PSP Images Released

[Flack]

Looks like it's going to be a busy week!

http://www.ferrago.com/media/3562

Widescreen ... yummy. Looks like the DVDs go into a little caddy which I kind of expected in order to keep them from sliding around but seems like one more part to break or lose.

[The Collector]

:O Must Have...PSP :O !!!
Coooooooool :-P

Now instead of $150 for just the DS, now i'm gonna need $400 for the DS and the PSP plus $50 for a game=worth it :D

[Kid Ice]

Does that look like a...(gulp)...Lynx to anyone else?

[Rev. Link]

I'll get a PSP once the price takes a few drops.

Now the DS, that's one for launch day!

[Jibbajaba]

I'm pretty excited to see what the PSP is capable of. I;m not excited about the DS really, but ultimately I;m not going to buy either one right away. If the PSP drops far enough in price I might get one, but I;m really not in a hurry to replace my gameboy SP. I've had it for less than a year and I'm still madly in love with it. I cant get enough of the 2D, baby!

[Rev. Link]

A brand new 2D Super Mario Bros. is enough to get me to pick up a DS as soon as possible.

PSP looks like it'll be powerful, but until I know what kind of games are going to be on it I can't get excited. Plus, all of Sony's added functionality is going to make it too expensive.

[RCM]

I like the overall look of the PSP better then what i've seen of the DS so far. From the one pic i've seen of the DS it looked a little sloppy. A gripe I have with both of them: no analog stick. What gives? Also, I hope the PSP comes with some kind of screen cover. My SP screen would be scratched to hell if it wasn't for the cool clam shell design. One other thing that i'm not thrilled about with the PSP is the line up of titles i've heard so far. Wipeout, Gran Turismo, Tony Hawk, etc. I want original titles not fucking sequels! And yes, I saw the lackluster Death Jr.. That's one thing among many that I thought sucked about the N-Gage. No compelling original titles. My biggest fear about the DS is that very few developers will exploit the full potential of the dual screens. All in all i'm not thrilled so far about either system. Keep awesome 32bit 2D coming to the GBA SP damn it!

THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM

[Mayhem]

The size is fine... but did you see how thick it is gonna be? Almost an inch. That's quite big for a handheld... let's hope Sony know what they are doing...

[Jibbajaba]

It's probably going to be $250. Thats the price point that they are saying they are aiming for. But it doesnt matter. Whats the point of a portable game if it doesnt fit in your pocket??? My SP rides around with me in my pocket, but the PSP will have to be carried around in a case or something, so the convenience factor isnt there. There are enough GB, GBC, and GBA games out to keep me playing SP for a loooong time.

[kai123]

I will get both eventually but the psp battery life has me worried 2.5 hours for video and I think 10 for audio files. That will not fly over very well. I read it on gamespot.

[ManekiNeko]

I think this (http://www.alsoftware.com.br/adrianpage/parodius/manual/turd.gif) is a more accurate picture of the PSP, myself.

JR

[goatdan]

Wow. I would have to say that I see a lot of design flaws in this, but I guess we'll have to see how it plays out... Here's my first opinion though...

The system looks like a hotdog. And yes, everyone has permission to spread that name like the Ngage Taco. Anywho, the hotdog design means that it will not fit comfortably into my pocket, the screen will be open for easy access scratching and will probably slip out of my pocket whenever I'm sitting down.

The power button location means that if you stuck it in your pocket, it has a good chance of turning itself on and off at random.

The Mini DVD thing looks interesting, except for the fact they decided to leave a big old dust hole in it so that dirt will easily slip in and scratch the DVDs way more easily than any other player. Sure, you'll be able to stick these in your pocket, but they'll fill with pocket lint and the games (and probably systems, that have the dirt stuck into them) will fall apart rapidly.

The mini-DVD player will probably not be very durable for the cost, and that will accellerate the dirt problem and the fact that if I carried my hotdog in my pocket, I will probably knock the lens right out of whack just from walking.

The fact that I will have to purchase a memory card to save game data on is even crappier. Nintendo at least has been good enough to give us cartridges that save the data. Now, I need to pick up my $250.00 PSP and $30.00 memory card before I can think about playing games for the long haul. That significantly raises the price.

On top of that, you can only play mini-DVDs on this thing. So Sony's much touted "plays DVDs" feature will be a "Plays only the DVDs that we sell for it that are incompatible with your normal DVD players!" That's really stupid.

After looking at that compared to the admittedly ugly but possibly very usable Nintendo Dual Screen, it seems to me that Nintendo will have the upper hand in the handheld console wars. I guess we'll have to see...

[Flack]

I do like the fact that the DS "closes", preventing screen scratching while transporting. I wonder if the PSP will have a clip on cover for the screen or something.

I wonder how flexible those prices are. I can't see Sony launching a hand held at the same time as the DS for $100 more. As someone else said, PS2's backward compatibility sold a lot of units. That'll be impossible with the PSP and that smaller sized disc.

I am not a fanboy of any company, but I think the DS is headed in the right direction. But, as with all their consoles, software support will be the key. Of course, one or two fun launch titles (Mario DS and Mario Kart DS?) will sell a lot of systems. With the GBA compatibility, that will sell a lot of damn units as people will see it as an upgrade.

[Duncan]

Two observations, based on previous posts:

1) Yes, it certainly does look like a Lynx. Which doesn't really bother me, since (apart from the thickness) that's not a bad layout.

2) Two words - PS2 launch. Knowing what I now know about the substandard quality of early PS2 models, I wouldn't touch the PSP with a ten (or even fifteen) foot pole for at least a year. Also, you're right about the problem of using discs in a portable unit - the sucker's gonna get trashed. Nintendo may be sticking with cartridges for more than just tradition's sake - I think it's a lot more rugged layout.

If that picture of a portable GT4 is correct, though, I will eventually have to look into getting one just because. :) (The DS will come first, though - that thing's just too cool to describe.)

[goatdan]

Also, you're right about the problem of using discs in a portable unit - the sucker's gonna get trashed. Nintendo may be sticking with cartridges for more than just tradition's sake - I think it's a lot more rugged layout.

It is more than just the fact it is using discs, but the protective casing the discs have are going to end up hurting both the games and the system. If you look at the blown up backside of the image on the site, there is a window that (I assume) is so the system can read the disk while the rest of the plastic protects it. It looks like a floppy disk without the metal protector, and the fact the disk is sandwiched against the plastic.

That's the dumbest design I've seen if it happens. That alone will be a huge black eye on the system after it is released!

[Lady Jaye]

It seems to me that Sony is recycling its mini-CD casing design for the PSP's mini-DVDs... If that's the case, then I wouldn't be too worried about the durability of the discs.

I agree that portability seems to be diminished with the PSP. As for the DS, it depends whether it's about the same size as the original GBA or bigger. No matter what, it won't beat the compact quality of the GBA SP. This said, I'll probably pick up the DS eventually (but probably not at launch date).

[Gamereviewgod]

I was stunned to see one of the game mentioned was Ape Esacpe. Um, how in the hell will you play that without the analog sticks???

I like the look (a ton more than the DS which looks like 2 Game.coms stacked on top of each other), but the annoucned game and control problems scare me.

[scooterb23]

If the PSP discs are anywhere close to their older Mini-discs in design (kinda looks like it to me) ...the things will hold up just fine.

They both look interesting, if the games are there...I'll have them both...

[buttasuperb]

I think this (http://www.alsoftware.com.br/adrianpage/parodius/manual/turd.gif) is a more accurate picture of the PSP, myself.

JR

Where is teh funnay?

[tholly]

I'll get a PSP once the price takes a few drops.

Now the DS, that's one for launch day!

im with ya on that one.

[goatdan]

I would hope that Sony would be smart enough to do something to make the disks hold up well, but the one that I saw in the pictures just doesn't seem like the type of thing you could stick a couple of in your pocket and run around town without worrying...

It's just an observation. I hope I'm proved wrong.

[spoon]

That scrren look very big and nice. I will bet that it will launch with some kind of protective item/attachment for the screen.

Here is to hoping that Sony can have titles that can match up to Nintendo's recent list. Also, I hope it doesn't give me Mini DREs.

Mini Discs are great!

[Mayhem]

I was stunned to see one of the game mentioned was Ape Esacpe. Um, how in the hell will you play that without the analog sticks???

PSP will have an analog stick... it's situated just below the crosshair pad.

[tholly]

I was stunned to see one of the game mentioned was Ape Esacpe. Um, how in the hell will you play that without the analog sticks???

PSP will have an analog stick... it's situated just below the crosshair pad.

yea, i was confused with that one too...i thought it was a speaker at first, but then i looked closer and thought about how ps2 games play....then i realized what it was.

[Gamemaster_ca_2003]

Does that look like a...(gulp)...Lynx to anyone else?

WTF that may be as long as a Lynx but it defititly does not look like a lynx.

[Cmosfm]

@_@

OMG! Man, That is Friggin SWEET looking. I haven't been this hyped by E3 announcements in a LONG time. Only thing that annoys me is that lack of an analog stick, the NGPC had one, and it worked damn well, why not this?

[goatdan]

The Neo Geo Pocket did not have an analog stick. It had a digital stick that did kick butt.

I'm guessing with all the abuse portables take, they left it out so that when it broke from being in your pocket all day, you didn't have to get a new system.

[Drexel923]

I'll admit that I'm a little more interested than I was before, but I few things need to be cleared up before I make my mind on this. Here the the pros and cons I've seen so far.

Pros

Big screen
Nice graphics
Some decent titles already announced

Cons

Price of system and games
Large unit
Have to use Sony brand memory stick, which is expensive as hell :angry:
Screen and discs may be easy to scratch
Battery life

I'll stick with the DS for now.

[sisko]

Also, you're right about the problem of using discs in a portable unit - the sucker's gonna get trashed. Nintendo may be sticking with cartridges for more than just tradition's sake - I think it's a lot more rugged layout.

It is more than just the fact it is using discs, but the protective casing the discs have are going to end up hurting both the games and the system. If you look at the blown up backside of the image on the site, there is a window that (I assume) is so the system can read the disk while the rest of the plastic protects it. It looks like a floppy disk without the metal protector, and the fact the disk is sandwiched against the plastic.

That's the dumbest design I've seen if it happens. That alone will be a huge black eye on the system after it is released!

I wouldn't worry about it. If its anythying similar to minidisc technology, they can take a hell of a beating and keep on ticking. This things take a LOT of jostling to skio, are designed so you cant accidentally open the window, and flat out will not scratch unless you really try. I've dropped these things many times onto hard floors, no cracks whatsoever in the housing.

Will I get on on launch day? Probably not.

Prohibitive cost, nasty track record of first release systems, crappy battery life are all just the beginning.

I'm not a fanboy by any means, in fact, I'll get one eventually, but after the price drops to less than $100.

[goatdan]

I wouldn't worry about it. If its anythying similar to minidisc technology, they can take a hell of a beating and keep on ticking. This things take a LOT of jostling to skio, are designed so you cant accidentally open the window, and flat out will not scratch unless you really try. I've dropped these things many times onto hard floors, no cracks whatsoever in the housing.

Seriously, I've been trying to figure this out:

Don't Mini-DVDs have the protective sheath like a floppy drive to protect them? The image of Gran Turismo that was shown above just has an open window, which is different as far as I remember.

[RCM]

I wrote:

A gripe I have with both of them: no analog stick

My gripe is only with the DS now. THe analog stick looked like a crappy little speaker to me. I correct myself. It would've been cool if they had dual sticks. By the way, I am pretty sure that I won't pick up a PSP on launch day. I don't like Sony. I blame them a lot for the direction that the industry has gone. I will pick up a PSP eventually, but I don't want to spend my rent on a system that I'm not that excited over. The DS on the other hand is sounding cooler and cooler by the minute. I really like the touch screen control thing. I read a description of the new warioware game on the DS. It sounds fucking awesome. I think the description of the way you can play totally changed my opinion of the DS. If it goes for $150 at launch and has some of its compelling software ready at launch I think I am going to have to get one. I just hope they give it a cooler design. It really looks a bit tacky.

THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM

[Rev. Link]

The DS could still undergo some cosmetic changes before release.

I kinda wish Nintendo had included an analog stick on it, though. I was worried they might give it just a stick and no d-pad, but now I see that both are necessary.

Did you read about Metroid Prime: Hunters? The d-pad will be used for forward, backward, and strafing motions. To turn/look around, you will have to use the stylus on the touch screen. And you tap the touch screen to fire. @_@

Sounds a little akward...

[DigitalSpace]

The PSP comes across to me as a Game Gear that plays minidiscs.

Imo, the cons outweigh the pros. The price is too expensive and the battery life is a big issue. The PSP might do as well as the Game Gear did back in the day, but I'd be very surprised if it ended Nintendo's handheld dominance.

[Lady Jaye]

Regarding Metroid Hunters, there's a problem with the controls: what do you do if you're left-handed, like I am? I can't be using the stylus and the d-pad at the same time!!!

[kai123]

There is an analog stick on the psp it is just hard to see I guess.
Link: http://psp.ign.com/articles/514/514135p1.html

[kai123]

Regarding Metroid Hunters, there's a problem with the controls: what do you do if you're left-handed, like I am? I can't be using the stylus and the d-pad at the same time!!!

It seems they already thought of that.
Link: http://cube.gamespy.com/articles/513/513341p2.html?fromint=1

[Hamsnibit]

Check out these screenshots of Metal Gear for PSP. Graphics look kick ass! I'm gonna get PSP and DS on launch day. I can't wait!

http://www.1up.com/slideshow2/0,2096,a=126876,00.asp