Is the PSP dead?

[Just Myself]

I ask this because my DS was lost/stolen a few months back and my parents recently asked if I wanted to replace it. I said possibly, but I wasn't sure since I didn't use it much in the first place, which got me thinking about PSP. It looks like I'd enjoy it more than DS, and a used one is the same as a used DS, so it's a possibility - But I don't want to buy a dead system. So can anyone tell me - Does PSP have a few more years left in it before it croaks or would it be more sensible to buy a new DS?

Cheers,
JM

[DarthPrime]

Personally I would get another DS, but thats based on my opinion of the game library.

UMD movies failed for Sony in my opinion, and the PSP hasn't been a very strong system with sales. I still think it may have a few years left in it. I haven't heard any announcements for a PSP 2 or a DS 2 so I think the current portables will be with us for a little while.

It really comes down to games. Which system has the games you want to play is the one I would get.

[MadonnasManOne]

Stick with the Nintendo DS. I actually bought a PSP on release day. I decided I wanted one of those, instead of a Nintendo DS. I must say, I only played it for a little while, and then it sat, collecting dust. It just doesn't have many games I can't get elsewhere. On top of that, all of the extra stuff really wasn't that great. So, I finally traded it in, and ended up getting a Nintendo DS Lite. I haven't regretted that decision. It has a great library of titles, and many titles that are exclusive to the DS. Plus, all of the great Nintendo titles.

So, I say get another Nintendo DS. PSP may sound great, but, it's nothing special, really.

[PixarFan2006]

Get another DS. They have way better games than the psp.

[2099net]

The problem with the PSP is, in some respects, the same as the PS3. It's just too powerful and fully featured for what it is. It's typically Sony thinking - engineer a stunning peice of kit with lots of bells and whistles, and people will want it. Which isn't exactly true. Or else we'd all have all the optional extras everytime we bought a new car. Price and suitability is also important.

The PSP maybe a portable device, but really, nobody who makes stuff for it treats it as one. The fact that it uses UMDs has two drawbacks - firstly, load times can be long and most certainly do interrupt the flow on multi-level games, but secondly and more importantly spinning the disc drains the battery. Quite a serious flaw for a portable device.

There's also the games, a vast majority of them are, more or less, ports of successful PS2 titles. The issue here is that games designed to be played on your television in the comfort of your own home should not be the same as games designed to be played "on the go". Nintendo understands this fully, it appears Sony (and EA, and others) don't. Just because the PSP can do epic, multi-hour spanning first person shooters - or adventures, or sport simulations doesn't mean these are what people want on a portable device. Often people want a game that can be picked up, played for a brief amount of time, and then put down.

Plus, the PSP only has 1 analog control stick, making most of the PS2 ports compromised in some respect - normally because little thought is put into making them work on the PSP.

That said, the PSP is a cracking machine - its also a media player remember? And you can even turn it into an internet phone or camera with additional software and/or accessories. If you have a PS3, you can set up your PS3 to play media from your PS3 anywhere over wireless internet connections (assuming your PS3 is online and your PSP is also online). That sounds quite exciting.

It's also the only machine that will run Silent Hill: Origins which does make me seriously consider buying one when the time is right (oh, to revisit Nurse Lisa, Dr Kaufman and others in an all-new adventure... how could Konami not put this on the PS2 as well?). I just think if you get one, you'll spend more time playing (and charging) it at home than actually "out and about".

[Just Myself]

Well, with the exception of Netty, this really didn't help much....

I know a lot of people prefer the DS, but it just didn't click with me much. Most of the time, I used it to play my GBA games, and even if I still had those, I could just buy a GBA.

I've always been more into Sony that Nintendo, or at least I was from 2000-2006, and I think I'd enjoy the PSP more than the DS. What I really wanted to know was if the PSP was a failed system, not because of the movies, but the games and the actual system. I don't want to buy another Sega Dreamcast is what I'm saying.

So does anyone know if this is a doomed console?

Cheers,
JM

[candydog]

My personal opinion on this is that any games console is made to do what it says it will do. It plays games. Think of what your favourite kind of game is and see which console offers more of these games.

On a large TV-connected console, I play games like Spyro and Kingdom Hearts, and go down the SONY route with a playstation 2.

For portable games I love the Pokemon RPGs so I go down the Nintendo route with a DS.

I'm not really into video games though - my brother gets much more use out of the PS2 than I do and I really only play a select few games, as it's very rare that I'll find a game that really appeals to me. I hardly ever buy video games. I probably buy only 2 or 3 per year. They're expensive and there just aren't that many out there that appeal to me enough to buy them.

[2099net]

The PSP hasn't performed as well as expected (mainly down to price I would expect), but I don't think you can call it a failed system. Go in any store over here, and the PSP games carried are numerous.

I would suggest you go into a store and take a good look at the games you can get. Not because they're limited, but just think to yourself - is there any benefit to buying this on a PSP, or would I rather play it on my PS2. (Of course, there's a few exceptions that are well worth having and PSP exclusives).

[PatrickvD]

the DS is simply a brilliantly designed system. Allowing a huge variety of games to be played on it. Its advantages over the PSP are similair to the wii situation right now. It's simply fun to play.

And I agree with netty, the ability to play ported over PS2 games on the PSP doesn't mean it's fun. They often don't work all that well. This is the brilliant thing about the DS, the games designed for it, or the ones ported over play extremely well. It lends itsself well for it. that's the big mistake that Sony made (and to a lesser extent are still making with the PS3)

[MadonnasManOne]

Well, with the exception of Netty, this really didn't help much....

I don't know what else you want us to say. You asked our opinions, and we gave them. I don't know how that could not be helpful?

It sounds to me like you want everyone to tell you to buy a PSP.

So, if you don't think you'll use the DS, then don't buy another one. If you think you'll use the PSP more, buy one. We can't tell you which one you are going to get more use out of. It's a personal preference. My personal preference, and experience (since I have owned a PSP), is that I play my DS Lite much more than I ever played the PSP. It's got the games I like, including online play via WiFi, and I've not regretted my decision to trade-in my PSP, and get a DS Lite.

[Just Myself]

Well, with the exception of Netty, this really didn't help much....

I don't know what else you want us to say. You asked our opinions, and we gave them. I don't know how that could not be helpful?

It sounds to me like you want everyone to tell you to buy a PSP.

So, if you don't think you'll use the DS, then don't buy another one. If you think you'll use the PSP more, buy one. We can't tell you which one you are going to get more use out of. It's a personal preference. My personal preference, and experience (since I have owned a PSP), is that I play my DS Lite much more than I ever played the PSP. It's got the games I like, including online play via WiFi, and I've not regretted my decision to trade-in my PSP, and get a DS Lite.

Well not to sound rude, I didn't ask for an opinion on which is a better system, I asked if the PSP was not going to be around much longer. I realize a lot of people prefer the DS, but I'm not one of them. If the PSP isn't going to be around much longer, though, I'll buy another DS or buy a GBA, since most of the games I played on there were GBA. I know I'd probably enjoy the PSP more, the games just appeal to me more. I just want to know if it's not going to be around much longer.

JM

[DarthPrime]

The PSP isn't going anywhere for the time being, so if you want one go ahead and pick one up. It is a good system, but has its flaws. Hey all systems have flaws though. With its price drops its not much more than a DS Lite now.

It want become another Dreamcast. On the Dreamcast topic... That was a excellent system, and a shame it had such a short life. Tons of amazing games as well. I remember reading a few reviews that compared Dreamcast to PS2 titles if they were available on both, and the Dreamcast usually looked better. I wished Sega would get back into the hardware business, but their last few attempts haven't worked out well for them.

[MadonnasManOne]

I know I'd probably enjoy the PSP more, the games just appeal to me more. I just want to know if it's not going to be around much longer.

JM

Then, go for a PSP. As for the question of if it will be around much longer, I can't answer that. My crystal ball is in the shop for repairs.

[Leonia]

The only good thing I've found with the PSP is the region-free ability. All of the PSP titles I've bought have been imports (two Japanese, one European).

That's not to say I don't hate the DS Lite, but with the DS the main focus is the games.

With the PSP it seems like it wants to be a game system, but a portable movie system, a music player, a doohicky with the ability to connect to teh Intarweb...makes me think the PSP has an identity crisis of sorts.

[littlefuzzy]

It want become another Dreamcast. On the Dreamcast topic... That was a excellent system, and a shame it had such a short life. Tons of amazing games as well. I remember reading a few reviews that compared Dreamcast to PS2 titles if they were available on both, and the Dreamcast usually looked better. I wished Sega would get back into the hardware business, but their last few attempts haven't worked out well for them.

I'm playing my Dreamcast right now!

Record of Lodoss War - 71 hours in, 100th level (maxed,) technically I could go fight the final boss right now, but I want to max out my equipment, explore the ice caves, maybe fight the 2 dragons, etc....

[Little Red Henski]

I say get a DS if you want to play modern games. I only use my PSP to watch converted movies, surf the net and to play homebrew. I'm thinking about getting a DS just to play some games.

[2099net]

Yes, the Dreamcast was/is my favourite system. It shouldn't matter if a platform has a future as long as there's game you want for it now. I don't regret buying and enjoying my Dreamcast for a single moment - mainly because the Dreamcast hosted absolutely flawless 2D Capcom fighting goodness, which has still to be beaten on any of the current systems.

Really Just Myself, the PSP isn't going away anytime soon. It has strong first party support from Sony, as well as strong support from all of the major names in the industry: Capcom, Konami, EA etc. While a lot of the games available for it today may not take adventage of the machine and its portable nature, there's nothing to say any games released in the future will.

There's talk of a revised PSP coming out soon which will boost the system. It also shows, if talk of improved battery performance are right, that Sony are aware of some of the flaws in the system and a looking to fix them. I've read on some forums the redesign is a sign of weakness and desperation on Sony's behalf, but I don't think this at all. After all, both the GBA and DS have been redesigned by Nintendo.

All you can do is look at the games available now, and decide if it's worth buying a PSP now based on the current catalog. If the answer is "no", then I doubt any games released in the next year or two will help change your mind. If the answer is "yes" then buy your PSP and have fun!

[littlefuzzy]

There's talk of a revised PSP coming out soon which will boost the system. It also shows, if talk of improved battery performance are right, that Sony are aware of some of the flaws in the system and a looking to fix them. I've read on some forums the redesign is a sign of weakness and desperation on Sony's behalf, but I don't think this at all. After all, both the GBA and DS have been redesigned by Nintendo.

Redesigns that keep all features, add new ones, and don't "fix what isn't broken" are great! look at the PS2 - Except for the loss of the hard drive option, the slimline PS2 is an improvement in every way! Built in ethernet, smaller footprint, progressive scan built in, and so on...

The GBA SP is lightyears ahead of the original GBA! It folds so your screen doesn't get scratched, has better battery life (and is a recharger instead of "AA" batteries,) has a built-in light, and is easier to handle. The DS Lite is the same way, smaller, better batteries and light, etc.

[Just Myself]

Well, I've decided I'm going to rent a PSP to see how much I like it, and if I enjoy it as much as I think I will, I will buy one unless I hear more about that revision thing.

Cheers,
JM

[2099net]

Rejoice JM! UMD Media is here to Stay. Panic over then?