The PSP Appreciation Thread

What's sweet, shiny and fits in your pocket? That's right the super-cool PSP.

So what do you think of it, what stuff (games/films/downloads/accessories) do you have for it so far?

Know of any good sites to download PSP material? Here are a few.

Note - the latest firmware version in the UK for the PSP is 2.60. It can be gotten from here - http://www.yourpsp.com/psp/psp.html#id=system_software_overview&locale=en_gb&section=support_basics_detail&setlocale=true


http://www.yourpsp.com/psp/psp.html#locale=en_gb&section=homepage&setlocale=true - Your PSP - the main PSP site, has free downloads (videos, game enhancements, music, wallpapers).

http://community.yourpsp.com/index.php - official PSP forum

http://psp.connect.com/main.html - PSP Connect - an official US site which has some video downloads on the main page including an episode of "Creature Comforts". Note you don't have to follow their instructions for the video download, I just downloaded the files to my PC, then transfered them to the correct folder on my PSP.

http://www.sonypictures.com/psp/index.html - Sony Pictures PSP download area - has film trailers, and some films have wallpapers too (Jessica Alba in "Into the Blue" for example). This the US version of the site, the UK one is here - http://www.sonypictures.co.uk/homevideo/index.html

http://www.wipeoutpure.com/ - Official WipeOut Pure website - download area with the same extra tracks/ships/etc from the "Your PSP" site.

http://untoldlegends.station.sony.com/ - Untold Legends Official Site - info on the first RPG for the PSP, and info on its 2006 upcoming sequel.

http://mobile.station.sony.com/ - SONY Station Mobile site (this site can be viewed using the PSP browser btw) - lots of downloads related to Sony's games. Has a few SW Galaxies wallpapers.

http://www.foxinternational.com/psp/uk/downloads.html - Fox International PSP Download area - downloads for Fox UMDs, mainly trailers.

http://www.pspworld.com/ - PSP World - an unofficial PSP news website

http://www.teampsp.co.uk/ - Team PSP - an unofficial PSP news site

http://www.psppalace.com/index.php?section=5 - PSP Palace - has lots of downloads, haven't used this site yet.

http://www.load.gamingextremes.us/] - LOAD Magazine - an unofficial PSP magazine that can be downloaded and read on the PSP (I think it is PDF file format)

http://nyc2123.com/ - NYC 2123 Dayender PSP comic - the first comic created to read on the PSP - its basically a series of jpegs, which you can use the top buttons on the PSP to navigate through. It's ok IMHO, but a little sometimes.

K, that's enough for the moment. If you have problems downloading stuff, let me know and I'll try to advise. I know a solution to downloading probs I encountered on Your PSP site, which involved the fact that Sun Microsystem's Java didn't work, I had to get an old version of Microsoft's Java platform. I can provide links and help if you get the same probs.
I may post on the LOST forums to see if they will consider doing PSP content in the UK

 

The biggest gripe I have is with the UMD movie disks - Higher price, lower resolution than the DVD that you probably already have.

 

My man timbolton

As you well know, i to have a very sexy PSP and am still loving every bit of it.

As for what i have;
Games
Wipeout
NBA Street 2005
Fifa 2006
Burnout Legends
GTA: Liberty City Stories

UMDs
Spiderman 2 (the free copy)
Hitch
Godzilla
The Family Guy Movie

Also i have a 1gb memory card for all my movies mainly thr very funny MTV Movie Award spoofs. When putting clips onto my PSP i use PSP Video 9. Its extremely easy to use and its free YAY

Bring on the PSP in 2006

I can't wait till Grand Turismo and Final Fantasy and whatever else Sony decide to give us.

 

Anyone got a DS? They are sheer quality!!!

 

I know what you mean Moylesy, and the UMDs have none of the extra features you will usually won't mind paying extra for. From what I understand, Sony are currently making a loss on the actual consoles (that includes the whole "Value pack" and probably the new "giga pack") due to the expense of the research, so instead of making the console more pricey than it is (and its high, but in terms of what you get its good - does anyone remember the Atari Lynx? I have one in my room right now with 8 games and no adaptor lol, someone at work is buying it off me), the companies are making some gain via the extras - games, UMD films, and accessories. Of them all, the films are the real over-priced ones, though since the games are smaller than their PS2 cousins, I expected them to be at most £25. But then again, I have a GBA and the games for that can be £30+

Hey JediWolst23
Cool to see ya here.

I have currently -
Games:
WipeOut Pure
SW Battlefront 2
Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade
Pro Evolution Soccer 5

UMD films:
Spiderman 2 (I got the freebie)
I, Robot
King Arthur

I intend to get "Lord of the Rings Tactics" tomorrow, I may get Sin City, Kingdom of Heaven, a few other films (like Pirates of the Carribean), and I am debating over "GTA: Liberty City Stories".
Also in December there should be "King Kong", "Prince of Persia" and maybe "The Sims 2".

I forgot to add that there is actually a quite good, but unofficial, magazine out now for the PSP called "Go>Play" issue one - it's £3.49 and it out now, issue two is out at the end of December. Note that is the full magazine spin-off from "Play" magazine's small pullout also called "Go>Play". Play has now stopped this insert, as the 114 page magazine will provide the full coverage. I recommend it since there is still no sign of anty official mag to the PSP. The new Official Playstation magazine (out now) btw has a guide booklet for GTA with it.

Oh, I got the 1gb card too btw, it is necessary for keeping a few movie clips, some mp3 albums, software updates, and other stuff on there. I got a SanDisk Pro for £75 from Game, expensive, but in the end worth it, each of the WipeOut Pure extra packs from the YourPSP site is like 18mb at a time.

 

I have a PSP with Ridge Racers and Mercury.

Awesome handheld to say the least!

Blues brother to JediJoker

 

My girlfriend has the PSP, and we both have DS's. The DS is the most played, better games and better games coming out. The PSP suffers from strip down, stripped down DVDs to UMD and stripped down PS2 games. It does however look lovely, the graphics are of very high quality, the machine is the best looking games console ever designed and the screen....ohhh the screen....I cannot get over the screen, so vivid, so wide, so beautiful, able to show the true potential at any angle. In fact sitting next to it while I played on a gamecube and my friend played burnout made me unable to play, the screen was keeping my attention.

But you know, it doesn't have Advanced Wars DS, so it is inferior.

 

Indeed!

Blues Brother to JediJoker

 

Advanced Wars DS = biggest life dominator since the championship manager series, now Football manager

 

Must ... not ... pummle ... Ramble_Boba ... to ... death ... with ... my ... PSP ...

... Resistance is futile!

*Ramble_Boba screams echo into the night*




Ramble_Boba - the games I have for the PSP are massively playable IMHO, but maybe I have one advantage - I haven't played their big brothers on the PS2, which I kept just for SW games (well, ok LOTR, Spiderman 2 and Matrix games too) and playing DVDs (have to budget somewhere ). But I have seen similar comments made elsewhere that the games at the mo are cut down versions of their bigger PS2 cousins. Still, PSP and Nintendo Gameboy DS are two entirely different kettle of fish I'd say, and aimed at different age markets - so maybe NS games are more playable because they are meant for less complex minds j/k

 

Ewww, Sony...

I prefer the DS.

 

I have complained about the DS before, so i won't do it again.

I can compare them seeing i have both and i play my PSP far more

The DS was not Nintendo's best effort and they know that and that is why in the next two years the GBA 2 will be along and i can ensure u that it will be very similar to the way the PSP is laid out in terms of graphics

Nintendo no longer have dominance in the market, and i love Nintendo and their games i was gutted they delayed Zelda till next year but i will still buy it, they jst dnt produce the games they use to and are relaying on Mario to sell it for them. And wots with all these sub mario sport games

(sorry timbolton i dnt want to turn this into a 'lets slag off Nintendo and Sony)

 

No worries JediWolst23
There is always gonna be some comparison
Did anyone have an Atari Lynx back in the day? That kicked the Gameboy's butt too, but never had the support to survive. Shame.

Well, LOTR: Tactics is a fun turn-based strategy, I have just gotten myself through the LOTR: Fellowship side of it, there are extra levels which weren't in the films (mainly as it involves having extra characters that weren't in the Fellowship - eg, I had Aragorn and Legolas with rangers and archers fighting a couple of cave trolls and a gang (or gaggle?) of goblins.

http://www.ea.com/official/lordoftherings/tactics/us/index.jsp

 

My Mate had a Lynx 2 with Ninja Gaiden! Man, I loved that console!

I got a Game Gear as it had more games at the time!

Blues Brother to JediJoker

 

I own a DS and love it, but even I have to say that the PSP looks lovely and the screen is just
I think when it comes to portable gaming, the PSP misses the point completely . While the DS, with Nintendos vast experience, does the job nicely. And Mario kart DS is a stunning game and shows how powerful the DS actually is and that gaming is meant to be fun.
But if you want a portable PS2, then you can't complain too much at all.

That said, I do keep an eye on the PSPs games (new releases and future releases) because if I can afford to I wouldn't say no to getting one at some point. I do find it very expensive though, especially the memory cards when you can get a 30 GB ipod for £200.

One draw black with the shiny black paint job are fingerprints. You must have to clean it every five minutes to maintain its beauty....that's why I would opt for the white one

 

I don't own one, but one of my mates at Uni does.

It's great for something to do during those really boring classes, where the lecturers just waffle about rubbish in their own broken-english. We've spent countless hours, playing GTA: Liberty City, Fifa 2006, and watching films of, ahem, an adult nature!

Heck, it beats studying!

 

Now now, the Atari Lynx had a graphical advantage, as did the Game Gear, but to kick the butt of any console you have to look at sales figures, now when it comes to that I think you will realise that Lynx was a flop. Espically compared to the Gameboy, the most successful games console in history, been produced for over a ten year period without any major overhaul.

I think that goes to show something about the handheld market, it isn't graphics that is going to make it in the market, but simple pick up and play games that can have hours of fun or be a five minute blast. Now the PSP doesn't handle this well with long load times, and when I am out I will not often use the PSP, because a bus journey or a small wait is used mostly by loading times, the DS is quick. The PSP suffers been a portable console that is often just played around the house.

Nintendo are still the major force in this market, with europe the only area really where the PSP is outselling the DS, and not by much. The DS was a brilliant effort by nintendo also, less then a year from annocement to peoples hands, and managing to get in new control methods as well. But Tim really does bring the right point, they are not comparable, because of the aims. PSP is for the casual gamer and the chic geeks, while the DS is going for the old school gamers looking for something new from games(because they are very very stale at the moment) and also a whole new market, everyone.

And I shall say again, Advanced Wars DS. And follow that up with Mario Kart DS - Online.

 

heh Ramble, I (*grudgingly* ) admit that in sales terms that the Lynx was a big big big flop, shame that it didn't catch on, it was graphically superior at the time, and the games that did come out I loved - Bill and Ted's Excellent adventure! PARTY TIME, EXCELLENT! Had a go on the Lynx today, then sold it to a work colleague had more use for it that me.

Anyways lol.

Just seen a game that may be worth taking a peek at around March next year, supposedly quite popular in Japan -

Monster Hunter Freedom (by Capcom) -

http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/monster-hunter/
http://media.ps2.gamespy.com/media/744/744247/imgs_1.html
http://www.capcom-europe.com/news.aspx?ID=100

"Based on the PS2 title Monster Hunter G, which was only released in Japan, Monster Hunter Freedom expands the Monster Hunter experience with brand new quests and features. The game is visually stunning, with the dramatic environments equally as impressive as the huge monsters that roam them. Just like the home console version Monster Hunter Freedom offers both single and multiplayer missions for up to 4 players via the PSP?s Ad Hoc mode, with objectives such as defeating specific beasts or collecting items and then allowing you to build up your hunter and create new and more powerful weapons and armour.

Created specifically for Monster Hunter Freedom Felyne Kitchen is a new feature where players can train Felynes to cook for them. As the Felynes become more skilled in the kitchen the better the meals they can prepare and the more the player?s statistics will increase. But if you aren?t happy with what they prepare you can always fire them and hire a new batch!

Also new to for the PSP is The Farm, a small piece of land where the hunter can obtain rare mushrooms, mine ore and catch insects allowing them to obtain essential items without having to travel too far from the village. The Farm will also feature some great mini-games for those who want a quick Monster Hunter experience.

Another first for the Monster Hunter franchise is Treasure Hunter mode ? a series of missions designed for just 2 players working together to achieve certain objectives. All of the items found or earned in this mode can be kept and used in single player mode."

The planned release date for this title will be 31st March 2006.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000CIA2C6/qid=1133905714/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_10_2/203-9393832-2889506

I just saw the trailer for it, looks visually great, and I like the idea of hunting monsters

and this page for Capcom's announcement about two other upcoming games -
http://www.capcom-europe.com/news.aspx?ID=99

I am going to get King Kong and Prince of Persia when they come out, I am sure in one shop it said they were out this Friday, Amazon says next week.

As for Advanced Wars, looks like the PSP will get their own similar-style game - "Field Commander" - http://fieldcommander.station.sony.com/

And another recommendation is "Pinball Classics - The Gottlieb Collection" - http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0009XAMPG/qid=1133913994/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/203-9393832-2889506

Expected out February 3, 2006

 

Future Publishing, who bring out a lot of computer mags and others, and the ones who publish the Official Playstation 2 magazine have brought out -

Playstation 2 Official Magazine - Special Edition: PSP - The Official Guide Book
It's £4.99, 130 pages long (has volume 2 on the cover, so I guess I totally missed the first one). It's a nice glossy mag, with lots of reviews of games and info. There are two small b/w booklets with the main mag (like they often bring out for other mags) - "The Complete A to Z of PSP Tips", and "The Ultimate UMD Video Guide".

Well worth a look

Update: Just found a few other sites -

http://www.pspmagazines.com/pspm/ - PSP news and some nice links

http://www.komikwerks.com/psp/index.php - Stan Lee's Sunday Comics on your PSP!

 

I remember the Lynx too. At the time it was like the Neo Geo of the portable console world, i.e technically the best but not easy to get and expensive. Nintendo have always faced competetion from superior consoles (like the Game Gear, N-Gage) so the PSP is a worthy rival and can only help the portable market IMO. And as I?ve said before to Ramble, I agree with everything he said about the DS and PSP and what they stand for

Anyway, I read the other day that Capcom plan to release some new control attachments for the PSP because they think the D-Pad and Analogue stick are poorly made. I kinda agree because I was surprised how slow the D-pad was to respond and the Analogue stick was a nice idea but not quite positioned right. So I think this attachment could be a worthy investment although no news on a UK release. There you go, doing my bit for the PSP

 

Accepting donations to buy PSP GTA!

 

I can't donate, you are too young.

 

regards the Atari Lynx - the problem was that Atari refused to let anyone else develop games for their platform - the result was that there were very few games coming out. (oh, and the batteries lasted about an hour - not long enough to complete most games).

The gameboy was ugly and monochrome, but it had plenty of quality games meaning it sold millions of units, and outlasted the Lynx (and the GameGear) by a very very long time.

Same could be said about the Atari Jaguar - years ahead of it's time, a true 64bit system which came out before the Playstation etc - but it died too, purely from a lack of game development.

The Jaguar came out when the Megadrive and SNES were popular, and offered far improved graphics and gameplay.

eg

Aliens vs Predator
[image=http://www.atariage.com/Jaguar/screenshots/s_AlienVsPredator_5.jpg]

 

I remember the Jaguar and I would loved to have had one even for just the Aliens V Predator game. A few years back Virgin were selling the Jaguar dirt cheap, although I suspect you could pick one up for not much on ebay or if you're lucky, gamestation.
The Neo Geos were also ahead of their time and out during the 16-bit era, but were also very expensive and the games were £150+ and mail order only....those were the days

 

NeoGeo had the right idea - using the same hardware in their arcade machines that they used in their consoles, so you could play the identical arcade game in the comfort of your own home (at that point there was still a massive gap between the quality of arcade games versus home console games).

Sadly however, using the same hardware resulted in extremely expensive base console and very expensive games.

I suppose NeoGeo paved the way for some of the quality home graphics that we see now - there's very little difference between the current arcade games and the home console versions (eg TimeCrisis etc).