Nintendo and Sony fight for your pocket….

[Link Antilles]

…. and I’m not sure if the PSP or DS could fit in my pocket.


Well on the 27th of this month, the Sony released some interesting news…. The PSP will be somewhat affordable at around $195. I was really surprised; for I was seriously expecting $300 or $400. (I’m also surprised nobody posted about this news on the PSP.) Anyways, Sony seems pretty desperate for a chuck of the handheld market, because word floating around is Sony is going to lose around $300 per PSP sold. (Wasn’t it when the X-box was released, Microsoft was losing $200 per system sold?) This really changes the playing field and brings the PSP into a direct fight with the DS.

This PSP is a nice looking unit and at the price of under $200 I might actually consider buying one, now. Yet, I’m not going to buy it right off the bat. The PSP launch and current lining actually isn’t looking attractive to me. Not much really screams out to me. Sure, Grand Turismo looks sharp, but I’m spending my money on the PS2 version. I really can’t seem to get excited about a racing game on a handheld. And I still can’t really get excited about “Metal Gear Acid: Tactical Stealth Yu-Gi-Oh!â€

[Dragon Master]

I may get a DS somewhere down the road but I still haven't gotten my full game play experience on my GBA, Say do You know where I can see some pictures of the two hand helds?

[Link Antilles]

Say do You know where I can see some pictures of the two hand helds?

Sure..... IGN has the best, so far...





Links to bigger pictures...

http://media.ds.ign.com/articles/555/555144/imgs_1.html
http://psp.ign.com/articles/513/513175p1.html

[Dragon Master]

O_o I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!!! WAAH! My parents will never let me get one because I have a GBA and my dad will be like well you can play your GBA and all... PSP looks nice too!

[ShiroiHikari]

PSP is teh sleek. DS...always sounded kinda goofy to me. but I don't really play handhelds, so I probably shouldn't be posting in here

[mastersquirrel]

It doesn't matter either way to me... I want a DS. ADVANCE WARS DS!!! Oh Yeah!

[Golden_Griff]

Geez...they get more and more complicated by the year ...pretty soon you'll have to be a rocket scientist to know how to operate something like that.

If the games are cool, and the screen is big enough to see without hurting my eyes and needing a second pair of glasses, maybe I'll consider getting one of them.

[MaxPendragon]

DS.... MUST HAVE!!!!

The PSP looks yummy too. Hmmmmmmm... My $ goes to the DS. But this battle will be bloody.

[Fsiphskilm]

it's ashame I have to pay $15

[oro!]

I will probably play on a friends or something like that, though PSP gets my vote. It can play music and DVDs!!! Plus games. DS looks cool as well, though I am wondering about how to use a second screen.

[Mr_Anderson]

i'm probably not gonna get any of them, i'm saving for the xbox 2 which i know will probably be expensive since oi think that there gonna make it like part computer.

[oro!]

Xbox 2? When was I to be told there might be such a thing. I feel so in the dark!!! Just kiddin' I don't play that Microsoft machine.

[Fireproof]

DS pwns in terms of cost effectiveness and innovation. PSP's just got pretty graphics and the power to play MP3s. Oooh! Scary. DS 15 00b3r 1337!

[Yojimbo]

I'll probably be going with the PSP.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

definately a DS

[desperado]

im thinking about getting both. 200 dollars isnt that much if i can get a job (hopefully) the only gripe i have is the ds is said to have n64 quality graphics compared to the psps ps2 graphics. second thing im going to gripe about is that ds looks like its going to be unweildy when its opened up and big ~_~ i dont know if thats true or not but thats what it looks like, well i know the psp is going to be good but 90% of the thing is a screen for crying out loud. anyways its even to me both have pros and cons and since psp is going to be realesed (or so i have heard) in january im going to get the ds hopefully for christmas and buy the psp later

[TroutNinja]

I will probably play on a friends or something like that, though PSP gets my vote. It can play music and DVDs!!! Plus games. DS looks cool as well, though I am wondering about how to use a second screen.

PSP looks interesting.. However the proprietary nature of it seems kinda iffy. The DVD video really isnt... it's UMD video. And Sony will control all of the UMD burners to keep piracy down (which means all the movies that will be made for it, will be published by Sony Entertainment, not any of the other studios.) As for MP3 playing... yeah that's nice, but you need to have bought one of their memory cards, which you need the space on in order to save your games.. so that means having... two? one for MP3 and one for save games? Graphics are neat, I'll give the PSP that.. but as far as innovation it's all been done before... by Nintendo. (except the analog stick and Music.. but analog stick will be simulated on the DS.)

Second screen (which is a touch screen, like a PDA), oh yeah... Maps, Aiming, drawing pictures (animal Crossing DS.. YESSSS!), use it like an analog stick.. which is what Mario 64 DS will use it as, along with as a map. My only hope is that more than just Nintendo uses the second screen for innovative gameplay. I don't need fifty million games that simply use the second screen for inventory and maps.

[skynes]

I won't waste my time with the PSP. It's another pointless Sony product living off 3rd party support while not doing anything themselves. 4 to 6 hrs battery life? Thats terrible!!!! the GBSP had around 8hrs with the backlight on, or around 12 or something with it off.
As per usual Sony has went for Raw Power at the expense of common sense.... and decent battery life.

[ZionPsalmist]

Both systems look promissing but, alas, they both will probaly fall horribly.

DS- The 2 screens are an incredible idea, its truely unique and inovating. the real problems are if people are gona use it and the size it adds. It will probaly be clunky and heavy, which will make it dificult to whip out and play quickly. Also, the complicated nature and most likely fragile construction will probaly limit the ages that can use it, thus alienating Nintendo's prime audience (11-15 if i remeber correctly).

PSP- Sony has always delivered the best of anything they do, however that legacy will probaly end here. I, personaly, don't think sony fully understands what drives the hand-held market. Tones of gadgets is nice, but not what makes a hand-held great. Case and point: N-Gage. What sony should have done was use DvDs, and allow actual PS2 (along with PS1) games to be played on the PSP. Even if the PSP costed upwards of $400 it would be worth it to play PS2 games on it.

VERDICT- If basing your choice soley on the system, the DS is the way to go, however, personaly, I have not trusted Nintendo since they Cell-Shaded Zelda. You also have to consider that Nintendo will probaly release many more Kiddie games then sony. So if you want Mario, Zelda, and Pike-man go DS. If you want MGS, FF#, and GTA go for PSP.

[Raiden no Kishi]

I'm rather miffed the DS has no analog stick.

Rai

[righteous_slave]

Right now, neither. I still want a GBASP, PS2, N64, Dreamcast, and X-box, pretty much in that order, and 3/4 ofa ton of games for those. If after that I opt for another, it would probably be the DS. Animal Crossing DS (does anyone know if it will be using the Wi-Fi for internet play yet?), Mario64x4 (and the possibility of many other N64 title rereleases, ala the Super Mario Advance series) and a new idea in gaming (the touch screen in tandem with the regular controls).

To me, I think the PSP is going to end up like the Sega Game Gear. Yes, the hardware is more impressive then it's competitor, but the games are just simplified versions of the home games. How much difference was there between the GG Sonics and the Genesis ones that came out in that time period? Not much.

It is awful early in the game, but these are just my gut reactions.

[skynes]

ZionPsalmist, nice avatar. Platinum Angel is pretty cool.

[desperado]

see i think one thing will keep me onto the psp. advent children, and gran turismo 4. i dont think the psp is going to loose i think acctually its going to do better then ds. smaller? yes. better graphics? yes. more functions? yes. bigger game library? even between the two big names on both sides. better battery life? no. better peripherals? yes. sturdier? maybe but seems like it. thats how it is.

[TroutNinja]

see i think one thing will keep me onto the psp. advent children, and gran turismo 4. i dont think the psp is going to loose i think acctually its going to do better then ds. smaller? yes. better graphics? yes. more functions? yes. bigger game library? even between the two big names on both sides. better battery life? no. better peripherals? yes. sturdier? maybe but seems like it. thats how it is.

Umm... You do know that Advent Children is a movie right? And that it will also be released on DVD.. right? And as for sturdier... Sony gave their system more moving parts (and a larger screen to be scratched up.) Plus the fact that their systems seem to be plagued by bugs/problems when they are first released. (Disk Read Error anyone? Blue disks not reading.) Oh, and as for the better periphereals, why did they make a remote control and stand for it. ~_~ DS will have a headset with mic for voice chat during longer distance multiplay (ala Xbox Live). Game Library... well, the PSP has a lot of catching up to do.. due to the fact that NDS plays all GBA games and that GBA games are still released. So it has to compete with two systems, and both their libraries at once.

I'm rather miffed the DS has no analog stick.

Nintendo has worked out a way for the touch screen to work as an Analog Stick, you can just use your thumb, or their thimble like stylus that fits on your thumb. This will be shown in Mario64 DS and in Metroid Prime: Hunters. Also Square has said that they will be remaking Final Fantasy III (the japanese III, not our III) for the NDS and releasing it here.

Also, they will have a true successor to GBA coming out next year, as the NDS is not the next Game Boy. So PSP will be fighting... NDS, GBA, and NGB (next Game Boy) all of which have overlapping libraries of games.

[Raiden no Kishi]

I heard about the touchscreen, but it sounds gimmicky to me. I prefer a dedicated analog stick.

Rai

[TroutNinja]

We'll see how it works out, release is in 20 days. I'm getting it on the 22 (along with Mario 64 DS) and I'll give a review of both the system and the touchscreen as an analog stick here.

[cbwing0]

Although I don't really play handhelds that much, if I get one of the two systems, it will be the PSP.

What I find funny is how everyone is touting the "innovation" of the DS as if that were a feature in itself. Ooo...two screens. Ahh...touch screen and stylus. I cannot think of a time when I was playing games and thought to myself, "gee, this would be so much better if I had another screen for maps and stuff!" It's just a gimmicky, lame idea in my opinion. After all, the point of games is not innovation, but fun.

The larger screen, enhanced power, mp3 player, and UMD functionality of the PSP are innovations with a purpose. I am also intrigued by the prospect of portable Twisted Metal and Dynasty Warriors (and the fact that they are not made by Sony is a strong point, since the PSP has tons of quality 3rd-party support).

As for the large library of the GB/GBA, how many good games available for it that are not made by Nintendo? The GB/GBA "library" is heavily padded with mediocre platformers based on kids' shows and movie franchises. If this is what we can expect on the DS, then I think I'll pass.

The lower than expected price for the PSP is a pleasant surprise. At $200, I might consider purchasing one; however, I would probably rather save my money for the PS3 than buy either handheld.