PSP: Playable on show floor, impressions inside.

[PC-Engine]

I think comparing DS to PSP is kinda pointless to begin with. Two totally different price brackets. If people were expecting at least DC visuals from DS, they should really get a grip.

PSP's price and battery life are the factors that are gonna decide relevent sales numbers, not graphics, not industrial design...

 

[jvd]

I predict in 2 years gb 2 comes out with graphics a little beyond gamecube .

I also predict the ds will be dirt cheap and is basicly there to resell n64 games and why the hell not . Thats what the psp is for too

 

[marconelly!]

I predict in 2 years gb 2 comes out with graphics a little beyond gamecube .

It will be most welcome. However, I doubt Nintendo will shoot at something pricey for their 'main' Gameboy line, and something with GC+ graphics (and screen to go with it) will probably have to be pricey even in two years.

 

[rabidrabbit]

I predict in 2 years gb 2 comes out with graphics a little beyond gamecube .

I also predict the ds will be dirt cheap and is basicly there to resell n64 games and why the hell not . Thats what the psp is for too

PSP has N64 ports?
The list of announced games doesn't even include PSOne ports (at least not many, are some of those 2D rpg's PSOne ports?), and only some PS2 ports (GT4, NFSU, NBA games...)

....and I predict, that in 2-3 years after GBA2 (or whatever it'll be called), PSP2 comes out with graphics a little below PS3

 

[PC-Engine]

I predict in 2 years gb 2 comes out with graphics a little beyond gamecube .

That's what some don't understand. It's not like Nintendo doesn't have the tech right now to design a PSP-like handheld. They're intentionally waiting until PSP design/specs are finalized. Right now they have 99.9% of the market so why should they rush out a PSP like device when they're making huge profits? MBX is available now. After PSP is released MBX and similar tech isn't magically going to disappear or get more expensive. Battery tech isn't going to get worse either

....and I predict, that in 2-3 years after GBA2 (or whatever it'll be called), PSP2 comes out with graphics a little below PS3

The important thing is GBA2 will be available not too long after PSP is released. We're talking about 2-3 from now not from the time PSP launches

 

[jvd]

I predict in 2 years gb 2 comes out with graphics a little beyond gamecube .

I also predict the ds will be dirt cheap and is basicly there to resell n64 games and why the hell not . Thats what the psp is for too

PSP has N64 ports?
The list of announced games doesn't even include PSOne ports (at least not many, are some of those 2D rpg's PSOne ports?), and only some PS2 ports (GT4, NFSU, NBA games...)

....and I predict, that in 2-3 years after GBA2 (or whatever it'll be called), PSP2 comes out with graphics a little below PS3

I meant for there respective console counterparts . So ds for n64 and psp for playstation 2



I don't think a portable gamecube will be all that expensive.

They are selling the cube for 100$ .

They could prob sell a hand held with cube graphics for 250$ . I know i would buy it .

In 2 years the could easily sell a more than cube for less than that .

Hell a dreamcast could prob be made for about 30$ right now if not less. An arm cpu , mbx with is 15 mililon transistors . Some ram , throw in a media storage and boom

 

[Ty]

I think comparing DS to PSP is kinda pointless to begin with. Two totally different price brackets.

Agreed. The PSP isn't only aimed at the gaming market anyhow. It's trying to transcend the normal sector.

PSP's price and battery life are the factors that are gonna decide relevent sales numbers, not graphics, not industrial design...

Incorrect. All four will make an impact (and you even left out must-have-games & marketing) to some degree. How much all depends on the actual #s (price, battery life, etc.) I mean, c'mon, the PSP is one sexy beast. The DS (right now) looks cheap as hell. I wouldn't trade my GBA or SP for it. Well, ok, maybe my GBA. Furthermore, Nintendo hasn't exactly evangelized the second screen yet. A map? Geez, what a brillant idea!

 

[PC-Engine]

Incorrect. All four will make an impact (and you even left out must-have-games & marketing) to some degree. How much all depends on the actual #s (price, battery life, etc.) I mean, c'mon, the PSP is one sexy beast. The DS (right now) looks cheap as hell. I wouldn't trade my GBA or SP for it. Well, ok, maybe my GBA. Furthermore, Nintendo hasn't exactly evangelized the second screen yet. A map? Geez, what a brillant idea!

Not any significant impact beyond the hardcore gamers, early adopters, and gadget freaks...

 

[jvd]

Incorrect. All four will make an impact (and you even left out must-have-games & marketing) to some degree. How much all depends on the actual #s (price, battery life, etc.) I mean, c'mon, the PSP is one sexy beast. The DS (right now) looks cheap as hell. I wouldn't trade my GBA or SP for it. Well, ok, maybe my GBA. Furthermore, Nintendo hasn't exactly evangelized the second screen yet. A map? Geez, what a brillant idea!

Not any significant impact beyond the hardcore gamers, early adopters, and gadget freaks...

Well i think your right.

Movies are nice. But i mean how many copys can i have of evil dead trilogy and bladerunner. I already have every version of dvd.

And what would i rather buy at 15$ or so . A dvd that i can watch on my laptop/ pc and tvs or umd that will play in my psp.

Mp3s though would be nice. I would like to get an ipod but depending on how big and if the screen has built in protection from scratches (like gba sp) i could use it as an mp3 player .

The games are nice though and that is what will sell this thing.

 

[rabidrabbit]

...
I don't think a portable gamecube will be all that expensive.

They are selling the cube for 100$ .

They could prob sell a hand held with cube graphics for 250$ . I know i would buy it .

In 2 years the could easily sell a more than cube for less than that .

Hell a dreamcast could prob be made for about 30$ right now if not less. An arm cpu , mbx with is 15 mililon transistors . Some ram , throw in a media storage and boom

Sure, a lot of things could be made today.
No-one's claiming that PSP is some magic tech, that no other company could've pulled. But it is currently, and I predict a couple of years to come, technically most advanced handheld console.

If one decides to wait for the elusive GBA2, SOD (Sega Omnipotent Deck), M.I.A (Microsoft Ipsation Appliance), N-G4g33 handhelds, that's fine by me.
You either have the need, or desire for a new handheld or not. If one already has a decent portable music player, portable DVD player and GameBoy, I understand that a PSP does not seem so lucrative.

 

[StefanS]

Furthermore, Nintendo hasn't exactly evangelized the second screen yet. A map? Geez, what a brillant idea!

Maybe you should look at all the games presented not just Mario Kart. Then you wouldn't state such clueless things. Look at Wario Ware and Animal Crossing (which might be online?). They have implemented the touch screen pretty well if you ask me.

 

[jvd]

...
I don't think a portable gamecube will be all that expensive.

They are selling the cube for 100$ .

They could prob sell a hand held with cube graphics for 250$ . I know i would buy it .

In 2 years the could easily sell a more than cube for less than that .

Hell a dreamcast could prob be made for about 30$ right now if not less. An arm cpu , mbx with is 15 mililon transistors . Some ram , throw in a media storage and boom

Sure, a lot of things could be made today.
No-one's claiming that PSP is some magic tech, that no other company could've pulled. But it is currently, and I predict a couple of years to come, technically most advanced handheld console.

If one decides to wait for the elusive GBA2, SOD (Sega Omnipotent Deck), M.I.A (Microsoft Ipsation Appliance), N-G4g33 handhelds, that's fine by me.
You either have the need, or desire for a new handheld or not. If one already has a decent portable music player, portable DVD player and GameBoy, I understand that a PSP does not seem so lucrative.

right and no one said the psp wasn't good .

I am just pointing out some things .

Psp expensive to make .

ds cheap to make

Psp video game system with some other nice features that for most wont be used often.

Ds . Video game system with a second screen.

Personaly if the ds is 100$ of becomes 100$ i may pick it up. Depends on how well it fits in my pocket. I have 240 gameboy games. It be nice to be able to play them on yet another system and retire my old gba sp.


There are pros to both systems.

I don't really care to hear the bashing of the ds .

both systems serve a purpose .

Both systems will sell to those who are looking for that purpose to be fufilled

 

[casper]

Got back from E3 today as well.

From what I saw, the PSP looks pretty cool. First thing that hit me was that I would be a little hesitant to put it in my pocket as I could see the screen getting scratched pretty easily and it looks too sexy to have scratched. A holster of some sort will probably solve this. The screen quality was fantastic. The movies I saw running on it were very crisp. The 3d quality was up there as well. Looks to be a very formidable piece of hardware.

With regards to the DS, there was a long line of people who wanted to see it so it seems the curiosity is there. I waited a bit and got the chance but walked away with mixed feelings. The machine itself looks okay. One thing I noticed was that the screen quality seemed to be the same as the SP and so was the backlighting. It generally wasn't up to par with the screen the PSP has but probably compensates for it longer battery life. The games confused me a bit. I played a Pokemon title that had you scratch (like those lotto scratchers) off bits of the bottom screen - with a stylus - to reveal a Pokemon. The 3d was decent but looked rough around the edges. I really wanted to see Metriod Hunters but I was unable to access the area it was displayed at. Also I'm not sure if the stylus is part of the DS but I couldn't locate any orifice to store it.

I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more from both systems as they show potential to entertain road warriors (and office slackers) in unique ways.

I'll throw up some impressions of Doom3 and other titles when I'm at work tomorrow (yeah, I'm an office slacker).

 

[V3]

Thanks for the impression.

So DS does have a Pokemon game

 

[PC-Engine]

Thanks for the impression.

So DS does have a Pokemon game

It's a no brainer. I just read that the orders for the Majesco video player cartridge for GBA/SP/DS have already reached 2 million units

The only video that will be available are cartoons. Wouldn't it be kinda funny if the GBA/SP/DS becomes a major video watching device and the movies being purchased for kids?

 

[Shogmaster]

Shog, knowing that so far most developers did not target for 32 MB of main RAM ( notice how the tech demos are running in higher color depth ? ) and that the emulators ( which developers do not like much, but you can ask them ) used to run at around 1-5 fps ( peak ), I am impressed by DC level polygonal detail with somewhat better special FX.

Don't get me wrong man. I am impressed! Alot of work seem to have been acomplished by the devs in such short amount of time. Good stuff. One thing though I noticed when I went back were few more demoes I didn't notice the first time, and some of them were solidly in DC territory. Especially a F1 game demo that looked better than 50 % of 3rd party DC racers released. No where near TD:LM24hrs by Melbourne House, but I can't think of any other 3rd party DC racing game that looked markedly better than the F1 game demo.

I know for a fact that at least some developers started targeting lower polygon counts than what they originally wanted for two reasons mainly: the most relevant was the 8 MB of main RAM and then you had the emulator's performance ( crappy ).

I think that the games will have a chance to improve in quality as developers get to work on faster SDKs and then full speed PSP Hardware.

I believe you. There were defitnitely some demoes outdoing others and your senario fits in my mind.

 

[StefanS]

Thanks for the impression.

So DS does have a Pokemon game

actually it is just a tech demo at the moment, but it might be turn into game, who knows...

 

[Jov]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Squenix, shock us all with a 3D remake Final Fantasy (or better yet, an original Sakaguchi-Final Fantasy, none of this Crystal Chronicals/Tactics/Vagrant Story stuff!)

"Vagrant Story" Rockz!!! One of the most captivating game on the PS1.

 

[Phil]

I don't think a portable gamecube will be all that expensive.

They are selling the cube for 100$ .

They could prob sell a hand held with cube graphics for 250$ . I know i would buy it .

what makes you think that a portable Cube would be so much cheaper than a PSP to make (given that the price range looks to be 299$ or more for a PSP). Especially once you consider that Sony does almost everything in-house.

 

[jvd]

I don't think a portable gamecube will be all that expensive.

They are selling the cube for 100$ .

They could prob sell a hand held with cube graphics for 250$ . I know i would buy it .

what makes you think that a portable Cube would be so much cheaper than a PSP to make (given that the price range looks to be 299$ or more for a PSP). Especially once you consider that Sony does almost everything in-house.

If the psp was just a ps2 die shrunk then i would think they could sell it for under 150$ too .

The gamecube right now is designed for high performance cheap like the dreamcast was at the time .

I believe they could put the gekko and flipper on 1 chip along with the t1ram . Have the off die ram on another chip (or perhaps intergrate it all.

Have ati tweak the flipper for mobile use.

These will be based on proven designs and will most likely have high yield rates .

I also don't see nintendo adding umd , video play back and other gee wiz things into the psp .

I think it can easily be done.

Which is why i don't understand sony not using the ps2 chips . Well other than the fact i think the hardware is crummy .

The psp does look to be balanced .