My PSP impressions. LOVE it!

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:50 am

(originally posted this on TNL, now with a few extra Wipeout details)

Quick question before my impressions: I'm trying to hook my PSP up to my PC, it's Win 98. It detects the PSP but can't find a driver for it. It says "The device is installed but there is a problem with it," ect. Will the system only work with Win XP or OS X? Or is there a driver I can download somewhere?

OK, got my PSP tonight. It is flat out, the most amazing piece of video game hardware I have played in years and hands down the most technically beautiful portable ever created. I picked up Wipeout after getting it from layaway and raced over to a friend's house. I was a major skeptic and critic of the system too but...our jaws dropped when we popped in Spidey 2 and saw the screen. Then we took turns playing Wipeout Pure (like playing a PS2 game on a high def TV or VGA in your hand, the attention to detail in the game is amazing) and tried to best each other a bit with our lame newbie skills (as I said much earlier, this is the first Wipeout game I have played since XL on the PS1 at least 6-7 years ago). Pure's visuals are incredible, I love Blue Ridge the best so far with its amazing mountain background. The color, pleasant music and just overall polish of the game are all amazing.

Then I tested out the Wipeout homepage/download with their wireless set up and the easy network scan mode found their network right away and took me to the now under construction Pure homepage (I mused to my buddy that I wished I had enough money to have bought Twisted Metal so we could take a spin online). I have to say, MAJOR props to the hardware designers at Sony for making the system's network synch so smooth and easy!

His brother came about an hour later. We all agreed on one thing, the LCD screen is so crisp it's almost like holding a little HDTV in your hand. We watched a few battle scenes from Spidey 2 and we were very impressed.

I drool to think about the online possibilities, online puzzle bobble PSP? An online Bomberman PSP, pleeeaaase! I just wonder if import games will be able to go online here? I want widescreen Gradius, Contra and Klonoa too!

I do have one gripe with the system (besides the fact the screen is obviously so vulnerable and smudges, definitely need to get some screen protectors, but once the screen is booted I can barely see any smudges on it, same with my DS touch screen). I do not at all like how the memory stick panel works. Peeling and snagging off the rubby dangly thing and then having to very delicately put the stick into the panel felt very awkward. I would have made an easy slot to click the stick in on the top panel of the system somewhere. But what do I know?

Anyways, I still love my DS. But if Nintendo wants to fight the word of mouth steam I predict this thing will no doubt catch after the March slump and after the bundle is dropped and fall/winter hits, they need to really give us DS owners what we want. If any employee from Nintendo is reading this, LISTEN UP and forward this message to your bosses. I will play my DS MORE than my PSP IF your superiors just get a clue and give me ONLINE Mario Kart, ONLINE MODE in Advance Wars, and tell Hudson to give us ONLINE Bomberman and to TAKE ADAVANTAGE of all the system's unique features. But if you slack off and think Animal Crossing online and New Super Mario Bros will carry the system alone, you are SORELY MISTAKEN. No online mode in Mario Kart ALONE would be a serious insult to people who bought the system who were sold on the "wireless" part of the system's features. I want WIRELESS O-N-L-I-N-E. It's nice I don't have to use link cables with my buddies but online is my true definition of wireless gaming. It's bad enough the PSP has at least 3 games online at launch and the DS has none and the system seems to have no known ability to use TCP/IP tunnel.

Anyways, no more NIntendo griping.

Back to Wipeout and hoping someone can shoot me a link to a driver so I can start USB'ing some MP3s.

Oh yes, forgot to add, no dead pixels or junk under the screen at all. Whoo.

There did seem to be a slight disc read error once when I was at my friends though: when I put Spiderman 2 back in at first it kept displaying the Pure "download" screen. After reinserting the Spidey UMD though it read the movie fine. Only weird/out of place thing so far.

UnscathedFlyingObject · Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:17 am

Online gaming is overrated.

I don't think underplayed online capabilities will be the nail in the coffin for Nintendo, though I don't deny it will play a role. Imo it's going to be their "innovative" stand and the DS' low system specs.

I am all about introducing new ideas, but they have to build on what's already in existence. The abrupt change that Nintendo wants to force upon the developer community may take a lot of time to catch on, and Sony won't sit on its ass all that time. Sony and co. will release a bunch time-honored titles with greater market appeal. In fact, they already got some hot stuff out Wipeout Pure, Lumines, and Metal Gear Ac!d. I'm more interested in playing those three than any of the DS' launch lineup.

Now, onto the DS' lower system specs, and I just cannot stress enough that Nintendo didn't put enough oomph into it. It's freaking 2005 and they have a portable that has specs not much higher than a system almost 10 years old. It can create some decent 3D and good 2D, but what's the big deal if the competition can do 'em way better?

In the end, I'm just predicting. Nintendo could destroy Sony in the portable arena (hey, they got Pokemon, Zelda, Metroid, etc). Personally, I don't want either to "lose". An even battle would be ideal to keep both companies from growing their ballls too big and trying to pull a fast one on us.

Vexorg · Post by **Vexorg** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:29 am

I have yet to see an actual PSP yet, they're sold out everywhere in the area, and no demo units have shown up anywhere. Thus I can't vouch for the quality of its screen. It's nice that it can do photos, music, movies and all that, but to be honest, I think I'd be more interested in a straight up gaming device if it would reduce the size of the unit. This may be because I can do pretty much all of the multimedia functions quite well on my PocketPC (a Dell Axim X50v), and without proprietary Sony formats to worry about. I can even stream video and MP3s off my desktop PC via WiFi, and if I had the appropriate hardware for it, could stream live or recorded TV to it as well. All this in a smaller form factor than the PSP, although it did come at a cost of $100 more than the PSP. I'll reserve judgment until I see one, but for the time being, the PSP seems to be rather expensive right now, especially when the cost of Memory Sticks are figured in.

I agree that Nintendo needs to get online with the DS, but at the same time doubt it'll happen anytime before the Revolution shows up. Even so, I'm giving serious thought to picking up a DS to check out some of the stuff that they're doing with it (Yoshi's Touch-and-go, Kirby's Magic Paintbrush and Pac-Pix all look particularly interesting.)

CMoon · Post by **CMoon** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 12:10 pm

Can't wait to confiscate one of these from my students...

stoneroses · Post by **stoneroses** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 5:57 pm

First off, I do not own one ..... yet. After seing the thing in person and holding it in my hands, I am blown away by the PSP. I never really considered a portable/handheld system before except for the PSone/LCD combo but that was different. I was always somewhat interested in the Gameboy line but nothing every grabbed me like this. This changes everything.

I always though the iPod was cool but never really had a place for it in my life. I really don't see a need for a PSP either, but I think I will find a place for it in my life, it is that simple. I am a bit put off by the price though. I guess it is a deal for what they give you but it is still a bit much for me. Perhaps a $175 tag would be better, I think the games should be in the 30 range as well rather than the 40-50 price point.

One last thing. I was out again this week at a local Target and Walmart and they each had dozens of them left a week or so after launch. I would like to know the exact sell though numbers not just the millon or so that were sent to stores. Somehow, I feel it was a softer launch than expected.

Gydocker45 · Post by **Gydocker45** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:04 pm

I like to add I'm also impressed by the PSP. My unit has no dead pixels either but it does have some dust under the screen. It doesn't bother me, but what does is the battery life. So far I've recharged this bastard 4 times already (mainly because of the marithon sessions of Lumines, Ridge Racer and Darkstalkers, off course). I just really wished the battery life was better than it is now. With my GBA SP and DS, I only have to recharge them like once or twice a month, and I play the hell out of them too. Oh well... back to Lumines.

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:33 pm

Believe me, I still love my DS and can't wait for Kirby's Paintbrush and Pac Pix. They are in the end, two very different systems that cater to different gameplay obviously. And no, online won't be the nail in the coffin.

But as I said, it shows a lot of disrespect to me, a gamer who likes to play online as well as with friends when Metroid Prime Hunters doesn't support online. The demo was kinda fun but I doubt I'll be buying it now that it will just support offline multiplayer. Online would add a lot more unpredictability and replay value to it alone. Imagine having fun trying to outrank people in morphball racing. I guess I'll have to see if there are any decent objectives in single player mode. But here's hoping Retro will get to make a full fledged Prime adventure on DS as they expressed interest in doing.

And again, no online in Mario Kart DS will make me livid. It's not that no online takes away from the overall respective design and fun of a game obviously (unless it feels like a watered down version of an older series as in Hunters), it's the attitude of Nintendo that gets to me. "Oh hey, we have this system which can support online multiplayer very easily. Oops, guess what? You'll have to wait almost a year from launch to play Animal Crossing online and pray that we'll put online into Mario Kart." It comes across to me as a sluggish indifferent attitude toward ME the gamer who thinks of online as an awesome piece of cake frosting that while sugary and not overly filling, still offers massive replay value. Mario Kart DS may be a lot of fun offline, but say you own both a DS and a PSP and have access to a wireless network or hotspot. Which are you going to be playing more for competition? A hypothetical title like Puzzle Bobble online or an online Wipeout, the list goes on.

Sure, I have had a lot of fun playing wirelessly in Hunters with two of my buddies, in Mario 64 and Yoshi, but imagine how much more intense it would be taking on 7 other people in Hunters or Mario Kart online? That said, I give Nintendo major props for anouncing Animal Crossing online, now I want to see more titles take advantage of it.

That said, I'm glad the DS is holding its own very well against the PSP so far, it is a very nice system and I am still having a blast scoring Yoshi's TnG. Sony made a mistake in the bundle pricing and releasing it in March.

That said, the PSP is a great system and I encourage any shmup forumers to buy it once they can afford it (or more preferrably when the bundle is dropped and a standalone pack is released). I think we are gonna see some amazing games on this.

8 1/2 · Post by **8 1/2** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:10 pm

I bought one the night it came out with Metal Gear Ac!d and Darkstalkers and have been loving it. I did however have major problems with dead pixels. The first one I got had two right in the center of the screen, but luckily the folks at Gamestop were nice enough to let me go through FOUR more of them to find a perfect one. One of the units we tried had about ten in a row--looking like a little constelation on the screen.

Outside of that though, it's been the most fun new hardware since the launch of the Dreamcast. Near-arcade-perfect Darkstalkers at launch? Too cool. And as has been already said, the screen is the killer ap. It's just insane how immersive this thing is. The size is just perfect to capture all corners of your vision and is so sharp that after a few minutes you forget that you're playing a handheld. I've "come to" after an hour of play and had major cramps in my neck from just sitting frozen looking at it.

If you can afford it, or part with major trade-in stuff (like I did) then it's a must-have.

Also, and this is unfortunately slightly shadey of me to say, but the potential for emulation is huge. The size of the memory sticks that are coming out, and the way the machine interacts with PC's make me think that it won't be long before you could load one of these things up with Genesis and SNES roms (games you own of course). Give me Gaires and Fire Shark and Elemental Master on the road....

UnscathedFlyingObject · Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:29 pm

Now, no one can color me ignorant! I have hold and played with both the DS (at a Gamestop about a month ago) and PSP.

I tried my friend's PSP at school today and was pretty amazed. The design "flaws" and other sh*t that circulates the internet are not remotely as bad as *haters* make them to be. There were no problems with the square button, analog, screen or hazardous disks flying out. I even forgot about 'em while playing Need for Speed Underground. The image was so crisp; I would dare say it looks better than my TV hooked with component.

Darkcomet72 · Post by **Darkcomet72** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:25 am

There IS a problem with with the nintendo being wireless online.... I believe it had to do with pacemakers malfunctioning during testing...

8 1/2 · Post by **8 1/2** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:36 am

Darkcomet72 wrote:There IS a problem with with the nintendo being wireless online.... I believe it had to do with pacemakers malfunctioning during testing...

So I guess you could say that online software for the DS would be the "killer ap," for the system...

Darkcomet72 · Post by **Darkcomet72** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:08 am

eight&ahalf wrote:
Darkcomet72 wrote:There IS a problem with with the nintendo being wireless online.... I believe it had to do with pacemakers malfunctioning during testing...
So I guess you could say that online software for the DS would be the "killer ap," for the system...

I don't know, wierd rumors that spread around online...

Hmmm.... Does anyone know the details about PSP online international? Is online gameplay region-free? Probably not.

I might not even get the PSP, and wait till the 5th generation. Almost all signs point to Revolution having WIFI.

LoneSage · Post by **LoneSage** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:38 am

What, you didn't get Darkstalkers Chronicle, Kosh? Or even Ridge Racers? Bah.

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:23 am

I was considering getting a Nomad, but I assume this thing can emulate Genesis, so I might get a PSP instead. Playing a fighter with a pad sucks, but Darkstalkers interests me as does Lumines.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 5:27 am

I like online, but I hate how it's being treated like it's the only thing in gaming. Sheesh, it's a good thing, but good enough for giving Halo 2 a 9.8? Good enough to rate a GCN game lower even if it was other extras and offline mulitplayer with all of the offilne modes intact? I'm glad you like the PSP, but the DS will have some online and the online mode being left out of a game doesn't istantly make it crap.

zer0eight · Post by **zer0eight** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:26 am

I can vouch for the screen and build of the system. My brother got one recently and let me tell you... the screen is the best looking screen of any portable device I have seen! That is comparing it to PDA's, portable DVD players, portable media players, etc. When you see a high quality movie on it, you might shit your pants.

The screen works equally well for games. The build and style of the system a truely worth the $250 price but I would wait till they drop down a little. It looks and feels very good and has some awesome styling with it. Having played both the PSP and the DS, the DS just feels cheap. Sorry, but it does IMO.

zer0eight

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 3:02 am

design "flaws" and other that circulates the internet are not remotely as bad as *haters* make them to be.

Yup, I was unfortunately one of the haters that bought into the hardware flaws reports unconditionally. Now that I own one that has zero problems so far I may be spoiled, but I will never overreact to rumours of "widespread hardware flaws" again. This is one beautifully crafted machine and I give Sony major props.

Oh yeah, and I just read through the May EGM and in their previews section they confirm Mario Kart DS will have online multiplayer! Yesssss!

BIG · Post by **BIG** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 10:31 pm

Congrats on the PSP purchase,man. It's simply one of the most impressive hardware releases in recent memory.

All the haters can hate it all they want,but we all know they'll end up with one sooner or later

BIG-

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 10:39 pm

BIG wrote:All the haters can hate it all they want,but we all know they'll end up with one sooner or later

BIG-

lol I know, I'm smoking gun proof of that.

BIG · Post by **BIG** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:10 pm

Dylan1CC wrote:
BIG wrote:All the haters can hate it all they want,but we all know they'll end up with one sooner or later

BIG-
lol I know, I'm smoking gun proof of that.

No worries,I'm one of the same

BIG-

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 12:35 am

BIG wrote:
Dylan1CC wrote:
BIG wrote:All the haters can hate it all they want,but we all know they'll end up with one sooner or later

BIG-
lol I know, I'm smoking gun proof of that.
No worries,I'm one of the same

BIG-

Haha. Anyways, next game I get will be either Twisted Metal or Ac!D. I'm curious, Big. What's your take on IGN's review which basically said it's "too unpredictable/cheap/frustrating" at times?

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 1:04 pm

Dylan1CC wrote: But as I said, it shows a lot of disrespect to me, a gamer who likes to play online as well as with friends when Metroid Prime Hunters doesn't support online. The demo was kinda fun but I doubt I'll be buying it now that it will just support offline multiplayer. Online would add a lot more unpredictability and replay value to it alone. Imagine having fun trying to outrank people in morphball racing. I guess I'll have to see if there are any decent objectives in single player mode. But here's hoping Retro will get to make a full fledged Prime adventure on DS as they expressed interest in doing.

Well, you're prayer might just be answered!

While not THE most reliable of sources (it's a bit of hit and miss...) this is a
quote from SPOnG.com:

Exclusive: Metroid Prime: Hunters – Full Online Functionality Confirmed
First details, only here.
4th Apr 2005

Related Links Companies Nintendo
NST
Titles Metroid Prime: Hunters
Link to This Article http://news.spong.com/x?art=8518
It has come to our attention that the DS will see a fully online first-person shooter in the shape of Metroid Prime: Hunters, the latest Samus-led update currently in the works at NST.

And far from paying lip service to online technology, Hunters will be a fully-optimised real-time FPS, the likes of which seemed beyond the wildest imaginings of Nintendo fans when the acclaimed GameCube updates launched.

One senior US retail source told SPOnG over the weekend, “The game will be fully online and we were as surprised as anyone. Nintendo told us that we should 'think along the lines of Halo 2, deathmatches, online leagues and so on'. It is going to be shown running online at E3 and will hit [in the US] in mid-summer.”

So there you have it. Good news indeed. What’s more, the boredom factor of training in First Hunt now has an offsetting purpose. And don’t forget, there’s also a whole single-player Metroid game to be enjoyed too. Happy days!

Would be just plain awesome if proven true....
Getting my DS in about a month now and will probably get a PSP when Sony presents a new longer lived battery...

8 1/2 · Post by **8 1/2** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:33 pm

This metal-head stoner kid I work with said it best. "The DS is cool man, it is and I love mine, but seriously, the PSP is the DESTROYER KING!"

Darkcomet72 · Post by **Darkcomet72** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:47 pm

I don't understand these PSP haterz everyone seems to be talking about. Do they exist?

Ex_Mosquito · Post by **Ex_Mosquito** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 10:03 pm

I've caved in and ordered one yesterday with Ridge Racers and Wipeout Pure, and i cant wait tbh

. Two of my mates have ordered one too, and with Ridge racer/Wipeout Wifi Multiplayer support i cant see this EVER getting stale.

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 11:36 pm

Super Laydock wrote:
Dylan1CC wrote: But as I said, it shows a lot of disrespect to me, a gamer who likes to play online as well as with friends when Metroid Prime Hunters doesn't support online. The demo was kinda fun but I doubt I'll be buying it now that it will just support offline multiplayer. Online would add a lot more unpredictability and replay value to it alone. Imagine having fun trying to outrank people in morphball racing. I guess I'll have to see if there are any decent objectives in single player mode. But here's hoping Retro will get to make a full fledged Prime adventure on DS as they expressed interest in doing.
Well, you're prayer might just be answered!

While not THE most reliable of sources (it's a bit of hit and miss...) this is a
quote from SPOnG.com:

Exclusive: Metroid Prime: Hunters – Full Online Functionality Confirmed
First details, only here.
4th Apr 2005

Related Links Companies Nintendo
NST
Titles Metroid Prime: Hunters
Link to This Article http://news.spong.com/x?art=8518
It has come to our attention that the DS will see a fully online first-person shooter in the shape of Metroid Prime: Hunters, the latest Samus-led update currently in the works at NST.

And far from paying lip service to online technology, Hunters will be a fully-optimised real-time FPS, the likes of which seemed beyond the wildest imaginings of Nintendo fans when the acclaimed GameCube updates launched.

One senior US retail source told SPOnG over the weekend, “The game will be fully online and we were as surprised as anyone. Nintendo told us that we should 'think along the lines of Halo 2, deathmatches, online leagues and so on'. It is going to be shown running online at E3 and will hit [in the US] in mid-summer.”

So there you have it. Good news indeed. What’s more, the boredom factor of training in First Hunt now has an offsetting purpose. And don’t forget, there’s also a whole single-player Metroid game to be enjoyed too. Happy days!
Would be just plain awesome if proven true....
Getting my DS in about a month now and will probably get a PSP when Sony presents a new longer lived battery...

Awesome news (if true of course). Thanks, Laydock!

Let's hope the single player game doesn't feel too weak. (Here's hoping again Retro eventually makes a Prime adventure sequel on the DS)

Now I just need online Puzzle Bobble or Bomberman on one of the two systems and I can let out a big whoop.

EDIT: Speaking of seeing Bomberman on PSP, I gotta wonder if Hudson has made the character Nintendo exclusive? There hasn't been a multiplayer Bomberman on the PS2 (or any game in the series at all IIRC) .

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:39 am

screw you Dylan! i got curious about Wipeout and that looks awesome. i was hoping i could hold off on a psp until 1)library expands and 2)battery life "problem" (not my word, haven't even seen the system for myself yet)
is solved. but that game looks sweet and mercury looks sweet and rengoku looks sweet and death jr. looks interesting and hell... *waves goodbye to paycheck*

coded arms looks great as well. i'm going to shut up now.

however, in defense of my interest. i was never a "hater," i was more of a "naysayer," which is completely different.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 1:00 am

Dylan1CC wrote: EDIT: Speaking of seeing Bomberman on PSP, I gotta wonder if Hudson has made the character Nintendo exclusive? There hasn't been a multiplayer Bomberman on the PS2 (or any game in the series at all IIRC) .

Wrong. There are two PS2 Bomberman games. Bomberman Jetters was also released on GCN, but the PS2 one never made it to the US. I think Jetters has multiplayer in it too.

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/data/922060.html
http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/data/583043.html

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 1:59 am

^^^

Thanks for the info, Brian.

And "

" to ahar. hehe

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 2:07 am

OK, Jason Allen got bombed with a lot of angry mail over his 6 average rating for Ac!D (he had to devote an entire mailbag to this, how lame can some gamers be...). In one of his mail responses he makes the following point which worries me even more about picking up the game:

....Something like Final Fantasy Tactics works in a turn-based gaming structure -- same thing with Front Mission. You go into battle for the most part with a static set of skills and weaponry that you can effectively plan to use when it's your turn. Things don't work that way in MGA. Here, simple turns are confounded by a hand of cards. There's no strategy to a random deck of cards. Editing the deck helps a little, but not enough. If your weapons and skills are always changing, how can effectively plan an attack? Especially when you'll only encounter an attack if your caught sneaking around. So you're not even afforded time to plan because you only need to fight (except in battles and story events) if you happen to get caught. It's just a odd mix of three genres (stealth, card battle, and turn-based strategy) that don't work well together.