What portable gaming system?

[kyzen]

My girlfriend has expressed an interest in getting a handheld video game system so she has something to play while I'm hogging the 360, or while travelling on our vacations, so for an upcoming anniversary I'm hoping to get her one. And one for myself

Problem is, I'm not sure what's the best option any more.

She isn't into shooters, or many other games with a significant learning curve. She enjoys quite a few of my Xbox Arcade games, the Rock Band/Guitar Hero series, Viva Pinata, and most anything with coop. I think she could get into RPGs with the right execution; the limited selection for the 360 hasn't provided much for her to try out.

The PSP really interests me because of the potential media capabilities. I'm just not sure about the game selection; it seems like the majority of the games present in Best Buy are more oriented towards the mainstream gamers, and not much she'd be interested in. I'm also worried about the PSP Go - will this totally kill the current PSP's, leaving us with a pair of PSP 3000's that we can't find games for?

The DS would be a no-brainer, but I'm not sure if she'd actually like the touch-screen control aspects of it. It could've been a worn out screen, but she was getting really frustrated trying to play some stupid mini-game in Best Buy where she had to 'flick' a puck towards a target. The lack of media options is also a bummer; the PSP could replace the two mp3 players and internet tablets we usually travel with, plus add movie viewing options, but the DS simply couldn't. Then of course there's the recent re-release of Chrono Trigger, which nearly caused me to go out and buy a DS just to play it...

Then of course there's the iPod Touch. She has a pretty poor opinion of iPods after having some serious issues with an early version of iTunes that ended up destroying her media collection (probably her fault, but she still doesn't like it ), so I'm not sure if she'd really dig this. I'm also not sure about the game selection; if it is just a bunch of mini games, and nothing with any real depth to it, there's no real point.

Anyways, opinions? Suggestions? Are the handhelds even worthwhile right now, or should I just get her her own 360 and call it a day?

 

[gorcorps]

Many solid DS games don't use the touch screen. I would go with the DS hands down and check on some review sites to see which games to check out first for her.

The PSP IMO doesn't have many great games (especially for her), and the media options are fairly bare bones and wouldn't really replace an mp3 player very well.

Ipod Touch is the poorest choice because no matter what anybody tells you, it's NOT a gaming machine. I have an iphone and while it has very solid games for a phone, it really is piss poor for a game device. Don't be fooled by other opinions... touch screen only controls don't work for most games.

Are there games on the 360 she really likes? Might be worth just doing that if you have the money. Sounds like there'd be more games of her style on the DS though.

 

[I4AT]

I have a PSP and a DS Lite, and I prefer the DS. The PSP is great in that it can emulate a lot of older gen games, including PS1 titles, assuming you can install CFW. It also does a great job of playing movies, but they have to be converted to MP4, which kind of makes it a PITA to get any significant amount of media on there. When it comes to actual PSP games though, the library is pretty lacking, and it won't get any better in time. The DS typically outsells the PSP five fold every month, and that's definitely something developers consider when deciding what platform to go for.

The PSP is also at a pretty big disadvantage when it comes to battery life. Mine lasts no more than 4 hours on conservative brightness and volume settings, watch one movie and you've already cut down 1/3 to 1/2 of your battery, leaving that much less time to play games. It's also not something I'm completely comfortable carrying around, it's got that stupid glossy 'look at me I'm an expensive toy' finish that's a nightmare to keep clean. It might as well come skinned with a vinyl fingerprint pattern sticker. And the screen is always exposed unlike the DS, it's like putting a piece of glass in your pocket. If you don't have a really good case for it you're afraid to even take it out of the house, which definitely isn't what you want in a handheld.

I think the PSP is a much more capable device than the DS. When it comes to games everyones' opinions will differ, but in reality the DS just makes more sense as a portable. It's got the battery life and the more travel friendly design, and so I have to recommend it over the PSP.

 

[Piuc2020]

The iPod Touch is just that, an iPod, it's not a gaming system, it's a digital media player WITH games. DS and PSP are GAMING systems WITH digital media support. There's a big difference actually

Anyways, I'd get the DS, the amount of games available for the system is mindblowing (there's something for just about everyone) not to mention there are great games on the way (Scribblenauts) and with a homebrew card you can enjoy media (the media support is not as solid or flexible as the PSP's by even a long shot but it works and I guess the priority is gaming not media) and more importantly a ton of homebrew applications.

 

[Rage187]

what about the Zune HD?

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: Rage187
what about the Zune HD?

They don't even have a gaming infrastructure set up for the current Zune. I wouldn't expect too much out of the Zune HD right now. It may be a viable option in a couple of years, but not before then.

 

[kyzen]

Great feedback so far, thanks

With the DS, do the improvements/features in the DSi warrant the extra cost over the DS?

 

[dguy6789]

I'd go ahead and get the DSi.

Pretty interesting stuff here.

http://www.friendcodes.com/for...ou-hadnt-heard-of.html

 

[Thraxen]

Originally posted by: kyzen
Great feedback so far, thanks

With the DS, do the improvements/features in the DSi warrant the extra cost over the DS?

If you have no need for GBA games then I'd definitely go with the DSi. You lose GBA support, but you get a system that is slightly more powerful and gain access to the DS online store. Plus, the DSi has a matte finish that I think is really nice because it cuts down on issues with visible finger prints.

 

[Tu13erhead]

.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

I have all 3 and very much prefer the DS. The PSP is good and I'm glad I have it but quality games are far between.

 

[kyzen]

Wow, the poll results aren't making it easy to decide

Apparently the PSP is definitely out; and one of the DSes seems best.

Any ideas how well Nintendo's downloadable game system will work out? Not having to swap cartridges for every game would be great.

 

[mugs]

Definitely not the iPod touch if you primarily want it for gaming.

@ Zune HD suggestion

 

[BenSkywalker]

I voted for the DS Lite, the GBA slot is just too huge of a deal for the DS IMO. So many killer portable games hit for the GBA, and they are very cheap to pick up used now, just too much of a library to ignore IMO.

DSi wouldn't be horrible either, has some basic media functionality which would be nice if that's what she's looking for.

If she is interested in more of a mixed use device, I would wait for the PSP Go. The Touch doesn't offer much in the way of 'real' games and until the PSP gets some on board RAM it sucks as a media device.

 

[Thraxen]

Originally posted by: kyzen
Any ideas how well Nintendo's downloadable game system will work out? Not having to swap cartridges for every game would be great.

Do you mean Sony? The PSP Go! is going to be purely download based. AFAIK Nintendo hasn't announced plans for full retail game downloads. They have the DSiWare for the DSi, which would be similar to Live Arcade games for the 360. Smaller, less expensive downloadable games. So do not go into it expecting Nintendo to offer everything via download.

As for the poll, I still argue that the DS Lite can be ignored if you have no interest in GBA games. And keep in mind that in addition to the DSiWare store, there will be DSi specific retail games and games that will be enhanced on the DSi. So, IMO, if you take the votes for the DS Lite and DSi togther it's pretty clear people are voting for the DS over the other platforms. I say DSi.

 

[oznerol]

DS Lite if you want a game-centric device with games designed to be portable and very easy to pick up and play. There's also a ton of games your girlfriend will like - I wouldn't worry about the touch screen being discouraging - some games don't even use it and if you stick to the highly-rated games, the ones that do use it well.

iPod Touch if you want a media-centric device with bite-sized games designed to be very simplistic but incredibly good to play in short bursts - 5-10 minutes at a time. Games are cheap and fairly plentiful (.99 cents to ~10 bucks). When you can buy 20-30 games for the same price as 1 DS game, lacking depth isn't the end of the world.

PSP if you want a heavy-duty portable gaming system with some media functionality. Get it if you're looking to get portable PS2-quality games - highest quality graphics and more console-centric titles. Bad battery life and loading times, though - possibly fixed with the PSP Go.

I would avoid the DSi, as it's more expensive and offers very little to justify the higher cost.

From what you said, I voted for the DS Lite.

 

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
I'd go ahead and get the DSi.

Pretty interesting stuff here.

http://www.friendcodes.com/for...ou-hadnt-heard-of.html

Some of those are just idiotic:
While playing music you can use four ?sound filters?. These are sounds such as drums or barking dogs and are played by pressing the shoulder buttons.

Who would ever do that??

 

[Crow550]

Well if. A big IF the DSi gets Virtual Console.....Yeah get it. I got a DSi. Waiting for some kick ass DSiware though....

So maybe DS Lite then....

I am hoping soon I can download GBA games on the DSi....

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

The DSi. There is no reason to buy a DS Lite when the future is the more powerful, more capable DSi.

If you are REALLY desperate to play some GBA games, just buy a used GBA SP for like $20.

The PSP's main problem is not it's design (or redesign...which we are currently at the fourth version!), but the fact that the gaming library is lackluster.

The iPod is a portable audio device, not a game platform.

 

[ShawnD1]

I voted for the DS Lite. I'm looking at what the DSI does and basically it sounds like a load of bullshit.

Wikipedia - DSI (formatted to make it more readable)

-SD card can be used for external storage of pictures, downloaded software and AAC audio.
-voice recorder and music player for AAC audio and some of its filename extensions (.mp4, .m4a, .3GP), but does not support MP3s.
-Audio can also be listened to while the device is closed.
-The audio player allows users to save and modify up to eighteen ten-second sound clips from voice recordings (recorded via the internal microphone) and then apply them to songs.
-software that lets users modify photos (taken via the built-in camera) with ten options called "lenses".
-Live feeds from the DSi camera, photos taken from it, and pictures imported from an SD card can also be manipulated.
-Photos taken using the DSi can be syncronized to the Wii's Photo Channel and, starting from summer 2009, to the social networking website Facebook.

Nintendo plans to release "enhanced game cards" that can operate on the DSi and previous console versions, and will also offer exclusive features for the DSi.[58] Similar to the PlayStation Portable, and Nintendo's own Wii console, the DSi has upgradable firmware?a first for a Nintendo handheld system. All existing homebrew flash cards for the Nintendo DS and DS Lite are incompatible with the DSi,[36] but cards that can run DS software on a DSi are now being produced.[59]

I don't know about you but I think that crap sounds completely useless. All of my music files are already ripped as MP3, so I can't play any of them without transcoding them first. It has a voice recorder you'll probably never use; my phone has a voice memo thing and I think I only used it one time ever. It has a camera that's as shitty as your cell phone's camera and you'll probably never use it. It also works with Facebook, omg just like my cell phone! The only thing that sounds like it might be useful is the SD slot, and the only useful thing would be for homebrew/warez. Even that is a useless extra since warez for the DS Lite use a card that fits into the DS slot and you put a mini SD card inside of it.

Overall it sounds like a rip off. Just get a normal DS Lite.

 

[R Nilla]

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
The DSi. There is no reason to buy a DS Lite when the future is the more powerful, more capable DSi.

So far the future seems to be downloadable clocks and calculators.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: R Nilla

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
The DSi. There is no reason to buy a DS Lite when the future is the more powerful, more capable DSi.

So far the future seems to be downloadable clocks and calculators.

But...they are clocks and calculators with MARIO!



I know what you're saying. Nintendo has promised "enhanced features" with the DSi. It remains to be seen whether or not they will fulfill that promise.

I need something to spend my 1000 DSi points on.

 

[Thraxen]

I guess you have to decide if the $40 price difference is worth it. IMO it is. I'd rather have the DSiWare store and access to any potential DSi-only or DSi-enhanced games in the future. Plus, keep in mind that if you do go into homebrew there's probably a pretty good chance that some homebrew will likely take advantage of the higher specs as well.

In my experience any sort of backwards compatibility is something people like as a bullet point, but once they get the system it is rarely, if ever, used. I know there are always exceptions and if the OP actually thinks his girlfirend will actually dig through bargin bins for some GBA games then the Lite should be considered. Otherwise, DSi.

FWIW, we have an iPod Touch, iPhone, 2 PSPs, 1 DS Phat, 2 DS Lites, and 1 DSi in the house. The DSi is pretty much the only system my wife games on... though she does have a few games on her iPhone that she will play if she doesn't happen tohave the DSi around.

 

[kyzen]

Leaning towards the DSi. I sold all my GBA games ages ago, so the GBA slot is more or less useless. There's enough of a library for the DS that I don't think losing backwards compatibility with a generation of a games my girlfriend never aware of is much of an issue.

On the homebrew subject - what's needed to do that on the DSi? I've read in a few places that the old DS homebrew carts won't work, and you need a special one for the DSi. Or is such third party talk not allowed on the boards ?

 

[erwos]

If money is not an issue, PSP Go!.

If money is an issue, DSi.