Transportable Console?!

NaCr0 · 19th March 2006, 12:43 PM

Well i was pretty close to putting my money down on an xbox 360, but then it dawned on me that im not really home at all to play it.

Work monday-friday with activities after work eg, gym, tafe etc and on the weekend im usually out and about.

So i thought hmmmm, i spend quite a bit of time on the train each day (pretty much 2 hours each day) and thought it would be more logical to get a handheld console.

Now, the PSP looks alright i guess, but im more so after quality of games over graphics.

The DS looks good i guess, but there doesnt really seem to be that many games ?

GBA, i have been toying with this idea, i guess i could get games cheap for this and they are plentiful.

can anyone help me make my decision.

claf-43 · 19th March 2006, 12:59 PM

well doesnt the DS play GBA games?

That would be my choice clearly

NaCr0 · 19th March 2006, 2:01 PM

what about that micro gameboy, does that do gba games?

claf-43 · 19th March 2006, 2:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaCr0

what about that micro gameboy, does that do gba games?

maybe the new DS maybe your best bet

urbanvanilla · 19th March 2006, 3:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaCr0

Now, the PSP looks alright i guess, but im more so after quality of games over graphics.

The DS looks good i guess, but there doesnt really seem to be that many games ?

GBA, i have been toying with this idea, i guess i could get games cheap for this and they are plentiful.

can anyone help me make my decision.

dude. not only does the DS play GBA games, it has its own library of...PURE UNADULTERED AWESOMENESS.

intrasonic · 19th March 2006, 8:13 PM

ds is definitely the cheaper option, but if you're interested in homebrew and multimedia, psp is a winner. And by homebrew, I mean hundreds of apps, ranging from arcade style games, to media players and even emulators such as snes.

/blatand fanboy psp pimpage.

NaCr0 · 19th March 2006, 8:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intrasonic

ds is definitely the cheaper option, but if you're interested in homebrew and multimedia, psp is a winner. And by homebrew, I mean hundreds of apps, ranging from arcade style games, to media players and even emulators such as snes.

/blatand fanboy psp pimpage.

Nah homebrew doesnt really interest me, iv got an xbox for that.

Sure it would be cool but i cant really see how its worth it for me.

What does however interest me is games with alot of replayability eg, tetris, shitty graphis RPG's (Final fantasy and stuff) Sport games. I see FIFA is on the DS, this excites me

NaCr0 · 19th March 2006, 8:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanvanilla

dude. not only does the DS play GBA games, it has its own library of...PURE UNADULTERED AWESOMENESS.

Unadultered ?

Slugoid · 19th March 2006, 8:33 PM

DS or PSP. GBA (including the SP and Micro) are out of date imo. As people have said, DS can also run GBA games and that's already enough not to consider the others.

PSP or DS.....hard choice. PSP does everything out of the box (games, music, video, homebrew, net browser). DS can only play games and "chat" out of the box unless you get a CF/SD attachment that goes into the GBA slot. Games wise, it's personal choice. PSP has more variety while GBA has good games but only in certain genre's. If you want something cheap and fun, get the DS. If you don't mind spending a little more for a mini PS2 (pretty much what it is), then get a PSP.

Not hard to guess, I'm a PSP owner, and I'm a Nintendo admirer too

Edit: Sports games, PSP is the winner. Games with a lot of replay, DS. Shitty graphic rpg's belong to the GBA for sure, so DS again. Final Fantasy I, II, IV (all remake), and even Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced (not the same as the PSX one) are all on GBA.

Lord Belial · 19th March 2006, 10:20 PM

It'd probably help you to have a go with all three, see how they fit in your hands, that sort of thing. It's worth noting that, IMO, both the PSP and the DS are pretty big, and wouldn't fit in your pocket unless you wear parachute pants a lot. On the flipside, the Micro really is ridiculously small. The GBA SP lies in the middle.

The DS has the edge in terms of game variety and inventiveness. The nature of the console invites some interesting game design certainly not possible on other consoles. The flipside of this is many ports don't work so well. Whereas the PSP just seems to attract legions of PS2 ports. Not necessarily a bad thing, but if you already have a PS2 or XBox you might like the different styles of games on the DS. Also the DS is GBA compatible, so you can play lots of awesome SNES ports like Yoshi's Island and that 2D Zelda game people seem to like.

I'm a PSP owner and I love the way it does so many different things. During the day I use it to listen to mp3s, play Burnout and watch Top Gear. But it's pretty expensive to get a big memory card and use it as a portable media player and many would say you're better of buying a DS, an mp3 player and, err...a PS2 maybe?

If you end up deciding on a DS, you might be best off waiting a few months (not sure of the AUS release date) to get the new Lite version which is significantly smaller, has brighter screens, looks swisher and some other improvements.

DavoRulz · 20th March 2006, 11:24 AM

I'm considering a GBA SP, purely for the fact that it's the only one out of the Nintendo range you can get new and still be able to play older GB and GBC games.

NaCr0 · 20th March 2006, 6:19 PM

The DS is a bit big now that i think about it, i want to be able to whip it out on the packed peak hour train home and play it in a confined corner seat while someone with tuck shop lady arms and BO slobbers over my side.

So im thinking possibly Gameboy SP ?

StratosFear · 20th March 2006, 6:45 PM

The DS isn't really bigger than the SP. Well it is but it's not going to make a difference not like it's wider than your body or anything like that.

DS all the way. Excellent original games. plenty still being released and plenty already out there.

The only reason I would say get a PSP is if you want a portable movie player.

Oblong Cheese · 20th March 2006, 7:13 PM

Just as long as you aren't infront of me in the queue for the DS Lite, I couldn't give a shit what you buy...

Seriously though.

My girlfriend has spoilt brothers; one has a DS and one has a PSP. I had a play around with both and came to the same conclusion many others have:

The PSP has technically better hardware and is just better overall hardware wise, with support for pretty much everything out of the box. Not to mention the fact that the console itself just feels better (I get cramped fingers playing the DS sometimes).

It has LOTS of games though as we all know, quantity != quality.

The DS is a quirky little (or not so little) console that while it doesn't have the same quantity of games, I would argue that the quality of games is better. The dual-screen and touch-screen hardware capability does add to the gameplay element, with various devs finding crazy ways of using the console to its full potential.

Both consoles have integraded 802.11 WiFi so you can play over the internet through a wireless AP or ad-hoc with mates; both consoles have the ability to 'share' games over ad-hoc wireless with mates (so you can have one person who actually owns the game, and upto 16 or so others playing it temporarily for that gaming session).

On the homebrew front... from my shallow research of the subject I can see that the PSP certainly appears to have a lot more people devoting a lot of time to the cause, with zillions of games and emulators you can get...

Though the DS isn't that much different. While you can IRC on your PSP, you can use Opera on your DS and also use it as a wireless remote control for your PC (using a VNC-style control mechanism).

Me personally, I'm hanging out for a DS Lite. Supposedly they're of better build quality and have some basic features lacking from the original DS (like adjustable screen brightness, for example).

Though at the moment they're about $280-$380 AUD on eBay because Nintendo only had 96,000 consoles on release date (March 2nd) -- they're sold out in Japan, and they don't even have an official US or Aus release date.

So if you feel like waiting a month or two (or paying the same as you'd pay for a PSP), get a DS Lite IMO. :-)

NaCr0 · 20th March 2006, 7:47 PM

You can surf the web on your DS too ?

19th March 2006, 12:43 PM	#1
NaCr0 Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 883	Transportable Console?! Well i was pretty close to putting my money down on an xbox 360, but then it dawned on me that im not really home at all to play it. Work monday-friday with activities after work eg, gym, tafe etc and on the weekend im usually out and about. So i thought hmmmm, i spend quite a bit of time on the train each day (pretty much 2 hours each day) and thought it would be more logical to get a handheld console. Now, the PSP looks alright i guess, but im more so after quality of games over graphics. The DS looks good i guess, but there doesnt really seem to be that many games ? GBA, i have been toying with this idea, i guess i could get games cheap for this and they are plentiful. can anyone help me make my decision. __________________ OCAU Pink Floyd Fan #27 OCAU OFFICIAL CHAIR RAVER'S SOCIETY MEMBER #4

19th March 2006, 2:01 PM	#3
NaCr0 Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 883	what about that micro gameboy, does that do gba games? __________________ OCAU Pink Floyd Fan #27 OCAU OFFICIAL CHAIR RAVER'S SOCIETY MEMBER #4

19th March 2006, 8:33 PM	#9
Slugoid Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hong Kong SAR Posts: 3,069	DS or PSP. GBA (including the SP and Micro) are out of date imo. As people have said, DS can also run GBA games and that's already enough not to consider the others. PSP or DS.....hard choice. PSP does everything out of the box (games, music, video, homebrew, net browser). DS can only play games and "chat" out of the box unless you get a CF/SD attachment that goes into the GBA slot. Games wise, it's personal choice. PSP has more variety while GBA has good games but only in certain genre's. If you want something cheap and fun, get the DS. If you don't mind spending a little more for a mini PS2 (pretty much what it is), then get a PSP. Not hard to guess, I'm a PSP owner, and I'm a Nintendo admirer too Edit: Sports games, PSP is the winner. Games with a lot of replay, DS. Shitty graphic rpg's belong to the GBA for sure, so DS again. Final Fantasy I, II, IV (all remake), and even Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced (not the same as the PSX one) are all on GBA. __________________ Successful trades: viper287 For sale: None Folding@Home 12000 Club\|Folding@Home 70000 Points Milestone Last edited by Slugoid; 19th March 2006 at 8:38 PM.

20th March 2006, 6:19 PM	#12
NaCr0 Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 883	The DS is a bit big now that i think about it, i want to be able to whip it out on the packed peak hour train home and play it in a confined corner seat while someone with tuck shop lady arms and BO slobbers over my side. So im thinking possibly Gameboy SP ? __________________ OCAU Pink Floyd Fan #27 OCAU OFFICIAL CHAIR RAVER'S SOCIETY MEMBER #4

20th March 2006, 7:13 PM	#14
Oblong Cheese Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,833	Just as long as you aren't infront of me in the queue for the DS Lite, I couldn't give a shit what you buy... Seriously though. My girlfriend has spoilt brothers; one has a DS and one has a PSP. I had a play around with both and came to the same conclusion many others have: The PSP has technically better hardware and is just better overall hardware wise, with support for pretty much everything out of the box. Not to mention the fact that the console itself just feels better (I get cramped fingers playing the DS sometimes). It has LOTS of games though as we all know, quantity != quality. The DS is a quirky little (or not so little) console that while it doesn't have the same quantity of games, I would argue that the quality of games is better. The dual-screen and touch-screen hardware capability does add to the gameplay element, with various devs finding crazy ways of using the console to its full potential. Both consoles have integraded 802.11 WiFi so you can play over the internet through a wireless AP or ad-hoc with mates; both consoles have the ability to 'share' games over ad-hoc wireless with mates (so you can have one person who actually owns the game, and upto 16 or so others playing it temporarily for that gaming session). On the homebrew front... from my shallow research of the subject I can see that the PSP certainly appears to have a lot more people devoting a lot of time to the cause, with zillions of games and emulators you can get... Though the DS isn't that much different. While you can IRC on your PSP, you can use Opera on your DS and also use it as a wireless remote control for your PC (using a VNC-style control mechanism). Me personally, I'm hanging out for a DS Lite. Supposedly they're of better build quality and have some basic features lacking from the original DS (like adjustable screen brightness, for example). Though at the moment they're about $280-$380 AUD on eBay because Nintendo only had 96,000 consoles on release date (March 2nd) -- they're sold out in Japan, and they don't even have an official US or Aus release date. So if you feel like waiting a month or two (or paying the same as you'd pay for a PSP), get a DS Lite IMO. :-) __________________ My Website \| My Computers \| Grado Labs Alessandro MS-1, Shure SRH-840, Topping TP30 Last edited by Oblong_Cheese; 20th March 2006 at 7:22 PM.

19th March 2006, 12:59 PM	#2
claf-43 Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,977	well doesnt the DS play GBA games? That would be my choice clearly

19th March 2006, 8:13 PM	#6
intrasonic Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 593	ds is definitely the cheaper option, but if you're interested in homebrew and multimedia, psp is a winner. And by homebrew, I mean hundreds of apps, ranging from arcade style games, to media players and even emulators such as snes. /blatand fanboy psp pimpage.

19th March 2006, 10:20 PM	#10
Lord Belial Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Melbourne! Posts: 1,078	It'd probably help you to have a go with all three, see how they fit in your hands, that sort of thing. It's worth noting that, IMO, both the PSP and the DS are pretty big, and wouldn't fit in your pocket unless you wear parachute pants a lot. On the flipside, the Micro really is ridiculously small. The GBA SP lies in the middle. The DS has the edge in terms of game variety and inventiveness. The nature of the console invites some interesting game design certainly not possible on other consoles. The flipside of this is many ports don't work so well. Whereas the PSP just seems to attract legions of PS2 ports. Not necessarily a bad thing, but if you already have a PS2 or XBox you might like the different styles of games on the DS. Also the DS is GBA compatible, so you can play lots of awesome SNES ports like Yoshi's Island and that 2D Zelda game people seem to like. I'm a PSP owner and I love the way it does so many different things. During the day I use it to listen to mp3s, play Burnout and watch Top Gear. But it's pretty expensive to get a big memory card and use it as a portable media player and many would say you're better of buying a DS, an mp3 player and, err...a PS2 maybe? If you end up deciding on a DS, you might be best off waiting a few months (not sure of the AUS release date) to get the new Lite version which is significantly smaller, has brighter screens, looks swisher and some other improvements.

20th March 2006, 11:24 AM	#11
DavoRulz (Banned or Deleted) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Your House Posts: 3,983	I'm considering a GBA SP, purely for the fact that it's the only one out of the Nintendo range you can get new and still be able to play older GB and GBC games.

20th March 2006, 6:45 PM	#13
StratosFear Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,686	The DS isn't really bigger than the SP. Well it is but it's not going to make a difference not like it's wider than your body or anything like that. DS all the way. Excellent original games. plenty still being released and plenty already out there. The only reason I would say get a PSP is if you want a portable movie player.

20th March 2006, 7:47 PM	#15
NaCr0 Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 883	You can surf the web on your DS too ? __________________ OCAU Pink Floyd Fan #27 OCAU OFFICIAL CHAIR RAVER'S SOCIETY MEMBER #4