What handheld would you play?

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2004-08-09 01:00am

If you had a choice between a Nintendo DS or PSP, what would you get?

Personally, I'd go with Nintendo DS.
The PSP has a bit better graphics (about equal to a Playstation 2, though lower resolution). The Nintendo DS has TWO screens! And graphics better than an N64, but less than a GameCube (though it has Cell-shading and fog effects and other bits from the GC). Both have 802.11b built in, so you can play multiplayer wirelessly and connect to the internet (thats right, online Mario Kart!). Both have built in rechargeable battery.

The DS, though, with its two screens, has a touch screen for the first one, which introduces some cool gaming additions. The DS also is dual processor (an ARM7 from the GameBoy Advance and an ARM9).

The DS has dual slots, so you can play GameBoy Advance games AND DS games.

The PSP only plays PSP games on minidisks, and requires you to buy Sony memory sticks.

The DS also has a microphone built in.

I'd take the DS, since I like Nintendo games (zelda, mario, sonic, metroid prime: hunters) and think the dual screens and touch screen will make for some interesting games. That's just me personally.

If you could get either one for free, which would you choose?

http://www.nintendo.com/ds/overview.jsp
http://www.us.playstation.com/pressreleases.aspx?id=207

The DS is already working and playable, so you can watch some unbelievable videos of it.

Man, how could you forget to add a poll? - Phong

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2004-08-09 01:10am

I dunno. I'd have to flip a coin. On one hand, you've got superior graphics and hundreds of titles waiting to be ported from ps2 to psp. On the other, you've got 2 screens, innovation and the ability to play all my current gameboy games. So I abstain. I'm not choosing till I see more and hear user reviews.

desertjedi · Post by **desertjedi** » 2004-08-09 01:33am

I think it will all depend on what Nintendo can do with that touch screen. If it becomes nothing more then a gimmick, then it's the PSP for me. Then again... with FInal Fantasy tiotles coming outfor the PSP, I don't think I would buy a DS.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-08-09 02:34am

Two screens dont appeal to me. I prefer the PSPs better graphics.

LapsedPacifist · Post by **LapsedPacifist** » 2004-08-09 09:46am

Since I already have a GBA, I'd really want to see what games come out for the DS and what benefits the dual screens provide. OTOH I don't have a PS2 and really want to play the FFs, so I'd lean that way if forced to choose.

Of course either represents about 20-40 gallons of beer ingrediants, and I think that 40 gallons of beer may provide the finest Dual Screen effects of them all.

LP

Sir Sirius · Post by **Sir Sirius** » 2004-08-09 10:01am

If I could get one of them for free I'd take Nintendo DS, but I wouldn't pay for either of them.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-08-09 10:16am

i'd have to wait and see what games were released. i mean, sure it's cool to have uber powerful gaming systems but without a quality line of titles it's just an expensive paperweight.

Vohu Manah · Post by **Vohu Manah** » 2004-08-09 10:21am

I'm currently undecided, again, leaning towards the PSP. My problem, the PSP now screams out "gadget, not portable game machine" whenever I read any coverage on it. I also don't care period for Nintendo's latest portable effort (not after my complaints about the GBA being nothing more than a mobile SNES [which Nintendo seems to treat it as with all of the re-released software it puts out]).

GoldenFalcon · Post by **GoldenFalcon** » 2004-08-09 10:27am

I'm too accustomed to one screen, so I'll probably stick with the PSP. But unless Nintendo does release some real good games for the DS, I might get it.

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2004-08-09 11:16am

Don't be mislead. The PSP isn't playing exactly ported games. In fact there's a huge write up over the two in the August EGM 181. First off, we're going to have some issues. DS is cart based. While I thought Nintendo would have learned it's leason, there's also a major factor to keep in mind with the handheld. The PSP is disc based, but battery life shrinks incrediably. In fact, they say you get 10 hrs for game play. No biggie. Eight hours for music, so that's fine as well. However, what seems like a big draw they keep mentioning is the ability to play movies on it as well. Obviously in mini disc format. But it says for movies the Batter life is two hours. A lot of movies are 2-2 2/1 hours. That's cutting it close there.

As far as graphics, I won't say anything until I see the actuall systems running. Screenshots are just bullshit. If Sony is toting ports of its PSX/PS2 games just to handheld then it's sort of in a hurt already. I barely like playing the straight Mario Bros. ports on the Advance, and let me tell you, I can play some Mario. Nintendo however, is already slating some titles with new gameplay to utilize thier setup. Dubbed DS for the Dual Screen, which I'm sure you all know, where one screen is touch screen. That's asking for some ass kicking inovation to me. I'm not looking for a portable POS, I'm looking for something with kick ass games.

That's where Nintendo already has Sony. It even says in the article that Sony is relying on THIRD PARTY much like thier console. WTF?!? I just don't see the handheld going strongly for them with a $300 piece of hardware. Nintendo makes games. They make really damn good games. Sony has to practically hope that thier deveolopers make something people want. Which isn't saying they can't. However, what type of people are going for handheld games? Sony has quotes showing they think that Nintendo's dual screen is more of a step towards younger kids. I didn't know being inovative was catering to kindergartners. I'm ready for it. I know some people don't want more of the rehashed titles, however I say bring on more Metroid, Zelda, Mario. I love those games and most of what they've done with them. (Mario 64 is one the crapiest games).

Let's get the nitty gritty here. This I don't think plays into the original question, since it's which one would you take if it was free. However, DS is coming in November at $179.99. That was from a rep here in my area. This is just in time for the Christmas season. Now, Sony is letting thier PSP loose sometime next year, probably around Feb,March is my guess. What's worse is it's going to be almost twice the price. $300!!! No way. I might have paid that for a new console, but not for a bloody handheld system which totes on about porting games that are much better at home then on the road.

I don't know about you guys, but Nintendo knows this market. They make handheld games, and have a system that's just itching to keep them on top. PSP may be a great system when it comes out, but I'm not looking for one until they become like $100. LoL!!!

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-08-09 11:28am

Cal Wright wrote:
That's where Nintendo already has Sony. It even says in the article that Sony is relying on THIRD PARTY much like thier console. WTF?!? I just don't see the handheld going strongly for them with a $300 piece of hardware. Nintendo makes games. They make really damn good games. Sony has to practically hope that thier deveolopers make something people want. Which isn't saying they can't. However, what type of people are going for handheld games? Sony has quotes showing they think that Nintendo's dual screen is more of a step towards younger kids. I didn't know being inovative was catering to kindergartners. I'm ready for it. I know some people don't want more of the rehashed titles, however I say bring on more Metroid, Zelda, Mario. I love those games and most of what they've done with them. (Mario 64 is one the crapiest games).

3rd party games are what will make or break a system. just look at the x-box as an example. sure, it has a number of decent console exclusive titles, but compared to playstation it just doesn't have the 3rd party support to really impact the market in quite the same way. one of the big reasons the N64 didn't really get off the floor was lack of decent 3rd party support. same reason the cube isn't really getting around that well either in terms of sales.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-08-09 11:28am

Anyone who is dubious about the performance potentials of the PSP should really read this:

Eurogamer wrote:Gran Turismo 4 on the PlayStation Portable will be as straight a port of its PS2 progenitor as possible, according to series creator Kazunori Yamauchi, and should include the same volume of features and run comparably well.

Speaking in an interview on Sony's Japanese website, Yamauchi outlined the situation with GT4 PSP. "Currently, we're at a test point where we're seeing what we can do with the PSP, and what is best added or removed to achieve GT4 on the PSP. Because of this, I cannot yet speak concretely," he initially warned, before offering some thoughts.

"As far as volume is concerned, because we're using the GT4 name, we're of course envisioning the same level of volume as the PS2 GT4," he said. "The PSP is a portable game machine, so many think that it can be used to play simple games. Say whatever you will, it's a new generation of portable hardware, with performance that lines up with the PS2. Therefore, software development takes quite a bit of work. If you don't give it your all when making games, producing something good is difficult. Because of that, given that we're already making the GT4 systems on the PS2 hardware, we'll likely end up [making this game] by porting those systems to the PSP."

"There's basically two ways of making games for the PSP. One way is to develop an original new game, which in general will be limited in its content since the price of PSP games aren't going to be too high, meaning the game's development budget will also be limited. We're going to be taking the second method, which is to take a system from a major title, and effectively sliding it onto the PSP hardware," he clarified.

Yamauchi also commented on the status of the PS2 Gran Turismo 4, commenting that the essentials are in place and the game is around 75 per cent complete. "As a driving simulator, [the game] is already done," he said. "Now, we are doing work on how to make it into a game... entertainment." He also revealed that Polyphony Digital plans to continue adding as many new cars as its schedule permits, and will continue unveiling both cars and courses in the coming months ahead of release. Furthermore, the quality of cars and rival AI is apparently something we needn't worry about.

Gran Turismo 4 PS2 is still on track for release in November 2004 in Europe. In late May, Sony denied reports that the game had slipped until 2005, despite sources close to Sony telling Eurogamer otherwise. "We haven't been made aware of any changes to the schedule, but Polyphony are such perfectionists that they won't ship the game until it's absolutely ready," a Sony spokesperson said at the time.

Gran Turismo 4 on the PSP, meanwhile, doesn't currently have a specific release date, but it is expected to debut alongside the playable PSP unit at the Tokyo Game Show in late September.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2004-08-09 11:31am

Watch the software demos if you want to see the Nintendo DS running (nintendo already has it working, it was playable at a developers convention as I recall- XPlay on TechTV had a special on it, in which they played a few games).

Take a look at Metroid Prime: Hunters and Mario 64 x 4

http://www.nintendo.com/ds/software.jsp

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2004-08-09 11:39am

Whichever one Banpresto put the Super Robot Wars games on.

Grand Admiral Thrawn · Post by **Grand Admiral Thrawn** » 2004-08-09 11:44am

Why should I shell out $300 dollars for a handheld game instead of buying a console or a new video card for the same price?

YT300000 · Post by **YT300000** » 2004-08-09 05:14pm

I'm leaning towards the DS, but I don't think the dual screens will be very useful often. Since I'm getting them for free, I'd probably take the DS. Either way, it's better than the GBA (which requires me to break my hands in two places to use) or the N-Gage (which is a shitty phone combined with an even shittier gaming system).

EDIT: IRL, I'll stick to my PC.

Seggybop · Post by **Seggybop** » 2004-08-09 05:23pm

If I could get either one for free, I'd take the PSP. Massive technological superiority and games I'm much more interested in playing. But I can't. So I'll probably eventually get the Nintendo DS, since I can actually afford it.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2004-08-09 09:04pm

YT300000 wrote:I'm leaning towards the DS, but I don't think the dual screens will be very useful often. Since I'm getting them for free, I'd probably take the DS. Either way, it's better than the GBA (which requires me to break my hands in two places to use) or the N-Gage (which is a shitty phone combined with an even shittier gaming system).

EDIT: IRL, I'll stick to my PC.

I think the dual screens is a great idea...as shown in the software demos, for example, Metroid Prime, you can choose to actually touch on the screen if you want to shoot off-axis on the touch screen, and the non touch screen displays the map so you don't have to pause.

Imagine Zelda games...

BTW, for porting, I can't imagine the PSP being too good. I don't know if you noticed, but it HAS NO JOYSTICKS, while most Playstation games use one or TWO of them. Goodbye, Playstation 2 shooting games. Maybe the car games will be ported well, though.

On the other hand, the DS's touch screen allows players to walk and shoot (off axis, too) at the same time...

I'm definitely getting a DS...and I'm glad these handhelds finally have WIRELESS!

I might wait for the price to hit at least $129 first though. $179? No.

Grand Admiral Thrawn · Post by **Grand Admiral Thrawn** » 2004-08-09 09:23pm

The fact it has Metroid prime is enough for me to buy. Hell the graphics look good enough (though I've only seen low res video).

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-08-09 09:25pm

As long as Sony gets Square to release FFX and Kingdom Hearts on the PSP, I'm sold.

Post by **Dalton** » 2004-08-09 11:17pm

DS. I'm a born Nintendoite

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2004-08-10 12:20am

Dalton wrote:DS. I'm a born Nintendoite

Same here. Nintendo Power!

Besides, the DS is going to kick ass. As far as the PSP goes, why would anyone want to buy something which is almost as good as a PS2, but is two times the price?

Drooling Iguana · Post by **Drooling Iguana** » 2004-08-10 01:00am

As a long-time PDA user (in fact, I'm typing this post from my Zaurus C750) I can sum up the possibilities offered by adding a stylus input to a gaming device in three words: none at all. Or almost none, at any rate. The only games that it would be even marginally useful for are point-and-click games, and even they would suffer from the stylus' inaccuracy and the fact that it would obscure your view of the screen. The only thing that a stylus is truly good for is handwriting recognition (which would be pretty much useless in gaming outside the realm of interactive fiction), and situations where you want to devote ase little surface area as possible to controls, which doesn't apply to the DS.

The second screen offers similar opportunities. Hell, even in their press release Nintendo couldn't think of any use for it that wouldn't be just as well accomplished using the traditional method of using a box in the corner of the screen or a split-screen. Hell, those ways would actually be better since it keeps the vital information closer to where the main action is taking place, making it easier to consult it in the heat of battle, and it allows the programmers to devote only as much space to that sort of thing as the game requires, rather than being forced to use one entire screen.

I'd say that, unless Sony seriously drops the ball on the PSP, Nintendo's dominance in the handh3eld market is over. Good riddance.

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2004-08-10 01:28am

GT4 on the PSP as good as the PS2? That is definitely a believe it when I see it. Actually, to give you a heads up, if they're not going to really do much more right now then port games over, there is NO reason for me to even consider a PSP. I got the Gameboy Advance and I loved the games, but hell, let's face it, not only do I not travel, but my eyesight isn't what it used to be. So I got the gameboy player, and I have thoroughly played the hell out of Metroid:Fusion, quite simply one of the most beautiful games out there. Gamewise, if the GB, GBC, and GBA/SP are any indications, is that the handheld gaming market is going to remain in Nintendos iron grip.

And personally, I don't think it's 3rd party support or lack thereof. Because that's all the PS2 has is 3rd party. If there was no 3rd party, then Sony would have to actually put something worth wild out there. Let's face it, outside of us hardcore geek gamers, the people who own consoles are most definitely sitting on PS2's because a lot of them like the same old cloned out Sports games, and Tony Hawk games. Those people don't give a flying fuck about other games. That's all it is at work I hear, my PS2 rocks, because so and so doesn't have this game or that game. I'm like you enjoy those POS? They're blown clear out of the water by real games that utilize the hardware and use extreme gameplay. Sony has the console market right now for a few very good reasons. First, when the gaming industry to me, was growing stale, they stepped out with a great machine with some of the best games since the NES' golden days. They have a giant library, and not only that, when they came out with a new console, it was backward compatible. Why buy the other consoles when you buy a PS2 not only can you still play all of your old shit, you can now play the new games, instead of trying to start from scratch? It's a much different story in the handheld. In fact, the DS will be playing GBA games. So right there, for half the price you get a shiny new hand held that can already play a slew of kick ass titles, and will start getting more along the way.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2004-08-10 01:40am

Really...who's going to pay $300 for a handheld game?

Really...who's going to carry MINIDISKS everywhere for their games?
And memory cards?

No, I'm sticking with Nintendo on this. Lower price, more innovation (dual screens and a touchscreen), a big game library, cartridges (pop the game in my pocket without a scratch, whoo), GBA compatability...

For the person who said that the touchscreen won't help games- I've seen some rather cool stuff done with it. Check out the videos.

1) Minigames. 'nuff said.
2) Wirelessly sending drawings to friends. Side bonus.
3) Switching items in game. This is rather useful.
4) Dragging stuff around the screen, say, to reorganize your inventory.

You also said the second screen won't be useful. Ha. I'm imagining Zelda with a map on one screen and the actual game on the other. OR, say, Ocarina of Time with the inventory screen on the touchscreen and the actual game on the other. You can switch weapons without pausing, by tapping on the weapon and pressing the button to assign it to, for example. Or pressing and dragging it to the button to assign it to.

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

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