PSP - Buy It Now

By Kristan Reed Published 1 September, 2005

Is the PSP worth buying right now? 'Hell yeah!' says Kristan.

It took me about seven months to take advantage of the fact, but the PSP is so much more than the games machine I bought it as, and for the first time in my life I'm actually using a multimedia handheld for pretty much all the things Sony designed it for.

Taking it point by point, as a games machine it's merely adequate at the moment. Much like Tom, I broadly agree that there are only a few Must Have games out there for day one. The usual suspects make the list: Virtua Tennis, Everybody's Golf, Ridge Racers, Mercury. I still haven't played Lumines but like the sound of it, but most of the other games are oft-incompetently ported shovelware that have been rushed to market with little thought as to whether they're even suitable for the demands of handheld gaming.

But then, as Phil Harrison pointed out at GDCE, publishers always stick with what they know in the format's early days. Barely any system's launch line-up ends up being that memorable, and I suspect the PSP has so much more to offer than the facsimiles of existing multi-format titles.

It does, however, look very much like many publishers are happy to throw in a PSP version almost for the sake of it, and I hope that some seriously low sales of certain ill-advised titles will sharpen their focus a little.

Rockstar, for example, should be congratulated for making the effort to prime an all-new GTA for the system, when it would have been far more lucrative to simply rush it out on the other systems. Whether it's any good is another matter, but given that I'm seeing the game on Friday (tomorrow) there's not long to find out on that score.

Although all the evidence in front of us right now suggests the PSP will be drowning in ill-considered identikit ports, it really is too early to judge whether that will persist in the long term. And in any case, there are more than enough good games out there so far to feel satisfied.

Another point to make is no-one's forcing you to buy two versions of the same game; I'm personally just glad to have the choice: not all of us have unlimited time to spend playing games at home. Some of us sneak in gaming time during commutes and other periods of dead time (like on holiday on the sun lounger, on planes, or even, you know, on the bog), so as someone whose gaming time is being eaten into all the time at home, the PSP has come at exactly the right time. Being able to hone my Pro Evo skills on the tube might actually give me a chance to beat Mugs for once.

Aligned directly to this point of being able to squeeze in some time with Sony's baby on the move is the PSP's non-gaming functions. Although some claim that putting MP4 movies on the PSP is fiddly, it really isn't, and I'll provide a handy blow-by-blow guide later this week to show you exactly how easy it is to do. Once you've gotten over the slightly unintuitive learning curve, the ability to watch your favourite episodic TV show or movie on the move is a godsend.

Sure, other machines do this sort of thing better, and have far better file format support, but none of them have a screen like the PSP's, and none of them double up as a gaming system anywhere near as proficient as this.

I'm certainly not complaining that I can also store a bunch of MP3s on there, and keep a store of my favourite photos to amuse friends and family with whenever I see them. Of course you can do all of these things on other devices, but I'd much rather walk out of the house with just one machine tucked in my jacket pocket knowing that during my five hour return trip to see Norwich City will dissipate in a blur of Virtua Tennis, and assorted TV shows and the odd movie. I actually look forward to those train journeys now, safe in the knowledge that my lovely girlfriend can't interrupt me, or tell me off for watching a scary movie that she doesn't approve of. Even the recent hour-long delay last weekend was no bother as it merely meant I got further into my game.

As for the issues concerning the build quality and the fragile screen, I've personally never had a sticking button, never had the nub fall off or scratched the screen despite having taken it out on countless occasions. Of course, the same argument could be applied to not owning a nice shiny new car and keeping it in the garage at all times. If you buy nice shiny new things you have to take extra special care of them, so I take extra special care of the PSP. Seriously, it's not an issue. Yes, if you drop it it's not going to fare too well; but use the hand strap every time you play it. Make sure it's always in the case when you're not using it, and definitely do not leave it on a sandy beach for the love of God!

Battery life is another contentious issue. Many critics point out that Ridge Racer sucks the life out of the system to the tune of three and a half hours, which isn't going to help you on a long haul flight. Well, I suppose the first thing to note there is that not many gamers are that obsessed to play games for an entire transatlantic flight, and if they are they can always buy a back up battery, or, you know, watch an in-flight movie. In my own personal experience, the battery life is perfectly fine for day to day use; five hours (give or take) is fine for most hardened commuters, and once you get into the habit of charging it when you get home (like your mobile phone) it's really not an issue. Repeatedly droning on about battery life is as useful as criticising a mobile phone that you can't talk on continuously for eight hours. Most of us don't and won't ever use a PSP continuously like that, and so that's good enough for me.

Far more pressing than battery concerns are upgrading the PSP's Memory Stick storage, because without a decent-sized card, the PSP's functionality is slashed at a stroke. A 1GB card is definitely recommended here as it provides an excellent amount of storage for full length movies and several album's worth of MP3s as well as photos, and still have room to spare. More is a bonus, but they're perilously expensive at this point and for the money you'd be better off buying a dedicated media player with a whacking great hard disk and an extra bag.

One thing that I find utterly irrelevant, though, are UMD movies. What the hell was Sony thinking? Who in their right minds is going to spend more on a UMD movie than a DVD just to watch something that's probably been stripped of the extras? With games costing way more than they should already (for the time being, at least), I very much doubt people will have too much cash left over to buy UMD movies into the bargain. Maybe there are enough stupidly rich people out there to make it worthwhile, but my feeling is that once people realise how easy it is to convert their DVDs to mp4s they won't be so keen to shell out for UMDs.

On balance, though, I'm totally in love with the PSP. It's not perfect, admittedly. The loading times are a real pain in the butt on certain titles, but that appears to be more of an issue with developers not having sussed out the best way to program for the system at very short notice than anything inherently wrong with the hardware. Time will be the judge on that score, although there's no denying that it could be better. Even so, the level of quality of some of the games on the PSP, combined with all the extra functionality makes it an essential purchase to me. I should add that I love my Nintendo DS as well, but these days my PSP is increasingly the one I take out of the house. Whether you choose to buy one is a matter you'll be wrestling with right now, but I certainly couldn't do without mine right now.

PlayStation Portable is out now worldwide. For an alternative take, you can find Tom's thoughts on it here.

Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (85) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • squaylor #1 7 years ago

    What's David Bentley like Kristen? Rovers just signed him on loan.

  • Eraser #2 7 years ago

    It's still at least €250, ex. game / memory stick

    Far too much IMO. The 30 minutes I spend sitting in a noisy bus on my way to work doens't really allow for comfortable movie watching on a relatively tiny screen. For MP3 playback I've already got an iPod mini, with an infinitely larger storage capacity and battery life.

    Short battery life is not as big an issue as many people make it, that's right, but I charge my mobile phone about once a week, my iPod even fewer than that and my DS also about once a week. At any time of the day, whenever I take my DS with me, I can be sure it'll have enough battery power to last me to whereever I'm going (which, I have to admit, is not further than about 1,5 hours when I go to my girlfriend). But the point is that I don't have to worry about the battery. As soon as my DS' power indicator turns red, I know I still have a good 30 minutes of 3D play left. If that's not enough, I pop in a game like Warioware or Yoshi Touch & Go, and the 2D graphics will drain the battery even less. It is an advantage. But admittedly, not a solid reason not to get a PSP.

    My primary reasons are first the fact that I already own a DS. I don't feel the need for a second hand held. The DS still interests and challenges me, and there's a good amount of fantastic games still to come for it. Second reason is that I find the PSP far too expensive. Third reason are the games. Right now there's only one that interests me, and that's Mercury. Sure, better games might come out in the future, but by that time, the console might already have dropped €50 in price.

    So my final take on it is, I won't buy it.... yet.

    Maybe once there's better games and it's cheaper.

  • myrmican #3 7 years ago

    Barely any system's launch line-up ends up being that memorable

    Tetris. Super Mario 64. Halo. Sonic, to name four.

  • krudster #4 7 years ago

    Bentley? Uncommitted, drifts in and out of games, lightweight, good passer but nowhere near strong enough to impose himself on midfield. Did us no favours last season, although some of that was down to fighting back from injury in the latter half.

  • krudster #5 7 years ago

    Launch line-up, as in the 'line-up'. Of course we can always remember the odd killer app.

  • myrmican #6 7 years ago

    Ridge Racer (PS1), Super Mario Bros (NES) - Weren't all of those launch titles? (and frankly I'd include Soul Calibur for Dreamcast too, certainly in Europe)
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/05 @ 08:45

  • krudster #7 7 years ago

    You misunderstand me. I mean the launch "line-up" as a whole, the games that came out at launch, not individual stand out titles *in* the line-up.

  • Psi #8 7 years ago

    na ill go out and get a DS before this one

  • myrmican #9 7 years ago

    Oh, fair enough, I got confused cos I wouldn't assess the line-up as a whole. Personally I've never bought a bit of hardware unless there was a game I really wanted to play on it.

  • V0oD0o #10 7 years ago

    Why do people keep banging on about the DS when the review is about a PSP? If you have a DS, then play it and keep quiet about why you won't be buying a PSP because of XYZ compared to the wonders of the DS.

    The PSP is what it is. You can't compare against something so completely different. Of COURSE the battery life on the DS is better than that of the PSP when the DS' resolution is lower, the triangles are fewer, the colours are fewer, the processor is slower, the memory is smaller.

    Some people are happy to charge their PSP every day, I know I do, I dock it when I get home, the same as I do my phone and ipod. I'm happy to do this because of all the things I can do with it, games, movies, MP3s - without add-ons or hacks.

    Oh and hacks, with a hacked PSP, I can play all my old Nintendo/Sega/Mame/etc/etc favourites on the move too!

    It's almost a goddamn handled PLAYSTATION2 for crying out loud. Do you people not see this? Can you not see what a marvel of modern technology this is? Just because it isn't the handheld YOU PERSONALLY OWN, doesn't mean it's shit.

    If you want the newest technology the moment it hits the shelves, then be prepared to pay the price. All you ever hear when a new bit of gaming kit is releases is "It's good, but I'll wait until the games are better and the machine is cheaper." Thats, fair enough, if thats what you want to do, just don't bitch about it to the rest of us who are happy playing our fantastic launch titles (Wipeout Pures, Lumines, Mercury, Virtua Tennis) when you're stuck without.

    Good day to you all.

  • Eraser #11 7 years ago

    Voodoo, that's a bit of a self centered statement.

    For me personally, pricing IS a factor that weights in heavily when I decide whether I do or do not want to get a PSP. If I count up the positives and negatives of the PSP, the positives don't weigh up to the negatives.

    The reason I mention the DS is to illustrate what I expect of a handheld. To determine what's good and what's not about the PSP, there should be a benchmark to compare to.

    If the PS2 was the only console to exist this past generation, everyone would've bought it simply because there's nothing to compare it to, and that automatically makes it the best thing. But now that we have the choice, it's only natural to compare the different systems and pick the one that's most suitable for me personally.

    The PSP isn't a shit system. I don't call it a shit system. I find Sony's achievements highly impressive. You can't deny that the PSP is incredibly impressive. But all of the horsepower inside doesn't do it for me personally. The games don't tickle my imagination, but the DS games do. If I didn't have a DS, I'd probably be much quicker to buy a PSP, simply because I have this hand-held hole to fill. Currently, the hole is completely filled up with DS goodness, so yes, while they're two completely different systems, I simply see no reason to buy a PSP, certainly not at that price and certainly not because it doesn't seem half as interesting as the DS to me.

  • drumbaby #12 7 years ago

    It's also a terrible analogy ;)

  • krudster #13 7 years ago

    "I don't know of anyone who'd even dream of talking on their phone for eight hours in a row."

    Let me introduce you to my family...

  • V0oD0o #14 7 years ago

    Eraser, thats fair enough dude, it is, after all, a completely personal choice and I salute you for making it.

    My rant wasn't really aimed at you, it was aimed at all the dough-heads who I've seen moaning on about that issue because they've already bought a DS and now can't afford or can't justify a PSP, so they have to pull everything out of the hat to state why the DS is BETTER than the PSP, just to make themselves feel better.

    I really couldn't give a monkies which is better, there will ALWAYS be the whole Nintendo vs Sony and now vs Microsoft (but not so more vs Sega) and there will always be fanboys, I just love my PSP because it's shiny and new and state of the art and I had one before all my mates bwahahahaha. (I have Magpie Syndrome, the shiner the better.)

    I apologise if it appeared as if I was getting at you, I wasn't, I just read the word DS and saw red. ;)

  • sephy #15 7 years ago

    Tetris. Super Mario 64. Halo. Sonic, to name four.
    Sonic was NOT a launch title, it was the following year (assuming sonic 1 and not Adventure)

    I still haven't played Lumines but like the sound of it,
    criminal
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/05 @ 09:26

  • krudster #16 7 years ago

    Tell me about it. Still, it something to look forward to on those train journeys...

  • Eraser #17 7 years ago

    hehe that's allright Voodoo.
    Even if you were trying to go after my tail, it's a discussion forum (well, sort of) and that's what it's here for.

    I have had various moments where I considered buying a PSP. Mostly so when I actually saw it in a shop here in the Netherlands a few weeks ago. But I just wasn't sure if I could justify it for myself (I had actually picked up Polarium and Yoshi Touch & go for my DS and some other stuff for my PC, so I was already in the state of hitting myself in the head calling myself a "weak pathetic fool who can't resist the temptation of more stuff";). So there you go. I'm waiting a bit to see where the PSP is heading and maybe I'll get one some day.

  • zErOb_cOOl #18 7 years ago

    Well said Voodoo.

    I'm waiting for the price of the PSP to come down first though, as well as the price of a 1GB stick (what,..£230??). IMO it is no way worth the price of a basic 360, even though its a great portable all-in-one system.

  • Furbs #19 7 years ago

    Where the hell are you getting a 1gb stick for £230?? Is it gold plated?

  • Eraser #20 7 years ago

    "Where the hell are you getting a 1gb stick for £230?? Is it gold plated?"

    lol, I think he's getting the one that's set with diamonds.

    odd question maybe, but why is it called DUO ?

  • sephy #21 7 years ago


    512Mb stick £60+
    Screen protector £10+
    512mb stick=£40
    Screen protectore=£6

  • Furbs #22 7 years ago

    Everyone probably knows this, but if you pick up a game in Woolworths today, you can get a SanDisc 512mb stick for halfprice (£30).

    /makes another trip to town at lunch time to get a screen protector on sephys recommendation.

  • Syneisha #23 7 years ago

    Cheapest I've seen a 1gb stick for is around £90, which is half the price of a PSP and nearly the same as a new DS. I don't want to have to spend that much to get the most out of a new handheld :(

  • Dr_Actually #24 7 years ago

    "One thing that I find utterly irrelevant, though, are UMD movies. What the hell was Sony thinking? Who in their right minds is going to spend more on a UMD movie than a DVD just to watch something that's probably been stripped of the extras? "

    But they're selling actually very nicely over in the US

  • sephy #25 7 years ago

    Hint for cheaper mem sticks: Dont buy in retail stores

    surely this is common sense?

    1gb sticks go for £80 on Play, but ebay can get you them for £50-60

  • Dizzy #26 7 years ago

    >I'm actually using a multimedia handheld for pretty much all the things Sony designed it for.

    I guess you haven't seen a real multi-media machine.

    If you want a games machine PSP might be a good choice when the good games finally start to appear. If you want to watch movies, play mp3s and watch piccies, it is a totally rubbish choice sadly. I also wanted PSP for that, but have moved away from the PSP a long time ago. It looks great, has a sexy screen but sadly is a deeply flawed machine.
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/05 @ 09:55

  • krudster #27 7 years ago

    Heh, the good games *are* there already. 4 or 5 available day one? That's more than enough.

    I agree, there are better multimedia machines, I admit that, but I want one I can play VT and Everybody's Golf (and eventually GTA) on. That's the clincher. That's the reason the PSP comes with me most times I leave the house and get on the tube...
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/05 @ 10:08

  • #28 7 years ago

    I think that's a pretty strong launch line-up (9 months delay for the hardware notwithstanding).

    Also, what's wrong with PS2 ports (as long as they're done intelligently with regard to loading times)? Afterall, we have many a classic ports on GBA - Super Mario World/2/Super Mario Bros. 3 to name but three.

  • TripSkyway #29 7 years ago

    Being able to carry this one gadget with all the features in it is great. Inclusive MP3, video and games, in theory means less for me to cram into my pockets. But the stand out feature, it's enormous screen is also it's largest problem – the PSP is to big to comfortably fit in my pocket. So I take my bag around with me, but then I could be taking a specialised MP3 player and my DS which I enjoy the games on more. The PSP is great fun especially Everybody’s golf, but its portable gaming not pocket gaming which for me limits it’s use to planned journeys. So for times when I don’t want my bag with me I’m left with comfortable games option for my left pocket, my n-gage – if only it had an MP3 player.

  • sephy #30 7 years ago

    mo - but most people complaining about ports will be Ds owners. You know, the same people who bought a 7yr old game in Mario64, and a port of a shareware/freeware game in Zookeeper.

    of course for them its different ¬_¬

    :p

  • krudster #31 7 years ago

    Hint: wearing jackets with inside pockets is recommended for PSP owners to be! They also generally fit in your front jeans pocket, but that always looks a bit odd.

  • redd #32 7 years ago

    "It took me about seven months to take advantage of the fact, but the PSP is so much more than the games machine I bought it as, and for the first time in my life I'm actually using a multimedia handheld for pretty much all the things Sony designed it for."

    translates as: the games suck, but hey, it doubles as a super sized, hard disk depraved ipod.

  • zErOb_cOOl #33 7 years ago

    "Where the hell are you getting a 1gb stick for £230?? Is it gold plated?"

    I meant £230 for the PSP and the 1GB Mem Stick duo genius....and thats probably at best, and its still more expensive than a 360!

    This is really the minimum package you could have (PSP+1GB card) to get any decent use out of the PSP, if you load it with a movie/episodes/roms.

    The price really stinks IMHO.
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/05 @ 10:35

  • Aretak #34 7 years ago

    Gizmondo > PSP and DS

  • myrmican #35 7 years ago

    depraved ipod.

    [Iniago Montolya voice]
    I do not think that word means what you think it means
    [/voice]

  • krudster #36 7 years ago

    "translates as: the games suck, but hey, it doubles as a super sized, hard disk depraved ipod."

    Translates as "I haven't read Kristan's VT or Everybody's Golf review, or Tom's RR, Wipeout or Lumines reviews"

  • Derblington #37 7 years ago

    "I meant £230 for the PSP and the 1GB Mem Stick duo genius....and thats probably at best, and its still more expensive than a 360!"

    The thing is though you don't need a 1gb mem. stick so for £180 you're good to go. Ad a £30 game and your total is £210.

    The 360 is £210 for the useless pack, add a £35 game and a £30 mem. card and you're at £270 - the price of the standard pack. Buy the standard pack and add a £35 game and you're at £305.

    The conclusion is you're a muppet and didn't work out the pricing before you shot your gob off. The price of the PSP isn't cheap but it doesn't "stink".

  • Dizzy #38 7 years ago

    >depraved ipod

    Shhhh! Don't mention *that* word where Sony people might be hanging out. Scares them shitless.

  • eblind #39 7 years ago

    I'm not going to buy it, unless that ~250€ is falling right to my hand when I'm looking at PSP... There is far better ways to spend money than on PSP.
    Seriously PSP is way too expencive! and I don't see any need to watch movies everywhere I go and there is Palms and cells for www if needed.
    IMO PSP lacks also innovativeness. There isn't anything that some other device wouldn't offer already.
    TIP to Sony's desingers: Get a design sense, PSP is ugly and boring.

    Sorry for spelling mistakes if there's such.
    --
    http://www.freepgs. com/blind/wpr/
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/05 @ 11:55

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #40 7 years ago

    "but most people complaining about ports will be Ds owners. You know, the same people who bought a 7yr old game in Mario64,"

    People do need to stop saying stupid things like this, y'know. Mario 64 DS is a very substantially different game to the N64 version, it just has some of the same levels (and even many of those play very differently in the DS game, due to the character caps and so on). Frankly, they could probably have run up pretty decent sales figures just by releasing the 30 mini-games as a compilation on their own.
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/05 @ 12:27

  • Psi #41 7 years ago

    the psp is selling for around £100 on ebay atm. what's the deal with that?

  • zErOb_cOOl #42 7 years ago

    "The thing is though you don't need a 1gb mem. stick so for £180 you're good to go. Ad a £30 game and your total is £210.

    The 360 is £210 for the useless pack, add a £35 game and a £30 mem. card and you're at £270 - the price of the standard pack. Buy the standard pack and add a £35 game and you're at £305.

    The conclusion is you're a muppet and didn't work out the pricing before you shot your gob off. The price of the PSP isn't cheap but it doesn't "stink"."

    How did I not work out the price right?

    I said it costs £230 for the PSP and a 1GB stick, and that is generous, as only eBay or somewhere will have a 1GB stick for £50!

    I didn't say it would cost the same as a 360 and a game, just a 360. We are talking a next gen console here. It was a simple comparison you prick.

    I'd have expected a portable console, with similar graphics to the PS2 to have come out months ago really. Oh wait, it did, in the US and Japan, and for less money. THE PAL PSP IS A RIP-OFF...at the moment.

    And yes you do need a 1GB mem stick, just to justify spending £180 on a games console less powerful than a PS2. Everybody, including EG, have said the PSP is not just about games by any means, its about giving you an entire multimedia package on the move. I never said you need a game for your PSP did I?...just a mem stick duo.

    You sir are a muppet.

  • killyourtv #43 7 years ago

    what's this about you seeing GTA. Are we gonna get a preview?

  • Fuser #44 7 years ago

    I've had mine for a while now - the best thing I found has been the emulation scene: I just finished Super Star Wars and am moving on to Chrono Trigger next. And Doom/Doom2 plays lovely - just right. So I've got my fave games, photos and albums with me at all times (- the sound output is very good btw) as well as Star Wars (movie) - all on a 512mb card.
    Genius.

  • Tyronne #45 7 years ago

    Upon reading all this is still does not make me want to get a psp and since their release last night my life has not ended because I did not buy one.To be honest it just seems a case of marketing something as a must have thing when it is not.

  • joey #46 7 years ago

    Look elsewhere on this site and you will find out why people are actually buying this, and it's got nothing to do with the games or the DS.

    It looks cool, the country is a wash with 20-30ish T3 and Stuff readers who still have not yet managed to max out their credit cards, and have been told it's the best so they are going to buy it. Even que for 12 hours to get it, quite incredible, and good luck to Sony (they bloody need it!)

    Am I a DS hugging fanboy? Yes I am, do I want to become a PSP hugging fanboy - yes I do, I'm just pennyless and bitter!!

  • Feanor #47 7 years ago

    I see the point of UMDs - if they were US $10 like they should be seen as how they have no extras compared to DVD movies, instead of US $15 to $30.

    Lumines is overrated, Kristan, so you're not missing out on much, IMO. Having to restart the Vs. CPU mode from the very beginning every time is one of the most pointless and annoying game design choices ever.

    Best Buy here in Delaware, USA had 1GB PSP memory sticks on sale for only US $100, but we've just spent over a grand on vet bills for our new puppy so I couldn't make myself buy one.
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/05 @ 14:27

  • ShekkyBoy #48 7 years ago

    If you are looking for a PSP but are wary of the price, you can buy it for £145 here:

    http://tinyurl.com/d9ukz

    Newcomers to the site get 20% off their first purchase (spotted over on Hexus.Bargains).

  • zErOb_cOOl #49 7 years ago

    Sorry my bad, is that with the %20 off?
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/05 @ 14:48

  • Derblington #50 7 years ago

    Zerob, my point was that for £180 you can already use the PSP for a number of things. Add a 1gb stick and you can do much more of those things. Add a £30 game and you can play games right out of the box.

    The 360 is £210 for the useless pack - buy it and it'll sit under your tv doing nothing. So the comparison is fairly pointless.

  • Xerx3s #51 7 years ago

    - Cant watch films while driving (heh, well you can, but the police arnt that happy about it).
    - Got an Ipod for mp3's.
    - Got a gbDS for gaming while away.
    - The gbDS costs about 145 € atm, has better games and more functionality.
    - Like to be treated like a customer and not like a criminal by the company who sells me these products.

    Why on earth would I buy this?

  • MORZTAN #52 7 years ago

    Everybody will buy this... Sad but True "Da Da DADADA"

    Cause it's so hip. Can't you all see how hip it is?

  • kaisersose77 #53 7 years ago

    For the love of jeebus! will the DS fanboys stop posting, we get the message you love your DS and hate the psp. You dont have to let us know about it in every thread. You must not be getting much use out of your DS since you seem to spend all your time saying the psp is **** . People actually like games like Virtua Tennis and Pro Evo etc more than any DS game and even if those games are released on the DS there will be no comparison. I have never played a DS and probably never will, but I'm not going to bad mouth it. The games i like will be great to play on the PSP, end of story.

  • zErOb_cOOl #54 7 years ago

    Derb, I know the PSP is portable, and its very good that something a bit less powerful than the PS2 can be so small (although the PS2 slimline isn't far off the PSP's size really!), but for an extra £30 you can get a next-gen console! The technology of the processor, for example, is far and beyond that of a PS2, never mind a PSP!

    And what the hell can you do with a standard PSP for £180 with no game/ decent sized mem stick?! Listen to 6 MP3's or watch Donnie Darko? Neither thanks.

    If it came down to:

    PSP + Game = £210 or

    PSP+1GB memory = £250 (note 1GB mem = a generous & realistic £70)

    or alternatively

    Basic 360 + Game = £260

    ...I'd have to go for the 360.


  • zErOb_cOOl #55 7 years ago

    "For the love of jeebus! will the DS fanboys stop posting, we get the message you love your DS and hate the psp. You dont have to let us know about it in every thread. You must not be getting much use out of your DS since you seem to spend all your time saying the psp is **** . People actually like games like Virtua Tennis and Pro Evo etc more than any DS game and even if those games are released on the DS there will be no comparison. I have never played a DS and probably never will, but I'm not going to bad mouth it. The games i like will be great to play on the PSP, end of story"

    I have neither, and I do believe this is the comments section on a EuroGamer article, the sub-sentance on the article asking "Is the PSP worth buying right now?"

    I think these comments are 100% relevant to the comments section, and are worthy arguments against buying one now.

  • Derblington #56 7 years ago

    "Basic 360 + Game = £260"

    Plus a £30 mem. card = £290.

    Still though they are 2 very different things (I'll be having both).

  • tengu #57 7 years ago

    What the hell has the 360 got to do with anything?

  • AOFanboi #58 7 years ago

    <em> Well, I suppose the first thing to note there is that not many gamers are that obsessed to play games for an entire transatlantic flight, and if they are they can always buy a back up battery, or, you know, watch an in-flight movie.</em>

    EuroGamer in "defects that can be worked around aren't defects" shocker.

    Of course battery life isn't a problem when you aren't using the device! But that's not a good argument! "Yes, the car's manual shift is cranky, but that's not a problem when it's parked, which it often is."

  • zErOb_cOOl #59 7 years ago

    "What the hell has the 360 got to do with anything?"

    Quite a bit actually, for people who can either afford a similar priced PSP or a 360 they must choose.

    Derb,

    PSP + Game +Memory card = £280

    So only £10 in it in the end, and if you opt for the 360 you get next gen gaming technology, although a little less memory.

    I see your point though. Silly to compare the two as they both meet slightly different needs.

    They are linked financially though, as are they cheap/good enough to sway otherwise 360 buyers to buy a PSP instead?

  • zErOb_cOOl #60 7 years ago

    "Seen the White PSP in Edge this month. Wants :o) "

    Why??! If you were getting a new car would you ask for it in white? I would get any colout but. Its probably the worst colour for a car, apart from that horrible salmon pink that some people feel the need to colour their car with.

    I can't understand why its a desired colour.

  • abacabb #61 7 years ago

    ipods in white...good.... tracksuits in white...cheap

  • #62 7 years ago

    Personally I just find the PSP to be a great time killer for me.

    I can read books, play mp3s, watch movies, play PS2 games, play old classics and even Sam and Max.

    I could do almost all those without a PSP, but I'm also never without Lumines and wipeout... plus whatever is in the UMD slot.

    For me that's excellent value.

    but just to state the obvious to all the fan boys YMMV

    /Oh and running almost everything off memstick really helps battery life.
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/05 @ 16:25

  • zErOb_cOOl #63 7 years ago

    I don't think any car looks good in white, but thats my opinion I suppose. Actually an Evo looks ok in white, better in black though.

    Think this 'iPod-is-white-so-anything-white-is-cool' phase has gone on far too long already.

  • Sfamato #64 7 years ago

    I bought one today, and im loving it. Brilliant machine!

    All I'm saying.

  • dllord #65 7 years ago

    I'll wait for the 360 thankyou very much!

  • chronom4n #66 7 years ago

    all i can say is this... i own a psp and decided that it is worth paying the extra £30 for an extra 2 years breakdown cover. also what other piece of kit allows u to watch, listen and play? people are, i think forgetting what a fantastic piece of kit we are being offered. it is just a relef that we are at last having the chance to play cool games without hogging the tv. all those out there who want it you can have it. and as fatboy slim said, 'RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW' just one word of caution to all psp owners, be careful that it does not get stolen.

  • Teeth #67 7 years ago

    He didn't say that, he only sampled it.

  • zErOb_cOOl #68 7 years ago

    chronom4m:
    "also what other piece of kit allows u to watch, listen and play?"

    The Gizmondo? The Zodiac? Even a bloody PDA to an extent.

  • Zuiyo #69 7 years ago

    I don't charge anything daily. My mobile lasts about 4 days without charging, as anyone's mobile.

    But we are talking about a games machine. It should last longer than a phone, because you don't use it all the time like a phone. So whenever you have the urge, it should be ready, and give you enough time. Like the DS or the GBA.

  • Derblington #70 7 years ago

    "people sitting on buses with white ear phones, bet they think they are cool.

    may as well put a sign on saying I am a technology whore who knows nothing and got ripped off due to my ignorrance in not looking into the fact there are better, cheaper and more flexible Mp3 players on the market."

    Is it not tiring being such an ignorant moron? Plenty of people have them for reasons different to the crap you wrote above - my GF for example; I looked into them for her as I bought it as a pressie. There are plenty of other models that do more things for less money but she wanted an mp3 player, nothing more, and the iPod does the job perfectly, and the Apple marketing people have done a good job; people know what an iPod is and people want things they know. I could have bought her any of them but a number of factors made me get the iPod. When/if i buy one I'll probably get one too as I like them, and not because I think they'll make me look cool.

  • drumbaby #71 7 years ago

    "people sitting on buses with white ear phones, bet they think they are cool. "

    People coming on forums and making generalised statements like the above, bet they think they're cooler than cool....

  • Teeth #72 7 years ago

    I have an iPod and I know I'm fucking cool, bitches!!!

  • Yonda1me #73 7 years ago

    I already have one and i can say i`m very pleased (ridge racer is fantastic)

    I must say its expensive though

    PS : Does anyone know if bleach will come out in europe

  • brombeer #74 7 years ago

    I have both, PSP and DS. But for me, the PSP is the better one. Great machine, love Wipe Out and Lumines! Finally I won't have to fight my wife who gets to play on TV! My advice: buy it, it's well worth it!

  • BLACKSHEEP #75 7 years ago

    I hope a future firmware or even UMD HD loader type disc would enable a game to be run from memory card in part like a cache or entirety(SP?) to save on battery usage and load times!!!

    Surely 1GB+ Duos will come down to a reasonable £30 price as the PSP starts to really shift numbers???

  • MickK #76 7 years ago

    Too expensive for the money!!! About EUR500 to get yourself up and running. I think i'll wait for a new console, or a fancy graphics card for my PC, i'll get more out of them.

    Handheld gaming has always been about really good game play and none of the fancy graphics fluff. I tried a PSP a couple of months ago and while the graphics looked good initially, i found the screen size too small for the amount of stuff going on in the screen. I would imagine people getting sick of these really quickly as you can't play them for long periods of time.

  • captainrentboy #77 7 years ago

    I agree with some of the other comments floating around,in that with the money i'd spend on a psp right now I could almost kit myself out with everything I need for the xbox 360 come christmas.I'm not saying the psp is crap,I always play on it in work whenever I get the chance,but with the 360 on the horizon the thought of having that excites me a lot more.Excites me almost to the extent of messing myself actualy..All i'd use a psp for is the games,I already own a sexy sony mp3 player see,and the games at the moment are sadly nothing more than rehashes of old ps2 titles:/So what would be the point in owning one?But to all of you out there with one,you have fun now y'hear?
    Ohh and for the guy above hoping the duo cards will drop to £30 for a 1GB stick eventually i'll say this,have you seen the price on an 8mb,YES 8MB,memory card for a ps2?Has it ever lowered in price,even remotely in it's 5+ yr ilfespan?Err no.

  • brombeer #78 7 years ago

    I still enjoy the PSP and will enjoy it in the time too come. You try playing PS2 games with two small children hovering about and a wife who wants to see her 'infotainment' on TV. So the PSP is a gift sent from heaven for me. And I like it. A lot.

  • tengu #79 7 years ago

    All the comments dropped in here about how "I'd sooner wait for the 360" smack a little of insecurity to me.

  • Furbs #80 7 years ago

    Xavier gonna kick yo ass...

  • tengu #81 7 years ago

    I'll take him on any time!

  • Carrybagma #82 7 years ago

    A bag of marbles is better value for money and has more colours and more games available for it.

    A pack of cards is even better value for money and the games are backwards compatible with earlier versions of packs of cards. It will also play earlier games! You can also connect two packs of cards to play wireless multiplayer games.

    Therefore, buy an XBOX360 and play Nintendogs.

    (Hope that makes no sense)

  • brombeer #83 7 years ago

    All these people disagreeing probably can't afford one? I don't know what's all this about bad games. I own four now and I play them to death. They are very good. You just save for your Xbox360, but you'll be missing out on an incredible experience.

  • pac666 #84 7 years ago

    Price is too much; £200 with game. When it gets to £99 I'll have one. Tried Wipeout and Ridge Racers in Game and was very, very impressed, but not £200 impressed. The 360 is waiting for my money ;)

  • GitSomE_UK #85 7 years ago

    /hugs PSP