PSP hardware

[bowser123]

One thing that has impressed me is the way that you can turn the machine off (or lose battery power) and the PSP remembers exactly what point you left it at. Very useful IMO.

Regarding PSP V DS, well the DS is miles behind technology wise. However, it's hugely innovative and fun, and I love mine.
As has been mentioned both cater for very different tastes, we're just lucky we have both.
The PSP does have a certain initial wow factor that the DS can't match though.

[Bleeders]

Yes, that's been one of my favourite functions of the PSP too; especially when you need to dive off a train pretty quickly so you don't miss your stop, but don't want to lose progress. Invaluable.

[zeroboo]

Went over to my cousins place on Christmas day and found him with both the DS and the PSP with every game available for both consoles!

Man, for a moment i thought he was an editor for game mag :O

Anyways, I must say the PSP' screen is indeed very impressive but having played the games i thought it offered nothing new. Infact at times i thought i was playing Playstation on a smaller screen. This killed my urge to buy one straight away.

As for the DS, the design is sure retro and not one bit appealing. Playing Mario DS also felt like Mario 64 on a smaller screen but then having played Wario DS i think i prefer the DS simply because it offers 'something new.' And now i am actually thinking of getting a DS!


Moral of story, always try before you buy!

One thing i picked up from both consoles is the weight being on the heavy side as opposed to the GBA. Offcourse, they hold more power inside them but then i like to lie on my bed holding the GBA up in the air. just my little nag there...

[Freddo]

wasn't the psp originaly supposed to have av out? or does it still? anyone who's got one care to comment?

[sj33]

Definately no AV out on my machine.

[Fire]

Does anyone know the situation with those UMD demo/movie discs?

It seems some people have them and some don't. Do they come in the box with the value pack and/or the normal pack? Does anyone who has one care to comment?

[NeilMcRae]

You only get them if you ordered from SonyStyle in Japan.

[NeilMcRae]

http://www.gamechoice.com.hk/search....d&category=PSP

http://buygame2.com/eng/product.php?category=psp&type=console


haven't personally used either company but both have good feedback.

[Hodge]

As well aas the screen issue I feel the PSP is far from being a well designed machine (yet) - it's a beautiful machine, it's not practical or comfortable and there are bugs to iron out, which Sony will do so in future revisions I'm sure. The square button issue was interesting to read about but when I experienced it I realise now it's an issue that needs sorting out urgently. The square button on mine will function when pushed 10/10 times if the right side of the button is pressed and about 3/10 tims if the left side is pushed (the left side feels empty as there is no point of contact underneath it. On Ridge Racers I always keep in mind to use the inner edge of the square button at all times or I smack into walls when I initiate a drift off square button.

The L and R triggers can be pushed downwards as well as inwards which spoils what would be a pretty decent button, they both feel wobbly not solid and responsive.

The machine's outer casing is silly - the screen, base and control sections of the casing should be made of different plastics which suit the need for each area. It's all well and good having nice shiny plastic around the screen but not on the control areas too - the fingerprints are annoying.

The function buttons along the bottom of the screen are too difficult to push while you are playing, they should be slightly raised it's not like you can push them accidently.

The analogue stick is too tight! The machines I played at the TGS show had lighter analogue sticks which I got on with much better than what I have on my machine. It's fine for a game like Ridge Racer but if I had to use it on a game like Devil May Cry or anything else that required speed and precision on analogue control I would struggle as the diagonals are so tight.

After my wow period has warn off i pretty much agree with all those points. The square button definately has an un even feel to it when pressed compared to the other buttons. To be honest i haven`t any problems with it but i only been playing ridge racers which the square button isn`t really required for. It might show itself up in a game like vampire chronicles though.

L and R triggers is another interesting point. My left trigger feels fine where my right does feel quite wobbly and seems a little un responsive when trying to use nitro a couple of times on ridge.

As for the casing i do agree the finger prints are very annoying and do spoil the look of it but i do like the feel of it. Different plastics would of been a bettter idea but then thats gonna ramp up cost. I agree on the function buttons with them being a little to fiddly and would of been better of being raised a little and are particuly hard to use especially in the dark.

Overall it is still a great machine but like the DS corners have been cut to get it out at a mass market price from the screen not being as good as i first thought, especially when it comes to moving blacks around at any speed and perhaps if it was a little dearer they might of cut the lcd frames right to accomade the right d pad and square button aswell. Also i find the speakers pathetic especially after having a DS for a while. Even though it looks great i`ve tried taking it out a few times and to me the design just doesn`t feel as solid as the DS when your out and about. With the psp you always have to be carrying a case around with you to protect the screen and always feels quite declicate, where the DS you can just put the lid down put it in your pocket and away you go. It`s still a great piece of hardware but the design could definately do with a little re think and hopefully they will clear up the simple things they should of got right in the first place with making some of the buttons feel abit more solid.

[Kron]

I was talking to a friend of mine today who was lucky enough to get a PSP and DS before Christmas, The best summary he gave was...

One is a practical tactile handheld system, The other is a PSP.

[mackemansj1]

Yep alough the now wow factor has worn off i feel the same. My square button feels a little dodgy but apart from that and the finger prints im still loving it and i cant wait to see what kinda games we get for it.

[NeilMcRae]

Kron,
If I didn't know any better I'd say you were a Nintendo Fanboy. Next you'll be telling me that there is no variety in PC games.

Neil.

[NeilMcRae]

The few consoles I've had a play with I didn't feel any realy issue with the square button it registers fine no matter how I press it [I used vampire cronicles control remap to test this]. The shoulder buttons are a bit wobbly but no more than my DS2, and again they seem to register ok and work as expected although I agree they could be better. In my view the shoulder buttons on the DS are as bad its not obvious when you press them if you've made contact or not. In the hunters demo I found that rapid fire was not as cohesive as it could be.

[revisedgenocide]

Yes the fanboyism is pretty tiresome now. Especially for a place like this and especially when the same people repeat the same point with slightly different wording all the time. I happen to own and enjoy both systems. Were grown men/women not kids . I dont go onto the dyson forum and say their hoovers are ass, which they are .
As for the square button ive found it fine unless i deliberately try to press it down on its left hand side. Which ive not done with any other console and dont plan on doing. If you press the button dead centre or even slightly to the left then there should be no issue. That said it still is sloppy of sony to not sort it out.

[Zapp$ter]

Hmmm I was seriously thinking of getting a PSP soon especially after watching those videos of Lumines in action(my god it looks and sounds superb especially for a puzzle game). Having read some of these more recent impressions I'm tempted to hold off for a bit longer, there's still a few things I'm unsure about such as the placement of the analogue stick and whether or not it will be region free (in terms of games that is).

I suppose the best thing to do is to wait it out, but with some of the games on the PSP I'm finding it damn hard to do that. Heck, I'm not even a huge Ridge Racer fan but Ridge Racers PSP looks awesome.