Portable Gaming question

[rivan]

So, I've got a major trip coming up (going to South Africa from the midwest US - about 30 hours travel time), and I'd like some opinions on portable gaming systems.

I love RPGs; shooters are so-so (I can't imagine them not sucking on a 3" screen), and puzzle games are OK in my book. I'm *clueless* about portable systems and what's available on them.

So - thoughts? PSP? Nintendo? Something else? 2-3 recommended games (please mention which system they're for). Any comments on power usage/etc?

 

[purbeast0]

If I were you, I'd get a Nintendo GBA and grab a flash cart from lik-sang, and then put a buncha roms on it. you can play NES roms on it and could have hours and hours and hours of games to play

but of course, you have to own the original NES cartridges to make it legal

 

[TheTony]

Sega Nomad.

 

[IrocZman223]

I have a psp. I have burnout and gta. I like both of them. Haven't played with a ds so I can't compare. If you don't have a laptop or portable dvd player you may want to go with the psp because it can play movies too

 

[kyzen]

The DS's RPG options are severely limited. I haven't followed the PSP since launch, but Sony is traditionally the RPG czar. Plus it can watch movies. And if you're lacking morals, you can mod it and load it with SNES games; and there were some real RPG gems there.

 

[Kelvrick]

Up your ticket to business class or first. It was so worth it when I went across the pacific. Plus, you'll have a power plug in your seat and you can get an adapter for a laptop.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Up your ticket to business class or first. It was so worth it when I went across the pacific. Plus, you'll have a power plug in your seat and you can get an adapter for a laptop.

Well, if it were just me, it'd be one thing - but biz class for three = major dollars, and this is a pleasure trip, so it's all out of my pocket! As for movies, I'm getting my 2 year old a little dvd player (somehow I doubt there's much Dora the Explorer available for PSP)

I haven't got a laptop, and that's more than I want to invest in - I'll really only be messing with whatever I get on downtime.

So far it sounds like the PSP's the way to go, but I'd like more input, specifically on recommended games (I'd like to avoid flashing/ROMming).

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: rivan

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Up your ticket to business class or first. It was so worth it when I went across the pacific. Plus, you'll have a power plug in your seat and you can get an adapter for a laptop.

Well, if it were just me, it'd be one thing - but biz class for three = major dollars, and this is a pleasure trip, so it's all out of my pocket! As for movies, I'm getting my 2 year old a little dvd player (somehow I doubt there's much Dora the Explorer available for PSP)

I haven't got a laptop, and that's more than I want to invest in - I'll really only be messing with whatever I get on downtime.

So far it sounds like the PSP's the way to go, but I'd like more input, specifically on recommended games (I'd like to avoid flashing/ROMming).

For a 30 hour trip, you're going to need a bunch of extra batteries. How long would the protable dvd player last, and can it use over the counters, or is it a proprietary?

For the kids, I'd really recommend going to a doctor and getting a pill to put them out for at least a third to half the trip.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick

Originally posted by: rivan

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Up your ticket to business class or first. It was so worth it when I went across the pacific. Plus, you'll have a power plug in your seat and you can get an adapter for a laptop.

Well, if it were just me, it'd be one thing - but biz class for three = major dollars, and this is a pleasure trip, so it's all out of my pocket! As for movies, I'm getting my 2 year old a little dvd player (somehow I doubt there's much Dora the Explorer available for PSP)

I haven't got a laptop, and that's more than I want to invest in - I'll really only be messing with whatever I get on downtime.

So far it sounds like the PSP's the way to go, but I'd like more input, specifically on recommended games (I'd like to avoid flashing/ROMming).

For a 30 hour trip, you're going to need a bunch of extra batteries. How long would the protable dvd player last, and can it use over the counters, or is it a proprietary?

For the kids, I'd really recommend going to a doctor and getting a pill to put them out for at least a third to half the trip.

Yeah, the trip's in February - got lots to line up in the mean time... a nice sleeper pill's for the little angel's going to be one of the things to square away.

I haven't picked up a DVD player yet - worrying about me first I'll prolly make another post for that.

Maybe ROMming wouldn't be so bad... are PSPs easily modded?

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: kyzen
The DS's RPG options are severely limited. I haven't followed the PSP since launch, but Sony is traditionally the RPG czar. Plus it can watch movies. And if you're lacking morals, you can mod it and load it with SNES games; and there were some real RPG gems there.

I don't see how the DS RPG options are limited, since it plays GBA games.
So far, PSP is sucking for RPGs.
I'd say go with GBA SP, personally, and then Final Fantasy 4.

 

[xanis]

I say get a GBA, because the battery life is really good and there are some really great games out there for it that will be sure to keep you occupied. The PSP is nice, but the battery life isn't great, but that's because its a more powerful system. Sure, its nice to have the additional features, like movie and MP3 capability, but it will cost you. Take a CD player or MP3 player with you and take some books. I've passed A TON of time on long trips reading. Some games that I highly reccomend to get for the GBA:

Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls
LOTR: The Third Age
Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising*
Wolfenstein 3D
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
WarioWare Twisted!
Super Monkey Ball Jr.
Super Mario Brothers

*Advance Wars is probably my favorite GBA game ever. Its like crack, I've wasted many many hours of my life on this game. This is a must-get.

 

[BCYL]

If you like RPG, I would go with a GBA... PSP doesnt have many RPG games, mostly action...

 

[blackdogdeek]

psp rpgs:

untold legends: brotherhood of the blade
legend of heroes: a tear of vermillion
popolocrois
kingdom of paradise

psp puzzles:

lumines
mercury

as far as dora the explorer or any dvd movie, you can encode to a psp-readable format using a couple of free applications (psp video 9). this way you can take dora or whatever movie you'd like with you on the plane.

 

[LeiZaK]

Why are people recommending the GBA over the DS? With the DS, you get all the GBA games + DS games...

 

[Mrfrog840]

Get a PSP and get Dynasty Warriors. I would recommend if you like racing games to try out Ridge Racers. Had both games and loved them. Dynasty Warriors is a great RPG

 

[sao123]

PS2 with the flipup screen addon and the cigarette lighter adapter.