Pre Order PSP?

DarkSilver · Post by **DarkSilver** » 2005-03-15 08:59pm

As someone whose played with the DS when it firt hit the shelves (tested it out at a game shop, plus I play with oe of my friend's DS wheneve I see him) the touchscreen isn't a problem at all.

The layout for Metroid Prime, for example, allows one hand to controls WASD and firing controls (which are placed on the L and R buttons respectively) while the stylus, or even your finger, can be used on the touch screen for aiming.

The PSP isn't even available around here yet, so I haven't tried one, but I will just to give it a comparison test. But when I do decide to buy, it'll be on which one I see as better, and right now, all things considering, I'll probably drop my 150 on the DS, than the media-centerish handheld PSP.

Concerning Graphics, I found Metroid Prime Hunters looked almost as good on the DS as Metroid Prime looked on the GC.

Just my opinion though.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2005-03-15 09:14pm

DarkSilver wrote:Concerning Graphics, I found Metroid Prime Hunters looked almost as good on the DS as Metroid Prime looked on the GC.

Just my opinion though.

Except the lower quality textures if you walk into a wall. It does lack texture filtering. Thats the one complaint I have on the DS.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2005-03-15 09:18pm

Cal Wright wrote:Let me say it slower then.

Sony is using the 'porting' of exisiting PS2 games to sell their PSP.

Whether they drop all of these ports in the library is something entirely different. The damn thing hasn't even come out yet. Either way, one of thier biggest totes is GT4 on the PSP, and it will be the PS2 GT4 at that. Which is just a load of horse shit, since GT4 is probably one of the hardest system pushing games in the PS2 line up. Why rely on portable versions of your console games. That's buying the same game twice, just to play it on the road. (although I have three versions of Mario 3 and one is the GBA, heh). Either way, thier emphasis is on having ports.

Definitely. The PSP's hardware isn't even DIFFERENT. It has the EXACT specs as the PS2, same processor, same graphics card, same EVERYTHING.

In fact, if the PSP could fit PS2 games, it could play them (unless there is a firmware change). But of course, Sony wants you to re-buy the games.

Its not even an effort to port the game. Just put it on a PSP disk and add WiFi support. Done.

Nintendo DS ports (there are only three, Ridge Racer, Mario 64 [so modified you can't even really call it a port], and Rayman) involve SERIOUS work on the developers parts, so as a result most of the DS games are ground-up new.

wautd · Post by **wautd** » 2005-03-16 02:58am

Cal Wright wrote:although I have three versions of Mario 3 and one is the GBA, heh). Either way, thier emphasis is on having ports.

you know, I think i'm gonna buy the GBA version of Mario 3 to play on the DS. I'm feeling nostalgic. Back to the good old times when I had my NES

About sturdiness of the DS, it feels like you can drive your car over it

Sharp-kun · Post by **Sharp-kun** » 2005-03-16 03:54am

Hamel wrote: I watched the video, and while the guy has obviously had much practice with the touchpad controls, it looks super akward. I'm assuming he's holding the DS with his right hand. Unless the touch pad is functioning as a directional pad AND action buttons, I don't see how this works out. Maybe if the video was well lit I'd have a better idea of how it handles.

Why not try one and see before judging it? The touchscreen is excellent for FPS games on a handheld. Once you try it you realise how simple it is.

wautd · Post by **wautd** » 2005-03-16 04:31am

Does the PSP has multiplayer (iirc it has but im not sure)? Can you temporarely upload games to another handheld like you can with the DS? Download demos at the shop like the DS? PLay online trough the internet like the DS? (near future)

I cannot help but thinking that the PSP is a jack of all trades, master of nothing. For gaming the DS seems better (even if it has a smaller screen, looks arent everything) and I'm not interested in a multimedia all-in-one (even if the battery lasted long enough to be comfortable)

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2005-03-16 05:35am

I wonder if the PSP power issues are because of the enourmous screen. While in the city today I stopped by to compare the two physically - the PSP screen is ENOURMOUS, the largest such screen I've seen on anything. Given the amount of difference power-wise you get with a PDA with backlighting on and off, I'd have to assume the screen is at least partly responsible for the low battery life.

However, at least the battery is removeable and replaceable: doubtless at some point there will be better batteries, third party 'oversize' batteries, etc.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2005-03-16 11:35am

wautd wrote:Does the PSP has multiplayer (iirc it has but im not sure)? Can you temporarely upload games to another handheld like you can with the DS? Download demos at the shop like the DS? PLay online trough the internet like the DS? (near future)

I cannot help but thinking that the PSP is a jack of all trades, master of nothing. For gaming the DS seems better (even if it has a smaller screen, looks arent everything) and I'm not interested in a multimedia all-in-one (even if the battery lasted long enough to be comfortable)

Yes, Don't think so (i think, i mean the disks are 1.8 GB, too much info to transfer I think), Don't think so, Yes.

Dartzap · Post by **Dartzap** » 2005-03-16 12:23pm

It wont be coming out in Europe for some months now, due to damand in the States.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2005-03-16 05:51pm

Hamel wrote:
Hamel, I'm not gonna give a fanboy rant on you, but from your above post, I can tell you definitely have not used a DS for any extended period of time.

Anyone who has actually used a DS knows that almost all your "points" are incorrect.

The touch screen is very, very nice for controlling, especially in FPS. NOT a gimmick.
I watched the video, and while the guy has obviously had much practice with the touchpad controls, it looks super akward. I'm assuming he's holding the DS with his right hand. Unless the touch pad is functioning as a directional pad AND action buttons, I don't see how this works out. Maybe if the video was well lit I'd have a better idea of how it handles.

His right hand is using the ABXY and L buttons, while his left hand is using the touch screen.

Metroid Prime is easier to figure out; the touchscreen acts as a mouse (you can play left handed or right handed), and D-pad or ABXY buttons act as WASD. L and R shoot (depending whether you are playing left or right handed), and you double tap on the screen to jump or tap the icon on the screen to switch weapons.

Your "hastily thrown together" thing is your opinion, because when you use it, it feels VERY durable. And it is.
Hastily put together doesn't necessarily mean lack of durability. That you can drop it 5 times and not break it is great but that has nothing to do with the visual appearance, space utilization, and performance specs. But of course, we disagree on those points.

Most of the space is utilized. The only improvement I could see would be a bigger screen.

Performance specs, well, Nintendo was shooting for a $150 price point, rather than $200 or $250 like the PSP.

Your claim the NDS is a holdover is silly. It ISa third pillar. One system for dual/touch screens, one for normal gameplay. The DS will likely evolve into a PDA at some point.
That seems bizarre and stupid and we've yet to see if it works to Nintendo's benefit. They need to do something, because the PSP is outselling the DS in Japan on a weekly basis.

Maybe THIS week

But not overall. DS is leading by well over a million units sold.

It's not bizarre and stupid, it actually makes a lot of sense.

Nintendo thinks up a new and innovative way of playing handheld games. Therefore they release a new handheld with those features, BUT keep it seperate from the old handheld lines.

I expect the GB line will basicly be like the PSP, better graphics and big screen, while the DS will always be dual/touch screen and weaker graphics compared to the GB (when the next GB comes out that is).

There are ports and original games for both systems. Mario64DS is a port with new characters and content. There will be more such ports. Just as there are ports for DS, there are original games for PSP including the Bleach fighting game.

There are 3 ports for DS (including ones yet to be released). Only THREE. There are many, MANY times that number for PSP.
90% of PSP games are ports, while 90% of DS games are brand new.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2005-03-16 07:47pm

I've got a dumb/lame/Hamel will laugh question.

Why aren't there PDA soft for DS? It's got BETTER display/interface hardware than many PDAs. It's crying out for note taking, contact organising, document reading... indeed, it NOT doing these things is one of the primary reasons I don't want one (but for AU$180, who cares?). If N made a cart with just the basic suite - browser, wordprocessor, notes, contacts, calender and doodle pad - they'd increase the worth of the DS without increasing the cost. I for one would buy one immediately.

For instance, its got wireless, two screens, touchpad.... why CAN'T I browse the internet or check my mail?

I understand the DS comes with some basic stuff like calender etc. But a proper PDA cart would be excellent, and I can't imagine it would be expensive to make. However, perhaps the DS doesn't have the performance for these roles?

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2005-03-16 08:28pm

Stark wrote:I've got a dumb/lame/Hamel will laugh question.

Why aren't there PDA soft for DS? It's got BETTER display/interface hardware than many PDAs. It's crying out for note taking, contact organising, document reading... indeed, it NOT doing these things is one of the primary reasons I don't want one (but for AU$180, who cares?). If N made a cart with just the basic suite - browser, wordprocessor, notes, contacts, calender and doodle pad - they'd increase the worth of the DS without increasing the cost. I for one would buy one immediately.

For instance, its got wireless, two screens, touchpad.... why CAN'T I browse the internet or check my mail?

I understand the DS comes with some basic stuff like calender etc. But a proper PDA cart would be excellent, and I can't imagine it would be expensive to make. However, perhaps the DS doesn't have the performance for these roles?

Rumor has it that Nintendo's V-pocket trademark is PDA software.

Other rumor has it that Palm is working with Nintendo. The DS and Palm's already both use ARM9 processors anyway.

And then there's dslinux.org, porting Linux to the DS.

One current problem though; DS cartridges only have 600k or so of saveram on them, I believe. You can't save too much. Unless they make a specialized DS cart that is fully read/writable, they'll probably have to include a GBA slot CF or SD card adapter so you can get a card for it.