PSP = R.I.P. DS + GBA?

[Nick]

Now that we know the PSP is gonna ship in December for $185 in Japan who do you think is going to win as far as sales and overall player fun factor ratings? Knowing the PSP has the graphics capabilities slighty better then PS2 and much better than the DS...larger media for games than the DS...etc.

Believe me I'm more on Nintendo's side in this war. I have been a fan of Nintendo's handheld work and don't even own a PS or PS2 (At the moment). I just think that the DS doesn't have the hardware capabilities and even the software at this point to keep up. The only games I was truly interested in to this point for the DS were, Castlevania (which is going to be eventually released for the PSP), Ridge Racer (which is going to be PSP..obvioulsy better looking), Dynasty Warriors (which is PSP..), and Mario 64X4 (One solid game..thus far, in my eyes)..

What do you all think!? Am I the only one that is slowly seeing this?

I mean..the price is no longer an issue, $40 more..who cares..

[ianoid]

No vote. I think the market will be splitt, with more going to Nintendo, but a bruising loss of market share.

I think that Sony will get more ground if it can get some GTA: PSP or Baldur's Gate: PSP or other major gold sellers on the console.

I personally have no urge to go DS (okay, aside from Mr. Driller), and I'm very excited about PSP. Old man, bad eyes, big screen.

[tholly]

im kinda partial to nintendo, so i voted no

but, i will be picking up a DS and a PSP ... DS is an xmas gift and the PSP ill buy for myself when it comes out in the US...is there an offical US release date yet?

[Nick]

hmm thats a good question..

As far as I know the PSP is gonna be released early 2005. So DS will have a few months head start.

[Sibs]

I chose DS. Can't wait for Super Mario 64x4, Super Mario Bros. NEW, Metroid Prime Hunters, and Final Fantasy III.

[tholly]

hmm thats a good question..

As far as I know the PSP is gonna be released early 2005. So DS will have a few months head start.

well, there goes that for an xmas gift...my girlfriend said she would get me a system, but it wont be out, so it looks like im buying that for myself

[le geek]

No vote. I think the market will be splitt, with more going to Nintendo, but a bruising loss of market share.

I think that Sony will get more ground if it can get some GTA: PSP or Baldur's Gate: PSP or other major gold sellers on the console.

Ditto on the above

as far as which one I'm interested in its DS for now...

Nintendogs and Feel the Magic look very cool...

Cheers,
Ben

[ubersaurus]

I don't know, I'm just getting that whole "game gear" vibe from the PSP. It'll do alright, but the DS will probably beat it, if not so much the price, then on the battery life. Battery life is a very important part of a handheld, and unless it's long enough, people aren't gonna put much time into it.

[Nick]

Solid point.

The only issue I have with the PSP is the battery life. 4-6 hours is what I have read and it is significantly lower then the DS. I would obviously prefer more game play between juicen' back up but I don't think that will sway my buying decision. Just look at what that PSP can do.

[Ernster]

Look, we all know (or should know) DS will be better and 90% of PSP games will such just like the PS1 and PS2 libray does, but who knows if DS will actually do well, after all most gamers these days are brainless casual idiots and cant relise a good game if someone shoved one up there ass.

[kai123]

Look, we all know (or should know) DS will be better and 90% of PSP games will such just like the PS1 and PS2 libray does, but who knows if DS will actually do well, after all most gamers these days are brainless casual idiots and cant relise a good game if someone shoved one up there ass.

The DS games look nothing like N64 games. They are more like GC graphics.


DS has a weak launch and is filled with ports. Which was one of the complaints I have heard about the PSP. x_x Besides they aren't launching with a title that fully exploits the "innovative" two screen and touch screen capabilities. Which is disappointing.

[Jive3D]

Okay we have the price, that battery life and the launch line up. The PSP is simply going to being home-style graphics to a portable market. Now, when home consoles caught up with the arcade machine graphics, that was a big deal, no more endless quarters or stepping in gum at the arcade, a lot of people stopped going to arcades b/c that had that same experience at home, in a nice environment. I don’t think that the handhelds catching up graphically will inspire anything fantastic - that is - because the PSP is doing that alone, just good graphics. But really, there's no way that I'm going to play Silent Hill on a handheld and be scared. Most games are better played at home on a TV, and Sony seems to just be ignoring that. Nintendo on the other hand has an ace up their sleeve; I really believe that the wifi & wireless connectivity are going to be the meat of the system. They are STILL being hush-hush about it, but I really think that whatever the extent is of the wireless gaming will be awesome. I like their approach, playing in a new way. I want to play my home consoles at home, and I want to visit my friends Animal Crossing DS village while I'm on the bus to work.

But both launch lineups really do suck. I only have Mario64DS pre-ordered with my DS. Only time can tell.

oh and I LOVED the Game&Watch games when I was a kid, those things were my bread and butter for a while, especially the dual screen versions: Gold Cliff, Zelda & Mickey's Fire Fighters.

I like the analogy used at Nintendo's DS summit. Remember the first time that you got the Raccoon Tail? That feeling is what the DS is going to facilitate

[omnedon]

PSP looks cool, but I too am getting a Game Gear Vibe from it.

Similarities:

Both have/had superior graphics to the competition.
Both have/had other entertainment options inside (GG had TV attachment, PSP has Umedia movies).
Both have/had short battery life (and is that PSP batt pack external?!? Like the Nomad?).
Both have/had solid franchises and libraries to draw from.
Both were more expensive than their rival.

IMO battery life and price alone were the largest factors that killed the GG and the Lynx. The PSP does not have the strongest footing on either of those points.

I'm no Fanboy, and frankly don't care who wins. The PSP looks really cool (so does the DS), but the above similarities make me wonder if those similar factors will result in the same way it did for the Game Gear. SEGA was a force to be reckoned with when the GG came out, and seemed infallible then. Big brand recognition and strong game linbrary wasn't enough to trump the GB's green screen and long battery life.

[BigGeorgeJohnson]

The PSP gets my vote. I like the single larger screen, the storage capacity of the UMD and the design. And Sony has always had huge 3rd party support and I don't think that will change on this system. Not to say that Nintendo doesn't have strong 3rd party support. I don't like the dual screens or the stylus idea, I wish they would have made 1 larger screen. But thats just my opinion. I do hear that Advance Wars and Vandal Hearts are making an appearance on the DS though, So that may change my decision. Also 4 to 6 Hours of battery life is fine IMO.

[thegreatescape]

The DS games look nothing like N64 games. They are more like GC graphics.

DS graphics = N64 minus the vaseline and with some AA. Mario 64DS and the DS Ridge racer are both ports of the n64 games (with some added stuff). The more screenshots i see the more i get the feeling that the majority of DS games wont use the second screen for anything really innovative, and most 3rd party games will probably just use it for a map/steering wheel/alternate view screen. Whether that is enough to put the DS on top is beyond what my gamegear lovin ass can guestimate.

[Habeeb Hamusta]

Ok. Where in the hell does it say the PSP has better graphics than a PS2. Sorry but I don't believe that. The DS is going to be much more fun and have a great selection of games. Nintendo will conquer with this, as they always do with handheld systems.

[kai123]

I am still not convinced that the DS is going to bring anything innovative to the table. What exactly are they doing that is so innovative? Or has everyone bought the hype?

Also the PSP has WiFi so it can do anything the DS can on that front.

[NintendoMan]

I personally don't think that the PSP will beat out the DS at all! The PSP does look like a VERY COOL system, but it won't have the same effect that the PS2 has on the GC, sales wise I mean.

Nintendo OWNS the handheld market! Sony will have some pretty good games, but the same 25 people I know that have PS2's, DON'T give a shit about the PSP or handheld gaming in general.

What I mean is that ALL those casual gamers that have PS2's won't be buying a PSP.
At the very best, the PSP will take half the share of the handheld market away, but no more. That is at the very best.

[NintendoMan]

I am still not convinced that the DS is going to bring anything innovative to the table. What exactly are they doing that is so innovative? Or has everyone bought the hype?

Also the PSP has WiFi so it can do anything the DS can on that front.

Well, I don't know where the hell you got the word or idea that Nintendo specifically said "Every game on the DS is going to be brand new and innovative".
I mean look at all the damn ports that are suppossed to come out on the PSP.

To me, even if one game didn't come out using the TouchScreen I wouldn't really care. Just having that extra screen to place all of the extra junk on is good enough for me. (I mean don't get me wrong, if a cool game comes out using the stylus, well then HELL YEAH)

But even if it didn't use the extra screen, then the DS would have the exact gameplay as the PSP, RIGHT??

[Habeeb Hamusta]

Well, I don't know where the hell you got the word or idea that Nintendo specifically said "Every game on the DS is going to be brand new and innovative".
I mean look at all the damn ports that are suppossed to come out on the PSP.

To me, even if one game didn't come out using the TouchScreen I wouldn't really care. Just having that extra screen to place all of the extra junk on is good enough for me. (I mean don't get me wrong, if a cool game comes out using the stylus, well then HELL YEAH)

But even if it didn't use the extra screen, then the DS would have the exact gameplay as the PSP, RIGHT??

Right. There so much annoying crap that gets in the way in handheld games that the second screen will fix. And who wants to play metal gear ona handheld; I think that would be beyond boring.

[petewhitley]

I am still not convinced that the DS is going to bring anything innovative to the table. What exactly are they doing that is so innovative? Or has everyone bought the hype?

Also the PSP has WiFi so it can do anything the DS can on that front.

I'm glad someone on these boards isn't blinded by nostalgia. Have people actually read the specs of these two handhelds? The PSP has wi-fi too folks. Games are increasingly targeting an older demographic, and once again Nintendo is ignoring our votes (i.e. our well-spent money) and releasing a new handheld aimed at kids. Wow, the innovation is killing me ...

[Captain Wrong]

I am still not convinced that the DS is going to bring anything innovative to the table. What exactly are they doing that is so innovative? Or has everyone bought the hype?

Also the PSP has WiFi so it can do anything the DS can on that front.

I'm glad someone on these boards isn't blinded by nostalgia. Have people actually read the specs of these two handhelds? The PSP has wi-fi too folks. Games are increasingly targeting an older demographic, and once again Nintendo is ignoring our votes (i.e. our well-spent money) and releasing a new handheld aimed at kids. Wow, the innovation is killing me ...

It's a point few want to come to grips with, but it's true.

I really think the DS is going to appeal to fanboys and kids. The fanboys will shell out, but as for the parents of the kids who bought a GBA then an SP, I really don't know. If Sony is smart, and so far this is what it looks like, they're going to do their best to portray the PSP as more grown-up, much like Sega did with the Genesis back in the day. Frankly, no one is gonig to touch Nintendo (yet) in the kiddie market, but as for the older demographic (which most gamers fall into,) it's wide open.

[Push Upstairs]

And who wants to play metal gear ona handheld; I think that would be beyond boring.

Who wants to play Super Mario 64 on a handheld? I think that would be beyond boring.


I'm not really for either one of these system (I don't want to own either) but i really want the PSP to do well so it will give Nintendo a good kick in the ass and make them *DO* something.

I always hear people talk about how Nintendo is the "last, best game company" but honestly, thier output from the last few years makes me doubt that claim. People have complained about sequal after sequal on the Playstation. I ask this: How many Mario Party games do we really need?

Would it have been acceptable if the orginal Gameboy launched with a port of SMB? Would the SNES been worth it if all it had to offer was a port of Super Mario Brothers? Doubtful.

And I do believe Nintendo needs that swift kick so that they will make some more games aimed at someone over 12. I'm not saying that Nintendo needs to add violence and virtual titties on the screen, i'm saying they need to bring out some games that have more PLOTWISE than saving a princess or collecting cute stars in a pastel colored world.

My tastes have changed since I was a kid and I doubt i am the only one, however Nintendo continues to ignore this fact.


End rant.

[Nick]

I have checked many sources and found that the graphics core on the PSP is not quite as extreme as the PS2. With the chip specs the PSP has...on that smaller screen, games should be comparable if not better looking. The CPU speed on the PSP however, has been confirmed as even faster then the PS2 and 10 times faster than the PS1.

[Algol]

Although the PSP may do okay, I doubt it can beat the GBA and DS. However, Nintendo has been relying on their past sellers FAR more than they should. (Just look at the GBA!) The DS seems to be mostly a gimmick system at the moment, but if the PSP does start gaining ground, hopefully Nintendo will release something that puts that two screen, one of which you touch-1337-ness to good use.