Educate me on the PSP

[Scorch]

I've (literally) been avoiding almost all PSP coverage because I could really care less.. now that it's getting closer and closer, i'm starting to think about picking one up for $250 + tax. I realize they'll be hard as hell to find (especially without a bundle), but I think i'll manage. Anyways, that aside, educate me.

In the box, it comes with a 32 mb "stick", right? Is that used for saving games or what? I can transfer MP3's with it, right? A whole 8 songs or so. I probably won't get any games at launch, but aside from GTA and GT4, what else is on the horizon? Basically, what else should I learn before trying to get one?

[zewone]

If you want to watch movies or listen to more MP3s you're going to need a bigger stick. It accomadates up to 1GB memory stick. Thats my main reason of wanting to purchase one. Also, yes the memory stick is for game saves as well.

[Greetard]

Everything you need to know. (http://www.pspforums.com)

It's the new forum that defender and Stealthy made, just click on the picture of the psp.

[epobirs]

If you've managed to wait this long you might as well hold back and wait for favorable conditions, something like a must-have game, major discount deal, first generation games on markdown, etc.

[Grave_Addiction]

The N-Gage supports a 2 gb mmc. Sorry, I had to say it.

[jer7583]

Basically, I equate the PSP to a candy bar. It's flashy, sugar coated, tastes great, and is very attractive to the eye.

But you can only eat so much candy. Eventually, you need substance. But you're not going to find that with the PSP. Cause the system, the games, and the features are all about the wow factor. WOW, look at the graphics, WOW it does this, it does that..

When it comes down to it, you're paying $250 + price of games + the price of a decent Memory stick(mp3) + the price of buying all your favorite movies, AGAIN, in UMD format(who in their right mind will do that), just to play portable ps2 knockoff games(Come on, is spider-man 2, tony hawk's remix, and NFSU Rivals really that different?). Now, to me, it's not worth the $250 simply because I don't want to support sony, who isn't really furthering or innovating in videogames in the least. But I guess a $250 candy bar is pretty appealing to most people.

[screwkick]

I was able to use an import PSP for about a day. No doubt, Sony did a great job on the unit itself. I also had no problem with the "square" button, or sub-par battery life issues mentioned everywhere. The screen was amazing. Big and bright.

I will say that the "wow factor" ended quickly, for me at least. At the end of the day, it was just another hand held game system. I personally won't buy one at launch for $250. I just don't think it's worth it at this time.

IMO of course.

[bmsdaddy]

PSP is also able to use a 2GB memory stick. Just announced, see more here:

http://psp.ign.com/articles/589/589190p1.html?fromint=1

[jer7583]

I was able to use an import PSP for about a day. No doubt, Sony did a great job on the unit itself. I also had no problem with the "square" button, or sub-par battery life issues mentioned everywhere. The screen was amazing. Big and bright.

I will say that the "wow factor" ended quickly, for me at least. At the end of the day, it was just another hand held game system. I personally won't buy one at launch for $250. I just don't think it's worth it at this time.


Thank you.

Not to mention the fact that you have to treat the thing like a newborn child. Touched the screen? Oops, now its greasy and grimy with fingerprints. Dropped it? Whoops! your $250 investment might not read discs so well anymore, and that screen could get a nasty crack! Not to mention sony's time tested method of increasing hardware sales by releasing faulty hardware for launch..

[Grave_Addiction]

Basically, I equate the PSP to a candy bar. It's flashy, sugar coated, tastes great, and is very attractive to the eye.

But you can only eat so much candy. Eventually, you need substance. But you're not going to find that with the PSP. Cause the system, the games, and the features are all about the wow factor. WOW, look at the graphics, WOW it does this, it does that..

When it comes down to it, you're paying $250 + price of games + the price of a decent Memory stick(mp3) + the price of buying all your favorite movies, AGAIN, in UMD format(who in their right mind will do that), just to play portable ps2 knockoff games(Come on, is spider-man 2, tony hawk's remix, and NFSU Rivals really that different?). Now, to me, it's not worth the $250 simply because I don't want to support sony, who isn't really furthering or innovating in videogames in the least. But I guess a $250 candy bar is pretty appealing to most people.

I actually wasn't looking for much innovation with this next crop of handhelds. I guess that's why I couldn't keep my DS for very long. Nintendo just tried to be too innovative with it.

I think the PSP will be just fine. They have some great games announced for it. Heck, Sony won't have to do much to have more games available than the DS.

[CaseyRyback]

Basically, I equate the PSP to a candy bar. It's flashy, sugar coated, tastes great, and is very attractive to the eye.

But you can only eat so much candy. Eventually, you need substance. But you're not going to find that with the PSP. Cause the system, the games, and the features are all about the wow factor. WOW, look at the graphics, WOW it does this, it does that..

When it comes down to it, you're paying $250 + price of games + the price of a decent Memory stick(mp3) + the price of buying all your favorite movies, AGAIN, in UMD format(who in their right mind will do that), just to play portable ps2 knockoff games(Come on, is spider-man 2, tony hawk's remix, and NFSU Rivals really that different?). Now, to me, it's not worth the $250 simply because I don't want to support sony, who isn't really furthering or innovating in videogames in the least. But I guess a $250 candy bar is pretty appealing to most people.

I totally agree with you. You are going to be looking at almost 400+ dollars just to play some PS2 games in handheld form. Granted the system is nice, and there are going to be some awesome games, but I doubt they do anything to push the handheld market further. Also, the things they threw in with the bundle pack are fuckin useless. The memory stick they give you is not even going to be big enough for the downloadable wipeout data

at 150 I wanted one, but at 250 they are nuts.

[javeryh]

PSP is also able to use a 2GB memory stick. Just announced, see more here:

http://psp.ign.com/articles/589/589190p1.html?fromint=1

The memory stick costs almost twice as much as the system! I think I'm going to wait a year or so until these crazy prices come down. I just don't understand why it costs so much. Is a 32MB card that much different from a 2GB one? It's the same size and all the same materials...

[mmn]

The N-Gage supports a 2 gb mmc. Sorry, I had to say it.

Well, the N-Gage is also a piece of shit. Sorry, had to say it.

[mmercer131]

I just hope it's all its cracked up to be. Think of all the promises Sony made with the PS2 that didn't come to fruition.

[Mookyjooky]

Double Post

[Mookyjooky]

Basically, I equate the PSP to a candy bar. It's flashy, sugar coated, tastes great, and is very attractive to the eye.

But you can only eat so much candy. Eventually, you need substance. But you're not going to find that with the PSP. Cause the system, the games, and the features are all about the wow factor. WOW, look at the graphics, WOW it does this, it does that..

When it comes down to it, you're paying $250 + price of games + the price of a decent Memory stick(mp3) + the price of buying all your favorite movies, AGAIN, in UMD format(who in their right mind will do that), just to play portable ps2 knockoff games(Come on, is spider-man 2, tony hawk's remix, and NFSU Rivals really that different?). Now, to me, it's not worth the $250 simply because I don't want to support sony, who isn't really furthering or innovating in videogames in the least. But I guess a $250 candy bar is pretty appealing to most people.

Dude, Spiderman 2 is a completely different game....NFSU is a completely different game, and Thug2 remix is just a remix....no different from Super mario 64 DS....What about Ridge Racer....wow, playing those three tracks over and over again from the N64 version is soooo ill. How about the 80% shit games the DS has so far....what about the fact that the DS has like 2-3 games coming out a month?

Sprung sucked, Ridge Racer sucked, Metroid Demo was "meh", Mario 64 we've all played a 100 times, Mr Driller was a shitty Mr Driller (But still kinda cool, cause Mr driller rocks), Zoo Keeper was a shitty bejeweled knockoff,Wario ware is ok (but just really a quick game to make to put something other than crap out there), Pokemon was just another shitty pokemon port, and lets not forget the horrible Asphalt racer game....

What happened to Sonic DS? The PACMAN games? Where are they now?

The DS reeks of Virtual boy, give it 6 months and you'll be able to buy the system for 30 bucks at Toys R Us.

[doubledown]

It just seems way too pricey for a handheld system. I'd rather use that for an XBOX 2.

Plus, handheld games being $50 is just plain dumb. Memory Stick media is way too expensive for what I would want for that. I guess you can get a 1GB for around $100 or less though.

UMD movies are just plain dumb. I'm sure you can rip a DVD to a memory stick...but you will lose quality trying to get it down to 2GB or less


It does look nice...the new cool toy, but I think I may pass, even though I have $150 in credit at GameRush

[rockhero]

I played 5 or 6 PSP games at GDC last week and it is totally sweet. After that, I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

As for "innovation", you guys are nuts. The PS2, XBox, and Gamecube didn't have any sort of wacky input devices built in - so are they incapable of innovation?

As far as I'm concerned, being able to play Untold Legend diablo-style multiplayer wireless is far more attractive than a bunch of weird inputs that noone really cares about.

Also, I have a DS so don't call me biased.. I really WANT to like it, but they need to come out with some GOOD games, not games that they call innovative but aren't as fun as what we were doing before. Innovation is great, but people love to _say_ something is innovative and then jump all over people who don't like it.

[jer7583]

The N-Gage supports a 2 gb mmc. Sorry, I had to say it.

Well, the N-Gage is also a piece of shit. Sorry, had to say it.

The N-gage does more than the psp will ever be able to do. Fact. The psp will outsell it 1,000 times over. Fact.

I'm not saying the PSP won't be successful, working at a game store, I know people like it. It's going to outsell the DS, and i'll be surprised if the DS even lasts another year. It's the facts. People go for whats flashy and cool, not nessecarily what's innovative or new, or even good. It's a lot harder to come up with something original and actually FUN on any system than it is to just put out some licenced crap that cashes in on the latest fads (see: THUG, NFSU:Rivals, anything else EA puts out)

The thing I hear the most from PSP fans: Look at those graphics! its sick, man wow.. I gotta have that.. So I ask, what games are you looking forward to.. well.. I dunno, I guess there's some racing games or something coming out..

The focus isn't on the games anymore. That's the problem.. But it doesn't matter, sony could put out anything, regardless of quality, and it'd sell more than anything anybody else makes, thats the sad state the industry is in.

[DuelLadyS]

My general system-buying motto: If there isn't at least 3 system-exclusive titles I want for it, it's not worth the money. Right now PSP has Dynasty Warriors and Lumines that I'm somewhat interested in. Not worth the time or money yet.

DS depends entirely on Final Fantasy 3 (Iread somewhere it's schedules for it.) Since I've been intending on importing a pink GBA SP anyway, I figure if FF3 does come out I can just pay a bit more and get the pink DS instead (in my mind it's the same system+ 1 game I very much want.) Otherwise it won't happen.

[jer7583]

Dude, Spiderman 2 is a completely different game....NFSU is a completely different game, and Thug2 remix is just a remix....no different from Super mario 64 DS....What about Ridge Racer....wow, playing those three tracks over and over again from the N64 version is soooo ill. How about the 80% shit games the DS has so far....what about the fact that the DS has like 2-3 games coming out a month?

Sprung sucked, Ridge Racer sucked, Metroid Demo was "meh", Mario 64 we've all played a 100 times, Mr Driller was a shitty Mr Driller (But still kinda cool, cause Mr driller rocks), Zoo Keeper was a shitty bejeweled knockoff,Wario ware is ok (but just really a quick game to make to put something other than crap out there), Pokemon was just another shitty pokemon port, and lets not forget the horrible Asphalt racer game....

What happened to Sonic DS? The PACMAN games? Where are they now?

The DS reeks of Virtual boy, give it 6 months and you'll be able to buy the system for 30 bucks at Toys R Us.

I have very much enjoyed Mario 64 DS, Wario Ware, and Yoshi Touch and Go, they're unique experiences that the PSP can never re-create. Metroid Prime hunters is has amazing control, it re-creates that keyboard/mouse feeling, while PSP first person shooters will be prettier, but you only really have one input to control with.. kinda like playing a FPS on the GBA..

You forget that the DS right out of the box has access to hundreds of GBA games, for $100 less. Besides, There's going to be more games coming out now, since they were holding off for the PSP release.

Asphalt was fun, although I like arcade racers and it reminded me of crusin USA (which i enjoyed) Ridge Racer sucked, but can you blame that on nintendo? Namco was totally lazy on that one by porting an N64 title and giving it crappy controls. Sprung was a different idea, but still stupid.

It doesn't bother me that there's only been maybe 4-5 good games, because really I don't have time for more than that. And when I keep coming back to the Mario 64 minigames to get better scores and they're still fun, why do I need 50 games out right away?

[shipwreck]

The fact that PSP is going to launch with more titles than the DS has managed to accumulate in 4 months is reason enough for me to go with the PSP. The DS currently has 1 game that I want, WarioWare Touched! There will most likely be a games in the future that I want, but by that time I will be able to pick up a DS for less than $100 used.

The PSP is launching with multiple new games that I want: Lumines, Untold Legends & Metal Gear Acid. I'm also going to be picking up THUG 2 Remix for the new levels and the ability to play a true TH game on the go. I don't get this whole innovation thing. To me the PSP is just as innovative as the DS. The PSP allows you to play home console quality games in the palm of your hand. It's the first time in portable gaming that I don't feel like I am sacrificing something to play handheld games. To me the higher price of the PSP is justified as it offers a much more console-like experience. You're also guaranteed to have a much larger library of games to choose from. For me, the DS at $150 looks like a rip-off, while the PSP at $250 looks like a good price point.

[Grave_Addiction]

The N-Gage supports a 2 gb mmc. Sorry, I had to say it.

Well, the N-Gage is also a piece of shit. Sorry, had to say it.

Well, you're a piece of shit. Sorry, I had to say it. :D

Honestly though, the N-Gage has far and away the most features in a handheld right now and for only $50, you can't beat it.

Gaming
Cell phone
FM radio
MP3 playability
Internet
E-mail

And hundreds of other applications for Symbian 60 phones. Those are things other handhelds just don't do.

[peteyrose]

The N-Gage supports a 2 gb mmc. Sorry, I had to say it.

Well, the N-Gage is also a piece of shit. Sorry, had to say it.

The N-gage does more than the psp will ever be able to do. Fact. The psp will outsell it 1,000 times over. Fact.

I'm not saying the PSP won't be successful, working at a game store, I know people like it. It's going to outsell the DS, and i'll be surprised if the DS even lasts another year. It's the facts. People go for whats flashy and cool, not nessecarily what's innovative or new, or even good. It's a lot harder to come up with something original and actually FUN on any system than it is to just put out some licenced crap that cashes in on the latest fads (see: THUG, NFSU:Rivals, anything else EA puts out)

The thing I hear the most from PSP fans: Look at those graphics! its sick, man wow.. I gotta have that.. So I ask, what games are you looking forward to.. well.. I dunno, I guess there's some racing games or something coming out..

The focus isn't on the games anymore. That's the problem.. But it doesn't matter, sony could put out anything, regardless of quality, and it'd sell more than anything anybody else makes, thats the sad state the industry is in.

Innovation doesn't equal good, or even fun. Look at the DS for a prime example.

The PSP's launch library alone is better than the DS games that have come out in the past several months. Don't use your ignorant store customers who don't know anything about the PSP as representative of the rest of the community. We know what stellar games the PSP has, and we're making the best purchase we can.

[Kelegacy]

I have very much enjoyed Mario 64 DS, Wario Ware, and Yoshi Touch and Go, they're unique experiences that the PSP can never re-create. Metroid Prime hunters is has amazing control, it re-creates that keyboard/mouse feeling, while PSP first person shooters will be prettier, but you only really have one input to control with.. kinda like playing a FPS on the GBA..

You forget that the DS right out of the box has access to hundreds of GBA games, for $100 less. Besides, There's going to be more games coming out now, since they were holding off for the PSP release.

Asphalt was fun, although I like arcade racers and it reminded me of crusin USA (which i enjoyed) Ridge Racer sucked, but can you blame that on nintendo? Namco was totally lazy on that one by porting an N64 title and giving it crappy controls. Sprung was a different idea, but still stupid.

It doesn't bother me that there's only been maybe 4-5 good games, because really I don't have time for more than that. And when I keep coming back to the Mario 64 minigames to get better scores and they're still fun, why do I need 50 games out right away?


this reeks of fanboydom

[Zoglog]

Or you could use the power of google and find the info on sony's webby. But then again that would take effort now wouldn't it?

[jer7583]

Innovation doesn't equal good, or even fun. Look at the DS for a prime example.

The PSP's launch library alone is better than the DS games that have come out in the past several months. Don't use your ignorant store customers who don't know anything about the PSP as representative of the rest of the community. We know what stellar games the PSP has, and we're making the best purchase we can.

And good sales and quantity of titles doesn't equal good, or even fun either. It's all about personal preference. YOU think the PSP's games are stellar. Not everyone agrees with you. YOU think the launch lineup is better than the DS games, again, your opinion.

Personal-preference doesn't = fanboyism. I know a lot of you got psp's on the cheap from the TRU/EB trade ins and such, and if I had been able to, I probably would have too.

I just cant justify paying $250 for another handheld that seems to have mostly ports of PS2 games I never bought in the first place. I am having fun with the DS, you might not, great. The fact is the PSP is gonna destroy the DS in sales. There's NOTHING nintendo can do about it. It doesn't mean the DS sucks, or the games aren't fun to some people..

[jer7583]

The N-Gage supports a 2 gb mmc. Sorry, I had to say it.

Well, the N-Gage is also a piece of shit. Sorry, had to say it.

Well, you're a piece of shit. Sorry, I had to say it. :D

Honestly though, the N-Gage has far and away the most features in a handheld right now and for only $50, you can't beat it.

Gaming
Cell phone
FM radio
MP3 playability
Internet
E-mail

And hundreds of other applications for Symbian 60 phones. Those are things other handhelds just don't do.

:applause: :applause:

I love my N-Gage. Nobody understands..

[epobirs]

The N-Gage supports a 2 gb mmc. Sorry, I had to say it.

Well, the N-Gage is also a piece of shit. Sorry, had to say it.

Well, you're a piece of shit. Sorry, I had to say it. :D

Honestly though, the N-Gage has far and away the most features in a handheld right now and for only $50, you can't beat it.

Gaming
Cell phone
FM radio
MP3 playability
Internet
E-mail

And hundreds of other applications for Symbian 60 phones. Those are things other handhelds just don't do.

The problem for Nokia is that the market is demonstrating it doesn't particularly want to do all of those things on a single device when so many compromises are involved. Devices need to do one thing, their killer app, really well. Secondary apps can be of lesser quality, as seen on the PSP. They only sweeten the deal rather than seal it with overkill of features. I may or may not watch videos on my PSP but there is absolutely no question I'll be doing a lot of gameplaying on it.

That is where the N-gage fails. While superversatility appeals to some, most want that uncompromised primary application. The 'jack of all trades but master of none' approach isn't a formula for success in this business. They might have been better off if they'd made some function worse if it enhanced the others. None of the N-gage owners I've net use it as their sole cellphone. Nokia could have gotten away with making it a better game system by downplaying the phone aspect and focusing on just data communications, especially for the games. This would have allowed a less cluttered interface. Dialing numbers not in storage would be a pain but so what? It isn't meant to be used that way except in a desparate moment. That is just one example of what might have been better if they'd been thinking more seriously about the gaming aspect and were less attached to the cellphone functionality.

[epobirs]

My general system-buying motto: If there isn't at least 3 system-exclusive titles I want for it, it's not worth the money. Right now PSP has Dynasty Warriors and Lumines that I'm somewhat interested in. Not worth the time or money yet.

DS depends entirely on Final Fantasy 3 (Iread somewhere it's schedules for it.) Since I've been intending on importing a pink GBA SP anyway, I figure if FF3 does come out I can just pay a bit more and get the pink DS instead (in my mind it's the same system+ 1 game I very much want.) Otherwise it won't happen.

Squenix just announced a Dragon Quest/Warrior game for DS. No details on whether it's a remake like FF3 or original. Still, something to look forward to for classic RPG fans.

[starboyk]

The N-Gage supports a 2 gb mmc. Sorry, I had to say it.

Well, the N-Gage is also a piece of shit. Sorry, had to say it.

The N-gage does more than the psp will ever be able to do. Fact. The psp will outsell it 1,000 times over. Fact.

I'm not saying the PSP won't be successful, working at a game store, I know people like it. It's going to outsell the DS, and i'll be surprised if the DS even lasts another year. It's the facts. People go for whats flashy and cool, not nessecarily what's innovative or new, or even good. It's a lot harder to come up with something original and actually FUN on any system than it is to just put out some licenced crap that cashes in on the latest fads (see: THUG, NFSU:Rivals, anything else EA puts out)

The thing I hear the most from PSP fans: Look at those graphics! its sick, man wow.. I gotta have that.. So I ask, what games are you looking forward to.. well.. I dunno, I guess there's some racing games or something coming out..

The focus isn't on the games anymore. That's the problem.. But it doesn't matter, sony could put out anything, regardless of quality, and it'd sell more than anything anybody else makes, thats the sad state the industry is in.

You're immeasurably right. The market is not interested in great new ways to play the same old games, or the same old games presented in fun and innovative ways. They want the best visuals for the same old thing; they want the same thing with a double coat of lemon scented wax. Seriously, it's like leading lambs to the slaughter. I love what else the PSP can do. LEt's face it, I can get hi-def vids on my ngage, and what can you do outside of MArio DS that's enjoyable?- the Metroid mulitplay?? Nintendo has all this power for innovation, just not on the market; While sony has all this power out on the market. Power sells. Like sex, drugs, and droptops. The Xbox is outselling PS2- because of its power. Sony originally had power in developers- dev'ers that now produce for all consoles or hash boorish remakes (THUG2:RMX, NFSU:R, Dyn War', etc.)

It's sad, really. You can show love for Nintendo, or even Nokia's ongoing battle, but no one will understand the love of innovation- they wonder why one could harbor such love for 'suck'.