RealView's V-Screen for PSP review
Back in the '80s there were plenty of attachments like this for the OG Game Boy and its ilk, most of which simply turned those green and black pixelated graphics into slightly bigger, slightly blurrier pixels. An improvement they were not, and so I hope you'll forgive us for having distinctly lowered expectations when we heard about the V-Screen from RealView. First impressions taking it out of the box didn't do anything to dispel those fears. Its bulk is considerable, easily dwarfing the original PSP-1000 we used for testing the thing -- you remember, the "before" model ahead of the PSP-2000's impressive weight loss.

It flips open to reveal a cavity into any of the pre-Go models can be slotted. Yes, this system is incompatible with Sony's latest sales phenomenon, but at this point we wouldn't exactly consider that a negative. Anyone who bought a Go is interested in slim design above all else, so those buyers will surely find the V-Screen's bulk especially distasteful. It more than doubled the dimensions of the chubby PSP-1000 and, since it has no room for storing games or anything else, it all seems a bit wasteful. And, with a design that's no sexier than one of those free velvet-lined reading glasses cases, it's not going to win anyone over for looks.
But does it work? Surprisingly, it's not as bad as we'd expected. No, it doesn't provide the "fully 3 dimensional experience" that the company originally promised, but even they've ramped that down somewhat, now merely promising a "really there" effect. That's not exactly truthful either, but it is kind of fun, warping and bending things as if the system's image was projected into a spherical screen. You feel compelled to tilt the system side-to-side to look around corners, and while that's partly because you have to if you want to see the extents of the screen (otherwise the edges are obscured), it does actually boost the immersion factor somewhat. However, it also reflects and distorts anything in the room, so turn out those lights.
Worth $40? Not really. It takes what was hardly a svelte system before and turns it into a brick -- a lightweight brick, but a brick nonetheless. If you're the sort who uses your PSP exclusively at home (and mostly in the dark), is willing to drop a couple Jacksons for a bit of a toy, and need the ultimate in immersion it might be worth a look. That said, we're going to go ahead and guess that isn't you.
Update: RealView wrote us to let us know this device has been delayed until a January release. Your stocking, like your hopes, has just been emptied.




























I'm sorry but this is way too bulky to play on the go.
Not as bulky as this piece of TAT.
its the mini Cyber FX! for psp
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ashens#p/u/27/jDEebdmfqpA
@ Name
That is exactly what I thought when I first saw the pics of this! Cyber FX FTL.
I had one of those for my old GameBoy but it also had some kick ass amplified speakers and a light too
http://cgi.ebay.com/Nintendo-Game-Boy-Original-System-1st-generation_W0QQitemZ150387409604QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20091109?IMSfp=TL091109201006r29747
"The PSP may be a lot of things to a lot of people, but it's not capable of pumping out images in 3D "
See Metal Gear Ac!d 2 and correct yourself.
Wow, just had a major flashback to my GameBoy magnifying attachment!
Beat me to it. I remember that thing...didn't it have a built in light as well?
@Nuggstein: Indeed, without one of those fancy "backlight" thingamajiggers, you needed that light in order to be able to see what the hell was going on.
I had a Nuby non-magnifying light for my GB that ran off 4 extra AAs. It was huge but when you wanted to play at night, you needed to come up with something.
Strangely, though, it was the original GBA that was most difficult to play because of light reasons. The GB was comparatively easy to see.
Exactly what I came in to say. I never had one because for some reason, my eyes adjusted just fine to the green hue of my original Game Boy (OK, OK, not original - I had the clear one released a few years later).
Man, I miss the Game Boy. I may have to dig my wife's out for a game of Super Mario Land 2.
I hated these things, I had to carry two backpacks to school, one for school, and the other for GameBoy/Games/Accessories/500 AA Batteries.
But after playing so many handheld games, I don't need a magnifier anymore, I have to wear glasses where MegaMan was etched into my left, and Sonic from the GameGear was etched on my right. I swear I can see MegaMan doing his little hurdle jump when I close my eyes.
Yeah I had one of those, I think it was called the Light Boy.
Gameboy flashback? How about a Brazil flashback! Didn't everyone in that movie have one of those on their computers?
The LightBoy has returned:
http://www.gamersgraveyard.com/repository/gameboy/peripherals/images/lightboy.jpg
Oh yes I also had one of this thing!
Yah, instant Game Boy memories! (And just saying "Game Boy" reminds me of how epic it was originally...)
Anyway, a friend of mine had some super attachment, that had a magnifying lens, light, and an "analog type" controller, as well as larger buttons that covered the system buttons. It made the system the size of an American football.
@Dale
I just pulled that out last week. I was upset to find that the game that was so difficult for me back in the day was now a cakewalk that I finished in under three hours.
I didn't even have to bust out Easy Mode.
Exactly what I thought. I have some thing just like this on my Gamegear!
Is this a really tiny room or is Tim sitting on the toilet in this video?
I'm voting that Tim(and his PSP/attachment) is actually massively huge.
Or this might just be a room in Japan.
S.T.U.P.I.D = Stop Trying Understand PSP Is Done.
(The Current one that is.)
noooo. that's not what stupid means.
PSP has made money, you see, and is a fun toy. It's 2004 tech, and it's not perfect, but it's the best portable game system that isn't emulating retro.
Yeah, not really sure how I see the PSP going from here.
I got one in Christmas 2005 and have only ever bought 4 games. I have put custom firmware on it and play some atari emulated games which makes Sony no money. Like most I have only ever used the free spiderman UMD movie and not purchased any, again making them no money.
I have downloaded games from rapidshare that I am considering buying, but other than the 3 I have purchased since getting the machine I just got board after 30 minutes and thus deleted and not purchased.
I am strongly against digital downloads as I like the option to trade in and I think that a lot of younger gamers will most likely think the same.
So... it's 40 bones for a spherical lens in a plastic holder that magnifies a majority (but not all) of the PSP's screen? Seems drastically overpriced to me... it should be about 25 bucks, tops.
Lol, I remember having something extremely similair for my old Gameboy Colour! :D
Oh my god...it really is! It's CyberFX for PSP!
Ashens, we need you!!!
I got major headache watching this video...
They should incorporate this technology with GPS devices. Say with the *ahem...iPhone. This would serve very helpful for drivers like me in CA, where its illegal to stare into your cellphone while driving...
As long as you're using it for GPS directions, you should be fine anyway. I use my G1 for google navigator all the time(and before that was working, used Nav4All since it works o.k. and it's free).
So making the image larger makes it less illegal?
I would LOVE to see someone on the bus with that thing :p
Oh man.. that thing just brought back memories of this old screen magnifier and light I had for my old school original Gameboy.. it looked exactly like that, except this difference was that was like 1990
reminds me of my gamegear magnifying glass: http://catfishman.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/gg-magnifier.jpg
"Is it magic? Is it sorcery? Is it complete bull? You might be surprised."
Yet, I wasn't.
Actually, the PSP has already had 3D viewing support in the past. Metal Gear AC!D 2 came with an attachment called the TOBIDAC!D that allowed people to view the game (and cinematics) in 3D. What's surprising is that while the device was kind of a pain to use, it worked pretty well.
haha you're so right too!
look at this guy using it http://psp.jeuxvideo.org/files/jeux/mga2-solid-eye-device2.jpg
It appears to be just a fresnel lens mounted in a lump of plastic.
Should be worth, maybe $5.
How can it add depth and pseudo 3D when its simply magnifying the image?
good gift for grandma on Xmas
How many empty hollow rooms do you have at your house?
if you own a psp then you're already a dork. but if you buy this then you are never getting laid.
I've had a an iPhone solution for about a year now.
http://www.spatialview.com/en/node/489
Yeah.