PSP vs DS....again

[lord_spaceman]

Hi all

At the end of this year I plan to buy myself a handheld console, but for the life of me cannot choose between the DS (lite) and the PSP. Just when I've made my mind up about the one, it changes. I have an equal amount of pros and cons for each system like:

PSP:
---
Pros:
- Sweet graphics.
- Upgradable firmware is a plus.
- Tekken: Dark Resurrection and Lemmings.
- More peripherals for the device.
- Can buy it just about any where.

Cons:
- Battery life is appaling.
- Expensive

DS:
---
Pros:
- 2 screens, 1 is a touch screen.
- Long battery life
- New Super Mario Bros. and Pokemon Diamond.
- Cheap.
- Nintendo games are appealing.

Cons:
- Graphics not so good.
- Not much support / recognition in this country - can be hard to find.

---------------------

At the moment, I'm swaying slightly to the PSP's side. What would sell me would be if they lowered the price (by at least R500) and announced a few more interesting games for it. Any body with PSPs and DSs care to elaborate ?

 

[BCO]

If the vast majority of people buying handhelds is anything to go by, I'd say go with the DS Lite.

 

[lord_spaceman]

If the vast majority of people buying handhelds is anything to go by, I'd say go with the DS Lite.

I am craving to play a new, fresh Mario game and the only way is with the DS Lite.

 

[PR3DATOR]

buy both... that's what I did
but I seem to play more with the PSP!
But the DS is still a sweet toy!

 

[lord_spaceman]

Another off putting feature is the price of PSP games. Holy crap are they expensive. At the same price for a PS2 games (in some cases). Considering the game is on a 1.4 GB disc when compared to a PS2 game on a DVD between 4 and 9 Gigs, it is certainly a rip off.

 

[doobiwan]

DS currently outselling the PSP 5:1 in Japan, and similarly in the US.

The DS games are interesting and fresh. PSP has a big pretty screen going for it . . . .

DS is a bit difficult to find retail, but Take2, and www.nintendo.co.za have the DS Lite in stock, and tons of games to order.

Me? I'd go for the DS without question.

 

[Elfreako]

I have a PSP, use it every know and then...but not often. I would chose DS-Lite over a PSP anyday. But if I had the choice Id rather get a laptop

 

[Nokkie]

Hi all

At the end of this year I plan to buy myself a handheld console, but for the life of me cannot choose between the DS (lite) and the PSP. Just when I've made my mind up about the one, it changes. I have an equal amount of pros and cons for each system like:

PSP:
---
Pros:
- Sweet graphics.
- Upgradable firmware is a plus.
- Tekken: Dark Resurrection and Lemmings.
- More peripherals for the device.
- Can buy it just about any where.

Cons:
- Battery life is appaling.
- Expensive

DS:
---
Pros:
- 2 screens, 1 is a touch screen.
- Long battery life
- New Super Mario Bros. and Pokemon Diamond.
- Cheap.
- Nintendo games are appealing.

Cons:
- Graphics not so good.
- Not much support / recognition in this country - can be hard to find.

---------------------

At the moment, I'm swaying slightly to the PSP's side. What would sell me would be if they lowered the price (by at least R500) and announced a few more interesting games for it. Any body with PSPs and DSs care to elaborate ?

Well i bought a psp and to be honest it's a kick ass mobile console ... YEA the thing is expensive , but have you ever heard of the saying the more you pay the better you get? so so tru

The battery life isn't to bad with the psp, when you play games you will have 7hours full game play time and when watching movies you'll have 9 hours.

Did i tell you how good the graphics is? and it's excellent to whatch dvd,s on it and divx files. sound quallity superb

I don't even think that ds lite comes even close to the console only reason why it is so competitve in the market is, because you get it cheaper and games are cheaper.

so the sacrifices are up to you

 

[Highflyer_GP]

PSP dude. You can do so much more with it. Apart from games, it has a huge LCD screen for a handheld, clarity is amazing especially for movies. It also plays virtually any media file, has built-in wi-fi for multiplayer games and net access, and also far better graphics and sound quality. The prices of games - I dunno too much about that, looking at the price of the DS games on www.nintendo.co.za they look to be about the same price (if not more) as PSP games so that basically eliminates the price part of the games. There's also far fewer places in SA where you can get DS games, and in some instances PSP games are even cheaper. I managed to get GTA Liberty City for R280 - just gotta look around. IMO the DS not worth it just for Mario - that's what Nintendo always relied on was that people would buy their consoles just for Mario. So it has 2 displays, the novelty will wear off. Who needs two tiny screens when you have one huge one.

 

[Nokkie]

you go high!

 

[Highflyer_GP]

Admittedly the DS has wi-fi too, but in terms of true hardware capabilities it's like comparing a 140 corolla to a gti. Hence the reason one outsells the other abroad, you get what you pay for in hardware terms. In software terms, PSP games are the same prices if not cheaper here. And that's where the better hardware comes into play - you get far superior graphics and sound at the same price as the DS games.

 

[BCO]

What I've heard about the DS is that there are some truly innovative and unique games developed for it which make it a whole lot of fun to play. The games have a true DS flavour whereas PSP games are basically just like playing on a conventional console. I don't think it's fair that people buy the DS just because it's cheaper or just because of Mario. Nintendo is focused on GAMEPLAY, not fancy gfx. That's their standpoint on the DS (which has been an amazing success coz of how fun the games are) and that's their standpoint on the Wii, which I'm sure is also going to be a runaway success.

 

[diabolus]

but have you ever heard of the saying the more you pay the better you get? so so tru

lol, do you want to provide Telkom with more advertising slogans? .

As for PSP vs. DS.

Do not buy a game console because it can play movies or mp3s or plug in all kinds of expensive proprietary gadgets to do things that cellphones can do right out of the box. I've found that you will STILL end up buying an IPod and STILL buy a PDA/Cellphone to do those stuff 10 times better. I would pick a gaming console/handheld based on the GAMES available [price+availability] .

This is also why i will probably end up getting a PS3. Unless Xbox360/Wii gets into the ZA market properly and have their stuff available and decently priced
HERE then it's pointless to get it. I hate importing stuff and going through all kinds of hoops just to get a game.

While a handheld can't compete with the real thing [PS/PC/Xbox], i don't see why graphics/sound should be a priority over the unique/enjoyability of the game. If you played Need for Speed on a full blown PC , and then play it on the PSP....will you
you suddenly become picky over graphics? I think it's more a matter of being able to play the game on the console, not whether the graphics are superior.

Nintendo DS features a separate media port for Game Boy Advance cartridges. Nintendo DS allows you to play all your favorite Game Boy Advance games in a single-player mode.

....i'd say this is somewhat important.....


So i didn't really give an answer, i am leaning more towards Nintendo because of the originality of their games AND console design. I've found it's always the "silly, small" games that just blows you away, NOT rehashed versions of games you've played a million times on your PC already.

 

[doobiwan]

I've found it's always the "silly, small" games that just blows you away, NOT rehashed versions of games you've played a million times on your PC already.

I agree with you 100%. ( except about the PS3 BTW 360 pricing and availability are being announced this weekend and check this out: http://www.xbox.com/en-ZA/games/buy/ how's that for support?)

 

[lord_spaceman]

I have finally made my mind up. I am getting a....

Nintendo DS Lite

There are many reasons for me choosing this incredible console. Some of the reasons being the three following games: New Super Mario Bros., Sonic Rush and Animal Crossing. The PSP doens't come close to those three games.

Another reason is because it's a true hand held console with a very good battery life unlike the PSP that mainly juts out rehashed PS 1 and 2 games with a poor battery life. I also like the fact that the NDS doesn't play MP3s and have the rest of those uneeded gimmicks - it's a true handheld and if I wanted to play mp3s i would use my cell phone or get an iPod.

The NDS games are also a lot more appealing to me than the PSP games. I'm a big fan of Mario games.

The fact that the NDS is currently out selling the PSP 5:1 world wide is a big plus. Thats why Sony isn't going to be decreasing the price of the PSP this year - it's doing very badly and hasn't sold as many units as Sony would have liked. Come September 23rd, I will be the proud owner of a DS Lite, can't wait.

 

[BCO]

Gratz!

One word:

Nintendogs

 

[lord_spaceman]

Just how good is Nintendogs ? Like a tamagotchi ? Does it use real-time (i.e don't feed it for 3 real hours and it dies) ?

 

[BCO]

I know nothing about it, but I have a couple of mates who reckon it's the best game for DS.

 

[noxibox]

lol, do you want to provide Telkom with more advertising slogans? .

It's so expensive it must be fast.

 

[noxibox]

Unless Xbox360/Wii gets into the ZA market properly and have their stuff available and decently priced
HERE then it's pointless to get it. I hate importing stuff and going through all kinds of hoops just to get a game.

Importing games is cheap and easy. There are no duties, just VAT, and no real restrictions on how often or how much you can import. Importing the console is a bit of a hassle. Only worthwhile if the saving is fairly big (in my case I saved R1000 by importing my PS2 instead of buying it from SK).

As long as games cost significantly more locally I will continue to import my own. I've already saved thousands of rands by doing so.