but you'd better believe it means something to me.
That was mostly gaming, but with a three hour stint of watching Neverwhere off a memory card.
How did you get Neverwhere onto that memory card, if you don't mind my asking? Arrrr....
A slightly better one that the Virtual Boy that sits atop my bookshelf, but a gimic none the less.
My god, how much money do you have?
(P.S.: It's "gimmick.")
In addition, the reviewer fails to mention that the PSP battery does last long enough to enjoy a game, unless you are prepared to drag a battery pack on your back.
the GP story doesn't make sense.
DS has the RPG's, nuff said.
True genius is grasping a situation like a peice of fruit, and peircing it just right so that it drains dry.
The whole thread was about the PSP emulating the DS in the first place.
-mkb
I have a DS, and love it, but since I've passed both mario DS and warioware (rather quickly, they were a blast!) I've gone back to reading, gasp, books! Small paperback novels are highly portable. The graphics aren't the best, but they also don't cost $250 + n x $50. Warning: batteries not included.
I personally think Sony's DualShock controllers have THE best directional pad ever created. Any other D-pad is usually one piece of plastic and when you try to move in one direction, you inevitably end up hitting another direction as well. The separation between the D-pad buttons on Sony controllers makes them the most accurate pads, and the most loved by all the gamers I've talked to.
WHO NEEDS SHIFT WHEN YOU HAVE CAPSLOCK/ DAMN1
No one is saying the obvious either...the DS is not and never has been considered the successor to the GBA SP.
Nintendo has known about the PSP, and I seriously doubt the DS is their answer to it. They aren't going to let Sony best them again.
Ehh, let me check DS' "good games list".
Nanostray, Metroid Prime: Hunters, Advance Wars DS, Animal Crossing DS, Jam With the Band, Meteos, Final Fantasy III and Crystal Chronicles, Katamari Damacy, Kirby's Magic Paintbrush, Mario Kart DS, Polarium.
I don't know, it sounds pretty good to me. Many of those will be out before winter, others have been announced w/o a date. It is a stupid wait though. Japan already has some pretty well reviewed games, Nintendo seems to have rushed to launch here in North America. As well, Nintendo is selling non-game things in Japan, such as an advanced dictionary, logic puzzles, math/language trainer, and MP3 / movie player (which is unfortunately a GBA cart, so it doesn't use both screens and all the fancyness).
To the PSP side, there are some good games, but most of them that are coming out don't seem that appealing to myself. There is a reason I don't have a PS2 (Xbox myself), and it is that I don't care for the types of games the Playstation consoles seem to get.
But that's just my personal opinion there. I won't go telling you that you're a complete idiot for doing as you with. I won't even imply it. Definately in the minority anyways, looking at the PS2 sales.
go back to what made Game Boy great.
Spinach green tetris?
I bought a DS, because it's screen looks much nicer then the SPs. And when I say nicer, it's night and day in the DS's favor. I also went with the DS, because my GBA's slightly smaller size cramps my hands up. The times I tried the SP it was even worse. The DS is a bit easier for me to hold for a longer time and its really not that big.
I can easily fit my DS in my pocket and the battery life is pretty good averaging between 6-10 hours. The speakers are also nicer then any other portable I've used. Not a replacement for headphones, but I'm not a big fan of most game music, so having it playing quietly in the background is what I like.
Now for 2 screens, this is why I love the DS. First of all even though a PSP has somewhat better graphics for a FPS, the DS definately has the superior controls for one. The touch screen is absolutely the next best thing to a mouse. Using an analogue stick for any FPS is way to cumbersome and has been my main reason for avoiding them on consoles. I couldn't even stand Halo, which I've played to many times too count.
I also personally like games like Zelda or console RPGs in general. Using the touch screen to instantly access and see stats or spells without taking away from the main screen will be great. It's already great for quick menu acces for the games I own.
There is a slight learning curve when first using the screen, but it become second nature pretty quickly. Even Ridge Racer and its weird steering wheel setup has become really easy to use and is lots of fun.
The only thing I wish my DS could do, is connect to my GC like my GBA or your SP.
This is especially true of the PSP. ;)
How will you play real complex games (say, "ages of empire") on a PSP? The DS' stylus is basically a mouse (actually, it's way better than a mouse), and the touch screen is a keyboard. Some we should wait until real DS games are presented.
Something else I don't get : am I the only one to find that the touch screen can be used as a very convenient analogic stick? (mario64)
We don't get the PSP until the end of June, so the DS will undoubtedly win the battle here by default.
Yes, and the Dreamcast won the 128 bit system battle because it was out years before the PS2.
Guys, guys... despite what magazines and internet elitists would lead you to believe, you don't have to choose one system over the other just yet. This isn't a horse race where you have to bet on a winner... instead, just wait it out and you can choose the winner halfway through the race instead.
I realize this is the slashdot crowd, which is mostly technological early-adopters, so my words will likely fall on deaf ears, but hopefully someone will read this and come to their senses....
Back in the early 90's, I read GamePro regularly (it wasn't nearly as bad back then as it is now), and was VERY interested in the Atari Jaguar, the amazing new system that Atari was working on... I have a few issues that are completely dog-earred from me reading the same features and previews over and over and over again. Eventually, I convinced my parents to buy me a Jaguar for christmas shortly after it was released. As most of you know (and those of you who don't would likely have figured it out by the fact that you'd never heard of the Jaguar before this post), the Jaguar was completely swept out the door when the Playstation came out. Despite a few high-quality games (like Tempest 2000 and Alien vs. Predator), the system was a miserable failure, and sent Atari through a series of buyouts and chapter 11's that basically put it out of the industry altogether (until Infogrames came around, but that's another story). Although I did (and still do) enjoy my Jaguar, it was a poor decision to buy into it so soon... I didn't have enough information to make an informed choice about which system to buy into at the time, and I should have waited until it became apparent. Instead, I listened to the hype. I vowed never again to do that.
I have no specific bias towards either the PSP or the DS at the moment, and I don't plan to buy either for at least three or four months (if at all), at which point it should be fairly obvious which is the "winner" and which is the "loser". In the meantime, there are still plenty of worthwhile GBA games to play, and whatever games the DS and PSP have will be just as fun to play four months down the road as they would be today, and by then they'll likely even be cheaper.
Then again, maybe I just have more patience than the average person.
-"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -EH
I'll probably get modded down for this, but I'm going to say it anyway. I am ridiculously excited about the PSP. Not because of the games (Wipeout and the new Nipppon Ichi game are the two games on the horizon I am remotely excited about), not because of MP3 (iPod 3g), and not because of the movies (I really have no desire for a personal video-player... If I'm that desperate, I use my laptop).
I am excited for the sole reason that it will be, perhaps, the best handheld system ever to emulate SNES games.
Really, think about it: the layout looks exactly like a SNES controller. The damn thing has a d-pad, start, select, L, R, X, Y, A, and B in nearly identical positions.
Compare:
SNES PSP
As soon as someone ports ZSNES and a GBA emulator, I'm buying a PSP and bringing with me all the great SNES and GBA games wherever I go, so that I can play some great, classic, properly emulated games with all the damn buttons for once. And if they manage to get PSX emulation working, then I think I might just pee down my leg a little.
Regards,
-PhosterPharms
Yeah, these sound OK... but besides FF3 and Katamari they don't really interest me so much. Also, due to its track record, I'm not cutting Nintendo any slack on the "release someday" ticket.
This isn't because I hate Nintendo, or anything. If anything I'm a fan of the big N since childhood. However, they need to get on the ball.
This is one reason I'm hoping the PSP succeeds, and all the Nintendo die-hards should hope as well: to wake up Nintendo. The SNES is probably still my favorite platform; and 4 consoles later (n64, cube, gba sp, ds) they're still riding it.
Wake up, Nintendo. Return us to the glory days of the SNES. Because on the SNES were some of the greatest games ever. And I want more like them.
Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage
Neverwhere was a BBC miniseries before the book was written. IIRC, Gaiman wrote the miniseries, all sorts of neat stuff had to be cut, so he kinda wrote the book to put back in all his ideas. It's available at amazon, i blieve. or manybe A&E (I think that's why I'm on their mailing list...)
"Will Nintendo pull it's proverbial head out of it's backside and develop games that aren't amied at 12 year olds and start developing games that challenge the marketplace."
Some of us are more inclined to believe that it's the so-called "marketpalce" that has its head shoved up its collective ass. The majority can be wrong, you know.
You could say the same of Nintendo's upcoming list though, really. It wouldn't be right to start comparing the games which aren't even out for the PSP, with the games which are already out for the DS.
But Nintendo really do have marketing issues.
Let's take the GBA. The GBA went through about 800-1000 game releases before the really good stuff started coming out. And by the really good stuff, I mean things like Tactics Advance, Megaman Battle Network, and things along those lines... in other words, games which aren't finished in 10 hours.
GameCube was even worse. Here we have a console with solid internet connectivity to the point where it could be used for smooth online gaming, and what happens? Nobody makes games for it. A potentially boon turns into a complete flop, simply because the network adapter wasn't included in the console itself. Because it's not included, game developers start fearing that people won't buy it. So game developers get scared off, and as a result, there are less games. Less games mean less people buy the accessory, and so on. A self-satisfying prophecy, really.
They have started by doing one thing right for the DS: including the networking in the package. Now, it's fair to say that this was expected since the GBA also included networking in the package. But I think there will be a lot more that can be done with the DS, especially as they expect single-cart gameplay to be the norm this time around.
But of course, all of this matters dick to me until one thing happens. I want to see what MegaMan Battle Network DS is like before I even touch the thing. And that game is still a long way off... :-)
Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!
Although initially sceptical about the DS's touchscreen, I played Metroid DS briefly and was impressed by the mouse-like controls. It's probably a personal preference, but those midget analog sticks (found on pratically all modern consoles) just don't agree with me. I hope we'll see future consoles making use of the touchscreen technology.
The PSP hardware is gorgeous, but it looks like it has a lot of the usual Sony proprietary bullshit associated with it. Too bad. If Sony had created an open platform with standard components (CF, mini DVD, ...), they could have created a true mass market product that people would be using for everying.
The DS looked somewhat unexciting in terms of hardware, but it is more affordable and may be better in terms of gaming. If people manage to get Linux up and running on the DS, it would be absolutely phatastic, however: a $150 Linux machine with WiFi and an excellent battery life.
Final Fantasy is comming to PSP. I'll buy a PSP just for that.
I was really blown away by the fact that they actually picked a winner. Most articles end very indecisively and determine it's really up to you -- even though they title the article "We determine the winner" or whatever. I:m not a big fan of those guys, but I:m impressed here.
>productivity apps for kids
Huh?
That kind of fuzzy thinking is exactly why PSP is gonna take a major chunk out of Nintendo's handheld market share.
grib.
maybe
People need to stop simply comparing the capabilities of the systems and the hardware itself. What it's going to come down to is the software and support from developers. I am 100% confident that the PSP will be backed by many big name developers and publishers willing to pull out some big name titles and some great games. Having a WIDE variety of games to choose from is important to consumers and should also be important to gamers, as well.
Surely, like the PS2 and PSX, there will be a number of rotten games in the large sea of PSP games set to drop. But the DS software selection is poor beyond words, having launched nearly four months ago and with barely 20 games carried in even the largest video game retailers. The PSP on the other hand has more games than that at launch, with promises of killer titles in the future.
Sure, you'll need to the DS to play Mario Kart, whatever Zelda they pull out of their cracks, etc. but I suspect that anyone with both systems will find more choices and variety on their PSP. I guess it's too early to tell who will win this "war," but my money is on the PSP...of course, though, I'll have to own both of them.
I live in australia. Lets see
Nintendo DS: $200
Games: $60
Avaliability: Been out for a month
Sony PSP: Estimated retail price of $350-$400
Games: $80ish
Avaliability: No idea. Sony hasnt given a firm date for release in Australia that i have seen
So 150-200 more for a system that gives me games that take ages to load and gives me a whole host of features i have no interest in using compared to the DS that has exactly what im looking for, a huge range of games i can already play (GBA backwards compatibility) and some awesomely fun release titles that use the touchscreen.
I think i spent my $200 well. 400 bucks isnt cheap, no matter which way you look at it.
Does anybody know whether the PSP's sold in Hong Kong work a-ok here in EU? I mean is there chinese characters / region coding on the games?
Maybe somebody could point me to a faq if such exists.
Cheers,
jari / dj ken-guru
Have you played the new Yoshi game?
Touch & Go is an innovative high-score romp through four unique modes. It's like those old arcade games; the only purpose is to go through again and beat your old high score. IMO, if it was advertised more, it could be a system seller.
are you being sarcastic?
The DS does use its own implementation of a standard wireless system which doesn't include TCP/IP. However it is possible to encapsulate the received wireless packets in an IP packet and route it to another computer where it can be retransmitted to another DS.
FF:Advent Children is a movie, and it's coming out, in superior resolution, on DVD too. FF:Crisis core may be okay, but it's an action RPG, not so good for a FF game.
DS on the other hand gets FF:Crystal Chronicles online, FF3 remake, Egg monster heroes by squareenix, and a strategy rpg by FF creator sakaguchi. So while I may buy a psp after a price drop if crisis core is half decent, the DS is THE final fantasy handheld, and any true fan would prioritize it as the first one to get.
True genius is grasping a situation like a peice of fruit, and peircing it just right so that it drains dry.
In all fairness, the NGage was doomed before it started. It was crappily designed (had to remove the battery to change the games, side-talking, crappy games) and got lots of negative press before release. I know they have fixed many of the problems now, but its too late. The PSP on the other hand just drips with the sexy that makes it seem like the next iPod. I think the DS is a good piece of hardware, I own one, but Nintendo really needs to get off their ass and start putting out some games.
They should have been developing a Mario game to come out with the system at release but instead offered up a 8-year-old port, their hard-on for micro games continues un-abated with Wario Ware, Yoshi Touch and Go and Feel the Magic, but those games lack any lasting appeal. (I had everything unlocked in WarioWare in like an hour). And why on earth did they release Mario Party for the GBA? The DS has all these "innovative" things on it (wifi, touch screen, microphone) that would have been perfect for that sort of game but they instead release it for the game that you need an accessory to achieve unreliable wireless.
The PSP is offering up a solid line-up of games at launch. I cant remember the last time I actually wanted 4 launch titles. There is the battery life issue, but really 3.5 hours of gaming (in reasonable consumption settings) is plenty for me. Im trying to be as fair about the debate as possible, but I'm selling my DS until Nintendo actually gives me something I can use instead of just look forward to.
Butthead Vendor
"we have people on both sides of the fense."
Those who know how to spell "fence," those who don't...
I swear, Penny Arcade isn't funny anymore; they are more lunatic laughter than funny; witty humor, jokes, you name it has all run dry. It's gone...gone to the like of tentacle monsters. Take for instance, the first comic for PSP humor is Gabe and Tyco going to the mall and Tyco plans to camp at a game shoppe for three days. The other homosexual buddy of his returns and throws his prison-cell phone in the trash nearby with a little remark: not funny, not even worth reading. Can I have my 15 seconds of life back from you idiots?
The second comic on the PSP camp is the loner is sitting there, all alone across from a Cinnabon bakery; asking for a Cinnabon baker to bring the food over so he doesn't lose his place in line to the PSP, whereas none are in line but him. My problem with this recent (second) comic in this PSP "funny" series of comics is the last sequenced image appears to be none other than a graphic soft-porn illustration of him losing his man-load of chunks all over his face. Take a look for yourselves, a comic implicitly giving thoughts of masturbation in a shopping mall. Penny Arcade is a bankrupt comic strip. There is nothing more to see from them. Move along. Luckily, I've only lost about 3 hours to those disgusting bastards; I don't read their shit-worthy webpage, but comics. It's all trash, and their products are overmarked Mexico imports that can be bought for a haypenny.
Beautiful post. I was going to reply similarly...but you did it better than I could anyways. I don't understand why people are so passionate about a company. They all make games, buy them all, or choose the one that gives you the most fun...but don't pretend everything Nintendo produces is a gift from God.
Support a great indie game: http://www.abaddon360.com
I can kind of understand why you would avoid Sony because of their business practices...but I don't really understand the whole innovative game thing. Sony isn't in the market of making games. They leave that to third parties. Now, GTA3 has been reused so much in it's next few games it doesn't seem innovative anymore. But that was extremely innovative. What about Katarmi Darmacy? How about Phantom Brave? They have all kinds of innovative 3rd party software that isn't on the Nintendo. I don't understand the bias towards Nintendo. They are out to make money, just like everyone else. They have fantastic PR and really talk with passion about gaming. But I am just as sure there are people just as passionate about games working for other companies. I didn't read the rest of this thread, but assuming the parent was calling people hypocrites for lauding Nintendo and the owning a PS2. So you aren't a hypocrite. Great, but your arguments for not buying Sony are weak at best. Hell, I would have just got the PS/PS2 for FF tactics and FF8.
Support a great indie game: http://www.abaddon360.com
See, this is the problem with most people posting here. There are other sides. People who will get both and want both to be great. People who want to see innovation and competition to promote a healthy market. Just let go of wanting one to win. Make your best guess if you can only afford one. No one is really better than the other...they all just want your money.
Support a great indie game: http://www.abaddon360.com
Maybe it's just me, but it seems like all the PSP's games are rehashed versions of old PSX/PS2 games. Ape Escape, Tony Hawk's Underground 'Remix', Dynasty Warriors, Spider-Man 2, Need for Speed Underground: Rivals, Metal Gear: Acid, the simply-named "NBA" and "MLB", ATV Offroad Fury...
The DS, on the other hand, had Asphalt Urban GT, Feel the Magic XY/XX, Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits, Ping Pals, Super Mario 64 DS (not just rehashed - totally redone, with new characters and missions, multiplayer, improved graphics and sound), and The Urbz: Sims in the City (a new game). Not to mention the games that came out later - WarioWare Touched, Yoshi Touch and Go, etc. It just seems that the selection for the DS is fresher.
I am scientifically inaccurate.