Sony PSP

[protegechris]

I pretty much hate life right now, so what better to do than buy yet another problem to make me forget I hate life for a while.

Anyone have a PSP? Thoughts?

Most importantly, is it worth my money, and if yes, is it worth your money to buy me one?

I was checking out the DS too, but.... it's ugly.

[Phyltre]

Get a DS Lite when it comes out here in the next months, or import one from Japan (it fully supports English.)

The PSP is theoretically capable of more, but UMD's just failed horribly and from what I've heard, the PSP doesn't see much use from people who own them. (Wal-Mart and almost all other retailers are discontinuing the UMD movie format.) To be honest, I haven't heard too many positive PSP owners lately, largely due to complaints that the thing does lots of things with mediocrity, and there are few games getting released for it. Lots of complaints about control problems with it, too.

Meanwhile, the original DS is trouncing PSP sales in Japan--and the DS Lite is absolutely pummelling it. I don't know what the sales numbers look like here, but I don't think the PSP is where it's at right now.

[eheiney]

Originally posted by protegechris
I pretty much hate life right now, so what better to do than buy yet another problem to make me forget I hate life for a while.

I do the same thing, except with music. I just recently discovered the fascination with vinyl records, and bought myself a turntable. There's no better way than this for me to drown my sorrows.

Oh, yeah... the PSP. Uh, what are they again? Video games, or something? I played a match of GoldenEye 007 for N64 this evening with my brother. I was pwnt... big time.

Anyway, have fun!

-----
edit: Chris is a girl, now? forum queen?!
Did I miss something?

[Psythik]

Right now the PSP's game library is so-so. However, I bought my PSP mainly because I can play homebrew games on it as well as... *gasp!* Spoiler: SNES, Genesis, and GBA/GBC ROMS on it. An N64 emulator is also available as well (although still in its early stages and not up to full speed and compatability yet). It's also rumored that Sony's next firmware update (v3.0) will include a PS1 emulator, letting you re-purchase and re-play all those Playstation games you beat ten years ago.

If not for the games, get a PSP for... other things... If you will so happen to play "actual" PSP games on it though, I suggest Siphon Filter, Burnout Legends, Liberty City Stories, and Daxter. All those games give me hours of enjoyment.

[psyfive]

I love my DS. I have a friend at work whos brother has a number of PSPs for sale, apparently they "fell off the back of a truck" or something. I am debating on forking over the hundred clams that he is asking for one.

[Phyltre]

If you doubt the DS Lite, merely watch this video.

DS Lite Review

[hgnis]

I am waiting for the VR technology to develop a bit before investing in a new system. Till then playing Super Contra on the laptop suits me fine.

[xzxzzx]

Originally posted by Phyltre
If you doubt the DS Lite, merely watch this video.

DS Lite Review

That's a good review.

[JFASI]

Well that completely puts away the fact that the big DS is ugly...

[Phyltre]

Originally posted by xzxzzx
That's a good review.

And you can set it even brighter. At which point...

...using the DS Lite might kill you. Classic line I hope to use sometime.

And don't miss the Second Look! It goes toe-to-toe with the PSP!

[Omit Name]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gizmondo

it has a camera and gps. ???

[cooky560]

the psp isnt failing here in the uk, the umd format is sold almost on level with DVD format at the local dvd store. and the psp has a fair library too for a portable

[protegechris]

The Lite looks like they wanted to mimic an iPod. How original. My school has a silhouette banner that says "iPass, iPlay"... in the same style as an iPod banner. I want to turn them IN!! Anyhow, I might buy a DS and a PSP, laugh at you all, then sell one of them in the end. It all depends on how I see them.

I want the PSP over the DS, for sure, and I've been thinking about that for a few months now. Today, I actually got to handle them both, and I'll just say the DS is just so... kiddy toy looking.

I really want the PSP for the movie watching/browsing abilities. I know, battery life sucks. The thing is, my laptop has a 4cell and at the most gets 2 hours 30 minutes life.. so PSP beats it there, plus I want something I can carry out, instead of a widescreen laptop.

I can get a PSP value pack for $160 at gameexchange here, and I took my old GBA SP + N64/games + sega saturn and got $115 store credit, so I'm already only needing another 50 bucks or so.

Overall, the DS is nice, I like the touchscreen and the more extensive multiplayer abilities, but weigh that against the time I'll spend sitting at home with nobody else to connect with, and the PSP makes more sense, especially since I want to use it as an MP3 player/DVD player. Yes, I have an mp3 player, by the way. 256mb lexar, a monkey saying "doot doot doot" could whoop its ass.

edit: I won't be buying UMD movies, going to invest in a 1/2gig produo card. You can pick up a 1GB for ~50 bucks now, so that's not too bad.

[beanboy89]

I'd say go with the DS. Metroid Prime Hunters and Mario Kart DS are two great games, and they have online play, too. If you have a large collection of GBA games, the DS is the next logical step. Plus, Opera is bringing out their browser for the DS in the next few months, which I'll probably pick up.

[protegechris]

Why not get both?

Mario Kart was lame on Super Nintendo back in the day The thing about the nintendo games is that most of them simply don't interest me. The few "FPS" type games I've played on say, the GBA, just weren't as "cool" as I'd like them to have been. Keep in mind I only had one GBA SP game, so no collection there.

I'm more into FPS games, tactical shooters, etc. Most of the DS games I see are kind of.. I guess you could call them arcade-like.

[Omit Name]

i was just kidding about the gizmondo i just wanted to be contradictive. if you want a psp just get one. just be sure to buy a case or something to protect it in. and an extra battery or two.

ds has a third paty hard drive and can do just about whatever the psp can do its just a bit more hassle though.

[ElChevelle]

Contributing to the skinnying of today's youth:

[protegechris]

I don't even play football video games, bud

[ElChevelle]

[Phyltre]

Originally posted by protegechris
I really want the PSP for the movie watching/browsing abilities. I know, battery life sucks. The thing is, my laptop has a 4cell and at the most gets 2 hours 30 minutes life.. so PSP beats it there, plus I want something I can carry out, instead of a widescreen laptop.

It's probably what you need for movie watching/browsing. The reason I've been so hard on the PSP is that no matter how good it looks, and no matter what the spec sheet says, it all comes down to useability--and nearly every person who has a PSP (both online and people I've known personally) has said that it sits in the drawer more than it gets used.

Of course, there are happy PSP users out there and I hope you'll be one of them. I'd recommend an Origami, but recent performance of that unit tells me it might not even live up to the PSP.

Looks like we're still a few years from a good cheap tablet/laptop/PDA hybrid.

[protegechris]

Originally posted by Phyltre
It's probably what you need for movie watching/browsing. The reason I've been so hard on the PSP is that no matter how good it looks, and no matter what the spec sheet says, it all comes down to useability--and nearly every person who has a PSP (both online and people I've known personally) has said that it sits in the drawer more than it gets used.

Of course, there are happy PSP users out there and I hope you'll be one of them. I'd recommend an Origami, but recent performance of that unit tells me it might not even live up to the PSP.

Looks like we're still a few years from a good cheap tablet/laptop/PDA hybrid.

I considered a PDA too, can't play SOCOM on that though, ideally I'd like to just try out both systems and decide which one I liked more after a week or so of use on each. I might pick up a DS Lite when it comes out from walmart, test it out for a week, then return it

[Phyltre]

Maybe you'll want one of these when the price drops 1,800 or so dollars...

[protegechris]

perfect.

[LuigiHann]

Originally posted by protegechris
Mario Kart was lame on Super Nintendo back in the day

I agree with you on that point, but I assure you, Mario Kart DS is 100% better than any of the console versions, and is quite possibly one of the best racing games of all time (doubtlessly, it's the best "kart-style" racer). Early DS games were arcadey, for sure, but they're getting better and better as time goes on.
Get a DS lite when it comes out, you won't regret it.
If you ignore me and buy a PSP, you will regret it, I have no doubt.

[Psythik]

Originally posted by protegechris
I really want the PSP for the movie watching/browsing abilities. I know, battery life sucks.

I get an average of about 5-6 hours of play time on my PSP (when I don't overclock its CPU). You can also get another battery for as low as $15 at Target

Going to invest in a 1/2gig produo card. You can pick up a 1GB for ~50 bucks now, so that's not too bad.

Save your money and buy a 2gb card from ebay instead; you'll save a good 30-50 bucks.

[NoodleBowl]

i have a psp and it was useless until i bought a 1gb memory stick

[cooky560]

lol it isnt the games kick ass!
i normally get 9-10 hours out of my non sony psp battery
it does since im rarely in a position with more than ten hours free and ability to charge it

[psyfive]

Originally posted by cooky560
lol it isnt the games kick ass!

Which ones? The psp game library doesn't seem that great to me.

Can you name three good titles for the psp?

[Psythik]

Originally posted by psyfive
Which ones? The psp game library doesn't seem that great to me.

Can you name three good titles for the psp?

1) Burnout Legends
2) Daxter
3) GTA: Liberty City Stories
4) Wipeout Pure
5) Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror

^ There's five GOOD games.

/fixed last sentence.

[psyfive]

uh, I said GOOD games.

I probably would only play two of those games.


/edit ugh got used to html tags

[Omit Name]

gta liberty city stories is coming to ps2. its going to be a port of a port but its only going to cost twenty bucks. its going to come out on 06/06/06 the rest of those for the most part have a nearly twin counter part on the consoles.

-edit- (response to below)

indeed.. even so its still a far cry to sitting down with a game. espically in regards to how, dispite the psp's power, alot of games still suffer from teh jaggies. i would think it more suitable for handheld games to be something different than something ive played at home. especially given how i play handheld games. (on... furiously mashing buttons for thirty seconds... off) dont get me wrong ill prolly git me one o dem psp's if i can, but one of my knocks against it is loading times. you take games with you to play while you wait for things. but having to wait for your game while your waiting for something else....

[Psythik]

Originally posted by Omit Name
the rest of those [PSP games] for the most part have a nearly twin counter part on the consoles.

Which is the exact reason why I bought a PSP.

[protegechris]

Yeah really. I'm going to buy a few games right off the bat:
GTA: LCS
Burnout
SOCOM

[Psythik]

Originally posted by Omit Name
One of my knocks against it is loading times. you take games with you to play while you wait for things. but having to wait for your game while your waiting for something else....

Yes, you do make a good point. However, most games don't have to load for a long time after they do so at the beginning (ex: GTA:LCS). The nice thing about the PSP is that you can put into sleep mode (that doesn't drain ANY battery ), so when you turn it back on, the game instantly comes back to where you left off.


Oh, and almost forgot to mention that a screen protector is essential. The damn thing scratches from wiping it too much with the included cloth! I recommend the Pelican screen protector. It comes with two removable protectors (that are virtually invisible once applied), plus a much softer cloth to wipe your PSP with. Also, if you're lucky enough to find one, go with a white PSP; fingerprints don't show up as easily as they do on a black one.

[Psythik]

Originally posted by protegechris
I'm going to buy a few games right off the bat:
GTA: LCS
Burnout
SOCOM

Good choices. It's unbelievable how much fun Burnout is; it's plenty long, so it'll take awhile to get to 100%, but that's a good thing. The game was intended to be the best of all four Burnout games on the consoles, and it most defiently delivers. Takedown mode is my fave.

I also own GTA. The game only loads a few times, and they're short. I find the PSP's sleep mode most useful for this game. LCS is essentially GTA III some years later (year 1998 to be exact) with new objectives and more stuff to do. Great time killer.

Haven't played SOCOM yet, so can't tell you much there.

If you're into 3D Platformers, consider getting Daxter. While it's not quite the killer app IGN raves it to be, it's still a very fun timekiller, although kinda short lived.

[Phyltre]

Cabel released his third (and final, and best yet) DS Lite review recently.

It's absolutely hilarious...watch for the Fruit Loops reference.

Cabel's 3rd Look At The DS Lite

[will]

I'll ride a Brompton bicycle,
Or I'll teabag a mime
Before I'll give the Sony Corp
Another fuckin' dime.
- Anon

[ElChevelle]

Nice

[LuigiHann]

Originally posted by Phyltre
Cabel released his third (and final, and best yet) DS Lite review recently.

It's absolutely hilarious...watch for the Fruit Loops reference.

Cabel's 3rd Look At The DS Lite

Holy crap.
The DS lite is even tinier than I thought it was.
I want to eat it.

[xzxzzx]

Originally posted by LuigiHann
Holy crap.
The DS lite is even tinier than I thought it was.
I want to eat it.

No. Bad LuigiHann. Eat the turkey sandwhich. Not the DS Lite.