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Okay, I know we discussed the Nintendo DS vs the PlayStation Portable (PSP) already, but at that time we didn't know a lot of concrete facts. For example, some thought the PSP was going to be about $300, and DS would be $175. We didn't know a lot of stuff about the new handhelds, such as battery life, or games available, etc.

So let's discuss it again, now that we have more information

First of all, the release date for the Nintendo DS is November 21st. The release date for the PSP is December 12th.

Okay, category 1: graphics.

The Nintendo DS has two screens, each one slightly (a few pixels) larger than the GameBoy Advance SP's screen. They're backlit (better be ), and the bottom screen is a touch screen.
The PSP has a single screen, larger than one of the DS's screens.

The PSP has better graphics, equal to the Playstation 2, while the DS's graphics are better than Nintendo 64 but falls short of GameCube.

Winner IMHO: PSP. The DS has more total viewable space, I think, but the PSP has better graphics and a pretty screen.

category 2: Controls
PSP has standard playstation controls. The D-pad, buttons on the right, and L and R 1 and 2 on the top. No joysticks though. The DS has all the buttons of a Super Nintendo controller (D-pad, four buttons, L and R), and a touch screen. The touch screen looks awesome for gaming. At first I didn't think so, but it's growing on me after watching some of the IGN videos. You can wear a thumb glove to safely touch the screen without leaving fingerprints

The best videos are here http://media.ds.ign.com/media/704/704627/vids_1.html
http://media.ds.ign.com/media/704/704627/vids_2.html

Check out the second video down on the second link there, that shows you how well the controls work. Very impressive.
Plus I've seen a racing game that lets you literally put your hand on the wheel and turn it on the touch screen.

Winner IMHO: DS

category 3: battery

Both have a Lithium Ion rechargeable battery. The PSP's is removable/replaceable (point to PSP), while the DS's is built in.
The PSP has, to quote:
"Sony said the 280g PSP will run for between four and six hours on a single charge; four to five hours if you're watching movies rather than playing games."

I recall reading another one that said the six hour figure was with screen brightness and volume turned down, four with everything turned up. And the four to six hour figure was with wireless OFF- that'll take it down further.

The DS has an 8 to 10 hour battery life. Twice that of the PSP. Excellent. Unfortunately, it is nonremovable.

Winner IMHO: DS- although its built in, it's got double the battery life. Definite winner. The PSP's 4 hour battery when playing at full brightness frankly sucks, and it'd probably hit 3 hours with multiplayer.

category 4: Extra features.

With the PSP, you could put music on the memory cards and play it on the PSP. Since the PSP uses minidisks, it can hold a lot more (1.8 gigs) stuff than the DS's cartridges, and can play movies you buy on the disks.

With the DS, the cartridge lets you save directly, and additionally you can download the entire game between several DS's and play multiplayer with a single game pack. Whoo. Additionally, you can send chat messages with PictoChat (built in), and drawings with the touch screen. The touch screen gives you a keyboard, so its better for typing online. The DS can also play GameBoy Advance games (it has dual slots, for DS and GBA games). And since we know the GBA can play videos, so can the DS, though it will be limited by the smaller cartridges.

Both the DS and PSP have 802.11b wireless, can play multiplayer wirelessly, and even connect to the internet for online play.

Winner IMHO: PSP, barely. Music and video capabilities from bigger disks are great. I don't know if it supports single-disk multiplayer, but I HIGHLY doubt it considering the size of those disks.

category 5: Extra cons.

The PSP requires you to buy a memory card seperately, because it can't save on disks. Frankly, this sucks, IMHO. Additionally, the aforementioned battery life sucks worse. Also, it's not as easy to stick a DISK in your pocket as it is cartridges.

The only real big con on the DS is that your thumb will smudge the touchscreen, so you should wear a thumb shoe that comes with it or use the stylus.

Winner IMHO: DS. The PSP has a lot more cons.

category 6: Price.

The DS is set for $149.99 in 10 days. Yay.
The PSP is unknown. It is selling in Japan for $185 (converted from Japanese currency). That means it's probably selling in the US for $200...but it MIGHT hit $149 like the DS (which would make Nintendo drop the DS price, most likely).

Winner IMHO: Unknown, but probably the DS. If the PSP hits $149, it's a tie, otherwise, DS wins.



This is what I think about it. What about the rest of you guys? Would you take the DS or PSP?


BTW. http://ds.ign.com/articles/564/564540p1.html Nintendo is already shipping the DS to reviewers. Very sweet.

I'm not sure about total viewable space, but the PSP actually has more pixels, total, on its single screen than the DS has on its two screens combined. Just thought I'd clarify that.

Also, I'm pretty sure that the D-Pad on the PSP is analog, but I can't verify that right now.

I'm all for the DS. I like Nintendo for my Portables and Sony for my full sized systems (i'd prefer sega for full sized but that's not to likely to be happening any time soon...). It's just how I am.

I'm interested in seeing what both of them can do in regards to their wifi and the internet. If either of them allows you to connect to an access point and browse web sites, I'd get it. If they both allow that, I would probably go for a PSP since its screen is much higher resolution.

From what I've seen of the game lineup so far, the DS seems far more appealling (to me, at least). Advance Wars DS, Metroid Prime: Hunters Super Mario 64 DS, Feel the Magic: XY/XX...

*Insert Drooling Emoticon*

DS. MMMMMMMM DS.

4 hours battery life? WHAT THE FUCK?

The PSP sounds like much more my cup of tea aside from the horrible battery life. And the 'no legacy support', 'need memory card' etc. Is it a PS-style memory card or sony MS?

And I fear Sony doesn't know how to run a successful handheld. The DS is probably the more reliable choice (given the legacy, onboard save, better battery, better multi, better company) but PSP is higher performance. Can we say 'both'?

Well, my biggest complaint about the PSP is this:
It's more of the same. It's just a minitiarized PlayStation 2 with a smaller screen, wireless and a battery, and joysticks removed.

It's just a normal handheld (with sweet graphics), and will play games you can probably already buy for PS2.

The DS will be a completely new experience. The games for it will have never been played before, or anything similar to them. And THAT is why I want the DS. Plus I like the game lineup. Metroid Prime, Mario 64 DS, the other 2.5D mario game they're working on, Sonic DS, etc, etc.

Stark wrote:4 hours battery life? WHAT THE FUCK?

The PSP sounds like much more my cup of tea aside from the horrible battery life. And the 'no legacy support', 'need memory card' etc. Is it a PS-style memory card or sony MS?

And I fear Sony doesn't know how to run a successful handheld. The DS is probably the more reliable choice (given the legacy, onboard save, better battery, better multi, better company) but PSP is higher performance. Can we say 'both'?

It's a Sony Memory card. You can put it in your computer and transfer save games I'd assume.

But yeah, I agree on the rest. PSP is higher performance, but bad battery, and I just don't like the idea of carrying a bunch of mini CD's with me. Maybe some of you guys might like it, but I don't want to carry CD's in their cases when I can carry a couple little chips (DS cartridges are like SD cards) with my games.

Info on the PSP battery:
http://psp.ign.com/articles/560/560950p1.html

I'm interested in seeing what both of them can do in regards to their wifi and the internet. If either of them allows you to connect to an access point and browse web sites, I'd get it. If they both allow that, I would probably go for a PSP since its screen is much higher resolution.

They can connect to an access point for online play, but no word on a web browser. I wonder if someone will release a 'game' (cartridge) for the DS that will add web browsing + calendar and organizer software to the DS. It does have a touch screen after all. Contracts could be saved on the cartridge.

I'm not sure about total viewable space, but the PSP actually has more pixels, total, on its single screen than the DS has on its two screens combined. Just thought I'd clarify that.

Also, I'm pretty sure that the D-Pad on the PSP is analog, but I can't verify that right now.

Thank you, hadn't done the pixel math.

Picture

The PSP D-pad looks pretty standard to me, anyway.

I can't help but feel that Sony is repeating the mistakes Sega made with the Game Gear.

I like both, but I'm gonna have to go with the PSP, because it is oh so pretty...

I'm going with the DS for all the reasons listed above, and also because I know for a fact that Nintendo knows what it's doing with handhelds. I'm withholding judgement on the PSP until it's released and reviewed.

After doing some reading, the DS will be the first console (not just handheld) to have a decent control setup for shooters. Now it IS Nintendo and they're not going to be releasing any (probably), but the touchpad certainly makes games like Metroid far better than with stupid sticks. I want one for my GC!

Is it really a PS2 memory card? They're huge, slow, and tiny. Why the FUCK can't we just use REAL flash chips? For FUCK. MS might be horribly overpriced but its better than AU$80 for a slow-as-molasses 8Mb.

I'm in the unique position of owning a GBA (with nonbacklit screen, argh) and a pile of games; I never bought an SP out of feeble revenge, but that pile of GBA games makes a DS look awful nice. Specially since the DS has an actual proper 21st century backlit screen. I haven't seen specs; the DS seems in pics to be about the size of a GBA. Thats a bit on the big side for a handheld.

I want to like the PSP so much. Dynasty Warriors 23 on PSP would rule the world of ruling. But four hour battery life and bloody Sony bloody memory sticks are major turnoffs.

Will the DS be able to hook up with the GC like the GBA? If so then you could probably use it *as* the controller.

Stark wrote:Is it really a PS2 memory card? They're huge, slow, and tiny. Why the FUCK can't we just use REAL flash chips? For FUCK. MS might be horribly overpriced but its better than AU$80 for a slow-as-molasses 8Mb.

No, it's a Memory Stick, Sony's proprietary format they use for cameras and audio players. Standard sizes start at 32MB I think, and most combination flash card readers support them, so you can easily directly transfer files onto your PSP (even without the USB 2.0 support)

Stark wrote:After doing some reading, the DS will be the first console (not just handheld) to have a decent control setup for shooters. Now it IS Nintendo and they're not going to be releasing any (probably), but the touchpad certainly makes games like Metroid far better than with stupid sticks. I want one for my GC!

Not releasing anything? Metroid Prime ring any bells?

Also, Nintendo reported that they're trying to patch things up with some developers and bring more to the DS. Hopefully we'll see some good shooters.

Is it really a PS2 memory card? They're huge, slow, and tiny. Why the FUCK can't we just use REAL flash chips? For FUCK. MS might be horribly overpriced but its better than AU$80 for a slow-as-molasses 8Mb.

No. Scroll up. It's a Sony Memory Stick, as I said earlier.

Oh, almost forgot. LucasArts is going to be making several different Star Wars Episode 3 games. The big one for PS2/XBox, and they'll also be making ones for PSP (probably just like the PS2 version minus some cutscenes since the minidisk has less space), and a Ep3 game for GBA, and a Ep3 game for Nintendo DS.

Lightsaber combat with a touch screen...hm. I wonder how it'll go?

Sorry to tack on three posts in a row, but I just remembered. There will also be GoldenEye for the DS (a 007 shooter), and I think a few other shooters as well. And of course Metroid Prime.

And Viewtiful Joe. I played it for the first time yesterday, and it was actually quite fun, though only played in 2D with 3D characters and effects (you know, standard 2.5D, but really, really sweet effects). I thought it would make an awesome handheld game.

There's also going to be three racing games at least, Need for Speed Underground, Asphalt Urban GT, and Ridge Racer DS. Plus at least 2 Mario games (Mario 64 DS and another with an unannounced title). And Mario 64 DS is more than a port, since it adds new characters (Yoshi can eat baddies, fart out eggs and throw them at people, whoo! Plus the ability to fly and switch characters in mission, a few new levels added, and MUSHROOMS so you can turn gigantic and stomp on people).

Overall, I like the game lineup

These games will be out with the DS launch or within a month of it:
# Asphalt Urban GT (Ubisoft)
# Feel the Magic XY/XX (Sega)
# Madden NFL 2005 (Electronic Arts)
# Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits (Namco)
# Ping Pals (THQ)
# Rayman DS (Ubisoft)
# Ridge Racer DS (Namco)
# Spider-Man 2 (Activision)
# Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo)
# Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 (Electronic Arts)
# The Urbz: Sims in the City (Electronic Arts)

And these later on:

# Advance Wars DS (Nintendo)
# Animal Crossing (Nintendo)
# Bomberman (Hudson)
# Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (Square Enix)
# Frogger (Konami)
# GoldenEye: Rogue Agent (Electronic Arts)
# Metroid Prime: Hunters (Nintendo)
# Need for Speed Underground (Electronic Arts)
# New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
# Viewtiful Joe (Capcom)
# Wario Ware Inc. DS (Nintendo)
# Yoshi's Touch & Go (Nintendo)


And I'm sure theres a few missing here, as well, such as Madden NFL 2005 (listed on Nintendo site).