Is the future bright for my PSP??

molinari · 7 Jul 2006 at 13:32

I've seen loads of threads about the DS Lite and its games, and that has left me wondering about the future of the PSP, well, mine to be more precise.

I got my PSP from Japan last April, was immediately impressed with it and I've been playing it pretty consistently since. The games I've played include THUG2, MVP Baseball, GTA Liberty City, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06, Pro Evo 5 & Football Manager, and I've enjoyed them all. They look great on the PSP and are enjoyable enough to play (with the exception of Pro Evo which is somewhat annoying!). The problem I have is that they just seem to be cut down versions of PS2 titles with some long load times and awkward controls. LocoRoco has just been released which I think is the first PSP only game to come out for it, and having played the demo it looks like a good game, but is apparently quite short.
As for the web browser, it's handy but I've only used it a couple of times, and there is no need for storing MP3s when I have my iPod.

Looking to the future, I don’t know of any new games that are original to the PSP or even many that look like they'll be very good. I know Syphon Filter has got good reviews and there is another GTA coming at the end of the year, but there isn't much else to look forward to. GT4 Mobile still hasn’t got a release date which is so disappointing.

Now, the DS Lite..... Looking at the games, I can see that they don’t look as nice as games on the PSP, perhaps a bit cutesy, but that shouldn’t be a reason not to get one. They look like fun, innovative games that are easy to get into and enjoy. The new Super Mario Brothers game reminds me of when I user to play on my old NES, the same as Mario Kart on the SNES. I also enjoyed Zelda and Harvest Moon on the GameBoy.

What I’m trying to work out about the DS, is whether it is more "fun" than the PSP?? Are the games easier to pick up and play?? Are the controls more "user friendly" compared to the PSP?? Are the games quite simple, lacking in depth?? What is the future like for it??
I've decided that I really don't care so much about the graphics, I want games that are fun!

So why would I want to keep hold of my PSP and not get a DS Lite??
If I do cross the border into Nintendo land, I won’t be keeping the PSP so I need to think about what to do, and this is where you lot come in. What are your honest views on each one, and which do you think holds the future for fun handheld gaming

.
I know there are a few other threads about people getting a DS, but I hope people can answer here as well.

Thanks

Warbie · 7 Jul 2006 at 13:49

I agree about the PSP being home to cut-down PS2 titles. That was the main reason my brother sold his - we'd both played these games many before on a big screen with better controls. My only gripe will be missing out on the new Ghosts n Goblins, which looks fab.

The DS Lite is a world of difference, and has more decent and original games than I have the time for. Easy to pick up and play, short loading times, longer battery life, perfectly suited to gaming on the move, and superb in multiplayer. There's plenty of titles that are great for a short 5-10 minute burst while you're on a bus or train, and plenty of others that offer hours or gameplay when you're at home. Get a few people with a DS together and you're laughing.

oweneades · 7 Jul 2006 at 13:57

Only get the DS lite if there are actually any games on it you want to play.

I thought about trading my psp for one a while back but there is nothing on it that shouted out at me to get.

Now I have daxter on the psp I won't be looking at trading it for a while. (such a good game!)

SiD the Turtle · 7 Jul 2006 at 14:00

Can't say I've touched my PSP for about four or five months. Last thing I got was Liberty City Stories but the control scheme was annoying. Shame though, the machine had so much potential.

Eliot · 7 Jul 2006 at 14:59

molinari said:
I've seen loads of threads about the DS Lite and its games, and that has left me wondering about the future of the PSP, well, mine to be more precise.

I got my PSP from Japan last April, was immediately impressed with it and I've been playing it pretty consistently since. The games I've played include THUG2, MVP Baseball, GTA Liberty City, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06, Pro Evo 5 & Football Manager, and I've enjoyed them all. They look great on the PSP and are enjoyable enough to play (with the exception of Pro Evo which is somewhat annoying!). The problem I have is that they just seem to be cut down versions of PS2 titles with some long load times and awkward controls. LocoRoco has just been released which I think is the first PSP only game to come out for it, and having played the demo it looks like a good game, but is apparently quite short.
As for the web browser, it's handy but I've only used it a couple of times, and there is no need for storing MP3s when I have my iPod.

Looking to the future, I don’t know of any new games that are original to the PSP or even many that look like they'll be very good. I know Syphon Filter has got good reviews and there is another GTA coming at the end of the year, but there isn't much else to look forward to. GT4 Mobile still hasn’t got a release date which is so disappointing.

Now, the DS Lite..... Looking at the games, I can see that they don’t look as nice as games on the PSP, perhaps a bit cutesy, but that shouldn’t be a reason not to get one. They look like fun, innovative games that are easy to get into and enjoy. The new Super Mario Brothers game reminds me of when I user to play on my old NES, the same as Mario Kart on the SNES. I also enjoyed Zelda and Harvest Moon on the GameBoy.

What I’m trying to work out about the DS, is whether it is more "fun" than the PSP?? Are the games easier to pick up and play?? Are the controls more "user friendly" compared to the PSP?? Are the games quite simple, lacking in depth?? What is the future like for it??
I've decided that I really don't care so much about the graphics, I want games that are fun!

So why would I want to keep hold of my PSP and not get a DS Lite??
If I do cross the border into Nintendo land, I won’t be keeping the PSP so I need to think about what to do, and this is where you lot come in. What are your honest views on each one, and which do you think holds the future for fun handheld gaming .
I know there are a few other threads about people getting a DS, but I hope people can answer here as well.

Thanks

exactly where im at now, i think im gonna trade it in/sell on ebay and buy a ds lite with brain training mari 64 becasue i neevr had it also mario kart and metriod. If theres one thing i will misss for the psp its the mp3 use because i havent got a mp3 atm, but im getting one soon

badgermonkey · 7 Jul 2006 at 15:23

Nintendo = innovation

Warbie · 7 Jul 2006 at 16:13

Eliot said:
exactly where im at now, i think im gonna trade it in/sell on ebay and buy a ds lite with brain training mari 64 becasue i neevr had it also mario kart and metriod. If theres one thing i will misss for the psp its the mp3 use because i havent got a mp3 atm, but im getting one soon

I hope you like it

(maybe skip Mario 64 for the New Mario Bros. - the former just doesn't work without an analogue stick)

Kreeeee · 7 Jul 2006 at 19:17

Warbie said:
I hope you like it

(maybe skip Mario 64 for the New Mario Bros. - the former just doesn't work without an analogue stick)

Works suberbly once you get used to it. I prefer it to the analogue stick!

Eliot · 7 Jul 2006 at 20:09

yeah i plaeyed 64 on my cousins ds, it was hard at first but i got used to it

Kamakazie! · 7 Jul 2006 at 20:23

Eliot said:
exactly where im at now, i think im gonna trade it in/sell on ebay and buy a ds lite with brain training mari 64 becasue i neevr had it also mario kart and metriod. If theres one thing i will misss for the psp its the mp3 use because i havent got a mp3 atm, but im getting one soon

get a sd/flash card adapter and a Superkey or media player for the DS and you can have your films and music on that.

I think im gonna do it once i get my new PC.
First id really like to see what the quality of videos is like on it... anyone know of any links that will show this?

Eliot · 7 Jul 2006 at 23:51

OOO im interested in that

WatchTower · 8 Jul 2006 at 02:48

I was going through a bad time as a gamer getting fed up with not being able to find any good games I tried on the XBox and had no luck, I tried the PS2 still no luck and I tried the PSP massive mistake. Then when I was at a total loss and given up all hope of ever finding any good games I noticed Cash Converters were selling GameCubes for £24.99.

So I at to buy one and a few days later I got Mario Kart Double Dash off the famous auction site with a few other games and man I found it that feeling I thought I'd never find again was once more rekindled.

Why oh why did I leave it so long to get a GameCube if I had know the console was this good I'd of bought it at it's release price. Now I know Nintendo have what I need I am greatly thinking of getting a DS Lite.

f22 · 8 Jul 2006 at 12:27

I heard a while ago that sony were supposed to be making the original playstation titles available on the psp,I would like to see Final Fantasy 7 on the psp. Thats one of my all-time favourite games and i would definatly buy it and play through again on the psp even though i have the original on the playstation.

Jimbo · 8 Jul 2006 at 13:12

Thinking of selling my psp too. Only problem is it has a tiny scratch on the screen, god knows how its happned? anyway its a jap import fw 1.50.

Minority · 8 Jul 2006 at 13:22

DS > PSP

Be sure there are games you want to play on the DS though

barnettgs · 8 Jul 2006 at 13:30

molinari said:
Now, the DS Lite..... Looking at the games, I can see that they don’t look as nice as games on the PSP, perhaps a bit cutesy, but that shouldn’t be a reason not to get one.

You may have looked at screenshot of DS games on internet but believe me, these static screenshots don't do DS any justice.

When I first looked at DS games in life, I was surprised at how smooth the game is running with fluid gameplay movement and smooth flamerate. I have got DS lite + Mario Kart last Sunday and I'm sure you would be surprised at the depth of gameplay in Mario Kart.

Eliot · 8 Jul 2006 at 13:35

barnettgs said:
You may have looked at screenshot of DS games on internet but believe me, these static screenshots don't do DS any justice.

When I first looked at DS games in life, I was surprised at how smooth the game is running with fluid gameplay movement and smooth flamerate. I have got DS lite + Mario Kart last Sunday and I'm sure you would be surprised at the depth of gameplay in Mario Kart.

yeah it very close to n64 imo

SC04 · 9 Jul 2006 at 08:59

WatchTower said:
I was going through a bad time as a gamer getting fed up with not being able to find any good games I tried on the XBox and had no luck, I tried the PS2 still no luck and I tried the PSP massive mistake. Then when I was at a total loss and given up all hope of ever finding any good games I noticed Cash Converters were selling GameCubes for £24.99.

So I at to buy one and a few days later I got Mario Kart Double Dash off the famous auction site with a few other games and man I found it that feeling I thought I'd never find again was once more rekindled.

Why oh why did I leave it so long to get a GameCube if I had know the console was this good I'd of bought it at it's release price. Now I know Nintendo have what I need I am greatly thinking of getting a DS Lite.

I think the games industry is struggling a bit with innovation, make that a lot actually, apart from Nintendo.
There seems to be loads of mature gamers going back to the Gamecube and buying DS for some good old fashioned fun, I think Nintendo have started to shrug off the kiddy image, it seems to be only the kids who are avoiding them due to peer pressure, my Xbox 360 has been collecting dust, I was going to buy a second Gamecube for when I get kicked out of the living room.

BoomAM · 10 Jul 2006 at 16:23

The PSP is by no means a bad console. Its just limited in what it can do games wise.
90% of the games on it are rehashes of PS2 games. Theres only 10% of good games on it, and even those arnt anything that any other console, portable or not, can do.
The attraction of the DSLite is that at least 50% of its games are entirely original concepts that cant be done on other platforms at all. The remaining 50% are made up of good/average games.

Its like the PS1/N64 & PS2/GC/Xbox scenario again. Sony has a lot of games, but most of its chaff, very few 'good' games.

FrankJH · 10 Jul 2006 at 17:24

People who say stuff like DS LITE> PSP and Nintendo = innovation arent seeing the point in my opinion

They are different consoles, with different games in mind for different markets with different needs

Can you watch tv / dvd on the DS Lite? stream media over the internet ( not just play one game -at a time -wirelessly)

DS Lite is a good game player - but thats about it, I am considering one for Mario, but thats about all that interests me personally (there isnt a wave race or something is there?)

I just think for what you pay both of them are reasonable - but it all depends what your needs are

edit - remember Sony has invented / innovated a huge amount of stuff we all take for granted , admittedly with and without help.

VHS wouldnt have been such a success without Betamax being around (and while not a commercial success Betamax was the broadcasters choise every time due to quality and reliability)

CD / DVD ( with the help of Phillips) probably THE innovation of the last 20 years

PS2 made the general public really aware of gaming in general , of course Atari, Nintendo and several others where around before and during but Sony made it as big an industry as it is today ( maybe just via the heavy weigh competition they bought to the table as a huge electronics company - maybe through the interest of WipeOut in the clubs)

I for one am grateful for all the innovations Sony have done, and hope that the competition they bring to all markets continues

rant over