PSP

[EnigmaticParadigm]

Anyone buying a PSP on Thursday (or did you already buy one from the early release)?

Anyone know how it stacks up compared to the DS? Was thinking about picking one up, but now that I think about it, I'm not sure what the cost is...$150?

I thought I heard that its being released with 30 games or so which is pretty sweet for an out-the-gate ship.

Thoughts?

[Artificial]

I REALLY want a psp, but I don't know if I'm going to spend the money on one right now. EB had a trade in deal where you trade in 3 games and get a first party psp title free, so I have Wipeout Pure sitting here, begging me to play.

As far as the DS vs PSP battle, I am pretty one sided until I actually play a psp. I like the DS, but the fact that Nintendo might drop it for the GBA2 later this year is a bit disheartening. I picked up Yoshi when it came out and ended up returning it after a couple days because there was hardly anything to it. A friend of mine mentioned that everything he has played so far on DS(minus mario64, which is awesome) was just a gimmick, and so far I agree with him.
As far as third party support goes, I think the DS has more companies signed on, but far less games out than the psp, even though Nintendo had a head start.
DS = 150, PSP = 250(for a bundle with a 32mb memory stick, cloth case, headphones w/remote)

[Ham n Cheese]

God I want one and just paid off my best buy card. I'd put it on the card soon if I thought I'd actually play it over my computer and PS2 on a regular basis, I barely touched my GBA-SP

[Darus Grey]

Cost of PSP is minimum $250.

How does it stack up vs DS? depends.

PSP can make a decent portable media player , but the launch titles and titles due out for the year are/seem pretty weak.

DS has a much stronger game lineup in the work and more 3rd party support(as it stands).

Really depends if you want it for, to quote myself "Seems like alot of people will buy a PSP to do almost everything *but* play games at this point".

So if all the additional features of PSP interest you, get one and wait for some good titles.

If not, well I wouldn't get a DS yet either its current lineup is somewhat weak too, but theres about 10 "must haves" for release later this year.

was just a gimmick, and so far I agree with him.

Also..saying a control scheme is a "gimmick" is just an excuse not to address the underlying game design issues.
A Gimmick is something that is hardly supported or is only given "token support" to lure in customers.

Saying the DS is not using its features is..silly at best, Just because you didn't *like* the end result (most people were disappointed with Yoshi, because they were expecting a platformer, not a puzzle game which was very good at what it did). Doesn't make it a "gimmick"...just means you didn't like it.

[Whyme]

The problem with the PSP right now (and probably for the next 6 months or so) is the severe lack of quality titles. The lineup for the PSP right now is just so, so weak that they don't justify shelling out $250+ to play them. However, I will say that the PSP graphics are nothing short of amazing -- I was pretty tentative on the subject until I played my friends' (who imported it paying ungodly amounts of cash.)

And so far, i would say that yes, DS second screen has become very gimmicky. I mean, how many different ways can you come up with to use a second screen? So far most of the "innovation" has lied in giving the player instant access to a map or some other slightly-trivial feature like that. Until I see something really mind-blowing done with that screen, I'm going to stick with my "gimmicky" feel.

[Samus Aran]

I REALLY want a PSP bad but no fuckin WAY am I gunna throw don’t 250 on a fuckin hand held system. Especially when I have a laptop. I'm sorry but Sony is seriously fucking out of their minds with that price and the fact that it is only about 190 bucks in Japan it just pisses me off even more.

[Darus Grey]

Until I see something really mind-blowing done with that screen, I'm going to stick with my "gimmicky" feel.

Yoshi/WarioWare/Feelthemagic all made excellent use of the touch screen.

Again I repeat just because you didnt LIKE the titles..doesnt mean its "gimmicky".

The touchscreen is used to enhance the game or entirely IS the game in over half the current and future titles.

Which goes against what gimmicky means.

edited in:

And so far, i would say that yes, DS second screen has become very gimmicky

Actually my apolagies, reread post and realized you were talking about the second screen solely as a second screen.

I still wouldn't classify it as gimmicky, because even just maps/easy access menus is a excellent addition to many games.
(Racing games benefit alot from it, the menu system in "The Urbz" as sucky as that game is, was very good and added to the game well not detracting from the main parts.
Spiderman2 basically used 2nd screen as a additional controller for special moves.

In all fairness yoshi is really only game atm that has gameplay elements added from the 2nd screen(having to keep track of enemies and coins up above).

It could(and probly will) get better use in future, I certainly agree.
I simply disagree with "gimmicky" to describe it, because it doesn't fit the description.

[Ibliss]

As it stands right now, in a few hours the PSP will have a better game library than the DS which has been out for months. Nintendo is really dropping the ball with the DS. I really thought they would push the DS harder than they have. My DS has been sitting on my bookshelf for the last 6 weeks untouched. Ive heard rumors that they are going to shift focus to the GBA SP2. Nintendo just flat out sucks.

[Artificial]

Originally posted by Darus Grey

Also..saying a control scheme is a "gimmick" is just an excuse not to address the underlying game design issues.
A Gimmick is something that is hardly supported or is only given "token support" to lure in customers.

Saying the DS is not using its features is..silly at best, Just because you didn't *like* the end result (most people were disappointed with Yoshi, because they were expecting a platformer, not a puzzle game which was very good at what it did). Doesn't make it a "gimmick"...just means you didn't like it.

Okay, maybe gimmick was too harsh. They seem to overuse the touch screen though, and I will say I don't like that. In mario 64 I liked that I could not use the touch screen if I wanted. So far that's been the only game I've really enjoyed.
Anyway, gimmick sounded like a good description but I guess it really wasn't. I tried really hard to like the DS, but right now there's only one game I want to play, and I like it better on the 64.
I'm trading my DS and Feel the Magic in tomorrow for a PSP, almost certainly. I'm going to put some serious thought in to it tonight, but it seems like a good idea right now.
haha thought about that for 3 minutes and said "Fuck that" DS is TOO promising to trade in, I'm just not satisfied with the current library I guess.

[Darus Grey]

I'm just not satisfied with the current library I guess.

Neither am I really. I think PSP and DS both have equally shitty lineups at this point.

On otherhand DS has alot of "must haves" hitting this year,

Animal Crossing DS, Age of Empires, Katamari Destiny, super smash brothers, metroid prime hunters, Sonic DS, a untitled Secret of Mana sequel from S/E, Most of which will be online if your into that.

where PSP really needs some great game to get more buyers(none of the announced titles imho appeal greatly as "must haves" though this is just my opinion).

[The Bog]

Had a PSP since the jap release, love it. 4 hour bat life and all that is kinda small, but i still love being able to play dynasty warriors on the train.

That, and the DS has just been a total let down.

[Angerz]

Originally posted by Artificial

haha thought about that for 3 minutes and said "Fuck that" DS is TOO promising to trade in, I'm just not satisfied with the current library I guess.

I broke my GBA when I was unpacking some stuff from my move a while ago and never got around to replacing it.

Needless to say I now own a DS, if only for the reason that I like the lineup for later this year and I really wanted to play my Advance games again.

The PSP I may pick up over the summer, or at some point when the library appeals to me more, but, you're right, at this point neither library is terribly outstanding, but at least on my DS I can play my GBA games.

[Mkopec1]

Dude next to me at work went out to best buy at lunch and got one.

this thing is fucking badass!

You have to see it to believe the quality of picture.

The games on it look sweet too.

[Thorpe]

I use to work at Best Buy and stopped n a few days ago and played with the PSP. My favorite is how sony didn't give Best Buy a game to demo on their floor models but clips from Spiderman2. I have two comments about that. One, I want to play a GAME on your HAND HELD system. If you are gonna sell a hand held gaming system you should push it as that, not as a secondary sub par multimedia system. Two, the picture was AMAZING. That made me want to see gameplay even more. I wanted to see if games had that kind of quality. Just a pet peeve of mine. Can't afford one right now so I won't be buying it. I find it funny that they are re-releasing movies onto the PSP.

[Zarcath]

The only PSP titles that attracted me is Darkstalkers and Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Katamari Damacy is supposed to be coming to the DS, if it does, then I'll definetly get a DS.

edit: oh, also there's Advance Wars DS, which will use both screens to feature (i believe) simultaneous air and ground combat.

But right now I don't see a need to get either.

Though I'm mostly leaning towards the DS since it's backwards compatible. Only thing I miss on handhelds is good RPGs. Wasn't too excited about playing FF7 again on PSP.

edit: nm I thought it was FF7 but it's actually the Advent Children movie.