questions about buying a used PSP

[Paprikacha]

So I've been looking at getting a PSP, ever since I heard about Persona 3 Portable and Birth By Sleep later on this year, and through research I've found that I probably want to go with a 3000 as opposed to the Go or the earlier versions (I don't really care for the design of the Go, and I've heard that the two previous incarnations of the system have graphical issues).

The thing is, there's a select few games I want to play on this system. I want it primarily for gaming as I already have portable replacements for it's other functions, and I can only think of maybe ten games I'm interested in playing that are currently out, so I was considering getting a used/refurbished one from Gamestop.

That's where the questions come in. I see three similar listings on the Gamestop site; one for a PSP Slim for $119, one for a PSP 3000 for $129, and a Recharged Refurbished PSP 3000 for $139. Does that mean the first two aren't refurbished and are just used, and if so, would it be a mistake to spring for one of them? And the PSP Slim is the 3000 version, right? Or can that apply to the 2000 version as well? GS sorta doesn't make it clear. Those of you that own the system, do you think it's durable enough that a preowned copy wouldn't immediately die on me?

Also...am I better off going with Gamestop, or could I get a used/refurbed one somewhere else for much cheaper? Thank you for any help I can get -- I'm the only budding PSP owner among the people I know offline, so nobody else really knows. -_-

Oh, yeah! RPG/JRPG/strategy suggestions would also be appreciated. : )

 

[Ed_]

I believe Dell recently had the 3000 for sale at that price so if you're not in a hurry I suggest waiting for another sale; it's bound to happen sooner than later. If you're going to use it for legit gaming than stay with the 3K. If you will be using CFW you should look into a 2K or a compatible 3K (used of course).

 

[SiK99]

[quote name='Paprikacha']I've heard that the two previous incarnations of the system have graphical issues). The "3000" model has been known to have scan lines. Some hate them and others barely notice them


And the PSP Slim is the 3000 version, right? The "Slim" model listed on their site is actually the 2000 version. The ones that specifically say "3000" in their title are the 3000 versions.

Those of you that own the system, do you think it's durable enough that a preowned copy wouldn't immediately die on me? Yes but your mileage my vary. Best bet is to go into the store and actually inspect the systems. Look for ones that are near mint condition. In some cases, one of the employees might know where a specific system came from (maybe themselves) and know if it was well taken care of. Ask about a return details, or possibly even a warranty.

Goodluck!

 

[GaveUpTomorrow]

1. The original PSP had pretty bad ghosting effects on the screen, though it never bothered me much. The PSP Slim (2000) has the best overall screen IMO, as the ghosting was eliminated and has no other visual issues. The PSP 3000 has an enhanced screen and colors, at the cost of scan lines that cause problems in some games more than others. So overall, I would say the 2000 has the best screen out of those 3. The Go has the best screen overall.

2. Your best bet would be to get a PSP from craigslist or Ebay. You will be able to get it cheaper than gamestop, and probably get a few decent games with the system as well. I would stay away from gamestop refurbished altogether...I've never heard anything good about them, and not having to deal with gamestop's terrible service is always a plus.

I would just check ebay for a few days to find a good deal. Grab the 2000 or 3000, as you will be able to get UMD games cheaper. I still love my Go, though I realize it is not for everyone. I personally own the PSP 1000, 2000, and Go, so I have experience with all of them but the 3000. Going for any PSP is a good choice in itself...so you can not go wrong no matter what choice you make

 

[Ed_]

Ebay is a good choice. I bought a blue 2000 with AVP Requiem, Madden and National Treasure for about $150 over a year ago and I use that over all my other PSPs.

As always, ask the seller some questions prior to bidding/buying.

 

[Paprikacha]

Until I realized the potential of the 1000 and 2000 in terms of not legit gaming, I'd been stuck on the 3000. Now I'm not so sure.

Craigslist sorta isn't an option, as I'd have to go through too much to actually meet up with someone, and I'm not keen on meeting people in Atlanta alone, so I guess I'll cruise Ebay for awhile and see what I can find. That, or just save up for a new one; looking at some of the games that are out, I think I'll be using it almost as much as my DS. : )

Thanks for the help!

 

[2DMention]

There's quite a few RPGs on the PSP, but the best ones are ports:

(Stolen from Digital Press)

Adventures To Go (Dev. Global A, Pub. Natsume, 10/27/2009)
Aedis Eclipse: Generation of Chaos (Dev. Idea Factory, Pub. NIS America, 4/24/07)
Astonishia Story (Dev. Sonnori, Pub. Ubisoft, 6/6/06)
Blade Dancer: Lineage of Light (Dev. Hit Maker, Pub. NIS America, 7/18/06)
Brave Story: New Traveler (Dev. Game Republic, Dev. XSeed Games, 7/31/07)
Breath of Fire III (Dev. Capcom, Pub. Capcom, 2/10/06) *Europe release
Class of Heroes (Dev. Zerodiv, Pub. Atlus, 6/9/09)
Crimson Gem Saga (Dev. Matrix, Pub. Atlus, 5/26/09)
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (Dev. Square Enix, Pub. Square Enix, 3/24/08)
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness (Dev. NIS, Pub. NiS America, 10/30/07)
Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days (Dev. NIS, Pub. NIS America, 9/8/2009)
Dragoneer's Aria (Dev. Hit Maker, Pub. NIS America, 8/21/07)
Dungeons & Dragons Tactics (Dev. Kuju Entertainment, Pub. Atari, 8/14/07)
Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts (Dev. Hudson Soft, Pub. Hudson, 2/15/08)
Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground(Dev. Global A, Pub. XSeed Games, 6/19/07)
Dungeon Maker II: The Hidden War (Dev. Global A, Pub. UFO Interactive, 12/9/08)
Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony (Dev. SuperVillian Studios, Pub. Take-Two, 10/30/06)
Final Fantasy (Dev. Square Enix, Pub. Square Enix, 6/26/07)
Final Fantasy II (Dev. Square Enix, Pub. Square Enix, 7/24/07)
Final Fantasy Tactics (Dev. Square Enix, Pub. Square Enix, 10/09/07)
Generation of Chaos (Dev. Idea Factory, Pub. NIS America, 2/28/06)
Half-Minute Hero (Dev. Marvelous, Pub. XSEED, 10/13/2009)
Harvest Moon: A Boy and A Girl (Dev. Marvelous, Pub. Natsume, 7/31/07)
Harvest Moon: Hero of Leaf Valley (Dev. Marvelous, Pub. Natsume, 4/20/10)
Hexyz Force (Dev. Sting, Pub. Atlus, 5/25/10)
Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon (Dev. ArtePiazza, Pub. Natsume, 5/15/07)
Jeanne D'Arc (Dev. Level 5, Pub. SCEA, 8/21/07)
Justice League Heroes (Dev. Snowblind Studios, Pub. Warner Bros., 11/22/06)
Kingdom of Paradise (Dev. Climax Entertainment, Pub. SCEI, 11/15/05)
Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion (Dev. Falcom, Pub. Bandai, 11/15/05)
Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch (Dev. Falcom, Pub. Namco Bandai, 6/20/06)
Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean (Dev. Falcom, Pub. Namco Bandai, 1/23/07)
Lord of the Rings Tactics (Dev. Amaze, Pub. EA, 11/8/05)
Lunar: Silver Star Harmony (Dev. Game Arts, Pub. XSEED, 3/2/10)
Mana Khemia: Student Alliance (Dev. Gust, Pub. NiS America, 3/10/09)
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (Dev. Vicarious Visions, Pub. Activision, 10/24/06)
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (Dev. Vicarious Visions, Pub. Activision, 9/15/09)
Mimana Iyar Chronicle (Dev. GungHo, Pub. Aksys Games, 3/30/10)
Monster Hunter Freedom (Dev. Capcom, Pub. Capcom, 5/23/06)
Monster Hunder Freedom 2 (Dev. Capcom, Pub. Capcom, 8/28/07)
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (Dev. Capcom, Pub. Capcom, 6/26/09)
Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner (Dev. Gaia, Pub. Atlus, 2/19/07)
Mytran Wars (Dev. Stormregion, Pub. Deep Silver, 10/20/09)
Neverland Card Battles (Dev. Idea Factor, Pub. Yuke's Company of America, 10/27/08)
Persona (Dev. Atlus, Pub. Atlus, 9/22/09)
Phantasy Star Portable (Dev. Alfa System. Pub. Sega, 3/3/09)
Popolocrois (Dev. G-Artists, Dev. Agetec, 11/29/05)
Puzzle Chronicles (Dev. Infinite Interactive, Pub. Konami, 2/2/10)
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warloads (Dev. Vicious/Infinite, Pub. D3, 3/20/07)
Riviera the Promise Land (Dev. Sting, Pub. Atlus, 7/11/07)
Silverfall (Dev. Monte Cristo Multimedia, Pub. Atari, 8/3/07) *Europe release
Spectral Souls (Dev. Idea Factory, Pub. NIS America, 9/26/06)
Star Ocean: First Departure (Dev. TOSE, Pub. Square Enix, 10/21/08)
Star Ocean: Second Evolution (Dev. TOSE, Pub. Square Enix, 1/20/09)
Tales of Eternia (Dev. Namco, Pub. Ubisoft, 2/10/06) *Europe release
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythlogy (Dev. Alfa System, Dev. Namco Bandai, 7/17/07)
Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade (Dev. Sony Online Entertainment, Pub. Sony Online Entertainment, 3/22/05)
Untold Legends: The warrior's Code (Dev. Sony Onine Entertainment, Pub. Sony Online Entertainment, 3/28/06)
Vahalla Knights (Dev. K2 LLC, Pub. Xseed, 4/17/07)
Vahalla Knights 2 (Dev. K2, Pub. Xseed, 10/1/08)
Valhalla Knights 2: Battle Stance (Dev. K2, Pub. XSEED, 1/21/10) *Digital Download only
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth (Dev. Tri-Ace, Pub. Square Enix, 7/18/06)
Warriors of the Lost Empire (Dev. Tommo, Pub. UFO Interactive, 12/13/07)
Wild Arms XF (Dev. Media Vision, Pub. Xseed, 3/11/08)
X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse (Dev. Vicarious Visions, Pub. Activision, 10/18/05)
Yggdra Union(Dev. Sting, Pub. Atlus, 9/16/08)
Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (Dev. Falcom, Pub. Konami, 2/28/06)

Undecided (7)
Dissdia: Final Fantasy (Dev. Square Enix, Pub. Square Enix, 8/25/09)
Gurumin (Dev. Falcom, Pub. Mastiff, 2/12/07)
Metal Gear Acid (Dev. Konami, Pub. Konami, 3/22/05)
Metal Gear Acid 2 (Dev. Konami, Pub. Konami, 3/21/06)
Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? (Dev. NIS, Pub. NIS America, 2/17/09)
R-Type Command (Dev. Irem, Pub. Atlus, 5/6/08)
Steambot Chronicles (Dev. Irem, Pub. Atlus, 6/30/09)

Non-US English Releases (3)
Breath of Fire III (Dev. Capcom, Pub. Capcom, 2/10/06)
Silverfall (Dev. Monte Cristo Multimedia, Pub. Atari, 8/3/07)
Tales of Eternia (Dev. Namco, Pub. Ubisoft, 2/10/06)

Compilation (3)
Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles [Castlevania: Symphony of the Night] (Dev. Konami, Pub. Konami, 10/23/07)
EA Replay [Ultima VII] (Dev. Team Fusion, Pub. Electronic Arts, 11/14/06)
Sega Genesis Collection [Phantasy Star II, III, and IV] (Dev. Sega, Pub. Sega, 11/16/06)

Upcoming Releases
Final Fantasy Agito XIII (Dev. Square Enix, Pub. Square Enix, ????)
God Eater (Dev. Bandai Namco, Pub. D3, Q3 2010)
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (Dev. Square Enix, Pub. Square Enix, 9/7/10)
Knights in the Nightmare (Dev. Sting, Pub. Atlus, 10/19/10)
Legend of Heroes: Trials of the Sky FC (Dev. Falcom, Pub. XSeed, 2011)
Legend of Heroes: Trials of the Sky SC (Dev. Falcom, Pub. XSeed, TBA)
Legend of Heroes: Trials of the Sky TC (Dev. Falcom, Pub. XSeed, TBA)
Parasite Eve: The 3rd Birthday (Dev. Square Enix, Pub. Square Enix, ????)
Phantasy Star Portable 2 (Dev. Sega, Pub. Sega, 9/28/10)
Persona 3 Portable (Dev. Atlus, Pub. Atlus, 7/6/10)
Puzzle Quest: Galactix (Pub. D3 Publisher, ????)
Valkyria Chronicles 2: The Royal Military Academy (Dev. Sega, Pub. Sega, 10/5/10)
Ys I & II Chronicles (Dev. Falcom, Pub. XSeed, 2011)
Ys VII (Dev. Falcom, Pub. XSeed, Q3 2010)
Ys: Oath in Felghana (Dev. Falcom, Pub. XSeed, 2010)

Jean De' Arc is said to be good, the Star Ocean remakes are very good too. I can also recommend Legend of Heroes games are straightforward, but are fun, and the rest are coming next year.

On the horizon, we have Ys games coming this and next year, and Knights in the Nightmare is coming in Oct.

Hexyz Force is another game I'd recommend.