Sony Struggles To Define the PSP

Brian Crecente has a piece over on the Rocky Mountain site talking about Sony's struggle to make the PSP stand out. The failure of the UMD format, its de-emphasis as a media player, and the lackluster stable of games leaves PSP owners wondering exactly what to use it for. From the article: "While digital media is a key focus for Sony Computer Entertainment right now, the company is also working to expand other elements of the portable as well. In November, the PlayStation 3 will launch with built in PSP support. While [PSP Marketing Manager John] Koller wouldn't discuss specifics, he did say that the PlayStation Portable will be a 'remote control device' for the next-gen console. He says more details about that connectivity will be coming out in the coming months, perhaps at the Tokyo Game Show next month."

Comments

Defining the PSP

[grapeape]

I bought mine at launch, have had it listed on Craigs List for almost 6 months and cant get rid of the thing so I guess my definition would be "paperweight".

The PSP is a brilliant piece of hardware, but 99% of the games suck, im not stupid enough to buy my movies over again and its too freakin big for an mp3 player, so most of the time it sits on the desk waiting for some game to come out that I might actually enjoy. Its pretty sad when the best game on the platform is the first one that was launched with it (Lumines). Oh well, at least there is Lumines 2 on the way.

Re:Defining the PSP

[Total_Wimp]

I bought mine at launch, have had it listed on Craigs List for almost 6 months and cant get rid of the thing so I guess my definition would be "paperweight".

What's your price? A quick look at ebay shows one going for $167 with 3 min left. Not bad for a paperweight.

This 99% of games suck bullshit has just about got to stop. Have you bought a game in the last 6 months? There are many fine games for the console now, even if they weren't there at launch.

My advice is to take it off of Craigslist, buy a couple of games that users have rated highly on the PSP forums and play them. It'll be fun, trust me. If it's still not fun for you then I'm not quite sure what might help. Have you considered taking up knitting?

TW

Re:Defining the PSP

[Anonymous Coward]

If I were in your position, I would drop your PSP on eBay (netting about $150-$200, depending on games and accessories) and purchase a nintendo DS ($100-120, depending on if you get the Phat or Lite). It has plenty of great games. If homebrew is your thing, you can get into that scene for about $50-100, depending on how much space you want and how small you want your device to be.

My homebrew solution allows me to use 2gb Mini-SD cards. You can't imagine how many nes/gameboy/gbc roms that I can keep with me. Sure, the games don't have bleeding edge graphics. They do, however, have bleeding edge fun :) !

Re:Defining the PSP

[gEvil (beta)]

OT, but which DS flash card/boot card set-up would you recommend?

Re:Defining the PSP

[ElleyKitten]

I like my portable Valkyrie Profile, but I don't see anything else worth buying. I'm not a big fan of puzzle games, so no Lumines for me. I really hope I'll find something good to play after Valkyrie.

Re:Defining the PSP

[grapeape]

Well lets see so far I have Spider-Man, Lumines, GripShift, Untold Legends, GTA Liberty City Stories, ATV Offroad, Metal Gear Acid, Ridge Racer and Silent Hill. Maybe im just buying the wrong games but most of them play like ports of PS1 games with bad controls.

No need for knitting though, I took up the DS instead. Actually I think maybe the DS is why ive soured so much on my PSP. If i had nothing else I wouldnt have anything to complain about, there are just very few games for the PSP that are 5 minute time wasters and I dont have hours to sit around playing with it. Too many of the games require you to complete an entire long level or reach some drawn out objective before saving so more times than not I end up playing the same parts over and over until I either get time to follow through to the next save point or give up and throw the game on a shelf.

Re:Defining the PSP

[andrewman327]

I like GTA for PSP. It made the transition from console to PSP fairly seemlessly.

Re:Defining the PSP

[Anonymous Coward]

I was not interested in flashing the firmware of my DS Lite, so I decided to go with a SuperKey. This is the size of an official Nintendo DS game and fits flushly into the DS slot.

The next decision is the tough one. Right now, I use a SuperCard MiniSD. This has flawless playback of NDS backups, as well as decent GBA support. If you must have maximum GBA support, the M3 is the only option right now. Both cards are about the size of an original GBA game (so they will fit flushly in your DS phat/stick out approx. 1cm (the width of a finger) on your ds lite).

There are a few devices out there that fit completly inside of a DS Lite GBA slot, but they cost more/have fixed memory of 1 GB/use transflash cards which cost a lot of money.

SuperKey ($30) + SuperCard MiniSD* ($50) + 2GB MinSD card ($25) = $115 gets you
Near pefect NDS Support (99%)
Decent GBA Support (~75-80%)
Great Homebrew, Emulator, Etc support

If you want to save cash, you can go with the larger flash carts that use CF cards, however, they will make your NDS or NDSL a pain while trying to fit in your pocket. I like to game on the go; the NDSL+SC fits easily into my pocket.

* Make sure you buy from a reputable company if you get a SuperCard, some cheap chinese manufacturers have been making knock-offs. You can read more about it at the SC site.

Re:Defining the PSP

[Lord of Hyphens]

Excuse me whilst I go grumble about that game only getting its rerelease on the PSP... because I loved it on the PSX.
Would it have killed Square-Enix to rerelease the PSX version? Frickin' $100-200 on eBay.

Re:Defining the PSP

[gEvil (beta)]

Thanks very much. I'll look into it. A friend pointed me to a site that had the various SuperCards (mini and microSD). It's a shame that the microSD SuperCard only works in the DS Lite, since I have a few of those cards laying around (my phone uses them).

Re:Defining the PSP

[grapeape]

I also went with the Supercard but its the full SD one (had too many Sd cards for my PDA to ditch them for another format). It sticks out of my Lite a bit but its fine. So far I have bought 9 games, Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow, Phoenix Wright, Trace Memory, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, Feel The Magic, Tony Hawk American Skateland, Asphalt Urban GT, New Super Mario DS and Guilty Gear. Most of them are decent, ive purchased a few stinkers like Asphalt but overall they are fun and fairly non time consuming.

Re:Defining the PSP

[Anonymous Coward]

If you turn the power off, you put the PSP into sleep mode and the game is instantly paused. If you're having to restart levels then you're doing something wrong.

You might want to purchase some of the best of the games for the system, rather than the mediocre ones you've been buying. Syphon Filter, Daxter, and Tekken Dark Resurrection are three of the most impressive and fun games I've played, and all have scored higher than the games you own.

Re:Defining the PSP

[supabeast!]

"This 99% of games suck bullshit has just about got to stop. Have you bought a game in the last 6 months? There are many fine games for the console now, even if they weren't there at launch."

There are many fine games for the PSP if your idea of a fine game is a sequel to a PSX/PS2 game . The problem for many PSP owners seems to be that if they want those games, they alreadyt bought them, and aren't interested in just buying the PSP versions. PSP developers might be able to get away with just dumping out low-poly versions of their big games for the PSP if Nintendo hadn't moved away from the same model for its handheld systems, but the PSP cannot catch up to the DS as long as PSP owners look at DS owners and seem them getting a endless stream of innovative, engaging games that cost less.

Re:Defining the PSP

[LKM]

I like GTA for PSP. It made the transition from console to PSP fairly seemlessly.

You mean the PS2 version plays as badly as the PSP version? Gah. I heard the PC version is pretty cool though, with keyboard and mouse.

Re:Defining the PSP

[apoc06]

Out of the games you decided to buy, Lumines and GTA are the only really solid games you have there. Most of the games you bought /are/ near direct ports of ps1/2 games.

Untold Legends has its set of fans, as does Metal Gear Acid. Ridge Racers is a pretty good title, but it's limited in its replayability b/c it was rushed. There are lots of good titles available and alot more on the way. It's hard to tell your gaming preferences, but based on what youve already bought you should check out Daxter, Burnout Legends, Field Commander, LocoRoco, Street Fighter Alpha3, Syphon Filter, Tekken:DR, Socom and the upcoming Killzone Liberation and Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops.

Depending on how you felt about Metal Gear Acid, Metal Gear Acid 2 fixed a large majority of my problems with the first. I like MGA2 alot better, but the card slant still isn't everyone's cup o' tea.

You bought Silent Hill? That's interesting considering that it hasn't come out. If you are talking about Silent Hill experience, than that shouldn't be listed as a game. Silent Hill Origins isn't going to be released for a few more months.

Re:Defining the PSP

[grapeape]

Yep its more of a comicbook...was rather pissed off at it...should have guessed it was only $5 at blockbusters. :)

Re:Defining the PSP

[despisethesun]

I personally went with the M3 because of its better GBA support. I don't condone piracy, but the Supercard apparently has some slowdown with many GBA roms and homebrew and even though it wouldn't have made a difference for what I use it for, the thought of leaving that extra capability on the table just bugged the hell out of me. I don't know why. I bought the CF version which is about as big as two GBA carts combined, but the SD version is quite a bit smaller. It's still a little bigger than a Supercard, though, so if you're more concerned with size than compatibility then the Supercard beats the M3 any day.

Re:Defining the PSP

[Anonymous Coward]

Or... you could keep your PSP and depending on your firmware, take advantage of homebrew using the materials you have straight out of the box.

Re:Defining the PSP

[b1t r0t]

but the PSP cannot catch up to the DS as long as PSP owners look at DS owners and seem them getting a endless stream of innovative, engaging games that cost less.

So you're saying that the best hope Sony has is for Nintendo to churn out a bunch of sucky DS games? Makes sense to me.

Re:Defining the PSP

[LKM]

My PSP isn't downgradeable. New ones aren't (yet), I think. And if you actually do want to download demos or buy games, you can't do that with a "fixed" PSP, either.

With a DS, you have none of these problems.

Re:Defining the PSP

[Anonymous Coward]

The PSP is a brilliant piece of hardware, but 99% of the games suck...

The OP does not care for the games on the PSP. By switching over to a DS, most gamers who are "in the know" will tell you that he will be able to find fun games to play. He could sell his PSP on ebay and have enough money to

• Buy a NDS/NDSL, Hori Screen Protector, and a stack of FUN NDS games
  
• Buy a NDS/NDSL, Hori Screen Protector, and a homebrew setup
  
• Buy a NDS/NDSL, Hori Screen Protector, two great NDS games, and a stack of GBA games
  
• Buy a NDS/NDSL ...
  

AND, depending on how much cash he has left over from selling his USED game system, he could still have cash left over to get a neoprene case for his toy. Who can argue with that?

Re:Defining the PSP

[SquareVoid]

I used to buy movies for the PSP for the sole purpose of having something to watch on long plane rides. I wish I could rent them as they really only have a one-time purpose.

Re:Defining the PSP

[apoc06]

I feel your pain. It's hard to always sort the good from the bad and the ugly when you make impulse game purchases. The same holds true for both handhelds, and even moreso for home consoles though.

I love my PSP, and I still plan to eventually get a DS too. I say hold on to both for a while. The PSP has some good games coming down the tubes, and Nintendo will always have its core franchises. You have the best of both worlds. They are both solid consoles; light years better than any portable thusfar.

Since you were in blockbuster, I'm assuming you are a member and you can always rent before you buy; that's what I would do. looking at your UID, if you have the time to check slashdot and I'm sure you have the time to read reviews from gamespot and ign/ various independent games blogs. They both have roughly an equal number of games that score 8 and up, so take a look at those titles first.

Re:Defining the PSP

[c_forq]

I've played all of the GTA games on my computer, and I have to say I don't like the keyboard/mouse controls at all. It doesn't feel right at all, the only time I use it is for massive killing sprees using the chain gun, otherwise I use a USB controller. The game wasn't designed for keyboard/mouse, and I think it shows.

Re:Defining the PSP

[c_forq]

wait, let me change that, any GTA AFTER 2, GTA1, 2, and London all felt great on the keyboard. I couldn't imagine using a controller for the pre-3D GTA.

Re:Defining the PSP

[grapeape]

Yep I rent on occasion but when they have that blue sticker clearance im a sucker for under $10 game, thats how I ended up with Grip Shift and the Silent Hill comic thing. I've picked up some good there too though, PSP Headbanger EarSubs (which sound awesome btw) and a couple of the better games.

Sorry if my inital post sounded trollish it really wasnt ment to be, its just that so far for me I havent found alot of quick games, most are ones you have to spend alot of time with. I think maybe the problem is Sony tried to hard to please the fanboys and stuff a console in a portable device rather than thinking of the portability first. The ability to flip the powerswitch and go into standby is great...if you know your going to get back to it again soon, but more times than not I do that and then end up coming back a week later to a totally dead battery.

Re:Defining the PSP

[aplusjimages]

It is a great piece of hardware and unfortunately isn't being used to its potential. One thing that bothered me was the fact that they made one analog stick. Why make one when you obviously need two? So games that need two require some weird button combo to make the one analog stick act as two.

Re:Defining the PSP

[Babbster]

This 99% of games suck bullshit has just about got to stop.

It will never stop, just like it never stopped for the Xbox (I still see people occasionally say "Halo is the only reason to buy an Xbox"). Some people just can't change their minds once they've made them up, and what is true early in the console's life will be believed until the thing is replaced with a "PSP-2."

Personally, I could only imagine buying a PSP if I started getting tired of the games I'm playing on my DS and there's nothing left to buy for it. After all, there are still Xbox and Gamecube (my PS2 is on the fritz) games that I own and haven't gotten to yet, not to mention the ones I haven't even purchased. I still haven't seen a game for the PSP that I would consider a killer app - note that I'm not saying there's nothing good on the PSP (there are several games which I would play if I owned one), but there's nothing that appeals enough to me to warrant a purchase.

Re:Defining the PSP

[supabeast!]

"So you're saying that the best hope Sony has is for Nintendo to churn out a bunch of sucky DS games?"

I'm saying that Sony's isn't offering consumers the products that they want, and Nintendo is. Extrapolating from that, it would appear Sony's best hope is to alter the direction of PSP game development.

Re:Defining the PSP

[slofstra]

I agree with almost everything you say except that Lumines is an inferior version of Tetris with disco music and the rounded back of the PSP makes for a lousy paperweight.

Re:Defining the PSP

[Asphalt]

The PSP is a brilliant piece of hardware, but 99% of the games suck, im not stupid enough to buy my movies over again and its too freakin big for an mp3 player, so most of the time it sits on the desk waiting for some game to come out that I might actually enjoy

I feel you, but have to slightly disagree.

Screw UMD (I would never buy a movie on that format either). I take movies and music videos with me all the time on the Memory Stick. I even surf the net on wi-fi on the thing. It's big, but with the hard case it fits into my back pocket or shirt pocket. If it was smaller, it wouldn't be very good for games (and some of the games are awesome like Hot Shots Golf, Ridge Racer, and 2K6 Baseball .. which plays so close to it's Xbox counterpart that I am stunned).

Yes, there are also some games that look like they were ported from an Atari 2600 too, but it's got a decent amount of power to exploit.

Buy movies over again? Why on earth would you do that. Rip them and use 3GP Converter to stick them right on there. 600Mb will get me a good quality movie on memory stick, and still leaves me lots of room for MP3's and game data. Or if you *cough* download from P2P (which I never do!), you can burn transfer those sucker right over and watch them on the go.

It's a near-Dreamcast-quality game player, a move/video player, a *damn good* audio player (I think it sounds easily as good as an iPod with the right headphones), and an imprompto web browser if you just happen to hit a hotspot (I like to play Poker with other people over the Internet on my wireless network while I am relaxing on the counch in front of the TV). And the battery life is surprisingly good.

If you get the right case, tools, software, and accessories, you might just end up using it more.

The main problem I see is that my cellphone can do all of the above except play the games. I think that is why there are some adoption problems. It's really competing with smartphones more than anything.

Easy!

[Threni]

It's a handheld games console, only too big to fit in your pocket, too expensive to be treated as a cheap Nintendo console with its huge back catalogue, with a large, easily scratchable screen, playing media that Sony has decided not to continue with, from a company who's pissed people off with shoddy, easily bypassable spyware which increases the risk of hackers easily taking control of your PC.

I'll take 10!

Re:Easy!

[Anonymous Coward]

LOL ROOTKIT

SHUT UP with the rootkit and spyware comments. The horse died 3 months ago, you've gotta stop kicking it at some point.

Re:Easy!

[Petrol]

I can't disagree more.

I have 6 games, all of which I really enjoy. (Lumines; Armored Core; Tiger W. Golf; Wipeout; Tomb Raider; and Burnout) In addition to that I can webbrowse via the wifi and watch movies from the memory stick.

The problem with UMD is that Sony never priced the movies at a reasonable price point. Why on earth would I pay more for less than I can get on a DVD?

*That* is why UMD wasn't adopted.

Re:Easy!

[Anonymous Coward]

No, don't let it drop. If it drops with minimal impact to the business, companies will just pull that same crap again.

Re:Easy!

[trdrstv]

Not only that were they over priced, you are buying content for a fixed Device. If they AT LEAST made Sony DVD players that played UMD movies (granted they are lower res), or offered a 'TV OUT' feature for the PSP, you might have been able to salvage something.

So I can pay more for a lower resolution copy of a movie with fewer features that only plays on a single device, and has 2- 3 hours of battery life on a full charge? Pass.

Re:Easy!

[sarcasticklishoven]

The UMD was poorly positioned (obviously all My opinion) and should have been marketed more for rental especially at airports and train stations) The cost of UMDs movies(despite the overhead in making a new and more physically complex format) should have been 5-10 dollars and also included with DVD releases as an option from the start they really should have taken the loss just to secure the format as viable. Let me say that I love my psp, but I worry about a device like that with a motor driven drive failing, and what it does to battery life and instant playbility. I think the sony engineers did an amazing job though considering these limitations. Also I have not been particularly gentle with my psp(first gen) and I haven't gotten any scratches on it( knicked it from a drop on concrete, though), compared to my ipod which does. It's pretty impressive considering the ipod has from the moment the screen protector was remove been inside a plastic case. As for games, I think there's a quite a few good games for the PSP. Metacritic.com actually lists a fair amount more higher rated (Green) games for the PSP than it does for the DS. Your tastes may be different than the critics(I personally have no interest playing any Mario or Sports games, but some lower rated games I love on both sides). I personally want to play both things like Nintendogs and Starwars BattleFront II portably. You can't really do something like Syphon Filter justice on the DS, and you can't do Stylus games on the PSP. I'm not a huge fan of Sony at the moment, and I suppose I am a Nintendo fan, but I think the PSP is a pretty cool little machine. I enjoy for entirely different reasons than my DS. Games are, unfortunately, as expensive as console games(and as expensive to produce) and are not quite as good as their console brothers, but closer than anything else in terms of production. The psp really is a portable console, and it has games like a console does (which can be a negative thing for some people) that want gameboy type games. I have a DS (phatty) and I love it too, but it has a very different style of games. I happen to like both, and would be very sad if the PSP died.

It's a pocket Betamax

[krell]

It's just a cool pocket movie viewer at this time.

Re:It's a pocket Betamax

[Lord of Hyphens]

It's just a cool pocket movie viewer at this time.

And yet my old Toshiba e755 PDA did movies better. Same deal with my new iPAQ hx2495b.

Re:It's a pocket Betamax

[drmarcj]

Sony needs to learn from its mistakes. Closed standards kill platforms. They have gone to major pains to keep users from doing things like loading in their own movies or games via disc or memory stick. I wager they would do much better in sales if they went with an open framework that makes it easier to DIY video content, maybe even downloadable games that appeal to a more casual game crowd (a la Pop Cap games). Mind you this was all done in the interest of profit, since it keeps away the "pirates".

Re:It's a pocket Betamax

[Axe 336]

Wait... You can fit yours in your pocket? Where did you find these magical pockets?

99% of all PSP games?

[LKM]

but 99% of the games suck

How is that possible if it doesn't even have 100 games? Possibly you mean that 95% of all PSP games suck 100%, and the last one sucks 80%? :-D

I own a PSP. I use it for Puzzle Block Party, a game that uses about a fifth of its blurry battery-eating screen for actual gameplay (the rest is used for weird animated comic characters). I wish they made it for the PSP, then I could, uhm, try to sell my PSP on eBay or something.

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[ozbon]

Maybe I've been lucky, but I've mainly been able to buy what are ( in my own opinion ) non-sucky games for the PSP. Lumines is fine, and can occupy plenty of time if I'm travelling or whatever. Wipeout Pure is sensational - I love it. OK, so it's not original, but it's still a damn good game, and works fantastically on the PSP. Also, the ability to expand the game by going online and getting more tracks/music/ships is a great idea, and one I'm amazed more games haven't taken advantage of.

I also play the Colin McRae 2005 rally game a lot - again, ideal for travelling - although I admit that it took a larger learning curve than usual to get to grips with some of the (ahem) "features".

As for others, both LocoRoco and Mercury are simple but addictive.

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[masklinn]

I wish they made it for the PSP

Didn't you mean DS here?

And from the feedbacks I gathered, friends found two interresting (and original) games on the PSP, namely Loco Roco and Lumines. Have you tried them?

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[LKM]

Didn't you mean DS here?

Right, of course.

And from the feedbacks I gathered, friends found two interresting (and original) games on the PSP, namely Loco Roco and Lumines. Have you tried them?

Yeah. Loco Roco has been out for a month or something in Europe. It's fun, but short. I played through it in a few days. Didn't get every last Mui Mui, but probably not going to play it anymore. Lumines is a launch title. It's way, way old. I've been playing it for months, but eventually, I did get bored. And now that I play the other puzzle game, I can't go back to Lumines. The concepts clash too much. I've become terrible at Lumines since I always want to turn the blocks.

You're right, though. Lumines is a good game, and Loco Roco, while no Katamari, is at least okay.

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[LKM]

Lumines is fine

It's a launch title. I can play games for a long time, but years? Also, Puzzle Block Party plays similarly, so I can't really go back to Lumines. I always want to turn the blocks in Lumines now that I'm tuned to Puzzle Block Party.

Wipeout Pure is sensational - I love it.

I own it. It's probably a good game, but I'm more an F-Zero person, myself. Wipeout Pure simply feels slow and sluggish. F-Zero cars are fast, accelerate fast and turn quickly, and it's kind of hard for me to adjust to Wipeout Pure. I'll probably give it another chance, though.

I also play the Colin McRae 2005 rally game a lot - again, ideal for travelling - although I admit that it took a larger learning curve than usual to get to grips with some of the (ahem) "features".

Haven't played that one. I'm reluctant to buy Rally games because I prefer games where you race other cars.

As for others, both LocoRoco and Mercury are simple but addictive.

I've played through Loco Roco (it's been out for some time in Europe). It's too short. Mercury may be nice. I tried to download the Mercury 2 demo, but my PSP crapped out on me and Sony won't answer support mails.

Anyway, those are probably all good or okay games, but it's a bit telling that people are still naming mostly launch or near-launch titles when talking about good PSP games.

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[despisethesun]

I think the GP and GGP were exaggerating a bit when they say there are no good games for PSP. There are definitely a few but it's debatable as to whether there are enough to justify a purchase. I can't think of enough that even combined make me think "Damn, I need a PSP" whereas I bought 15 games in the first year I owned my DS, many of which would have been worth buying a DS for on their own.

Now that I think of it, the PSP's price likely has something to do with that. It just came down $100 recently here in Canada and it's still about $80 more than a DS Lite. If the PSP were closer to the same price as the DS I might be able to forgive the smaller library and take a chance on it. As it stands I'm considering just buying a DS Lite so I can bring both DSes with me and play multiplayer games with friends who don't have one yet.

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[masklinn]

As it stands I'm considering just buying a DS Lite so I can bring both DSes with me and play multiplayer games with friends who don't have one yet

You should get a DS Lite anyway, if only for the screen, comparing the DS Fat and the DS Lite' screens is like night and day.

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[digitrev]

I find that my Phat is bright enough. I've personally never had trouble with it being too dark. If my DS ever broke, then I'd go buy a Lite. Just like when my GBA broke, I bought my SP.

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[admdrew]

I own the original as well, and I would agree with you: it works just fine. However, I am a teensy bit jealous of my friends that have Lites; the difference in brightness has tempted me dangerously close to purchasing one.

Like you, I'll probably wait until it breaks (or I decide to put Linux on it) before getting a Lite.

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[apoc06]

I own it. It's probably a good game, but I'm more an F-Zero person, myself. Wipeout Pure simply feels slow and sluggish. F-Zero cars are fast, accelerate fast and turn quickly, and it's kind of hard for me to adjust to Wipeout Pure. I'll probably give it another chance, though.

Wipeout is slow? There is a steady speed increase in the game. Some of the later levels are so fast you kinda have to develop a sixth sense for the track. Try playing zone if you need more speed. the turning is just how the game was meant to play, so you have to take drag and drift into the equation for each turn. It's an outrageously excellent game to be a launch title.

it's a bit telling that people are still naming mostly launch or near-launch titles when talking about good PSP games.

True, but there are alot of recent titles that are pretty good. 2nd gen titles are amongst the best of the PSP library. Socom, GTA, Daxter, Syphon Filter.. etc. Current and future titles are keeping that tradition going: Tekken:DR, Valkyrie Profile, Metal Gear Portable Ops, Killzone Liberation... If you want short quick games, look towards stuff like Every Extend Extra. If you really want to play some good PSP games, they are out there and aren't that hard to find. Better still, renting is your friend.

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[TheLinuxSRC]

"I tried to {do something with a Sony device that was advertised as possible when I purchased it}, but my {Sony Device} crapped out on me and Sony won't answer support mails."

Welcome to the wonderful world that is Sony. I used to be a big fan of all that was Sony, even to the point of recommending Sony products to many many friends and family. Now, I don't even consider Sony with regards to my purchases due to their complete contempt for their "consumers" in all divisions of their business (not just SOE or Sony Music etc.). Sony is working diligently at becoming irrelevant.

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[bumptehjambox]

I'm reluctant to buy Rally games because I prefer games where you race other cars.

Get yourself TOCA Race Driver 2006! Its so good!

Other really good games: Burnout, MX vs. ATV On the Edge, WRC: FIA World Rally Championship, Tomb Raider Legend, Daxter, Tekken: Dark Resurrection, World Soccer Winning Eleven 9, Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX, and Mega Man Powered Up. I haven't played some of the new ones, Miami Vice is supposed to be good. Grand Theft Auto is fun as well, though, I'd wait for the new one to come out.

PSP games would be a lot better if more of them had online play, games like Worms: Open Warfare just scream for online multiplayer and yet lack it. They did the game perfectly, but who wants to play Worms against AI?

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[grapeape]

My wife picked up a DSLite for me on our anniverary a few weeks ago. The difference is dramatic, the screen, the look and the overall feel of the device. She now has my old one, but I just cant hold the original anymore. Its got the sleek look of the Ipod or PSP that makes the old one look downright clunky.

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[ECMIM]

Ultimate Ghosts 'N' Goblins, as of right now, is the only game worth playing on the hardware (out next month in the USA.) Lumines might have counted, but the cell phone version is surprisingly good and it's also coming to XBLA in September. Shameless plug: http://werratic.blogspot.com/ (UGNG review by moi.)

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[Lord Apathy]

Pretty much the same way here too. I used to be a big fan of everything sony. I bought a sony dvd player, big screen TV, surround sound, a camera, even this laptop I'm on right now is a sony vaio. Then I bought a sony PDA, TH-55, and it crapped out 1 day after I bought. I took it back the store that I got it from and after a week they found another one. After I replaced it, it lasted for about 6 months then it died. I sent it in for the warrenty replacement. Sony sat on it for about six months then sent it back to me saying that the battery was dammaged and the unit wasnn't covered.

AFter a few months of crawling up channels I was told to go fuck myself. I did get some satasfaction by sending the head bastards in charge of the department a box of dead road kill, since that was about the only thing I could do.

Since then I will not ever buy anything sony, nor will I recommend sony to my friends. I've even been told to leave the local tv store for telling a customer that he doesn't want to buy the 3500 sony tv he was looking at. So far if I add up all my damage that I've done telling people not to buy sony and directing them to compeating products I have cost sony about 15,000 bucks. Big fucking price to pay for boning me out of a fucking 300 PDA.

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[orospakr]

There are more than 100 games for the PSP. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_PlayStation_P ortable_games

Re:99% of all PSP games?

[LKM]

Wipeout is slow? There is a steady speed increase in the game.

Yeah. I probably never played it long enough to get to that point.

I'll look into Every Extend Extra. First time I've heard of it, sounds interesting from what I found on Google. Can't rent games, though. Nobody over here rents them out.

Push homebrew, maybe?

[sc0ttyb]

They should offer it as one of the few handhelds that let you make your own games and share them with friends. Hell, I dunno, offer a simplified development kit for the price of a game with a way to import your own art and music. Allow people to create their own games on the damn thing. Then, for maybe a bit more money, offer an advanced user package that's basically a simplified SDK.

If they wouldn't try so damn hard to break homebrew apps, I bet people might buy more games. I know for a fact that before the ability to downgrade firmware, people wouldn't buy games because it required an update first.

Open the thing up (except the UMD format -- I'll give them that much to keep), let us make our own games without implementing roadblocks to homebrew, and the thing will sell more.

Oh, and actually release some damn games already.

Re:Push homebrew, maybe?

[mlk]

I really don't think many people care about home brew games.

Re:Push homebrew, maybe?

[masklinn]

They should offer it as one of the few handhelds that let you make your own games and share them with friends.

Duh, there are like 3 handhelds on the market (and that's including the 4 years old GBA), and all 3 of them let you make and play homebrews (it's only slightly easier/cheaper to do on the PSP).

Hell, you can even run linux on a frigging GBA if you wish to.

Re:Push homebrew, maybe?

[Aladrin]

No, there's only 1 that 'let's you' play homebrew. The Gamepark. The others have exploits that are used.

The previous posted was suggesting that Sony encourage homebrew development instead of trying to quash it. There are some seriously talented coders writing homebrew, despite all the interference. That talent could better be used to improve the homebrew, instead of the hacks.

Also, quite a few of the exploits were developed with homebrew in mind, not theft. Sony's theft probably would be eased if they properly supported homebrew. Probably. With that many security holes, maybe not.

Re:Push homebrew, maybe?

[montyzooooma]

Technically the GP32 from Gamepark ( http://www.gamepark.com/ ) and the GP2X from Gamepark Holdings (split off company) ( http://www.gp2x.com/ ) encourage homebrew, though the XGP due from Gamepark will be closed source.

I like brackets.

Re:Push homebrew, maybe?

[b1t r0t]

If they wouldn't try so damn hard to break homebrew apps, I bet people might buy more games. I know for a fact that before the ability to downgrade firmware, people wouldn't buy games because it required an update first.

Presumably they're doing that to prevent piracy, but why are they so worried when so many PSP games suck anyhow? The really sad part is that most of the games suck less after piracy because they load faster and use less battery when loaded from a flash card.

Re:Push homebrew, maybe?

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

"Open the thing up (except the UMD format -- I'll give them that much to keep), let us make our own games without implementing roadblocks to homebrew, and the thing will sell more."

They'd sell more hardware at a loss anyway. Hehe. Seriously, though, Sony needs more sales of games. I'd recommend better games that don't cost $50. The one time Sony doesn't copy Nintendo...

Re:Push homebrew, maybe?

[poot_rootbeer]

They should offer it as one of the few handhelds that let you make your own games and share them with friends.

I dunno, dude. The Gizmondo and GP32 were both handhelds that were pretty much designed expressly for homebrew gaming (and by that, I of course mean "emulators and warez0red ROMS"), and neither of them has found the success of even an N-Gage.

(Okay, so the Gizmondo was actually designed mainly to get venture capital to spend on fast cars and fast women, but my point about the GP32 stands.)

The homebrew scene just doesn't sell that many consoles.

Re:Push homebrew, maybe?

[mike3k]

If that's what you want, get a GP2X.

Re:Push homebrew, maybe?

[twistedsymphony]

true, I would think if there were more homebrew fans the GPX2s would be more of a competitor... it's a great and interesting plaform but it's certainly not a competitor.

Speaking of homebrew I hear all sorts of Sony fans going on and on about how the PS3 will run Linux and allow for homebrew games. Maybe I'm missing something but I seriously have to question why they would make the PS3 an open platform when in the past they've done nothing but try to stomp out homebrew efforts like those on the PSP.

Re:Push homebrew, maybe?

[Anonymous Coward]

This would work as well as all Free/OSS Games. Not at all, that is to say.

Re:Push homebrew, maybe?

[mmortal03]

Actually, I think they should open up the UMD format. What would they be losing now?

I said from the beginning that they should have allowed the consumer to write to the UMD discs. If they had built in a UMD writer into the PSP, the thing would have exploded in popularity.

Re:Push homebrew, maybe?

[AncientPC]

You mean a GP2k? http://gp2x.co.uk/aboutgp2x.html

DRM Again

[neonprimetime]

"A big issue for us has been the (Digital Rights Management) and how we can secure that content to the Memory Stick," Koller said. "The studios and the labels don't want their content floating around."

After you pay for it once, you should be able to float it around wherever you want to let it float. Grrrrr

Response From the Fans

[Anonymous Coward]

The failure of the UMD format...

Was there any demand for the UMD format? I mean, you get a new media format when either the old one no longer suffices in quality or there is a gaping hole in what the public needs. Which of these cases was it? No, I won't buy movies in yet another format just because Sony needs more income! And, as it turns out, neither will anyone else.

...its de-emphasis as a media player...

You should really concentrate on making it very good for one particular use instead of making it mediocre for many uses. I would rather have the best game system and best mp3 player than have one that's sup-par for both of those areas. Concentrate on making it a solid gaming system and then I'll buy it and enjoy the surprising use of it as a media player.

As it turns out, the American public doesn't value portable gaming above the dollar. Get your price down, integrate your product with your other products, do something. The DS Lite is rumored to be compatible with the Wii ... wirelessly. What have you got?

Once again, the PSP heavy portfolio pays off! Everyone invest in the PSP because it's the first one out!

Re:Response From the Fans

[apoc06]

Was there any demand for the UMD format? I mean, you get a new media format when either the old one no longer suffices in quality or there is a gaping hole in what the public needs...

UMD gets the job done. It's a portable media format smaller and more durable than miniDVD that can store data and music for games. DS games aren't exactly printed on an 'open' format either... If you don't like the idea of UMD movies or they are too expensive for your likes, then simply don't buy any. Problem solved. It's nice to have options of how I can use my portable. Options are good! I can buy a new movie, or they at least let me encode my own. No one is forcing you to buy anything. The GBA/DS had its own movie player that didn't quite take off mainstream either. I like the PSP better for that.

The DS Lite is rumored to be compatible with the Wii ... wirelessly. What have you got?

The PSP is wirelessly compatible with the PS3. The PSP is already compatible with the PS2 [Metal Gear Subsistence/ Socom...] It's not rumored, it has actually been done on the current generation PS2, and demonstrated on the PS3. I don't doubt it will happen, but the Wii compatiblity and function has still yet to be seen. So whats your point?

Once again, the PSP heavy portfolio pays off! Everyone invest in the PSP because it's the first one out!

Huh? The PSP was and still is the underdog in the handheld market. Nintendo had a backcatalog of thousands of GBA games that were playable on the DS the day it was released. The PSP was released months after the DS in most territories I can think of. Even in Japan, it followed the DS release by a week or two IIRC. The PSP came from nowhere and ate up somewhere between ~30-40% marketshare from Nintendo. Not bad.

Sony providing solid competition for Nintendo is bringing out the best from both companies. There were alot of good games for GBA, but most of them were short and horrible, the other half were just mediocre. Many of the 'top' GBA games were games that would get crucified if they were released on PSP today. Both companies are bringing out their major franchises. In one year the DS put out more 'original' Mario games than the GBA has to this day. If left to nintendo, there would never be a portable version of a 'proper' GTA, fighting game, or Metal Gear title, so I say own both portables and be happy.

Re:Response From the Fans

[BondGamer]

That is only if you buy the premuim version, standard does not have WiFi.

Re:Response From the Fans

[apoc06]

1) There are a million and one usb wifi adapters on the market. Wifi is one area that is easily upgradable on the standard. You can also purchase your own adapter for less than $70 [using the list price for the xbox 360 as a marker]

2) You will also be able to use a straight USB connection as well. Depending on the type of game interactivity. [ps2 games already have this functionality]

3) If the PS3 has media center capabilities, it can obviously connect with other devices on the same network; if you have a wireless router on your network already to use with the PSP, the PS3 would see it [without an additional wifi connector] just as it would any other device on the LAN.

Re:Response From the Fans

[ElleyKitten]

The PSP came from nowhere and ate up somewhere between ~30-40% marketshare from Nintendo. Not bad.

I don't think that all that marketshare was taken from Nintendo, I think that the market has grown. For example, my husband and I got two GBAs when they were new, and now we have 2 DSs and 1 PSP. So the "market" in our house has grown 33%, but Nintendo hasn't lost anything. For everyone who bought both a DS and a PSP, it's market growing, not Nintendo losing. Also, many people have bought DSs that weren't buying games before, further adding to the market. Of course, that's because the DS is innovative and has more quality games than it likely would without the competition. So you're right, and the winners here really are us, the gamers. :)

Re:Response From the Fans

[Rachel Lucid]

Two things:

1) Market IS growing (We went from a house with no portables to a DS Phat (Sis) PSP (Bro) and DS Lite (myself)), but it's growing in Ninty's favor.

2) Nintendo is burning into the DS Lite with a vengeance because it knows it's weaker in the main console crunch, and hence is burying itself into its library in hopes that having the largest library will keep it in control AND to make itself the name in portables, the way Apple is the name of the Mp3 business these days.

Re:Response From the Fans

[BondGamer]

Thats nice, I have to go pay another $50+ for a Wifi adapter if I ever need it compared to out of the box Wifi on the Wii for half the price of the standard system.

Re:Response From the Fans

[Anonymous Coward]

did you read his points 2 and 3?

oh, thats right... trying to flame him doesnt require reading beyond the first line.

Re:Response From the Fans

[BondGamer]

Did you read my point? You only get WiFi connectivity out of the box if you buy the premuimum bundle. With Nintendo you get it standard. So lets see: $600 PS3 + $200 PSP = $800 Sony $200 Wii + $129 DS = $329 Nintendo Nintendo is still less then half after you buy whatever game you are going to play with the setup. Plus, I bet Nintendo is going to have at least 1 decent game with this connectivity, while it is doubtful Sony will have any.

Re:Response From the Fans

[trdrstv]

I bet Nintendo is going to have at least 1 decent game with this connectivity

If you live in Japan, that one will hit this year.

Re:Response From the Fans

[trdrstv]

it knows it's weaker in the main console crunch

Hasn't the trend been that the weaker console gets a larger library, and more sales? PS2 is weaker than all competitors

PS1 was weaker than all competitors

DS is weaker than PSP

Gameboy, and Gameboy Color were weaker than all competitors.

They also have the largest available library of titles...

Obligitory

[Anonymous Coward]

OMG SONY IS tEH SUXXOR!!!! WII 4 LIFE!! I CAN't WAIt tO USE tEH WIIMOtE AS A MAStURBAtORY AID!!!

Re:Obligitory

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

OMG SONY IS tEH SUXXOR!!!! WII 4 LIFE!! I CAN't WAIt tO USE tEH WIIMOtE AS A MAStURBAtORY AID!!!

OMG NINTEDO IS tEH SUXXOR!!!! SoNy 4 LIFE!! I CANt WAiT To SpEnD $600 4 GAME SeQUELS WiF PURDIER GRAFIX!!

Re:Obligitory

[Ichigo Kurosaki]

OMG CONSOLES IS tEH SUXXOR!!!! PC GAMIN 4 LIFE!! I CANt WAiT To SpEnD $0 oN PiR4T3D G4MES WiF tEH BEST GRAFIX oF AlL!!

Re:Obligitory

[VendingMenace]

OMG PC GAMIN IStEH SUXXOR!!! BOARD GAMIN 4 LIFE!! I CANt WAiT To SpEnd $30 oN G4MES tO plAY iN tEH BA$EmEnT!! StAY oUT MOM!! YuO aRE s0 LaME LOL!!

Re:Obligitory

[Qbertino]

0MFG!!!111one BOARD G4MIN 15 S0 UB3RL4mE 4nD 4 +0+4L SUXX[]Rz. B04RDG4M!N I5 50 +0+t411i L4m3. L33+3Rzz pl4y p3n + p4p3R RPGz and +0+4lly R0XX0R @+ T4BL3T0PS. MY W4RH4MMR F0RTYK4Y 4RMY +0+4LLY K!CK0Rz YOUR $4D B04rdG4MIN A$$!!!!111one! GET 4 L1F3, L4m3R!

Re:Obligitory

[SSCGWLB]

OMG SONY IS tEH SUX...
(click)
OMG NINTEDO IS tEH...
(click)
OMG CONSOLES IS tEH S...
(click)
OMG PC GAMIN IStEH...
(click)
0MFG!!!111one BOARD...

Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
(gdb) bt
(gdb) frame 3
#3 0x0432b031 in CalculateNewIQ() at IQ.cpp:1337
1337 CalculateNewIQ(pExperiencedSinceLast, pOldIQ)
(gdb) print pExperiencedSinceLast
$1 = 0x0


bastards.

Re:Obligitory

[jakoz]

[My english is better than most other people's german, so please point out mistakes politely. Thank you.]

I might have spotted one or two mistakes in that last post...

Re:Obligitory

[WilliamSChips]

p3n p4p3R r s0 l4M3. r33l l33tz0rz y00z3 Ch1z37 4nD 5t0/\/3.

wow

[dolson]

...a $200 controller. I guess that fits the pricing scheme of a $600 console.

Re:wow

[LoudMusic]

...a $200 controller. I guess that fits the pricing scheme of a $600 console.

A $200 controller with a 4.3" 16:9 TFT LCD screen at 480 x 272 pixel and 16.77 million colors. Not to mention built in stereo speakers and headphone jack.

I think this is one thing that consoles could use. Especially with the popularity of things like Madden football, video board / card games, or anything that has multiple players with secret information.

The Dreamcast had the ability to have a display in the controller, and I know there were at least a few games that used it. The problem with having optional features on a console is that they don't get used by the game developers. How many PS2 games actually took advantage of the USB ports, or the i.Link port? I can think of three FPS PS2 games that supported keyboard / mouse input. If the hardware producer (Sony in this case) is going to include a really cool feature / option they need to motivate the game developers to use it.

Re:wow

[elrous0]

Not only that, but you can use it as a REAR VIEW MIRROR in Gran Turismo!!!

-Eric

Re:wow

[b1t r0t]

Not only that, but you can use it as a REAR VIEW MIRROR in Gran Turismo!!!

WOW! Where can I get a realistic rear view mirror mount accessory so that I don't have to hold it up with my left hand all the time?

Of course the one thing nobody mentions is that a real rear view mirror doesn't require you to refocus your eyes. I guess if you were playing it on a 20" widescreen LCD TV on a desk, and had the PSP next to the LCD TV, it wouldn't be so bad.

But it really doesn't matter to me, since I went to the "Lite" side a few months ago.

Re:wow

[AcidLacedPenguiN]

I know this is sort of wishful thinking, but let it be known that I think the PS3 would be slightly more favourable at the $600 mark if they included a PSP in the package.

Re:wow

[Rude Turnip]

"A $200 controller with a 4.3" 16:9 TFT LCD screen at 480 x 272 pixel and 16.77 million colors. Not to mention built in stereo speakers and headphone jack.

I think this is one thing that consoles could use. Especially with the popularity of things like Madden football, video board / card games, or anything that has multiple players with secret information."

Back in the reality world of the current economic environment, it still boils down to the following..."yeah, it might do all that, but $200 is $200" Sony has become spiteful and downright malicious towards its buying public, and delusional about the buying power of such. They are completely off my radar as a company I'd ever do business with again.

Re:wow

[NeutronCowboy]

Not only that - it is probably the worst controller I've ever used. Played one of the Dexter games on it for 20 minute, and my hand hurt more than after any 10 hour Xbox or Gamecube session. Granted, I have fairly big hands, and the little nubs on the PSP are probably not designed for me. But still - I will never, ever use the PSP as a controller. I don't think I could even if I wanted to. And I'm quite sure that I'm not the only one in this category.

Re:wow

[sehryan]

"I think this is one thing that consoles could use. Especially with the popularity of things like Madden football, video board / card games, or anything that has multiple players with secret information."

Not a bad idea, but as history has shown time and again, if it isn't going to be used in every game, then it isn't going to be used. And since taking your eyes off the main screen on any fast-paced game to glance down to your controller for information is probably going to result in you losing, that kills the "use it in every game" idea.

Re:wow

[steveo777]

While all those things you mention are nice for a $200 controller. You have to realize that your controller has a 4-5 hour battery life at MAX. Unlike, you know, regular controlers that last in the 100's of hours (Wavebird).

Hell, even plugged in, the PSP will drain out of power in 10 hours. It's cool to connect it to PS3, but other than that, Nintendo had this in mind long before. I don't know about controlling the Wii via DS, but they will interact. Pretty sweet.

Re:wow

[Traiklin]

well it's simple really, What was the point of the i.Link port? what was Sony's original intention for it?

then the USB ports, what was the original intention for them? maybe the ones that made the FPS' to use the keyboard and mouse combo got scolded by sony for not using only the controller.

as for using the PSP as a "really cool feature/option" I say hell no. The console is already $500 or $600 (depending on which one you get) throwing in another $200 "Accessorie" isn't going to appeal to to many gamers.

I got a Gamecube, half the games I enjoy I can't play with anyone else or get some of the hidden stuff because it DEMANDS I have a GBA, well I don't have a GBA, so I lose out in a lot of stuff. Sure I can barrow my nephews GBA to get some stuff but if we want to play multiplayer in Final fantasy Crystal chronicals where does that leave us?

I bought the DSLite with the hope it would let me hook up the GBA Cable to the gamecube, it didn't and I doubt Nintendo will bother to make a wifi addon for the gamecube to let me use that function.

Now the GBASP is only $90, if you have enough friends they would probably see it as ok. when the Wii comes out the DSlite is only $120. Now you will have a hell of a time trying to convince your friends to spend $200 for a "Controller" so you all can play 1 game together on the PS3 (or in the case of Smackdown vs Raw 2007, to unlock ONE CHARACTER nothing else, just one guy so it cost people $300 to unlock a single secret?).

Sony is getting as arrogant as Nintendo used to, the only difference is Nintendo had the games to back them up, Sony doesn't have hardly anything first party that really make people go "I have GOT To get this system!" but it cost Nintendo, even with having the stuff to back themselves up. So Sony is in for one hell of a fight, they are trying to convince the world that we have to have the PS3 or we are some how lowly people who don't deserve to play video games.

Microsoft is stuck in the middle, they offer a pricey system and they watched what Sony did with the PSP and decided to not make a handheld yet cause what Sony came out with was what they were going to do.

Nintendo is at the front of peoples minds now, they saw that gaming was starting to stall and decided to try a different direction or go down the same path as everyone else and offer the exact same experiances all over again.

The DS really impressed people, it offered new ways to play games (granted there aren't as many developers truely using it for what it can do but they are getting there) so it got people interested in the Wii. The PSP on the other hand offered the same stuff we were already used to just in a smaller form, there really isn't a whole lot they can do to "revolutionaize" gaming on the PSP.

In the end Sony just tried to compete WAY to much with Nintendo, they should of looked at the Nokia Ngage, cause that's the first thing I saw people comparing it to, both played games, you could watch movies, browse the web, listen to music, just the Ngage let you talk to people where as the PSP didn't.

Personally I would much rather buy a Gaming machine first (after all that's what it's supposed to be right?) then add all this stuff as extra features, that way they are all done RIGHT and not half assed. Cause if you have a gaming machine you know it will work, you can make it a great gaming machine. Then you make an addon to play movies, you can make a great addon to just play movies. Then a web browser, samething as before. You make a music player addon it's great cause then you can just upgrade the firmware to support more formats. But when you want ALL of those things done right out of the gate they are going to suffer, cause if you just have those four things then you have to devide up the development, 25% to all devisions or 50% to one then the others will suffer and so on.

Re:wow

[powerlord]

Hell, even plugged in, the PSP will drain out of power in 10 hours.

Not to nitpick, but I've got this cute little after-market cable that connects my PSP to the USB port of my computer (cost all of ~$10). The PSP end has two connectors, one goes to the mini-usb port on the PSP, the other goes to the power input.

Alternatively, you can just draw power off the USB port, leaving off the data connector plug and rely on Bluetooth for the connectivity.

Plugged in either of these ways the PSP might last a tad longer that 10 hours.

Re:wow

[Mongoose]

You're saying it's not for playing video poker now? You've fell into my trap my dear friend. I'm looking forward to the GPS add on. Hell, I already own both talkman titles. =)

Re:wow

[steveo777]

I'm not sure about the USB interface, but I do know that a PSP with it's Bluetooth on will drain out in about 10 hours if you plug it into the stock power supply. If you still don't believe me, read your owners manuel. Or just plug it in and leave the bluetooh connected. I think a warning will appear on screen IIRC.

They all want to be Wii

[Rachel Lucid]

Compared to the $130 'controllers' that'll work with the Wii, I can see why they want to try and push it as an option.

Of course, I love my DS Lite for all other sorts of reasons. ;)

what to use it for?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd say a portable NES, Genesis, SNES, and GBA library is worth it.

Re:what to use it for?

[oahazmatt]

I'd say a portable NES, Genesis, SNES, and GBA library is worth it.

It does have some decent emulation use. But for those of us who aren't able to download some of those libraries (or just choose not to) it's cheaper to just dust off the old GBA, find a bunch of used games, and check out the NES classics that have been re-released for the GBA.

Don't get me wrong, I believe the PSP to be an excellent homebrew and emulating device. However, it's not that way out of the box, and I doubt that Sony is anxious to say "use our system to play games developed by our competitors".

I understand that some people have grown fond of the system, and many have explained to me the capabilities of homebrew applications and emulating classic libraries, but therein lies the problem with some potential buyers. Yes, it can be modified to do these things, but other than having a mediocre game library and a media format that is less-supported each and every passing day, why should I consider purchasing it for what it can do out of the box?

Re:what to use it for?

[BackOrder]

You might be more interested in http://www.gp2x.com/. Nice piece of hardware, open source and so. Plenty of emulators. Enjoy yourself.

Re:what to use it for?

[normal_guy]

That is, until you want to play one of the newer "official" games, and it requires a firmware upgrade.

Re:what to use it for?

[tepples]

I'd say a portable NES, Genesis, SNES, and GBA library is worth it.

GBA copiers are readily available, but how do you plan on copying your NES, Genesis, and Super NES cartridges to a file on your old PSP's memory card? Besides, the DS runs GBA carts, and the GBA can run NES roms in emulation.

Re:what to use it for?

[Lehk228]

it's called bittorrent, check it out you can get every known rom fairly easy nowadays

Over-ambitious

[Enoxice]

The PSP, while a nice idea, failed because it tried to be all things to all people.

I have an mp3 player for music, a pda for movies, and (now) a ds for portable gaming. The UMD format failed hardcore, and the game catalog is lackluster.

The main problem with sony these days is that they lack focus. Brand name loyalty aside, the PS3 would share a similar fate. The mere fact that it is a PlayStation will have every male 18-35 lining up to buy.

Re:Over-ambitious

[Anonymous Coward]

I fall in the 18 - 35 range, as do a lot of people I know. None of them think the PS3 is worth the price. Most people I've talked to are more excited about the Wii because it's a new way to play and will be much less expensive.

Re:Over-ambitious

[dschauer2004]

Agreed. And as all of those things, it just doesn't measure up to the competition.

MP3 Player: Ok, so it isn't quite as full featured of an MP3 player as its commercial counterparts, but it does play MP3s just fine. Where the issue is though, is battery life. Most commercial MP3 players have a battery life of 10-15 hours (or more). The PSP (using its standard battery) maybe gets 3-5 hours at best.

Movie player: Again, the battery life kills this feature. You'll maybe get a movie or two in on a single charge. Also, who in their right mind is gonna pay twice as much for a proprietary movie format (UMD) as it costs for a normal DVD?

Picture viewer: Ok, who the hell uses this feature? I don't even know where to start on this one, so I'll just let it die...

Web browser (on PSPs with newer firmware): I tried this out once, and it was kinda cool. However, the interface is clunky, and navigation sucks. With portable computers getting even more portable, having a lot more abilities in this domain, how can you justify using a PSP for this?

Re:Over-ambitious

[Chosen Reject]

Agreed. If they really wanted to succeed with the PSP, they should have focused on the games. Then when/if it became popular, the PSP2 could have added in mp3 and video play back and/or whatever else it offers. But they tried to do too much at once, and because of that lack of focus, got nothing.

Re:Over-ambitious

[MrCopilot]

The mere fact that it is a PlayStation will have every male 18-35 lining up to buy.

As a male turning 34 this year, I for one, will not be lining up to buy a PS3 at launch, post launch, or even at PS4 Launch.

About the only thing I liked about the ps3 is Linux. If it costs more than a PC running Kubuntu than they can keep it. If we can use "the PS2 supports Linux" hype as an example of Sony's Support for Linux. Pass.

Shame, I liked sony equipment once long ago. (Wow that was before their first Vaio PCs)

Re:Over-ambitious

[MyMistake]

Whew. Glad I'm 36!

Re:Over-ambitious

[ninjakoala]

I'm sorry, but as an mp3 player the PSP gets a whole lot of hours. The 3-5 hours would more likely be playing a UMD-access intensive game with wifi enabled at the 3 hour mark and no wifi at the 5 hour mark - and it might even go a bit further than that. Yes, the DS has much better battery life as long as wifi isn't enabled, but the PSPs really isn't all that bad. When I'm playing on it I usually charge it every second or third day which is relatively acceptable.

Playing movies off a memory stick can easily get your some 7-8 hours and playing just music might get you near the 10 hour point - the screen doesn't have to be turned on.

I completely agree on the UMD issue though. I might buy a UMD movie if it's insanely cheap, but even after the price drop they are still to expensive.

The picture viewer isn't that bad really. It's ok for carrying a couple of your favourite pics around with you so you can show them to your family/friends. The same can be said for movie clips - which could be your favourite stupid web videos or short home videos.

The web browser is ok but not suffers from out of memory-issues on larger sites or with larger flash anims (like some Strongbad ones). I sometimes use it to surf a bit while in bed for a bit of late night reading. The navigation is implemented fairly well (though poorly documented - not to say not at all) and it's a nice addition even if it isn't perfect by any means.

I also think people are being a bit too rough on the PSP for its game selection. Of course many of the posts here praising games haven't helped since they've mentioned games that I at least find deeply uninteresting (typical console games really). I have a very mixed selection of games since I've received a lot for reviewing, but I have a small selection that I've chosen because they're decent portable games. Even a massive RPG like Tales of Eternia works surprisingly well on the handheld because of very fast load times and the PSPs ability to sleep with virtually no power usage.

I often use the PSP as a regular console though - that is not as a commuter or for a quick fix on the road, because the DS does admittedly handle that better. But it's nice to be able to bring the PSP to places where I know I'd most likely get bored without interactive entertainment (think internet-less places :-o) and have a good gaming experience. So I also enjoy the games that are a lot like normal console games. Load times don't mean so much on those occasions, even though I hate load screens as much as the next guy.

I think the PSP and DS supplement each other well. The DS offers both light and deep gaming experiences while the PSP tends to have less of the light titles. On the other hand it does have the versatility going for it right out of the box where you have to turn to homebrew or commercial solutions on the DS to get the same functionality.

Games like GripShift, Key of Heaven and Tales of Eternia complement the more traditional titles like Ridge Racers, Wipeout and so on for a pretty versatile handheld experience. At least it's working well enough for me - but I'll readily admit to owning far more DS games than PSP games. Still, the PSP has been worth its price for me in quality gaming hours.

Re:Over-ambitious

[Kalinda]

The mere fact that it is a PlayStation will have every male 18-35 lining up to buy.

That's only if they could afford the 600 dollar cost.... I think that's an awful lot of money for the average person, given it's simply for a gaming console. Maybe if there's a price drop after launch...

PSPPS3 Integration Very Cool

[Anonymous Coward]

The stuff Sony has been hinting at for PSPPS3 connectivity sounds very cool.

Watch a BluRay movie on your big screen 1080p TV, pause the movie, tell your PS3 to use WiFi to start streaming a scaled down version to your PSP while you go do something away from your set.

Downloading music, downloading games.

All of it sounds very cool.

Re:PSPPS3 Integration Very Cool

[Anonymous Coward]

I'll agree that some of what they talk about sounds kind-of cool but has no real practical use. The problem with the PSP (and PS3) is that Sony has decided to listen to the small portion of hard-core gamers and media early adopters rather than average gamers; these are the people who want a system that has an AMD X4 running at 4GHz, with a Quad Geforce 7800 GTX SLi set-up, with a Terabyte hard-drive and a HD-Capture card inside of their console and are willing to spend $2000 on it.

The average person see gaming as an inexpensive hobby (or an expensive toy) and wants their system to reflect that; they don't care about the bells and whistles, they just want a good system at a reasonable price. $200 for a portable system, with limited games and poor battery life is not what people want; and in my opinion people don't want a $600 gaming system.

Re:PSPPS3 Integration Very Cool

[Paladine97]

Do you know what else sounded cool?

Gamecube -- GBA connectivity.

I think we all know how that turned out.

Re:PSPPS3 Integration Very Cool

[digitrev]

Please don't remind me. I dropped the 50 bucks for Four Swords. Too easy as a single player game, and the multiplayer is damn near impossible to find anyone to play with. Especially with better multiplayer games.

Re:PSPPS3 Integration Very Cool

[LKM]

Too easy as a single player game, and the multiplayer is damn near impossible to find anyone to play with.

Yeah, and that's a real shame, too. The few times I've found enough people to play with have been a blast. It's an awesome game.

Re:PSPPS3 Integration Very Cool

[cluke]

No it doesn't. It sounds like a crock. Who's gonna want to pause their fabulous entertainment centre surround-sound HD movie and send it to their PSP to watch it in lo-res Shit-o-vision whilst they go to the toilet or mow the lawn (cause you know, you just can't go one second without consuming media content these days).

As for downloading music and games, you can do that already. There are a wide range of Nike adverts you can spew into your PSP at various WiFi hotspots. If they extend this to something useful like games or music, then great, but it has nothing to do with a PS3. You'll just end up with pathetic boondoggles like they have in Outrun Coast2Coast, where you connect your PSP to 'unlock' new cars.

Re:PSPPS3 Integration Very Cool

[Metroid72]

Dude.... Whoever can afford a PS3, PSP and a 1080TV, can probably afford to have LCD screens all over their house (including their bathroom and kitchen).

Re:PSPPS3 Integration Very Cool

[LindseyJ]

As a college student in dorm housing, I can say that me and the people who live in my hall can't get enough of Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicals or Four Swords. It turns out that a couple people already had GBAs and the ones who didn't went out and got some (you can get the older, non-SP kind for about $20 used). Those two games quickly replaced Halo as the game of choice unless there's a whole slew of people wanting to play something.

That being said, though, I can see how finding people to play with you would be a big impediment in just about anyplace other than a college dorm.

Re:PSPPS3 Integration Very Cool

[scot4875]

Dunno, Pac Man Vs. gets regular play at my place when people come over. Crystal Chronicles took quite a bit of work to get set up, but was still a lot of fun.

I think the next generation will work a lot better in this regard. Wireless will really add a lot to the appeal, for both the Wii/DS and PS3/PSP.

--Jeremy

Re:PSPPS3 Integration Very Cool

[Trillian_1138]

I'm gonna have to chime in and say that connectivity is AMAZING - when you have all the pieces. I haven't had a chance to try Four Swords or Crystal Chronicals, but Pac Man Vs., which has three players on gamecube controllers controlling ghosts on the TV screen and the 4th controlling Pac Man on the GBA, is maybe the best party game ever. It's simple, as almost everyone has played pacman, it's pretty fast-paced, it doesn't allow teams (as whenever someone eats pacman you all trade controllers, so the three players as ghosts constantly rotates)...if you already have the connectivity stuff (which, if you can play 4 Swords or Crystal Chronicals, you do) BUY THIS GAME. It was $20 used when I bought it over 2 years ago and has probably come down. It's just so much fun.
-Trillian

mylo could kill it. they should be one product.

[mr_mischief]

Outside of greed and lack of vision, there's no reason the PSP and mylo should be separate products. They are both WiFi capable, both have a small form factor, and both have a strong software development platform for them. If the PSP had been made with the slide-out keyboard (or had even been given a USB host capability so an external keyboard could be hooked up) the major hardware difference that matters would have been gone or greatly reduced. If they had allowed the strong home-brew community to keep functioning instead of constantly making things harder for homebrew developers with each firmware update, most of the software to do all of this would have been written for them.

It's probably plans to release mylo that prompted the crackdown on homebrew games and apps for the PSP. Now that there's little of the PSP's original promise left fulfilled, it's a struggling product. Now they want those of us who laid out $250 for the PSP to repeat the cycle with mylo at $350. I say tough shit, Sony. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I still have a working Betamax VCR, still have a Sony Walkman somewhere, and regularly use my Sony CD boombox from the late 1980s when I'm in the kitchen or the back yard. The Walkman and the CD boombox they got right -- they were interoperable and I could play homebrewed content on them. At least the Betamax I could get blanks for and it would take homebrewed content. I never bought a PS or PS2 but I'd been considering a PS3 or maybe a PS2 for now. At least with the PS2 they paid lip service to homebrew. It was never the homebrew system the Atari 2600 or the Sega Dreamcast were (and heck, still are). Sony says the PS3 will be able to replace a PC. If they think my desktop will be locked in to their vicious vendor lock-in and Sony's planned upgrade cycle, they are sorely mistaken. I'm not dropping that kind of money on another closed hunk of Sony crap.

There will be no mylo and no PS3 in my home unless Sony fixes their "dumb consumer" thinking. I want my purchases to serve my needs and wants, not just theirs. I'll not buy another Sony product until they fix themselves. Right now, Sony is broken and so are all of their products.

Re:mylo could kill it. they should be one product.

[tbannist]

I think you're taking this a little too personally.

I bought a PS2 because it had games I wanted to play. If the PS3 doesn't have games I want to play at a price I want to pay I won't buy one. There's no sense in getting angry over this. Either it's something you want at a price you want to pay or it's not.

It's your choice. Raging against Sony is pointless.

Re:mylo could kill it. they should be one product.

[b1t r0t]

It's probably plans to release mylo that prompted the crackdown on homebrew games and apps for the PSP. Now that there's little of the PSP's original promise left fulfilled, it's a struggling product.

"promise"? Really? Someone promised that you would be able to play homebrews on the PSP? That's news to Sony. Dreams, maybe, but not promise.

Re:mylo could kill it. they should be one product.

[crawling_chaos]

To have raised expectations can be a form of a promise. Definitions of promise on the Web:

• make a promise or commitment
• promise to undertake or give; "I promise you my best effort"
• a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future
• predict: make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome of an election"
• grounds for feeling hopeful about the future; "there is little or no promise that he will recover"
• give grounds for expectations; "The new results were promising"; "The results promised fame and glory"

Note that to show promise is not to guarantee anything. Methinks your vocabulary is somewhat limited if you believe a word can have only a single meaning devoid of context.

Re:mylo could kill it. they should be one product.

[mr_mischief]

I think you've misunderstood sensibility for anger. I'm not angry, and I'm not raging at Sony.

If a dog pissed on a tree last week, and the week before, then starts heading toward that tree, wouldn't you expect the dog to piss on the tree? It only makes sense that if they have a history of locking in their customers and delivering lackluster content selection themselves, people should expect that future products will feature lock-in and lackluster content selection. With Sony, bringing out great systems and then underdelivering on content selection is a pattern.

Why the hell should I buy something when I have substantial reason to believe that it will have two traits, lock-in and poor selection, that I have hated about their products in the past?

If it's from Sony, it seems it's all about screwing the customer to make a buck. Why should I hand over money because it says "Sony" on the front of a box? If there's anything comparable that doesn't have such a narrow-minded, openly hostile (remember rootkits? not just on music CDs but on the PSP demo CD that came with PSP-branded Memory Stick Pro Duo flash sticks?) corporation. Nintendo's cheaper for game consoles, so if I want vendor lock-in there, I'll buy from them. I won't pay a premium for computing power and nice development kits that they try their best to keep you from using how you want. Almost anyone else is cheaper for PCs. Many companies offer cheaper (and often better) audio and video components. There's no value proposition in the Sony name any longer. Why should I waste money on the name?

See? I'm not angry. I'm disappointed in Sony, and disappointed in their products. I don't want to pay a premium to be disappointed again. I should've bought a GP2X in the first place, I guess. Buying a PSP then a GP2X is hard to justify even to myself, let alone to my wife. Thing is, Sony has the great reputation, and early on the PSP was able to play homebrewed games and run homebrewed apps really well and pretty easily. Then Sony started trying to crush the homebrew scene for it. I should've learned before the PSP. I have learned now.

off-target

[Blob Pet]

By mentioning Nintendo only once as a competitor (in the last paragraph) and not mentioning the DS at all, it shows to me that both the reporter and Sony don't understand what the problem with the PSP is: people want a handheld game system and Nintendo has delivered on that front far better than Sony has... and worrying about Apple and Microsoft before figuring out how to compete against the DS will only hurt Sony even more.

And as for the PSP's non-gaming functionalities... You could cut UMD movie prices in half for all I care and there will still be an overflowing stack of unsold discs at the videogame store... and no ammount of add-on peripherals like GPS receivers will save the PSP, since the same devices can be easily developed for any other handheld.

Is it so hard to abide by the rule of Keep It Simple Stupid?

Re:off-target

[ahsile]

Where have all my mod points gone? Long time passing, long time ago.

Excellent post, sir.

Re:off-target

[stsp]

You forgot to mention the large amount of homebrew available for the DS. There is Linux, DOOM, Moonshell (graphical mp3/ogg and video player + picture viewer), DSOrganize (an organizer), ScummVM, NDSmail, Python, just to name a few.

Sony fights homebrew, Nintendo doesn't seem to care. Makes the biggest difference for me.

Re:off-target

[Oktober Sunset]

Basicly sony took the path of packing the PSP with the best hardware they could, and nintendo took the path of innovation and making the DS capable of sweet gameplay and weird coolness. Notice this is the exact same path they are taking in consoles too, the Wii will go for its crazy controller and awsome backwards compatability, and the PS will be exactly the same as a PS2, but faster. Is this an omen of what is to come?

Re:off-target

[3choTh1s]

And you forget the large amount of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psp_homebrewhomebrew availbale for the PSP. There is Quake, IRShell(multitasking graphical shell), PSPRadio(mp3/ogg/internet streaming audio player), PMPMod(xvid + AVC video player), ScummVM, a controller device driver(so you can use it as a wireless joypad in Windows), just to name a few. Add emulators up the wazoo(NES,SNES,Genesis,GB(A),Atari,Lynx,Master System,whathaveyou,even the beginnings of a N64 emulator) and you see that homebrew isn't left behind in the PSP scene.

Sony fights homebrew because to get homebrew all you need is software. Nintendo doesn't do it as aggressively because you require hardware/tools/money to get to the ds homebrew scene.

I guess it depends on what you're looking for...

[William_Lee]

I've been bashing Sony with the best of them lately based on their DRM and PS3 pricing fiascos, and their arrogant attitude. That said, I bought a PSP at launch and actually get a lot of use out of it.

I will start out by saying I have the 1.5 firmware and refuse to upgrade. There is a wealth of homebrew emulation and other software out there that really makes this a pretty cool handheld platform. As far as playing newer games that require firmware upgrades, there is an easy and brilliant way around it thanks to the PSP hacking community.

The PSP is great for travel. I could care less about the failure of UMDs. The format was doomed from the start. It is relatively painless to convert existing DVDs to the PSP's format and load them onto a memory stick. I brought a movie with me to watch on the plane on my last business trip, and it was a very enjoyable experience. I also had a few albums loaded onto the same stick to listen to while I was on the road.

The screen is beautiful and great for movies.

Yes, the ergonomics suck for a handheld, it's not perfect.

As far as commercial games go, there are actually enough great games on it to make it a worthwhile platform including tight baseball, some good racers, Tekken, and a decent RPG to name a few. That situation should continue to improve.

I'm not happy with Sony as a company, but I'm pretty happy with my hacked PSP. I'm not sure why so many people are down on the platform; it's got the processing power of close to a PS2 under the hood.

PSP abbr. Pretty Stupid Purchase

[Anonymous Coward]

Nice hardware, but people want fun, not an expensive thing they're scared to damage that has mediocre games apart from Lumines, Lemmings and maybe a couple of others.

What Might Help

[Deliveranc3]

It's Mario!

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[DarkDragonVKQ]

I don't use a hacked (1.5) PSP anymore though I did play around with it and homebrew (as well as emulators and ROMs). I got bored and updated it to 2.8 though. Game wise it was never that good for me..I only own about 4-5 games for it which is low low amount. I use it more for a anime player and displaying pictures/manga as well as .txt files I need to read.

The only thing I really regret about upgrading the firmware was that I forgot there were some homebrew programs that were good for viewing pictures. >.

Easy to define, just ask Engadget!

[andrewman327]

Come on guys, the PSP is clearly a computer joystick!

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[El Tonerino]

tight baseball, some good racers, Tekken, and a decent RPG to name a few

...or to name just one...

Trouble with PSP is the UMD

[CokoBWare]

I think people wouldn't be as pissed about the PSP if it weren't for the UMD format being hamstrung by Sony. Since Sony has acknowledged that the UMD format has failed in the video arena, I think it's time to open up the UMD format to allow for video, audio, and jpg playback only. I know Sony is paranoid about piracy of it's games, (and it should be), so open up UMD to sell UMD writer drives, blank media, and accessories to support the writable format. Make them RW, and you have a great economic engine. MiniDisc only survived as long as it did because it was writable. Perhaps Sony could learn it's lesson again and make lemonade out of dog poop.

Re:Trouble with PSP is the UMD

[Babbster]

Sorry, but I don't think making UMD writable is going to make anyone care about it. DVD-/+RW is already ubiquitous and offers more storage. In terms of portable media players, even the size advantage is questionable given how many small flash- and HD-based players are on the market - MD certainly wouldn't have gone anywhere if it debuted under these same circumstances. I don't think writable UMD could even entice PSP users considering they already have to buy at least one Memory Stick in order to save games, and they could buy an additional Memory Stick for far less money than it would cost to get a UMD burner and media.

No, I think UMD was ill-conceived from the beginning as anything but a way to get cheaper, larger storage for portable games.

no thanks, I'll homebrew this:

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought the de-facto open handheld was the GP2X http://www.gp2x.com/.

It comes with linux onboard. You can download devkits for windows and linux using sdl and c/c++, with OpenGL optional. When you are done with your game, you copy it over using secure digital cards, or usb thumb drives. Homebrew development is actively encouraged by official contests, with cash prizes for the best entries.

Re:no thanks, I'll homebrew this:

[ninjakoala]

Unfortunately I've heard the joysticks are of poor quality and they tend to break around the sound jack :(

It's a shame since the specs are very nice and I was considering getting one for a while. Heck, I still might in spite of the problems - when you know about them you can try to be more careful. After all it's not all that expensive.

Coinceidence

[SuperKendall]

"A big issue for us has been the (Digital Rights Management) and how we can secure that content to the Memory Stick," Koller said. "The studios and the labels don't want their content floating around."

Huh, that's funny, it turns out I don't want a portable player that media cannot float easily onto. And the content is already floating, so all they've done is make it hard for the mass market to add media to the device - the ones that might think about buying the product.

The day that Sony Games rebels against the draconian wishes of the Sony Media division is the day the PSP will see success.

Re:Coinceidence

[badasscat]

The day that Sony Games rebels against the draconian wishes of the Sony Media division is the day the PSP will see success.

Well, this is the whole problem right here. If Sony hadn't tried to position this thing as a "multimedia" device in the first place, they wouldn't be in this mess at all. And they wouldn't be trying to fight on three different fronts - against both MS and Apple, as well as Nintendo - rather than one. They've set themselves up for failure.

Nintendo is beating them because the DS does one thing and one thing well. You've seen lately with titles like Brain Age and their translation titles how they're extending the idea of "game playing" into what used to be called "edutainment", and they've done it successfully because it's just organically grown out of the core function of the device. But they haven't even tried to tackle this idea of "convergence" or trying to create an "all-in-one" device - they understand that that's a losing proposition for precisely the reasons Sony is finding out now.

We'll see if Sony learns their lessons. So far, it doesn't sound like they have. But they've painted themselves into a corner; all the people who have bought the PSP expect it to play movies and music and do both of those things well (plus, of course, playing video games). They've got no choice now but to try to make those functions work and compete in multiple product categories. They'll never succeed being a jack-of-all-trades, though; not when their competition bests them with devices that perform each core function better.

Re:Coinceidence

[poot_rootbeer]

But they haven't even tried to tackle this idea of "convergence" or trying to create an "all-in-one" device

In Japan, the Play-Yan media player has been an official Nintendo product for years, allowing users to listen to MP3's and watch movies on GBA SP and DS systems.

Opera web browser for Nintendo DS is coming out soon.

Re:Coinceidence

[Lehk228]

i will be buying both a play-yan and a DS browser by the end of this year.

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[TacNuke]

Looking for a good RPG. Not an "action" (I.e. diablo clone) RPG. More along the lines of the old chrono trigger or FFVII. I have agonized over buying a PSP for several months. But the complete lack of RPG game selection is what has held me back from buying a PSP........Is the DS any better?

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[sqlrob]

eh. I don't know of really good DS RPGs. However, it does play the GBA ones.

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[despisethesun]

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time was pretty good, but I don't know if it has enough angst for most Squeenix RPG fans. I can't think of any others, but I'm not really a video game RPG fan anyway.

I think position is less important

[SuperKendall]

To my mind I don't think a products positioning (in terms of marketing) is really a problem - the problem is that all around, because of the aforementioned inability for just anyone to load media on the device, people can't find a good use for the PSP. As a games player it's OK but there are few compelling games. If people could have also easily added media of thier own then perhaps that would have been enough extra beyond what the DS offers that it would have been compelling to a wider market.

I agree with you that the DS has focus, on that part I agree it's the reason for thier success. I just wanted to note that I think product development focus is much more important than marketing focus, if a device is good for something people will generally find out even without marketing messages.

I think the strategy to use the PSP as an extension of the PS3 is a pretty good one (Isn't nintendo doing the same with the Wii and the DS?) but the sucess of this strategy comes down to games. Here I am sure Nintendo will have more compelling games that make use of the integration, but Sony could still have a pretty good setup if they get enough (or just the right) third parties interested.

Personally I think the "killer app" for PSP to PS3 integration would be sports games, where you can use the PSP to secretly control plays. The PS2 has always been a big platform for people who like sports games.

say what?

[Joe the Lesser]

Squirrel, please!

My reason for selling - online play

[normal_guy]

I actually got some minor use out of the PSP format, for throwaway entertainment like Ghostbusters or Serenity that I didn't already own in another format. I was halfway through Zelda when I accidentally upgraded my firmware to play some game, and it broke. Strange that the most compelling content for the PSP was provided by some high school hackers, and was used to play twenty year-old games. The major disappointment for me was the total lack of online play. It was hilarious that Sony pushed the crappy browser and other online functionality like the RSS reader, then completely ignored actual online gameplay. After reading one last review that said "great game, you will enjoy it with up to four friends in ad-hoc mode," I sold the PSP to pick up a DS. Now I'm happily playing Tetris and Metroid online with the most elegant matching system I've ever seen, and enjoying innovative games like Trauma Center offline.

Re:My reason for selling - online play

[miro f]

Strange that the most compelling content for the PSP was provided by some high school hackers, and was used to play twenty year-old games.

I find the funniest part is that the most compelling content for the PSP was created by Nintendo.

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[Phanatic1a]

I'm pretty happy with my hacked PSP. I'm not sure why so many people are down on the platform

It might have something to do with the number of PSP owners who have the wherewithal and the confidence to hack their PSPs without turning them into $200 bricks. If, instead of your PSP, you had a brand new one right off the rack with newer firmware and didn't know how to revert it, would you be able to get the use out of it you're getting out of the one you actually have?

Slashdot has a direct commentary every PSP story

[Anonymous Coward]

It's the "portables" icon. What is it? A gameboy. Portables=games. It's that simple. If you launch a portable, and it does other stuff, that's great, but it's just entered a niche market. There are media player adapters for the GBA/SP/DS, but you know what? Niche market. Nintendo makes handheld game systems. They play games. Enthusiasts and 3rd parties can make them do more, but they do what they were created for very well. Sony launched the PSP touting several different functions, but did not support any of those functions (thus far) with a real gung-ho effort. The result is the demise of UMD, a lack luster (from what I've read online both here and on gaming sites) game library, and a hotly contested homebrew scene. Sony correctly chose to try and define the PSP, because it has no direct purpose, as people can buy an SP/DS now to play games, or a portable DVD player to watch movies (full version of movies at that! with all the extras), or a laptop for WiFi browsing/non DVD video viewing or an iPod/mp3 player to listen to music.

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[monopole]

I'm in the same position. Had the good luck to buy a 1.5 and never upgraded (what does it say for a product when everybody wants to downgrade the firmware and each upgrade further cripples it?). While the screen and audio makes for excellent memory stick movies I still barely use it, due to the huge form factor, fragility, bad battery life, and horrific memory stick costs.
On the other hand I've just upgraded to a DS Lite from my original DS Phat. I use it all the time especially in conjunction with the GBA micro. Both take the Play Yan cartridge providing excellent video and mp3 support. When on the run I use the micro for it's small size, but when I'm sitting down I use the DS Lite for the better screen and battery life.
The worst part of Sony's strategy is that they are actively supressing the two practical applications of the PSP memory stick movies and homebrew, while desparately looking for some practical application for the unit.

The PSP does have a potential killer app. Wireless downloadable movies. Exploit the WiFi function to allow users to download movies to a large memory stick with a firmware mod. Agressively market the service (in conjunction with recharge cables) at airports, Starbucks and train stations. Unfortunately the present leadership of Sony would never risk something as audacious as this, which is why Sony is cratering.

I don't think UMD's all that bad

[Anonymous Coward]

Why does everyone hate the UMD so much? The situation of the PSP would be the same if it used cartridges that somehow could fit movies. Either way you can't play their contents on anything but the player itself. No one bitches because they can only play their DS games on their nintendo DS.

PSP and DS

[pl1ght]

I have both the PSP and the DS. The PSP has been relegated for use as an MP3/Video/Media/etc player. I NEVER play psp games on it anymore, i dont browse the net with it. The Nintendo DS is my gaming portable. BOth have great uses when im international flights, and business trips, and i dont regret buying the PSP, but it definitely lacks in the game department.

Wtf? "the lackluster stable of games"?!

[kennedy]

Zonk you're such a fanboy :P

Lumines
Hot Shots Golf
Siphon Filter
SOCOM
GTA
Wipeout Pure
Katamari
and now Tekken! How can you claim this is "lackluster"?

Re:Wtf? "the lackluster stable of games"?!

[digitrev]

You've got 7 good games. For an entire system. That strikes me as lucklustre. Now name the good games out there for the DS or the GBA.

Re:Wtf? "the lackluster stable of games"?!

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, for starters, I can play most of that list on many other consoles...

And I honestly feel bad where there is only 8 good titles. Remember, those aren't must haves.

Re:Wtf? "the lackluster stable of games"?!

[Anonymous Coward]

Ah yes, and those are pretty much all inferior near-ports of PS2 titles. Wheeeeeeee. Even Lumines will be available on the PS2 and X360 soon.

Re:Wtf? "the lackluster stable of games"?!

[NeutronCowboy]

I'll gladly give you Lumines as a great game. Even Katamari. But Tekken on a handheld with lousy controls? Hot shots golf? Wipeout? Besides, only one of the games you mentioned was actually developed for the PSP. The rest are licenses shoe-horned into a small screen with bad battery life and bad controls. Your idea of what a good game is might differ from mine, but you basically listed one game as must-have for a console that's been out for 3 years. That's not a stable, that's barely mediocre.

Re:Wtf? "the lackluster stable of games"?!

[NeutronCowboy]

Err, make that "released two years ago". Can't read properly today. :)

Re:Wtf? "the lackluster stable of games"?!

[sarcasticklishoven]

Why is it people keep arguing from personal opion about PSP games? Go to metacritic look at the reviews both from publications and from players. PSP has lots of 75 and above rated games. And surprisingly I don't enjoy all of these games, likewise on the DS. I'm not going to tell someone Mario games are bad, or that Nintendo just rehashes their licenses, just because I don't enjoy them.
Wipeout Pure plays wonderfully on the PSP, and I'm not particularly skilled at racing games, but Burnout works great too. I think the controlls are fine for fighting games like Tekken, though I have not played it... have you played a PSP? The controls are just fine for me. I have actually gotten more fatigue/contrl issues from my DS, but I think the controls are just fine on that as well.
PSP is a portable CONSOLE.
Why do people get surprised/irritated that PSone and 2 games get sequels and versions on it? This was one reason I bought a PSP, to play console games PORTABLY.
I admit FPS are a bit wonky on it (coded arms is embarrasing next to MP: Hunters in gameplay and control)

Re:Wtf? "the lackluster stable of games"?!

[normal_guy]

The metacritic reviews are so high because expectations for PSP games are set so low. It's not an opinion, actual sales numbers bear it out. Likewise, the DS Lite outsold both the PSP and the PS2 in June. Gamers like the DS Lite more than the PSP, with reason: it's a hundred dollars cheaper, has double the battery life, and has the best games. The PSP is great if you want to pay an extra hundred dollars (for memory) to turn it into a media player, or better yet to spend twenty bucks each for movies you already own.

For games (why else do you buy a gaming device) you can play Lumines, Katamari, or any of a half-dozen racing games. The DS Lite is better if you want to play anything else.

Re:Wtf? "the lackluster stable of games"?!

[normal_guy]

Oh, I owned PSP from a month after launch.

The best thing it had going for it was Wipeout and Lumines, both of which didn't have Infrastructure play. I bought a few UMDs for trips. I even got the NES working on it. After buying Burnout, which required a firmware upgrade, my NES (of course) stopped working. There went the best thing about the device, its ability to play a library of twenty year-old games.

I'm not saying it's not a beautiful and powerful piece of hardware, it is. Some of the games were amazing, such as Lumines, Wipeout, Burnout, Katamari. I could even put up with re-purchasing my movies on UMD instead of dropping the hundred bucks for a suitable memory card. The kicker for me was the total lack of Infrastructure online play. No games had it, even the ones you expected - Burnout, Wipeout, Coded Arms, etc. When the DS Lite came out, I sold the PSP and picked up a DS Lite with Metroid and Tetris. I've been playing those any many other games online and offline and haven't looked back. Did I mention it's half the price?

Re:Wtf? "the lackluster stable of games"?!

[Anonymous Coward]

Until you realize that's because almost all of the PSP games got 75 while most of the DS games are in the mid 80's lower 90's range and until you realize that half of those 75 rated games for the PSP are re-hashed EA sports titles and games that only got decent rankings because there is really NOTHING BETTER for the PSP and the fact that the DS has a ton of under-rated must have titles that got rated in either the lower 70's or lower 80's that that deserve to be rated 10 points higher and our now high demand.

And lets not forget the DS titles that will be out in a few short months. FFIII, FF:CC, Children of Mana, Dragon Warrior, Starfox, Mario Hoops 3 on 3, Beat Agents or whatever it will be called, Zelda, and at least 2 others. Every single on of those games will be rated higher than 75 on meta critic. PSP might hold the lead now with a few has-been titles but it won't last long.

But you know.. other than that.. uhh.. yeah. woohoo for the PSP. Go have fun playing your average console port collection of crap games.

If meta critic is so accurate why is it that the top 1 selling DS game has sold more than the top 3 or 4 selling PSP games and the top 3 selling DS games have probably sold more than the top 10 selling PSP games (that's a wild guess but I know the DS games have WAY WAY out sold PSP games) and that is only in America if you look at Japan it's NO FREAKING CONTEST. the DS has more 1-million seller games right this second than the PSP will ever have in it's entire life time.

Re:Wtf? "the lackluster stable of games"?!

[NeutronCowboy]

Why is it people keep arguing from personal opion about PSP games?

Because my opinion is the only one that counts when I make a decision on what to purchase. I do look to others to see whether my opinion might change on a particular game, but in the end, it is all my opinion that leads to my decision on whether to buy a game or not.

Besides, Metracritic is just as useless as EGM's ratings or CNET's ratings. Are all the scores they use to create their ratings created with the same scale in mind? What does a 75 mean, anyway? Why did one player think a game is great (and gave it an 80), while another thought it is merely good (and gave it an 85)?

In short, simply using a larger sample size to create their number has no impact on whether their number is better than others. In the end, all the numbers are STILL personal preference. All metacritic is doing is averaging out numbers created with different scales and for different reasons. Their single number is actually less than useless, it is outright misleading.

Re:Wtf? "the lackluster stable of games"?!

[kennedy]

you sir, have not played siphon filter: dark mirror. It's by no means a port, it's a true, original title in the series. Ditto on Wipeout Pure, Katamari, and GTA - all original games, not ports. GTA simply takes place in the same city as GTA3, but has completely new missions and some updates to the engine.

Anyway - you're whining about ports, yet your getting exited about a *port* of lumines 1 to the 360 and PS2...

Re:Wtf? "the lackluster stable of games"?!

[sarcasticklishoven]

It's the only one that counts to you in the end, and that's not what I'm annoyed at.

My annoyance is that people disregard large amounts of data to promote a personal opinion as the majority opinion or objective fact(welcome to the world), such as stating that PSP has lackluster games(implying no one likes or enjoys them). DS has certain types of games and the PSP has certain types of games, and they really are vanilla and chocolate(IMO).




As any amount of data there are overall patterns. I don't agree with every review, because obviously my taste is different and different aspects of games are of lesser or greater importance to me. But there is a pattern to the reviews of games both critics and consumers(check out the user ratings as well they pretty much back up the critic reviews). They simply don't support that there are 'no good games' for the PSP. They don't appeal to you, much like Mario as a franchise doesn't appeal to me, but I recognize the quality and work that has gone into various genre's and can appreciate that even if to me it's not entertaining.



I think someone else pointed out that roughly:
75-> means the game is good/may have some things preventing a mainstream appeal but people that enjoy that genre should check it out.
80-85-> means that the game has flaws but should appeal to most gamers and is a must have for those that enjoy ths genre 90-100-> means the game has a wide appeal and should be enjoyed by most gamers

Obviously those extremely general, but that's how I take them
I think for the most part those high rated games have earned them (I tend to go with Gamespot's reviews as the seem to be the most indepth and closest to my own opinions, but others may vary). It doesn't mean that I'm going to enjoy Hot Shots Golf (PSP) or MarioKart Racing, but for their areas they are recognized for their quality and appeal to people that like those sorts of games.
I just wish we could stop bashing and just enjoy the games.

If the games suck...

[exp(pi*sqrt(163))]

...then all it takes is for one enterprising company out there to produce a half decent game and they'll be raking in money. In fact, all they have to do is port a half decent game from another platform. Or maybe I'm just naïve in assuming that the market has any kind of efficiency like this.

Using it as a controller

[logicassasin]

Sony really doesn't pay attention to past failures. Atari tried to do this very same thing with the Jaguar and Lynx. You could use the Lynx to control the Jaguar via the ComLynx port waaaay back in '93. Back then, no one was really willing to pay for a $100 portable to go with a $250 game system, so there were no games developed for that feature (supposedly, Aliens vs Predator was going to include this functionality).

I don't really see how Sony, with it's terribly high priced PS3 and PSP with few games, would ever wish to make the same mistake that Atari did.

Re:Using it as a controller

[Anonymous Coward]

'scuse me ?
Atari briefly mentioned it might have the possibility to be used together, but with more then half of the jag library and about 80% of the Lynx games library (yeah.. NOW i know..) i haven't come across any game that uses the functionality, which only would have come with a special extender box, sold by a third party..
(and besides, terribly high priced PS3 ? Here in Europe it costs about the same as PS2 when it was launched.)

Re:Using it as a controller

[logicassasin]

Briefly mentioned it my ass, that was a part of their developer push! They were trying to get developers to use that functionality and from what I remember, the only one that was remotely interested was the guys working on AVP.

Yes, it's terribly high priced. From $299 for the PSS and PS2 to $500-$600USD??? For a GAME system??? I'll pass on that, it's too expensive, just like the 3D0 was, just like the NeoGeo.

Re:Using it as a controller

[Gaz_EJ]

Sony also conveniently ignored that Nintendo's attempted GBA/Gamecube tie-ins were written off as gimmicks by most consumers. While I played both Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles and Zelda: Four Swords (the two flagship GBA/GC titles) and enjoyed them quite a bit, I'd be surprised if that model ever sold much more hardware for Nintendo. Of course, it looks like Nintendo's trying it again too with the DS/Wii tie-ins... but we have yet to see which direction that will take.

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[Anonymous Coward]

I think they're doing OK really. The library is finally getting to a point where I'd consider buying one. So much stuff was just diet PS2 before, but soon there's Exit, Mercury 2, Every Extend Extra, Hot Pxl and WTF to go with Lumines (1+2).
I don't give a shit about homebrew or portable movies/music, I have a subnotebook for that stuff and a genuinely portable $20 mp3 player. In fact, I have a DS, so I don't actually need any more portable games consoles either - 1 is enough to kill time in any situation. PSP has to justify itself on games alone for me, and it really doesn't look too bad any more.

Of course, if they keep up the trend with Liberty City Stories and Lumines coming to PS2 then maybe I'll just sit back and wait for the other good games to get ported.

One thing the PSP is good for: Games

[Bushido Hacks]

If the PSP was a person, this would be the touchy-feely moment where Bob Saget would tell it "Sometimes you should be happy with who you are and stop trying to be something you are not." (Cue the crappy Full House ending)

Reguardless, it is true. Most technology should not be convergent.

Cons:

• The PSP is not a very good MP3 player because of its limited capacity.
• The PSP is not a very good movie player because of its size. However, if you don't believe me, I am considering selling a copy of Ghost In The Shell for UMD format on Ebay sometime in the near future. I recent rented the DVD version of GITS which has bonus features the UMD version did not. So much for using that extra capacity, Sony.
• The PSP is not a very good web browser. I hate to admit it but as far as web browsing outside the house is concerned, forgettaboutit!!! While the browser does have some good qualities such as being able to check news and weather from your home WIFI network, taking it to school, the coffee shop, or any other public WIFI area that requires HTTPS protocol is futile. And don't even bother with passwords or messaging. Also, so much for playing Flash movies or games. How there can be only 1 MB max memory for Flash but unlimited memory for gaming is beyond me.
• The people who designed the PSP only though of their programmers and not the hackers who could do better. On one hand, I could create programs for this device. On the other hand, I don't know jack about MIPS processors (I only made a couple weak programs in assembly. Everything else is C++ or PHP) that an I don't want to lose the ability to play games. (Death Jr. is awesome!)
• The people who designed the PSP only thought of the LCD and Addicted gamers not the casual gamers. I like video games. They are a joy to play sometimes after having a crappy day. But I don't buy every game under the sun nor do I play game 12 hours non-stop. Games are suppost to be fun, in my opinion. Sony's marketing staff only appeased to the Lowest Common Denominator (hence so many crappy games rather than re-releases of good games that can be ported to the PSP) and to the Addicted Gamers. There are certainly hundreds of good PS! and PS2 games that could be ported to the PSP if the evil demons who work at Sony's marketing department had thought about the classic gamers as well as the moderate gamers.
• LocationFree Player is a useless waste of space. Why does everything have to be a TV or TV-player? Since the programming TV offers fails to improve with the technology, the LocationFree Player is of no use to a person like me. That and the LocationFree Player device is not sold at any of the electronics retailers. If I want to watch TV, I'll go home and watch something AND ONLY if there is something good on. Anyone who buys an big screen HDTV to watch sitcoms or reality TV needs to DIAF. There is no reason to be bombarded with TV or Advertising everywhere you go. TV does not belong on my telephone, computer, or gaming console.

Pros:

• Gaming quality is good. Despite a few flaws, 3D gaming, stereo-sound, and battery-life are good.
• A few gems among the junk. Death Junior is a must have game for the PSP
• Upgrade cycle is good. Despite the restrictions that were added to prevent homebrew game programming, the upgrade cycle is fairly good.
• HTML Ebook and text file reader There are a few great websites that offer free books to download. Uploading your own HTML webpages and text files is still OK. (Take that Sony!)

Re:One thing the PSP is good for: Games

[digitrev]

This has got to be the best break down of the PSP I've seen ever. Good sir, you win the internets.

Re:One thing the PSP is good for: Games

[trdrstv]

Under Cons you forgot to list out 'Games designed for pick up and play gaming'. The reason most people still hold 'Lumines' as one of the 'few good PSP games' is it is simple to pick up, and play in 5 -10 minute bursts, and has minimal load times. EXIT is another good example. There are good 'Console games' on the PSP, but not enough 'Good Handheld' games.

Sony Bashing Needs To Stop

[7jokers]

I'm losing all respect for Slashdot's gaming section. When I come to Slashdot's game section I expect the latest industry news on all game platforms presented in an objective manner. Instead this section has become Zonk's personal anti Sony flame board. The PSP is a great gaming system. It seems lately the hot thing to do is jump on the anti Sony bandwagon with claims that are completely unfounded. The biggest being that their are no good games. If you say there are no good games that tells me you haven't looked lately or you don't know what your talking about.

Tekken: Dark Resurrection ign.com rating 9.2
Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror - 9.3
NCAA Football 07 - 8.3
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories - 9.0
Burnout Legends - 8.5
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth - 8.5
Daxter - 9.0
MLB 06: The Show - 8.3
Field Commander - 8.4
Ultimate Block Party - 8.0

And these are just a few of the top games and it covers all gaming categories. If you look at the line up of games scheduled for release of the next 3-4 months you'll see the PSP has a lot of very good games about to be released. The PSP library isn't as big as the DS's which I also own but considering the DS also plays gameboy advance games which has been out much longer how can it be. People need to stop this mindless bashing of one system or another.

Re:Sony Bashing Needs To Stop

[roberri]

That's a pretty solid library but there's one problem that I can see: Most of those games are rehashes of old titles that you can already get for a couple of dollars for the PS2. People already know what these games are like, they've seen it before and perhaps, just perhaps, they're overly familar with this stuff to think twice about shelling out for it again. I know Nintendo aren't shy about updating and republishing their back-catalogue, but the DS's touch screen allows developers to bring something new and unique to the table.

I think the best summary of the difference between the DS and the PSP was by the UK games magazine "Edge".

"The PSP is for those who know what they want. The DS is for those who want what they don't know"

Maybe the PSP's market didn't know what they wanted after all...

Re:Sony Bashing Needs To Stop

[normal_guy]

The "ratings" are so high because expectations are set so low. Actual sales numbers show the DS Lite outselling the PSP and PS2 in the month of June, with reason.

Re:Sony Bashing Needs To Stop

[Anonymous Coward]

That reason being because Lite was released in June. We'll see how July's numbers are.

Re:Sony Bashing Needs To Stop

[aztektum]

Yeah it isn't just Zonk. Check out Gametab, you'll see that there really isn't a lot of super important news in the world of games on a daily basis. It's the same as any other field in "journalism". A lot of stuff is just hyped up crap to try and get attention.

Re:Sony Bashing Needs To Stop

[7jokers]

Are you serious? First, of the 10 games I listed half of them are PSP exclusives that you can't just pick up at the bargin bin for a few dollars. Syphon Filter is an existing francise but Dark Mirror is exclusively for the PSP not a port of an existing game. Second it's standard practice for all sports games to be made across platforms and consoles. So really of the 10 I listed only 3 are basic ports of a PS2 game.

Also as I said I have a DS. Is the touch screen really that innovative. I have yet to play a game where I said to myself this game is so much better becuase of this touch screen. It's a gimick that it. Everyone says its so inovative but where are the people raving about how great a game was because they had a touch screen?

These are just a few of the exclusive games coming to the PSP this holiday season and all look good:

Bleach 3
Loco Roco
Ultimate Ghosts 'N Goblins
Power Stone Collection
Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony
FFVII: Crisis Core

Re:Sony Bashing Needs To Stop

[catprog]

(This is in japan) 150,000+ each week for the DS vs 30,000 (40,000 in tle last week) for the PSP

Re:Sony Bashing Needs To Stop

[7jokers]

So what's your point? More people buy Honda Civics than Lexus's. I know people that bought the DS just because it's cheaper. Just because it sells more doesn't indicate it's a better product.

Re:Sony Bashing Needs To Stop

[Anonymous Coward]

I was giveing the sales figures for july like the parent asked for.

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[vertinox]

I'm not happy with Sony as a company, but I'm pretty happy with my hacked PSP.

Which is why Sony is not happy with you!

Nintendo and MS got it right

[JFMulder]

I mean. Nintendo is clearly making a game machine and that fits their goal quite nicely. Microsoft wanted to make a console with a little extra via Marketplace downloads and connectivity with USB devices and Windows and it works nicely. There's extra stuff on the horizon, like apparently movie downloads and such, but it's not there yet, so Microsoft isn't rushing anything. (Well, the launch of the console was rushed a bit but everything is fine now.) On the other hand, Sony tried to create a platform for browsing, playing games, movies, music and a new disk based media.

Nintendo and MS kept it simple. Sony tried to bite off more than they could chew.

Overpriced

[iJed]

Maybe UMD would not have been such a massive failure if the movies were not so massively overpriced. There is no way people are going to pay more for a UMD movie than a DVD. The UMD version should be at most cost half the price of the DVD version.

I don't get it

[LIGC]

When you can do stuff with your PSP like this: http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/09/psp-controlled- honda-civic/ or http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/09/use-your-psp-as -a-pc-joystick/ why is everybody complaining about it?

Not saying you are wrong...

[BancBoy]

Brilliant piece of hardware.

Agreed. I bought mine shortly after launch after a 5 minute demo by someone down at my local. It was an easy sell, but I was curious to see how the platform would grow, having watched the lifespan of the PlayStation and the PS2 up to that point.

99% of the games suck

I have to disagree here. I regularly play and enjoy Everyone's Golf (The old Hot Shot franchise), MVP, Burnout, Namco's Portable Island Resort, World Tour Soccer 2, FIFA World Cup 2006, SOCOM and Puzzle Bobble. I am checking out a couple of interesting RPGs as well and looking forward to Ridge Racer 2 when it does come out. There are other titles that I've played and enjoyed and many that I haven't seen (maybe they all suck, I don't know). But if it is only 1 percent that don't suck, that seems to be working out fine for me.

im not stupid enough to buy my movies over again

Nor am I. I did buy one UMD movie when I got my PSP, just for the novelty. I didn't think I would likely be picking up another one, and imagined that if that was the prevailing attitude it would not be living long as a portable movie format. But the UMD's success or failure in the movie arena is irrelevant to the console as a gaming device. UMD movie cessation just doesn't mean anything for games. Period.
Before I picked up my PSP, however, I noticed a program called PSPWare. It let me easily drag and drop movies to be converted and transferred to my PSP. It also let me sync photos from my iPhoto library and MP3s from my iTunes library if I wanted. In addition to this it automagically backed up my save games off my memory sticks when I synced so I always have a backup of every save. It seemed like 15 dollars well spent and it was. I wanted to watch video on my PSP, but like you I wasn't going to be repurchasing content. I use my PSP numerous times per week as PSP and it rocks for that as well.

and its too freakin big for an mp3 player

Well, maybe for your pocket, but as a docked MP3 player it's just the right size. I didn't buy it to replace my iPod. The MP3 playback is a nice extra. The fact that you can set it up in the kitchen in a dock and stream audio to it wirelessly is pretty damn neat. A nice portable AirPort Express audio player.

And then there's emulation. That was one of the reasons I did pick it up and have not been upset with all. Retro gaming rocks my world and it is a superb platform for that, whether Sony likes it or not.

After seeing the photos of Mylo the other day http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-08/09/conte nt_4941966.htm I saw some features that would have been really nice to see in PSP (and are likely to see in some future PSP device). And that bodes well for the future.

Links to PSP game videos

[Anonymous Coward]

There's plenty of good, playable PSP games!

PSP Authority Video Montage 1
Lumines
Burnout Legends
Loco Roco
Every Extend Extra
Daxter
Me And My Katamari
Archer MacLean's Mercury
Tekken: Dark Resurection
Ridge Racer
Coming soon - Killzone

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[Anonymous Coward]

I also get a lot of travel use out of my 1.5 PSP. Movies/TV on memory cards and enough good games for traveling. I think I'd run out of good games if I played while not traveling, but that is what the console and pc are for. I use mp3's while getting to a plane, games and movies while on the plane and at the hotel and wifi to get email. All my UMD games have been converted to memory cards because of the longer battery life. So during my usual usage, I use the Sony PSP and nothing else as delivered by Sony. My own headphones, my own movies converted, my own games converted, other peoples software to enable all this and SanDisk memory cards. So as it stands, everything except the original hardware is being delivered in a method that I don't want. Sony really missed the boat and I expect the PSP to die.

ZONKED

[Anonymous Coward]

Another blah from an insignificant blog? A typical /. Games section.

With the 2.8 firmware you dl & watch video

[ralphc]

I upgraded my firmware to 2.8, and they've gotten sane about video naming and directories. With the web browser you can download iPod compatible video into a "Videos" directory, then watch it, then delete it, without ever touching a PC. Good for video blogs, Rocketboom, Macbreak, etc.

'remote control device'

[immorak]

I'm glad i didn't buy a $300.00 'remote control device' for the PS3!

PSP/DS ducks - video parodies ;)

[Bogien]

Probably the worst video system ever ;)

PSP sucks
DS sucks

Zonk vs. Sony?

[vinohradska]

So, what is the real story here? What is the story behind the story?

Why does Zonk hate Sony so much? Enquiring minds want to know. Did a Sony exec run off with his mother?

Re:Zonk vs. Sony?

[fistynuts]

Zonk is a cheap Nintendo fanboy. Check his stories, check his comments. It's a real pity he's on the /. editorial team - the other editors at least attempt to write from a neutral viewpoint.

Personally I think the PSP is a great portable gaming system. I also think the DS is a great portable gaming system (although I don't own one). Can't we all just get along?

Re:Zonk vs. Sony?

[vinohradska]

I see. That's a shame.

Re:Zonk vs. Sony?

[vinohradska]

Yes, but does the PSP cause its programmers to do this? http://www.mediuh.com/2950-unexpected-tv-vomit.htm l

Re:Zonk vs. Sony?

[Grim Grepper]

It's a real pity he's on the /. editorial team - the other editors at least attempt to write from a neutral viewpoint.

You're new here, aren't you?

XBOX Portable

[badbucksfan]

This device rules. If you are a handheld fan this thing is 5 years out before anyone expected. Get a 4 Gig card and do movies, pics, videos, games! no device does as much as this one box. UMD could use some help, but for MPEG4's on the run or home videos to play with.. come on this thing is the gadget to have! (Until MS puts out a XBOX portable) 1-10 Scale Ineternet 6.4 UMD 5.3 Photos 7.2 Videos 8.0 MOvies via MPEG4 9.3 MP3 Player 7.2

Re:XBOX Portable

[revlayle]

GP2X anyone? cheaper, and more expandable to boot IIRC

Instrument panel on controller

[Kadin2048]

Well then instead of using it as a rear-view mirror, they could use it for dashboard-type instrument cluster displays. That would be fairly realistic, since you have to remove your eyes from the windshield to view them in reality (unless you have a HUD).

Instead of the common (but fake) driving displays, where the dashboard is magically visible at the bottom of the driver's field of vision, perfectly in focus and clear, make the TV picture nothing but the view out the window, and then put the speedometer/tach/shift-indicator on the controller.

You could even do stuff like have the controller display blink colors, so that you'd catch it in your peripheral vision, just like you'd notice an instrument panel light in a car or plane.

Ummm...

[eno2001]

While [PSP Marketing Manager John] Koller

Shouldn't that be PIMP, not John? Last I checked, sales folks were pimps.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

remote control??

[sottitron]

the PlayStation Portable will be a 'remote control device' for the next-gen console

As oppose to the myriad of features that you've had to walk up to the console to perform all these years. Maybe that ENORMOUS panel of buttons on game consoles will now just disappear. Oh wait...

And that is EXACTLY why it's a failure --

[Anonymous Coward]

Everything you mention in that post is exactly the reason the PSP is a failure.

Not once did you actually mention BUYING software in the form of games or movies for the system.

Unless you're buying software for the PSP sony is losing money.

If sony is losing money on the PSP it's a fauilure. Plain and simple.

I'll say it once again. The PSP is a failure. (4 is my lucky number)

Slashdot vs Sony

[Uukrul]

Instead this section has become Zonk's personal anti Sony flame board.

I'm with you in that. There are more objetive posts on Microsoft Windows Vista than in PSP and PS3 together.

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[Xocet_00]

"It is relatively painless to convert existing DVDs to the PSP's format and load them onto a memory stick."

I've found this to be particularly painFUL. I've actually never gone DVD -> PSP mostly because PSP Video 9 (the only software whose videos my PSP seems willing to play) can't go straight from a DVD. I realize I probably have to rip/decrypt VOBs to my HDD or something and then encode those through PSP Video 9, but that doesn't seem painless to me.

Do you have an elegant, 1-step solution for doing this? I don't mind waiting for a video encode, but I do mind it requiring a lot of my attention.

Help!

Lets take another look at that list.

[Anonymous Coward]

That list is the very definition of lackluster.

First of all most of those games are decent and not great.

Second of all that is a pretty fucking short list for a non-portable portable that costs $250.

The DS has more GREAT games than your list of so-so PSP games.

Lumines - Great game no doubt, but honestly it's no Meteos and you can play it for free online, xbox 360, the list goes on.
Hot Shots Golf - Fun game. Not exactly anything new.
SOCOM - I haven't heard anything good about this game on the PSP at all.
GTA - uhhh a-fucking-nother one? seriously it got old after Vice City, but anyway you can get this game for CHEAPER on the PS2. Blah.
Wipeout Pure - pretty fun for a while.
Katamari - Seriously you have to be kidding me. This game was a complete FLOP on the PSP. It SUCKS. It's not even close to being as good as the first ones on the PS2.
Tekken - Looks good. Horrible to play using that crap ass hack of a d-pad on the PSP.

Seriously you've got like.. maybe 2 great games on that list, 1 honerable mention, a few has-beens and that's about it.

LACKLUSTER.

Maybe they'll fail totally. That would be nice.

[HiThere]

When I think Sony I think rootkit. When I thing Sony I think denial of responsibility. When I think Sony, I wish it would go bankrupt quickly.

Sony isn't as bad as MS, but that is faint praise indeed.

OTOH, their rootkit *did* prove that ALL of the anti-virus companies are untrustworthy. I'm quite glad I no longer depend upon them. Apparently they deserve their rough treatment at the hands of MS. If Sony hadn't revealed them for the villians that they were I might feel sorry for them as MS drove them into extinction.

proprietary garbage

[guyjr]

Subject says it all... Sony screwed the pooch yet again by completely slamming the doors shut on any efforts to tinker with the PSP by 3rd parties, and requires users to use their propietary memory and disc formats to do anything at all with it. Bottom line - Sony suffers, early adopters suffer, and nobody wins. Brilliant strategy Sony, keep it up and maybe, just maybe, we'll finally have an American electronics company again!!! ;-)

Need to offer SDK, dumbasses

[Anonymous Coward]

There is SO much potential with the PSP. They should treat it as a mini-computing platform, which it really is. If they just allowed homebrewers to develop their own software, the PSP would take off. They are so stupid. They are throttling development on the PSP by trying to retain too much control over it, and it will die. I have been waiting for years for a stupid GPS device that was advertised when it started. GPS with the PSP would be so useful, I don't understand what the delay is.
The wifi capability is awesome as well, but the interface to actually use it sucks.

The form factor is not great, because I end up hurting my arms and wrists after a while, but I must say it's a lot more convenient to play games on. I bought X-men 2, which itself is a somewhat boring game, but what I like is that I can just pick up my PSP and play it on the couch or my bed without having to turn on my TV, etc.

One of the best portable media players...

[gregger]

I bought a PSP for the video capabilities. The screen is simply AWESOME (if you don't scratch it). Be sure to get a protective case for it!

How I use it: In flight entertainment. It's amazing what a flight attendant stopper it is.
Ingredients:

• at least 1 >= 1GB memory stick and a memory stick reader
  
• A Media Center 2005, TiVo, MythTV etc. box
  
• PSPVideo9 or PSPWare
  

Options:
DVD backups (VOB files) that you save to another file server.
Converting FLV videos from YouTube or Google (a bit too much effort for the resulting crappy quality).

Basically, I take PSPVideo9, add a line to its XML configuration file to recognize a DVR-MS file (I have a Media Center), and then pick about 6 hours of Colbert Reports and Daily Show's I've missed in the past week or so. Anything with a DirectShow filter installed can be converted by PSPVideo9... it just takes an extra line of XML to recognize the file extension.

This process takes a while, so I start it the night before my trip...

In the morning, I copy the files to my Memory Stick during my shower (once a month, whether I need it or not). This can take some time depending on your card reader speed.

I then laugh my ass off on the plane all the way across country. You can do this with a DVD backup program and PSPVideo9 as well. A 30 minute TV program is about 60MB and a 2 hour movies chops down to less than 300MB. If you have a 16:9 aspect ratio movie, it fills up the screen as the director intended. If you have a 4:3 show, just zoom the PSP screen and it will fill it (you lose 10% off the top and bottom, but it isn't stretched out).

Now, here's the next part... there are 100's of ways to skin this cat, but here is how I did it...

Get TV programs remotely (extra credit):

• Set up a private VPN in your favorite way (I used Hamachi, but you could do SSH etc.)
  
  • this may require a DynDNS or HomeIP type access to your router / Media Center / MythTV
  
  
• Set up TightVNC or similar (usual precautions apply about security)
  
• Set up FTP on the box you wish to fetch your final media from
  
  • you could do this in some really interesting ways, but this is easy
    

So, on your remote computer:

• Join your VPN and use VNC to access the computer
  
• Convert your TV or DVD files as usual (PSPVideo9) using VNC
  
• Ensure the finished files end up in your FTP directory
  
• Minimize it and log out
  
• Later... FTP to your home machine, download the content to your remote PC
  
  • now that Firmware 2.8 is out for the PSP, you could set them up as RSS feeds and download directly to your PSP

I'd like to do the RSS route... that would be cool.
Everyone I've let use my PSP to watch video (even iPod users) are blown away with the quality of the playback.

Battery life for memory-stick based operations is *great*. I use 1 bar out of 3 watching movies or TV for 2 hours. iPod / iTunes video does work well.

Be sure to pick up a combination USB and PSP cable so you can charge your PSP and another USB device as well off 1 port.

Drawbacks and gripes:
1 GB Mem sticks are a small. 4GB will be great. Those can be had for $150 or so now.
You can't take a HUGE library of media with you (like a 60GB iPod)... which is fine for TV for me
File format for video has to be MP4... way lame, but you have to chop it anyway.
Volume for playing video back isn't great - it needs to get boosted during conversion
Playing audio through FM tuners is NOT good... too quiet for most cars with the road noise

But, I think it is a really nice piece of hardware... I dan't play many games, but the ones I have, I enjoy. I don't play a lot of other games on other platforms either, so I don't have a lot to compare it to...

TTFN

Re:One of the best portable media players...

[doubtless]

Er, so you shower once a month? No wonder you have all that extra time to tinker with the PSP

Re:One of the best portable media players...

[gregger]

Well, my showers aren't ALL that long... it doesn't really give me much extra time.

But now with the new Homeland Security policy and the TSA's help, I won't have to brush my teeth or style my mop while on the road either! (Not that Fox News is a great source, but it was in the mighty Slashdot post about the terrorism event... so it must be true... or canonically wrong.)

I can pack lighter AND have more time too!

TTFN

Doomed from the start ... with ego ...

[darkuni]

Forget that I run a DS podcast for a minute ... I'm not interesting in a verbal bashfest. What I AM interested in doing is helping people understand why the PSP was doomed from the get go.

In fact, it is so blatently obvious, I can't figure out why someone didn't figure this out LONG before the project ever got greenlit.

Portable gaming. What is it? It is gaming you TAKE WITH YOU. And ... why do we WANT to take games with us? To fill in the gaps of time we have free during our regular day, since most of us have jobs, families and responsibilities. Now, assuming that the people WITHOUT lives are sitting in their mother's basement, with their Xbox blazing and an RJ45 plug up their asses - they are obviously not the target audience for portable gaming.

Portable gaming is for "filler-gaming" - filling in free time; commuting on the bus, waiting for the movie to start, sitting at the doctor's office, throwing down on the toilet - you get the idea. Twitch gaming is another name for portable gaming, really.

Now, let's look at the PSP, designed and content fed in the EXACT opposite manner in which it should be.

1) Poor battery life. There is a reason that the B&W crappy as hell looking Gameboy kicked the crap of the Atari Lynx; it ran 10x longer on a third the batteries. Forget that the Lynx had a near perfect port of Road Blasters, Joust, Xybots and other great games. If you can only play them for 3 hours on 6xAA batteries, you lose the 'handheld war'. Nintendo smartly build the capabilities of their handhelds to ensure maximum on-the-go time.

2) Sponsoring a non-condusive, over-priced, fragile closed format; UMD. Every time I see the term "UMD", I instantly think "WTF?". They can cost up to double the price of DVDs (you know, the movies you ALREADY HAVE in you collection). They don't hold as much, you can't write to them, the mechanical power required to spin a disc (IN A PORTABLE NO LESS) makes no sense, and the list pretty much goes on and on from there. I say non-condusive because MOVIES violate the concept of a portable gaming device (in so many ways it isn't even funny). Twitch gamers have 15-30 minutes to game (above mentioned commuting, waiting in lines, etc) - a 90 minute content block makes no sense. The LEAST that Sony should have done was declare the UMD format for twitch style content - 22 minute sitcoms and goofy MTV reality shows (seemingly their target audience anwyay). Sell episodes of Friends, American Idol, and Simpsons. Make it HELLA affordable - for God Sake's, Google is about to offer this content for FREE with basic advertising support. I shouldn't be paying $29 for 3 episodes of Survivor. Let's go ahead and invoke the 6+ minute load time video while we're here. I can be playing Mario Kart before the first boot screen of half the PSP games I've seen. Console kiddies are used to god unforsaken load times (been there - hey, Beachhead II, Commodore 64, tape version, 22 minutes to load). When I'm on the go - I want it NOW.

3) Portable gaming ain't console gaming. Look, man. Maybe you have 5 hours to tromp through a dungeon every day - I don't. Most of the people that do portable gaming don't. That's why they HAVE portable gaming, dammit - because console gaming doesn't fit their lifestyles. Why do you think there are 500+ 'portable pocket sudoku' games on the walls of Target, but strangely no stand alone pocket version of Final Fantasy? People can play a game of Sudoku in 10 minutes; you aren't even through the first goddamn CUT SCENE in FF in the 10 minutes. I'm willing to put up with a HELLUVA lot at home when gaming. I'm NOT willing to put up with it when I'm trying to block out some screaming kid at the clinic with a little Electroplankton time.

4) Lack of innovation. Great, you can play GTA on the go. Been there, done that. In fact, looking at the list of PSP games (old, new, and forthcoming) I'm seeing basically the same thing I've seen on consoles for the past couple ye

Re:Doomed from the start ... with ego ...

[Anonymous Coward]

um.

Let me rephrase some of this for you. replace "twitch gamer" with "I" and I'm pretty sure you are spot on.

I personally sit for hours with my PSP watching TV shows, movies, and playing RPG's.

I'm also an insomniac, so I sometimes have hours and hours late at night where I'm laying in bed wishing I was asleep. I have a DS and I love it, but I also play it for hours at a time too. I like the idea of gaming while AWAY from the computer or TV set.

So please, don't try to speak for me. You come off as an asshat.

Re:Doomed from the start ... with ego ...

[Anonymous Coward]

Do you actually have a PSP?

Just curious because I get about 6-7 hours of gameplay between charges. If you only have 15 minutes at a time to play, that should last you well over a week.

I play mine for 2-3 hours at a time and only need to charge it twice a week.

I don't know..your rant sounds a lot like you're really, really trying to find reasons to hate the thing. If I don't care about something, I tend to be a bit less passionate about it.

Re:Doomed from the start ... with ego ...

[dionf]

"Why do you think there are 500+ 'portable pocket sudoku' games on the walls of Target, but strangely no stand alone pocket version of Final Fantasy?"

You've got to be kidding me...
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance GBA 09/08/03
Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls GBA 11/29/04
Final Fantasy IV Advance GBA 12/12/05
Final Fantasy III NDS Nov 2006
Final Fantasy V Advance GBA 11/06/06
Final Fantasy VI Advance GBA TBA
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles NDS TBA

There are enough Final Fantasies for you to play with until PSP2 comes out (or not). Need I mention the "500+" versions of Pokemons, which essentially are turned-based RPGs that require you to "have 5 hours to tromp through a dungeon every day", are the best selling games on any portable gaming system, ever?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best_selling_ computer_and_video_games#Nintendo_Game_Boy_Advance

Speak for yourself only. There are more than a few people who are quite ready to spend hours on portable games on a daily basis. The reason why so many PSP games failed to sell is because most of these best games on the PSP (to quote another poster, "Hot Shots Golf, Siphon Filter, SOCOM, GTA, Wipeout, Katamari, Tekken", etc) are simply dumbed down version of PS2 games. While some might welcome the portable nature of these games, it is just not enough to justify a purchase for the majority of the hardcare gamers, who own a PS2 and quite possibly already played multiple versions of these games anyway.

Re:Doomed from the start ... with ego ...

[Anonymous Coward]

Personally I think that Sony's 'screw what the customer wants' view on the world stuffed the PSP up.
People wanted TV out but Sony rejected it because it might have impacted the PS2 market. There are some good games that I wanted to play on the PSP but the screen is to small for gaming when you aren't on the move. Why would I play a GTA, burnout, blah on a 4.1' screen when I can play it on a 32' screen?

Microsoft in 2 years.

[kinglink]

Seriously why is Microsoft bringing out the Argo? The biggest problem with the system is the base thing that we only know what it's trying to be. But seriously, how likely is it that Microsoft is going to bring out a product that will rival Apple.

It's the same here. Sony needed big games and even when they got Konami to give them solid snake what did they end up with? Metal gear acid? Not the blockbuster they needed. I don't fault Konami, why give Sony's new system a completely unique game that would work on the PS2, give them something unique for their game system that might be more portable.

The biggest problem comes in that I look at my DS and then look at a PSP. I pay more for the system, more for the games? Have to buy memory sticks? The cost of the system isn't 300 to 150 it's more like 350 to 150 + 20 bucks more per game.

Now if the GBA was the best Nintendo gave us, then yes the PSP would rock it's socks, but the DS has a touch screen, and dual screens. It might not be perfect for all games, but it certainly is far better than what the PSP brought to the table (larger memory space and multimedia, which if people really wanted, was available for the DS in import format). It has yet to get the developer buy in that it needs, and it's mostly getting games from people who would never make a DS game in the first place.

And then again the DS constantly gets Nintendo games, Sony doesn't make first party games (at least not to the length nintendo does).

Sony's going to have a long hard 5 years coming up. The PS3 is going to stumble at best, and fail out right at worse. The PSP is not going anywhere and just becoming controversal, the music industry isn't picking up. But they do still have good electronics at least.

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[Suzumushi]

Yeah, I'm happy with my Verizon Motorola e815 too...after I hacked it re-enable all the nice features that were turned off by Verizon. You've only proven that Sony's PSP is a failure because of their own decisions and behavior.

If everyone was able to easily transfer movies to mem sticks, play homebrew software, as well as play the official titles with ease, then they would be flying off the shelves.

Fact is, a select few who have the will and knowledge to hack (enable the features that should have been enabled in the first place) are the only ones itching to pay $200 for one, and that demographic is small. Sony's PSP is failing because they are not giving the customer what he or she wants. Simple.

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[William_Lee]

Do you have an elegant, 1-step solution for doing this? I don't mind waiting for a video encode, but I do mind it requiring a lot of my attention.

I'm not sure if you'd call it elegant, but there are quite a few commercial DVD to PSP converters that will do the ripping/encoding within the one application (just google psp dvd converter and you will get a ton of companies selling similiar products , some with free trials).

If you want to keep it free, I think you will have to use DVD decrypter to rip the DVD, but it really shouldn't be that bad once you configure DVD decrypter properly.

USB?

[Mongoose]

The PSP does have a USB port, since I use it everyday I can assure you it works great. It's just not a type A / type B. That's kind of moot, however since you could make an adapter if you so wished. The hard part is getting more than one game to use your device without Sony changing the firmware. =)

Re:USB?

[mr_mischief]

Type A/Type B are connectors. I'm talking about the host functionality versus the device functionality. I may be mistaken, but I was under the impression that the PSP was designed to be a USB device. I have looked and looked, and that seems to be the consensus everywhere any search takes me.

There are certain drives and such that have firmware to make them act as USB hosts, which would allow the PSP to be the device end for those. I haven't seen a keyboard yet that acts as a USB host to make a device interoperate with it.

Re:USB?

[Mongoose]

There was one in development for a while by a 3rd party. It's assumed SONY didn't want to help with specs and _altering firmware_, so it got canned. It's hard to tell what 'SONY' is thinking, because it's a multiheaded beast with rotating rings of management -- that are sometimes at odds. For example the old movie v game divisions stories.

lackluster games?

[mgabrys_sf]

I didn't see that anywhere in the article. Oh well - the bashing continues....

Consumers don't *care* about homebrew!

[Abcd1234]

No, really, they don't. The majority of people buying PSPs and DSs don't give a shit about home brew. In fact, I bet most have never even heard of the term. Yes yes, I know *you* care, and I know a significant percentage of the Slashdot population cares (as evidenced by your "Insightful" rating), but both you and the rest of us geeky tech folks are very much in the minority, here.

You know what people care about?

1) Cost
2) Games
3) Image

That's it. If they can get a portable that doesn't cost a lot, has a decent (preferably varied, to cover more demographics) game library, and makes them look cool, they'll buy it. And guess what? That pretty well describes the DS, which is why it's so successful.

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[apoc06]

Level 5 makes excellent RPGs

http://psp.ign.com/articles/719/719661p1.html

Square continues the FFVII universe

http://psp.ign.com/objects/711/711340.html

Another great remake of a Square classic

http://www.gamestats.com/objects/788/788783/

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't think I want to own a device that uses memorysticks, ever. They should be punished for introducing yet another format, just so they can jack up the prices.

I use it for what I bought it for..emulators

[Anonymous Coward]

The PSP is arguably one of the best platforms for handheld emulators.

I can currently play Genesis, SNES, NES, Neo Geo, Amiga, C-64, SCUMMVM, and really almost anything you can think of.

That's thousands of great games in the palm of my hand.

You can do this fairly easily with almost any model of PSP, and anything but the most recent ones can be downgraded to the good, deliciously hackable 1.5 firmware.

Add in that I can easily convert TV shows and movies, and it's a nice little device for traveling.

As far as the official games...yeah..most of them stink.

We haved the Zonked tag but...

[Anonymous Coward]

How about a "Crecented" one?

Then again, maybe we don't need the redundency, both run sensationalist headlines & write-ups to generate the clicks that bring in ad-views, both post any crap they can to discredit Sony....

Sonys biggest strike

[MemoryDragon]

against its own success on that console, besides the technical issues is the constant war against homebrewers. Many people simply have bought that thing for homebrew and emulation, and now shun to buy new games due to enforced firmware upgrades which would lock them out of the homebrew stuff. If sony was wise, they would work on a scheme which would push the homebrewers into a legal domain without sacrificing their own business model (provide an update secure sandbox for the homebrewers on the hardware side) but we are speaking of Sony here.

Searching For A Success Story

[SomeOtherGuy]

So many people are trying to grasp at straws to "will" the PSP to be a success.

Even a marginal success. "The games are not that bad", "I did not count on using it to watch UMD movies anyway", etc, etc, etc. Meanwhile -- the DS is moving along kicking ass and taking names.

DISCLAIMER: I own neither. have used both, and am strictly using the inertia of the possitive DS stories and successes to VS. proven PSP failures and deficiencies to compare.

Plus, the video game market is huge, there was plenty of room to have "2" success stories at once. People so wanted the PSP to be huge. It just did not deliver. Sure it was sony, the same company that brought you the PS1 and the PS2 -- how could it not be a success?, we must be missing something. So many of the PS* fanboys have this beaten woman like syndrome -- to where they almost would rather take blame themselves than admit that Sony dropped the ball.

Here's an Idea

[debozero]

Why don't they make it so you could watch UMD's on your TV? I mean if they are going to charge so much for them why are we forced to watch it on such a small screen? Just a thought........

Zonk...I am your father

[AmazingRuss]

Noooooo!

The stable is fine

[DaFork]

How many good games do you need for a console?

Tons of people bought XBOX for only *one* game (Halo... just in case you were wondering).

I have 16 games for my PSP and I only regret buying one of them (friggin Prince of Persia). I love how the PSP makes game developers deemphasize graphics and flash and concentrate on game play.

Instant PSP Success possible

[Qbertino]

1) More color options.
2) cheaper. 199 Euros is to much. Make it 160 Euros. And Add at least 1GB memorystick by default.
3) UMD passive media is to expensive. Allways has been. Make it cheaper. As in 30% less than DVD, minimum. It's to to expensive, period.
4) Linux Kit. Official.
5) Hack Guide. Official.
6) Keyboard. Various keyboards. 1 small, 1 folding. Zero hassle generic USB keyboard connection.
7) Game Boy Emulator. GBA Emulator. I'm dead serious.
8) Portrait screen option + army of gui designers for optimizing organizer apps. And army of devs to build zero fuss intergration into all standards on the planet.
9) Organizer power saving modes. (cheap optional clip on passive LCD, power saving hacks, whatever)
10) Periferal touchscreen. Ripp of the DS. Shamelessly.
11) Port all sub 500Mhz PC titles possible. I wanna play Mechwarrior, Incubation, UFO2000, Descent 1,2 & 3, Hi-Octane and some other titles on this thing.
12) Port all PS1 titles. All. Open an official "Burn PS1 UMD on demand" shop for it if needed. But offer that option.
13) Open up the plattform, specs for the official OS and all. Make it as close to a portable equivalent of the PC as possible. Encourage 3rd party engagement big time.
14) Spare battery loading station.
15) Add a primary touchscreen to the PSP 2.

DS popular only in Japan and on Slashdot...

[Anonymous Coward]

...but in Europe and in US - PSP is doing pretty good. Many decide to buy PSP only judging by its (far better) graphics. Tech-savy people downgrade firmware to 1.50 and enjoy pirated games and/or Amiga/Gameboy emulation...

What the PSP is good for?

[orospakr]

LocoRoco and homebrew.

What to use it for?

[Anonymous Coward]

Use it as a crystal ball. It gives you a sneak peak at the level of success to expect for the PS3.

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[koko775]

That's funny, the PortableTV icon on my PSP says otherwise :)
Really, Sony actually has done this, and their setup isn't half bad. You can download anime, softcore porn, dramas -- basically anything Sony owns -- onto the PSP. However, you require a Japanese PSP, a high firmware (I use devhook to run 2.71), and an address in japan (fakeable).

So before you insult Sony for their unimaginativeness (in most cases it's justified), make sure you double check, eh?

How to define the PSP

[Anonymous Coward]

As an added bonus, When the Sony PSP is on the same network as your computer, it will install a rootkit for you at no additional cost.

It's not that the games "suck"

[tkrotchko]

The problem is that the games are too expensive for a handheld system by about 25%.

What sony should have done to make this whole PSP idea stick:

1) Give away UMD movies when you buy a Sony DVD. This might cost them a little revenue up front, but it would give people a reason to buy the DVD, and get a lot of people used to UMD movies. Once the format was established, they could then charge $10 for a movie. But they started out of the chute at $20-25 per movie. Senseless.

2) Make the thing hacker friendly. Stop trying so hard to lock people out of the thing with firmware upgrades.

3) Make the games $30 each. Take less on each game. Establish a market, then raise the price.

Really, the problem was that Sony hyped the PSP to the roof, then they read their own hype and believed it. I've never seen anything like it.

Meanwhile, over in nintendo land, they're keeping their nose to the grindstone and systematically upgrading their handheld platform to little fanfare.

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[Anonymous Coward]

xenosaga 1 & 2 for DS is good (yeah, I know, you asked about PSP, not DS - I still think the DS has a better selection of RPGs)

Sony is for cool kids

[comanderlink]

When I went to Otakon last weekend, one of the things that amazed me, beside the transgender cosplying and how terribly I lost in SSBM (to a Jigglypuff and Yoshi no less!), was the sheer amount of DS and DS lites people were toting around. People would go into panels and while they were listening would talk on picto-chat with other people in the room. There were little circles of people on the floor, all with their DS's out, happily drawing pictures of birds, bees, and the occasional penis. I forgot to bring my DS on all three days and I regret it deeply. I was just unaware of how popular it was with anime aficionados, or in other words; nerds, and geeks.

The one time I did see a PSP was when I was waiting in line to get in the Convention Center and a pair of pseudo-"gangstas" (you know, the guys who walk with their pants riding at their knees, nice expensive air jordans, and a mountain of "bling" hanging from their neck) walked by, one of them with a PSP. I couldn't help but laugh at the irony. Here I was in a line full of nerds (myself included) who all had DSs, and the cool kids just walked by with their PSP. The thing is, nerds are probably the people that SONY would benefit the most from having as customers and nerds are probably the people who have the most incentive to buy a PSP. Something that they can download and watch anime on, and play emulated NES, SNES, and other classic consoles' games on while on the go. These people probably encompass most of the population who actually have the know-how, time, and patience to hack and make a PSP do such things. But did you see them owning a PSP? I certainly didn't. Nope, the PSP owners were the cool kids walking by, who probably only knew the basics of the system they possessed and it's features, and probably just got it because it was expensive and nice looking.

So based on my observations, the PSP is for cool kids. The DS is for nerds who like to communicate using phallic imagery and obscure japanese references. I currently don't know which demographic is larger, but I certainly know that the cool kids don't have conventions with 20,000+ attendees. And I also know that you can't communicate using phallic imagery on your PSP. Really, if a portable gaming system can't do a simple thing like that, then what's the point of owning one? ;)

Re:Sony is for cool kids

[Anonymous Coward]

Why do you assume those people walking with DS's didn't have a PSP as well?

2.7?

[tepples]

And you forget the large amount of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psp_homebrewhomebrew availbale for the PSP. There is Quake, IRShell(multitasking graphical shell), PSPRadio(mp3/ogg/internet streaming audio player), PMPMod(xvid + AVC video player), ScummVM, a controller device driver(so you can use it as a wireless joypad in Windows), just to name a few. Add emulators up the wazoo(NES,SNES,Genesis,GB(A),Atari,Lynx,Master System,whathaveyou,even the beginnings of a N64 emulator) and you see that homebrew isn't left behind in the PSP scene.

How many of those work on new PSPs sold in stores, which come with firmware 2.7 or later? Besides, DS homebrew also has a video player, a streaming audio player, ScummVM, a keyboard/screen driver (Win2DS), and emulators for the NES, Game Boy Color, Super NES, Sega Master System, and Colecovision. And it runs GBA Game Paks natively.

Re:2.7?

[3choTh1s]

I agree that the newer PSP's need hardware to get homebrew. But my point wasn't that the DS doesn't have homebrew, just saying that the psp's homebrew isn't stillborn. but tepples, I believe you think that all newer psp's are locked out of homebrew. Read up on Undiluted Platinum(mod chip). Learn it, Love it. It works. But some DS coders have already jumped ship to the psp scene. http://pspupdates.qj.net/LiraNuna-joins-PSP-Homebr ew-Scene-/pg/49/aid/59798 Interesting.

Re:2.7?

[tepples]

Read up on Undiluted Platinum(mod chip).

I wasn't aware of that. Thanks. But this mod chip requires soldering, which (from an end user's perspective) costs a lot of money for labor. The DS hacks have never required soldering, and they require a screwdriver (and a very simple procedure) only if you don't want to carry the NoPass card with you. Bottom line: While a SuperCard+NoPass costs about 60 USD, the PSP mod chip costs 90 USD plus soldering labor.

Luminesweeper is $300 cheaper

[tepples]

Lumines

Was out for the GBA before the PSP was out in Europe and Down Under.

Re:Luminesweeper is $300 cheaper

[kennedy]

From the site:

"..by making a homebrew game for the Game Boy Advance handheld video game system"

How do you plan on using this game on your GBA without a "development kit" (read: flash cart+writer)? The pirate flash carts and kits aren't free you know :P

Luminesweeper for GBA supports custom songs

[tepples]

For games (why else do you buy a gaming device) you can play Lumines, Katamari, or any of a half-dozen racing games.

With a PSP, you can't put your own songs into Lumines. With a GBA (or DS) and a $50 memory card, you can.

PSP demo units: 404 Not Found

[tepples]

Funny how most who come to the above conclusions haven't come within 10 feet of a PSP either.

That's because I haven't seen one playable PSP in any Kmart, Wal-Mart, or Target store in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Even Best Buy didn't get demo units until well over a year after the system's North American release. Nintendo, on the other hand, had DS demo units in Wal-Mart from day one.

Getting Lumines back

[tepples]

When the DS Lite came out, I sold the PSP and picked up a DS Lite with Metroid and Tetris. I've been playing those any many other games online and offline and haven't looked back.

Nice decision; let me suggest something to add to your enjoyment. Have you considered buying the DS memory card so that you can put your own music into a Lumines clone?

rootkit

[tepples]

Instead this section has become Zonk's personal anti Sony flame board.

Nintendo never distributed any rootkits.

The PSP library isn't as big as the DS's which I also own but considering the DS also plays gameboy advance games which has been out much longer how can it be.

Had Sony distributed from Day One a larger selection of PS1 to PSP ports, or a PS1 emulator, there wouldn't be as much complaint about a lack of PSP titles.

PSP pre-2.7 "on the market"?

[tepples]

Duh, there are like 3 handhelds on the market (and that's including the 4 years old GBA), and all 3 of them let you make and play homebrews (it's only slightly easier/cheaper to do on the PSP).

So how do I make homebrew on a 2.01 or newer PSP? The GTA exploits don't count because 1. they rely on a disc that is rated M and 2. the newer GTA discs are patched to perform more stringent savegame format sanity checking. And are new PSPs with firmware older than 2.7 even "on the market"?

Re:PSP pre-2.7 "on the market"?

[Anonymous Coward]

You are WAY out of the loop to even be bringing up that old GTA exploit ;) The PSP is easily downgradable from 2.6 down. No game required. Google it.

Re:PSP pre-2.7 "on the market"?

[Anonymous Coward]

Excepting for the "easily" part, you're quite correct. Or else, we wouldn't need such guides with careful instructions.

GBA is still cheaper than PSP

[tepples]

How do you plan on using this game on your GBA without a "development kit" (read: flash cart+writer)? The pirate flash carts and kits aren't free you know :P

GBA SP + SuperCard + 256 megabyte CF card + CF writer is cheaper than PSP + 256 megabyte Memory Stick PRO Duo card. And if you already own the GBA SP or the DS, it's even cheaper. Heck, a fully-tricked-out-for-homebrew DS is even cheaper than a stock PSP Value Pak.

And if you don't care about portability, you can still play Luminesweeper in VisualBoyAdvance on the same PC that you use to post to Slashdot.

Not a list of released games

[LKM]

This list contains both released and in-development games.

The Screen has huge Problems

[LKM]

The screen is simply AWESOME

No, it's not. Sony went after two properties when choosing a screen: Big and Bright. They got those two, but they messed up the rest. First of all, it's blurry as hell. When I first played Ridge Racer on my PSP, I thought they had actually managed to implement motion blur on the PSP. "Wow, didn't think it could do that", I thought. Until I played some other games. All of them had motion blur. It's not the games, it's the sucky screen. It's especially visible in games like Lumines, Loco Roco or Puzzle Block Party. Watching dark or high-contrast movies becomes pretty much impossible. In some scenes in Advent Children, all characters have purple shadows following them. It's not the movie, it's the screen.

Second problem: It sucks batteries like, well, I was going to make a porn reference, but then I changed my mind since that would be a positive association. The screen, together with the disk drive, simply kill batteries. And since you have your own fricken hand over the battery light while playing, you usually don't notice it until the PSP simply suddenly goes to sleep. Great design there, Sony.

Third problem: Glare. You can't play PSP games in a Train or anywhere where any kind of sun is involved. It reflects like a mirror. What the heck were they thinking? Shiny looks nice when on display in a shop? Well, thank you, but did you actually think of the people who want to do crazy stuff like using your product? Guess not.

Also, the screen scratches very easily. I was very careful, but I got a scratch on my screen simply from accidentially dragging the little wrist band over it. Gah.

So, in conclusion: They managed to hit "bright" and "big", but they missed pretty much everything else. This makes the screen average to sucky for a portable.

Re:The Screen has huge Problems

[gregger]

You might guess that I'm going to disagree with some of your post. Yes, it is both big and bright... but if it were bright enough, you wouldn't have as much of a problem with glare. I put a screen protector on the scratchy screen first thing (ordered and delivered at the same time). It is also an anti-glare protector, so maybe my glare issues are reduced.

On a plane (with or without snakes), there isn't a real glare problem for me. Most flights ask people to lower the blinds these days (for the sucky in-flight movie), but even if they don't, it's fine.

I've heard about the motion blur problem you are talking about. Some people complain about it and others don't. I wonder if all PSP's have the same screen. I've played Ridge Racer on it and didn't see the motion blur. But I might not be looking for the right thing.

When people talk about motion blur and slow screens I think about the laptops in the days before TFT displays. THOSE were slow screens (black and white too!).

The battery life is great for me. If you read the rest of my post, you might notice that even after 2 to 3 hours of watching videos, I have only used 1/3 the battery. This is because I'm NOT using the UMD drive. I agree, the UMD drive will kill your battery. One of the best reasons to "back up" your games is for battery life and load times. The iPod video and the Creative Zen will only allow you to watch about 4 hours before they start getting low on battery. Music only battery life on those devices is much better.

I wish that Sony would let you watch your own videos at the native UMD resolution.

Like I also said, I don't play lots of games period (on the PSP or otherwise). So my "motion blur" gripes may not be the same as your own. I have seen some debate on this topic in different forums, so I wonder if they changed suppliers. My PSP came with the 1.5 firmware about 9 to 10 months after the initial release. It could be the screens are different from the initial release.

It beats the hell out of an iPod / Zen for watching lots of video for my eyes.

Take care,
TTFN

Re:The Screen has huge Problems

[LKM]

I had to get an anti-glare screen protector too. It also hides some of my scratches, so that's good. On the other hand, it makes the screen visibly less bright, so that's not so good. And watching movies outside in a train when the sun's shining is still not possible.

Actually, my screen pretty much looks like one of these old passive-matrix color LCDs. I guess it might actually be a passive-matrix color LCD, although I haven't looked it up. It's a fairly new PSP, only a few months old, so if they've switched suppliers, it wasn't for the better.

And yeah, 4 hours of battery life isn't really what I would describe as "great." For example, my GBA micro gets way more than 10 hours of battery life. In fact, I always take it with me in my pocket to play games when waiting for a bus or sitting in a train, and I simply plug it in on sunday evenings. It has never run out of battery power.

I wish that Sony would let you watch your own videos at the native UMD resolution.

Hell yeah, I agree 100%.

And yes, even so, the PSP is probably better for watching movies than an iPod/Zen/GP2X/DS is - not because the PSP is doing such a great job, but simply because the other devices' screens are so small and not wide-screen.

Re:The Screen has huge Problems

[gregger]

Cool, that pretty much makes sense. If your PSP is that new, then I doubt they got a new supplier. That's newer than mine. I'll have to dig around other places and see what the conclusion was about the screen speed. It might be passive matrix. A screen that big had to be pretty expensive if it were more state of the art.

What I figured out about the battery life was: Memory Stick good, UMD bad. That's about the only reason I would consider doing Homebrew stuff at this point. That way I could back up a UMD and play it from the stick instead of a disc.

I was considering a DS Lite just to see what all the young people are talking about in terms of games. I just don't really have the time though. If I could take mass transit more where I live, it would be a better option... however, I only really take mass transit in other cities. That's when I lament the PSP's bulkiness as an MP3 player and the glare issue.

But it's great for me on planes.

So, to sum up, when it comes to bringing something on planes, PSP's >> snakes.

TTFN

Re:The Screen has huge Problems

[LKM]

I just don't really have the time though.

Me neither, which is precisely why my DS is getting more playtime than the PSP. Most of the PSP games I own need quite a bit of investment in terms of time (even Lumines or Puzzle Block Party games can go on for hours), while the DS has lots more "five or ten minutes of wasting time before I go to bed" kinds of games.

Re:The Screen has huge Problems

[grapeape]

That was exactly my inital point...though I was tagged a troll for it :)

Where did you get Pac Man Vs?

[LKM]

The only time I've seen Pac Man Vs was as a demo from Shigeru Miyamoto. Did they actually release it? Is it a bonus on some Pac Man game? Where did you get it?

Re:Where did you get Pac Man Vs?

[Trillian_1138]

I got it as a pack-in with Pac Man World 2 (a poorly done 3D platformer). EBGames has it for $10, which I'd say is well worth it: http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product_id=9163 63

I think I've played Pac Man World 2 maybe once or twice since buying the game, but have played Pac Man Vs tons of times with friends. The way the game works is slightly confusing at first, as you have to trade controllers when a ghost eats pac man, but is TONS of fun.
-Trillian

Re:Where did you get Pac Man Vs?

[LKM]

I actually bought Pac Man World 2 (which isn't nearly as bad as I expected it to be :-) since you can unlock the old Pac Man games. I got no Pac Man Vs with it... I guess it was never released in Europe then. Gotta get the US version... Fortunately I do have a US Cube.

Re:Where did you get Pac Man Vs?

[Trillian_1138]

It (Pac Man Vs) also just may have only been released with a later version of Pac Man World 2. *Shrug* I don't remember when Pac Man World 2 came out, so it's possible the bundled version was a rerelease.
-Trillian

Sony: open it up.

[jotaeleemeese]

Hackers are begging to be allowed to play with this thing. That would create the momentum for great games and applications.

If Sony had half a clue, they would open and encourage development for the PSP, it could so easily become the defacto standard for portable, converging devices that it is tragic how they insist in closing the firmware with each new release.

The lessons of the IBM PC and Linux have not sinked inside the skulls of SOny executives, technical leaders and marketroids.

They will pay the price in the marketplace for such momentous lack of application.

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[sqlrob]

That's out? When did that come out?

Newer psp's

[3choTh1s]

Yep that's the gist. Of course this only applies to the newest psp's. Mine and everyone I know who has a psp up until recently have been able to downgrade their psp's without a problem. Yes if you want to get on the scene and you don't already have a psp AND you don't have the money, then and only then you'll have to wait til another exploit comes onboard. But that's not to stop everybody. There is already an exploit of 2.7 and some homebrew will make it there. Not the entire collection mind you, but some.

The Psp is not a bad device. I have a 1GB memory stick and that's alot of both homebrew movies, and music. but I've got my 4GB on the way(yay for cheaper prices!) and that makes the device that much more usable to me. Do me a favor and look at the DS homebrew wikipedia entry and understand that regaurdless of what DS you have you'll some sort of disadvantage. Not all PSP's have the disadvanges the new ones do. Honestly I got my psp for free(my birthday and all), but homebrew cost me nothing other than time and patience. And in the end everyone who has the time and patience can do what I did for free. If not either a ds or psp + a little time and money will get you what you want.

Well

[Sv-Manowar]

Not only have the games lack hurt the PSP (Gran Turismo Mobile anyone?), but the introduction of the Mylo will only further cause confusion in the consumer's minds, it will make buyers wonder which does which (especially as they both share video playback features etc). I think the best thing Sony could do right now is encourage developers to start working on more unique and push boundaries on the PSP and also think about the mistakes they have made so far in order for them to not repeat them on the PS3 development, a console which seems to already be facing some major problems (mainly cost related). Seems like Sony should take a long hard look at what they are doing right now and bring it back in line with what the market wants.

Re:I guess it depends on what you're looking for..

[Anonymous Coward]

My boyfriend plays games on his PSP. Most of the time, though, he uses it PSP to download and listen to podcasts via wifi, surf the web, and listen to music. He watches movies on it but does not buy UMDs. He rips his own to his memory card from DVD. He does the same with other video as well. He also stores web pages on the memory card to read later at places where wifi is not available. It's more convenient than carrying his laptop everywhere he goes.

Sony, as well as the rest of the consumer electronics industry, sucks. But the PSP is not a complete waste.