PSP & DS clones arrive in force
Of course, the only thing that surprises us about all this is that it's taken this long for the first Nintendo DS
rip-off to appear (we already spotted the first PlayStation
Portable knockoff back in November). Note that the DS clone actually improves on the original by allowing you to
play two entirely different games at the same time (Soccer plus Street Fighter!).
[Via PortaGame]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
adam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
haha, two games at once.
man, technology. leaps and bounds!
Joey Geraci @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
How is that an improvement. I can multitask as well as the next guy, but playing two completely different games at once, that's kind of difficult.
I used to be excited about the psp, but it is gonna blow. I haven't anybody talking about Sony making the needed changes to the device for it to succeed in America, as in, increase battery life, fix loading times, secure the umd loading mechanism (no more flying disks); as far as I know, sony hasn't made any of these changes, so nobody other than sony fanboys are going to seriously consider buying this device.
Shmee150 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
In regards to the comment above, I know another PSP pro/cons arguement isn't always the best thing... but!!
YOU INSULT ME, my PSP lasts 12-13hrs with 2 battery, easy to change, Loading times aren't that bad, by the time your actually waiting its loaded, DISCS DO NOT FLY OUT! EVER! Unless you are trying to break the thing - as hard as I was willing to twist it, nothing happened. Just so you know I've had all the GameBoys on the day of release and thought until I read actual revies that the PSP wouldn't be a success. But I have Metal Gear, Ridge Racers, Puzzle Bobble and Puyo Pop Fever and it is amazing.
As to battery lifes, for some reason Americans don't care about that, or Apple would be failing, hint hint iPod, people choose an 8hr ipod over a 30hr sony player? ??????????
The PSP is the coolest bit of gaming kit that's every existed hands down, you would regret insulting it if you bought one.
ShMeE
darx @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
Its not like a battery weighs you down...especially a psp one.
Shmee150 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
Why are you argueing if you have one? It is 6hrs on mid brightness at RR and obviously less on full brightness, but you can get around 8hrs of puzzle bobble on mid brightness. Time it!
I didn't say no loading times, read it again! I said that they were short enough that it wasn't a problem. Before I got it I was worried about it, but when I play San Andreas which takes fooking ages to turn on it makes me think that the PSP is not a problem.
Now far more sensibly, if I'm going somewhere where I am going to play for more than 6hrs, I will be taking my Laptop, Camera, PDA, MP3, Change of Clothes, Shoes, blah blah so carrying 1 more little battery ain't much of a problem, but if for some reason it is flat and I am going out somewhere, I can swap the battery and go!!! Makes sense, it's only 30!
ShMeE
gamer786 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
yeah, absulutely right. I totally agree wiv u. Nintendo DS is all dorky and theres 2 many gizmos but psp, well, u just put it on and play or watch movies. easy.
Do u know which 1 is dominating the market at the moment?
Sonny Gotos @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
Actually gamer786, I do know which handheld is dominating the market: the Nintendo DS. Don't try to be a market guru when you can't spend enough time to spell "you". It's a little redundant assume that every person who looks for a handheld wants a convergence electronic. Sure, it would be nice to watch movies and play a game on a full battery charge, but it's obvious that this is not possible on the PSP without a second battery. Now, I'm not a fanboy, but from the way you type, I can deduce that you are.
Tim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
I just thought of a new benchmark test... The twist test!
"My keyboard can twist 1 inch!"
"That's nothing! Mine can go 2 inches before a key pops off!"
Really it's more of a feature... Would you rather the UMD shatter into a million pieces when you get so excited that you must contort your PSP into new shapes?
I have a few older MD players laying around, I just hope the PSP doesn't get the dreaded TOC errors!
Rootbeer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
people choose an 8hr ipod over a 30hr sony player? ??????????
Well, it's not like battery life is the only difference between Apple's stylish, trendy, iTunes-integrated, MP3-playing device and Sony's weirdo ATRAC-using abominations...
taylor @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
As the battlefield levels in the war for portable gaming dominance in Japan, Sony will be relieved, if not surprised, to see its PlayStation Portable edge ahead of Nintendos plucky twin-screened DS.
The most recent sales charts, concluding on January 16, show sales of PSP hitting 64,600, some way ahead of the DS, which sold 53,500 units.
It would seem that the lure of the Screen of God has proved too great to resist, in spite of the small number of quality titles for PSP being available right now.
The figure for Sonys machine also doesnt include the machines exported which account for significant sales in the US and Europe.
The DS can however claim a software victory in Japan's games chart, with Wario Ware: Touched! taking the number four spot, ahead of Super Mario 64 DS at number seven. There were two PSP titles to chart, Everybody's Golf Portable at number eight and Dynasty Warriors at number ten.
Zer0cool @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
Both systems are good i just don't want to use a touch screen as an extra button or analog stick or scratch up a nice screen while waiting for a game to load thinking $500 spent they both havfe their pros and cons the DS is too gimmicky and the PSP is too easy to damage for such an expensive gadget
George REdan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
Yeah, I think the DS is really gimicky. I tried to play it once, and it really sucked. I'd rather have a regular controller. I'm a big sony fan, but I do agree that the PSP has its faults, and it is a kind of expensive thing to break, along with battery restrictions, but my iPod has all the same problems, but I still love it like my child. I may be biased, but the DS is one huge gimick, and personally, it would be so much better if you didn't have to play mario by touching the freaking screen.
-Vizzue
aldrin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
how is carrying a tiny battery pack not portable? back when everyone carried around CD players didn't they carry around those AA batteries?
and another thing...the battery "problem" apparently isn't really a problem. while it would be better to have the battery last through longer cycles...three hours for games like ridge racers isn't that bad. i personally can't stand playing on a handheld for long lengths of time...so three hours is pretty long. nothing that a quick charge won't fix.
if you're stupid enough to twist your PSP enough that the UMD pops out...you're a moron.
Shmee150 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
A reply to No. 10 --> Sony's player in my opinion looks better, is just as stylish, smaller, lighter, plays MP3s with the same fast transfer rate, good Sony Connect incorporation, and best of all is not as common as an ipod. Just so you know, I have a 20gb ipod and the 20gb sony nw-hd3 and I know which one wins hands down... the Sony.
ShMeE
eyeball226 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
Reply to no.11 - Dude, that is the sales for a week, the DS has sold over 1.5 Million in Japan, the PSP, about 800,000. Hmm...
Tesla @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
A Handheld market where only one company is prevalent will of course generate sales, especially when you have so many versions of that junky game called Pokemon that every 8 year old has to have. Yes, DS supports GBA games (singleplayer I might add, because multiplayer is not supported) and I stress GBA because you're not gonna get a GB of GBC title to fit into the DS unless you shave the cartridge down on the corner (try putting a regular cartridge in and you'll see what I mean) and it won't even work once you get it to fit. Nintendo rushed to get the DS out and did not support it with any good new games in the states yet. I'll admit a few are on the way, which will make the DS more interesting (Warioware, Animal Crossing, a *new Zelda, a *new Mario) but they're no where near ready yet. But that's just a side note to this post. How many Nintendo Handhelds have there been so far? Let me count the ways(and I'll omit Virtual Boy cuz we all know what happened with that).
1-Game Boy
2-Game Boy Pocket
3-Game Boy Color
4-Game Boy Advance
5-Game Boy Advance SP
6-Nindtendo DS
and..... wait for it....a new Game Boy in 2006 (one year from now) being called the Game Boy Evolution. How quick will the few games for DS come out when they stop developing for that and they only make games for the new Game Boy? The DS will not be supported for connection to the Gamecube or the new Nintendo Console next year. The DS is just a stopgap for Nintendo to get a few bucks in hardware sales for the ppl who will buy a new handheld every year or two. I really want to believe Nintendo will support online play with the DS, but they released a network card for the Gamecube and never supported it, so I'll believe online play for the DS when I see it.
All in all, I'd rather have a handheld that's got enough hardware power to last more than a year or two, has a lot of quality 3rd party developers, a proven track record of *free* online gaming (Sony please read this and don't go the way of the XBox Live charging for online gaming) with some room for expandability on the same handheld (software updates and peripherals).
but I'll still probably get a DS (or borrow one) to play stuff like Zelda and Animal Crossing......
Zennikku @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
I can't comment on playing Mario with the touch screen, but WarioWare Touched is really fun.
gamer786 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
reply 2 num 8
HELLO! ur ur gonna bring a second battery if ur gonna b bothered to watch a long movie! duh! ur not gonna watch a movie for 5 minutes, ur probly on a long car journey, so ur gonna bring a second battery u thicko! And Nintendo DS is only dominated cos.... duh the PSP isnt out yet in some major countries. And some ppl spell you on the internet as "u" BECUZ its quicker and easier! check any message out, and plus ppl can still read it and dont spend a year typin it up in neat like you, so stop showin off and bein a mr. fancy pants! ( oh, i forgot, U R!)
gamer786 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
Num 8
if u think im a fanboy, y u even on here, cos
NEWSFLASH, we're talkin bout the psp and nintendo DS so shove off if u think everyone who types in a quicker way is a fanboy. y u even on here then?
zigg @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
#17:
Game Boy Evolution has not been announced. We only know that Nintendo is working on it, and various rumors have leaked about its capabilities from time to time.
It is definitely NOT coming out in 2006.
What is probably coming out in 2006 is Revolution, Nintendo's next home console.
Please try to get your facts straight. You've blown your entire "analysis".
Tesla @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
zigg
You contradict yourself by saying that a probability has to be a fact. You can't say that the next Game Boy is definitely not coming out in 2006.
The Revolution is probably coming out in 2006. The Evolution is probabaly coming out in 2006 as well.
My main point is that Nintendo keeps releasing handheld systems about every two years. I've heard it way too many times that the PSP was going to be over $300 and how Nintendo has never had a handheld over $150. Now it's more than likely the PSP will be less than $200. I'd easily pay $200 now instead of $150 and then another $100-$150 for the next Gameboy. Yes backwards compatible has always been incorporated into Game Boys, but with the changing media this trend has begun to quickly fade (need I remind you that the DS ONLY plays single player GBA and doesn't even touch GB or GBC). Nintendo should just start to rethink the stranglehold they assume they will still have on the handheld market. They thought they had that in the consoles and we all know what happened when they assumed that...
afam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
Most of the comments here have no basis. First the Psp is going to beat the Nintendo DS hands down. Its all about the aesthetics. In the long run, people would go for looks over functionality any day.. Need examples "take the ipod". I do not own a Nintento DS but I have played it a couple of times, I am no way inclined to buy that machine, the screen is on par with my brother's GBA and its bulky and dorky. and meteroid prime on touch screen sucks. Besides Nintento DS is a stop over, there wont be much support for it. Its Nintendo's way of making sure that Sony does not steal their market like they did before. In no way are they discontinuing the GB line. Thirdly have you seen the PSP. I can only think og two gadgets sexier. The ipod and Cowon iaudio m3. And the screen is just plain gorgeous. And its $200. I am a fashionista and I wont be caught dead with something not as half goodlooking..
fxxz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
Num 8
if u think im a fanboy, y u even on here, cos
NEWSFLASH, we're talkin bout the psp and nintendo DS so shove off if u think everyone who types in a quicker way is a fanboy. y u even on here then?
lime @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
at the moment im undecided as whether to get psp or ds. i think ds will be more entertaining eg. more mini games. but the psp has such gd graphics. i've played ridge racer on psp and super mario 64 on ds. cant really compare them though since they are both totally different games! i like the pictochat on the ds too. also some website (i think gamespot) did a psp battery life test and it was like 3 hrs 45 mins for ridge racer and only like 2hr something for wireless gameplay.
i think i'll probably get the ds because its more entertaining and can play on the wifi longer. the psp is pretty pricey too at almost double the price of the ds, in the UK anyway.
psp is great, but i have to go with ds on this one :D
jd2005 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
hi i am from the uk and in a wheelchair, i have coordination problems in term of my hands psp or ds?
gamer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
it depends. I wold recomend PSP, as you can use the thumb stick, but on DS you have to move your hands alot around the keys. PSP keys are small and close togther
Vador8088 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
I loved my DS I even waited out side of Best buys for hours because a friend who worked there gave me a tip that they would have some that day in the pre X-mas shortage
Mario 64 was a blast and I thought the graphics were amazing
Then I bought a PSP after playing Ridge Racer on the DS, then on the PSP! There simply no comparing the two! I sold my DS I just couldnt take it seriously after playing the PSP. I thought to my self I paid $150 for my DS and waited for months for new games to come out and they never did, well they did come out with a few but none I liked.
I thought I paid $250 for my PSP it already has a firm number of launch titles plays MP3 and Movies Spider man 2 look amazing. I have already been able to surf the net on it (thanks Wipeout) even chat with IRCall the cool things I hoped my DS would do but never did.
Guy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
numbers 20 and 24:
ok, admittedly, not all people who talk like that are fanboys, but on the whole they ARE 11-14 year olds who use aol and think it looks cool. So maybe get your daddy to remove your screen name until you learn to type good, yeah? :P
(slightly off-topic, but it had to be said)
Gamer786 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
yeah, like I said, not everyone is as stuck up as you mr. fancypants, sum kids shorten words, doesnt mean they cant spell you thick headed freak. I not on AOL, like you, and I didnt have 2 beg my parents to let me go online.
Only cos YOU look at the flippin sale figures for everything, we like the consoles. That doesnt class as fanboy- you fanboy.
So overall, looks like guy is a bit of a girl
now back to subject please?
benhc911 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
I find it amusing, the ranting of fanboys in the morning. I personally own both systems and love them for there own reasons. Yes nintendo plans on releasing another handheld, but did you miss the 20 plus news articles stating that the ds wasnt a gameboy. the ds is a new type of platform.
Comparing it to psp is like apples and oranges. Nintendo realizes that not everyone will buy a ds, because not everyone wants 2 screens and touch sensitivity. But the ds is geared to a different audience then gameboys. The next handheld will be a single screened no touch sensitivity GAMEBOY, not ds.
So everyone relax, its not like the argument over the abilities of handhelds is really that important to your life. In a few years every thing will be different and it wont matter. (if arguing does make your life important than you should see a councillor).
New games will keep coming out on the ds because it is different, and nintendo isnt stupid enough to alienate the people who do enjoy it (especially after the virtual boy fiasco). Many games are planed for both systems, and if you want to look at it, both systems are failures.
The psp sucks as an mp3 player, memory sticks are just too expensive. Photo viewer? dont even joke, it only load high quality on the area you are looking at, if you have to scroll it is blurry. Movie player? i can get a portable dvd player that can play the dvd's I have, on a larger screen, with better speakers for CHEAPER. And if you plan on movieing with the stick, again expensive and pretty overated. It doesnt have any amazing games yet (coded arms is coming, but fps without another analog... it will be harch, they said they will use the buttons as directions ie. x is down o is right etc, and auto aim to help with accuracy, auto aim destroys some of the skill, you can only get so good, because you dont have to be good)
The Ds doenst have enough games, the touching needs to be worked on, but it serves great for fps's assuming you get used to it it is the only alternative to an anolog stick on the right. If online support comes like they plan then it wont be too bad.
Wireless is overated if you think about it, when are you in a hotspot? for me, in my house, then it isnt portable is it? i could just sit down in front of an xbox and play halo on a bigger screen with better graphics. wireless isnt the BEST idea for portables.
No dont get me worng, you can also say that they are both amazing, I cant wait for animal crossing, metroid and the final fantasies for ds and the numerous ports for the ds. I realize that expecting console graphics in your hand is stupid and you should all realize that no system STARTS with tons of games (except reverse compatible ie. ps2, gba, ds). Things will pick up, and dont give up yet, people said that the xbox would suck. The envelope will be pushed and controls will be improved. As to battery life, I hope they release a better on for the psp for when games push the processor to the limits. I also hope that they program around loading times, and make it as seamless as possible.
Finally, remember that they are different machines, therefore they are for different people and there will always be disagreements. Both systems are flawed, ojne is cheeper, one is more powerful. And just relax the world wont end if nintendo OR psp dominates.
Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
agreed, and if any of you are out of your house where the charger is, and your playing for more than a few hours, U R C-R-A-Z-Y and OBSESED, yah its great but do you really plan on playing a psp game for 5 hours, or watching a movie twice!?
HSD @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
I think the DS handles great. Also, it will be awesome to use it like a PDA especially with the V Pocket software that is coming out. Also, the free online gaming will be awesome. You can't really say the graphics are crappy. I think they are great for a handheld.
There is no doubt the PSP looks good, but there will probably be a lot of duplicate games(one for the psp and one for the PS2). I'd rather have a DS for portable play and play games with superb graphics on a 30" screen.
nalley @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
all of you guys are crazy.the ds will not fail, and neither will the psp.all of you knocking one system only have the other system, and you think that just because YOU like it, the other will fail. sales don't count, because they are constntly changing and people won't buy two ds's or psp's. the fact is that neither will fail because the companies are too big to let it fail.everyone has said that the s-nes will fail, the n-64 will fail, the game boy will fail, the cube will fail. they didn't. so why do you guys still think that the new nintendo will fail? it's in competioton w/ sony? vise versa? the ds is making advancments in technology with two screens.it might be clunky, but wasn't the ancient arcade games? plus, every system has some games that suck. some more than others. (think n-gage) i have only the ds now, but i am planing on getting the psp. also, what is the deal with batteries? like two AA's are a lot to carry. nintendo has a "kiddy" rep, but does a rating make a game? would mario be better if it were rated mature? one last thing: all of you know that if you had the money, you would get both. but since you got only one, the other one is suddenly "inferior". you did this with the xbox/palaystation 2/ gamecube launch, and none have failed. you must have better things to do than try to convince others about one with wrong data and biased opinons. i do.
james @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
the psp is crud crud and more crud it is not just the touch screen is good about you play on advance wars dual strike and you will go for a nintendo ds
meeeee @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
whatever you said there, i think it sickens me... learn how to type, and psp kicks any bull shit from nintendo. so there you have it.
DiEsonyFanBoy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
it's good to see fanboy popping up everywhere even though the main topic is completely irrelevant.
g fiz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
i agree with what a few people have said here,
if ur weird enough to randomly twist your psp till the game pops out and shatters ur an absolute idiot no questions asked.
and as for my veiws on the psp, i think its great!....cant wait for xmas
ECM @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM
Two batteries?! It's supposed to be portable, i.e. slip it into your pocket and go. And 6 hours (on one battery)? Not on Ridge Racers, I can assure you of that. And no loading times? Have you played Vampire or Dynasty Warriors?!
I like the PSP (I paid a small fortune for mine), but let's come back down to earth, k'?