Slashdot Mirror
PSP vs. DS Six Months On
Gamasutra has a follow-up to a previous Question of the Week about the PSP and the DS. The question this past week was: "Which handheld do you think is winning the most hearts, and which the biggest marketshare in each territory?" From the article: " My personal view of the PSP hasn't changed at all. It's not what I'm looking for in a portable system. Seriously, who actually wants to watch a movie on a tiny screen? The DS genuinely has more options for innovation when it comes to unique software, but because the general masses are easily influenced by what is cool, I can foresee less developers spending time on creating innovative software on the DS in an effort to cash in on the popularity (and mass marketing) of the PSP. Still, the DS has sold quite a number of units, also, where I currently reside, the PSP has only just launched recently, so it's still hard to say. -Anonymous "
Personally, I took advantage of the PSP vs DS to buy a used Game Boy Advanced SP. Sure, I'm years behind on the handheld, but I'll wait out this current battle, and buy in once it is more affordable and has enough interesting games on one of the systems to really pull my interest.
I do look forward, though, to seeing what a Zelda or Mario game on the DS would be like (and I don't mean a port).
That said, at this point the PSP is starting to come into it's own. It is starting to get some games that are the kind I want (note: I own both). While there have been some nice games (Hot Shots Golf used up a lot of my time), Burnout: Legends just came out. Lots of content, fun to play, looks FANTASTIC. SSX on Tour is looking very interesting to me. GTA: Liberty City Stories will sell a ton and might be great.
While the DS has better pick up and play games and short games. The PSP is a PS2 to go. The kind of games seem to be quite different. While that at first made me less interested in the PSP, I've come to a realization. I don't play my consoles much any more. I just don't have that kind of time that I like to devote to it. But I love the ability to play between classes on campus, when I have nothing to do at work, etc. Even just sitting at home and watching TV while playing. I really LIKE this ability, and I can see myself playing the PSP more and more if they have games I like. Since I can put the PSP on hold at any point, I don't have to worry about if I can pause/save when something is happeneing.
I've played my DS more. I'm starting to like my PSP more. They are both good consoles, and I think they have such different market segments (at least for me) that it's not a problem. The DS has more "GameBoy" games, while the PSP has more "Console" games.
If I had to choose one? The DS. I've played it more so far, found more games I like so far. And while I have no doubt there will be good games for the PSP, I always know I can count on my Nintendo consoles for great (and interesting) games. But it would be a hard choice. If you had asked me 3-4 months ago, the choice would have been MUCH easier.
Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
DS == dual-screen gimmick with few or no games that usefully take advantage of the second screen
All you need to play is Advanced Wars DS and you will change your mind. It's all I need for entertainment... I've stopped playing computer games. I can still hear the main theme battle song while I type this at work. I want to go home and play it right now.
"I am the king of the Romans, and am superior to rules of grammar!"
-Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor (1368-1437)
But I still don't know which of these, if either, I want. For a while I had the PSP on my Amazon wishlist, now it's a DS--maybe I'll switch back--I kind of want someone else to decide for me. Here's how I see them: The DS has better games (Kirby Canvas Curse, Advance Wars, Meteos), the PSP has the better screen and homebrew possibilities. The DS is cheaper, but the PSP can play movies.
Neither of them has managed to court me sufficiently. Maybe by year end the games will decide it.
blarg.
Christ, you people need to grow up. The man is doing his job, leave him alone. He's supplying information, that's what he's there to do, and he's doing a damn good job, so back off. This subject is offtopic anyway (my own post included, I won't exclude myself from the blame).
- The touch screen
- Download games and programs from peers
The second option has seeded the way for using the DS to interact with the Revolution, because this allows you to use it as part of the game, not just for transfering information.Wonder what the public key field is for?
(not that uninformed is bad - perceptions of people who own neither system are what will ultimately decide which becomes dominant.)
Now, here's what I see as the difference between the DS and the PSP:
1. The PSP costs twice as much.
2. The PSP won't fit in my pocket as easily.
3. The PSP's battery life is so short that it's not really all _that_ portable. For example, it probably won't be able to keep me entertained for the length of a long flight.
4. With the PSP, I'm paying for oodles and oodles of features that I know I will not use.
5. I can play all those Game Boy games that are still on heavy rotation on the DS.
6. The PSP costs twice as much.
DS homebrew is cheap and easy now that the SuperCard flash system for the GBA/DS has had a firmware upgrade allowing it to run DS software from a CF or SD flash card. I use my GBA all the time with a SC system I think I'm upgrading to a DS soon.
I love my PSP, but only for homebrew, emus, etc. God knows why Sony wish to stop people using the PSP for the only thing it's good for.
"Religion is the most malevolent of all mind viruses." - Arthur C. Clarke.
I agree, who cares?
The point is to be satisfied with what you have, no matter which one it is. I only have a DS and I'm quite content with it. If you're happy with your PSP, good for you. There's no point in bickering like fanboys over it.
If you're happy with both, well you're a rich little snot and I envy you.
I recently started working in the electronics dept at a local walmart, and the DS is whooping the PSP's proverbial butt.
Every time I go in there are less and less DS's (till we restock). I've only seen one PSP sold and never notice any less in the glass case.
Better/more numerous games
More innovative
High potential as a gaming system
Won over the hardcore audience
Durable
Acceptably priced
Battery life is excellent
PSP Pro :
Superior hardware
UMD movies
Beautiful screen for a handheld
Buries the DS in marketing
Seen as 'hip'
Future game releases could be a serious tide-turner (if things aren't already in favor of the PSP)
DS Cons :
Still viewed as 'kiddy' (Nintendogs isn't helping this image)
Nothing to match the PSP's music and movie playing abilities (third party add-ons don't count)
Games are largely untraditional (Kirby Canvas Curve takes some serious getting used to)
Poor marketing ('Touching is good'? Wth?)
Still fairly small game library (not including GBA games)
PSP Cons :
Poor construction for a portable device (Scratchy screens, UMD shooting abilities, dead pixels, etc)
Firmware alienates all homebrewed software (early adopters are in the minority with no hope of increasing in number)
Battery life is horribly short for a handheld (Most users report between 3~12 hours usage depending on whats it used for)
Game library pathetically small even compared to the DS (Homebrewed games and emulators don't count)
Although future releases promise PSP domination, they're still future releases and have not been launched
I own a PSP and it is uncomfortable to play games that use the analog stick for more than like 20 minutes, it makes my hand hurt! Also the screen has a refresh rate that is somewhat slow and makes my eyes hurt. My girlfriend agrees, and on a recent long car trip she had to take frequent breaks from playing the thing complaining that it was hurting her eyes. Thats pretty bad. I have actually gone back to playing Gameboy SP, its smaller, more comfortable to hold and easier on my eyes, even with its little screen....its something to do with the way it refreshes or the way it does 3d.
the PSP has the better screen and homebrew possibilities.
The supply of PSP units with 1.50 firmware on the used market is dwindling fast as homebrew players snap them all up on eBay, and the 1.51 or later firmware is not cracked to my knowledge. The most common Nintendo DS firmware, on the other hand is fully cracked ("PassMe" and "WiFiMe"), and even the new version in Chinese units and some Japanese units has a preliminary crack for it.
The DS is cheaper, but the PSP can play movies.
The Nintendo DS plus a portable DVD Video player is $250 just like the PSP, and there are a lot more lawfully available feature length movies on DVD Video than on a PSP compatible format. In fact, Disney/Pixar's Toy Story is the only G-rated movie available on UMD Video in North America. Read More...
Games which are the same on both (racing, snowboarding, so on..) will of course look better on the PSP and probably play better with the analoge stick so that's a reason to get that.
Ports of PC RTS games such as the rumored port of Starcraft would play with the controller that is more like a keyboard+mouse, and that's the Nintendo DS touch screen, not some analog stick. Starcraft on PSP would handle like Starcraft 64, that is, it'd feel like Mouse Keys.
The DS on the other hand got that touch screen, but there are a bunch of stupid boring games for that like WarioWare
"Stupid boring"? Have you even tried Kirby Canvas Curse?
Number of DSs that I've seen:
4, not counting demo units (managed to get them all in one place)
Number of PSPs I've seen:
0. No demo unit. Nothing. Never even saw anyone with one while waiting for someone at the airport.
When the PSP came out I said if it overcame three problems, it'd be great. Price, battery life, and durability. It's still quite expensive for a portable device, it's battery life is still quite a bit shorter than an SP or DS, and it's still fragile.
You pay $130 for a DS, and if you get a game, such as Bomberman, Meteos, Advance Wars: Dual Strike, or the soon to be released Castlevania for $30-35 and you're set. You don't need to buy any accessories.
Now, you pay $250 for a PSP, it includes a small memory stick. The games are $40-50. If you want to watch movies or listen to music you gotta break out $50-100 for a memory stick large enough to fit them.
Make sure you don't discount third party addons (ie: Play-yan, which is endorsed by Nintendo) while not discounting the need for the memory stick.
Do I hate the PSP? No. Will I buy a PSP? No.
If you think education is expensive, you should try ignorance -- Derek Bok, president of Harvard