Recent Survey from IGN Pocket DS VS PSP

[Nights]

Thanks to IGN Pocket for its discussion of a recent Famitsu-sourced Japanese magazine article quizzing readers and game creators about their impressions of the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP handheld consoles.

In a reader survey, it's revealed that "14.8% checked that they'd like to purchase a PSP, compared to 11.8% who checked that they'd like to purchase DS... 7.1% stated that they think the PSP's design is cool while just 2.3% stated the same for the DS." It also polled developers and industry figures on questions such as "Which design do you like better?" ("PSP = 251, DS = 42").

Looks like PSP is drawing more interest and is rated better by developers for design.

The developers also stated that the PSP was easier to develope for than the DS.

Harder to develope N64 graphics you ask? That isn't the problem the problem is the Dual Processors aka Sega Saturn that the DS utilizes.

[Viper]

DS design = not final so that poll question means absolute squat.

Which Japanese developers did it ask? Remember, you are in Sony land.

[Freeman_JI]

Both these systems look ace, i just hope the DS has some FPS, war games. man would i be pissed if Half-life 2 mobile came out on the PSP lol. Ahh they both look good (the PSP looks better) but i'm leaning towards a DS if they have the goods. (racing, rpgs, fps)

[Nights]

They asked 300 developers at E3.... Seriously what more do you need, that's a good majority of them there.

Stop complaining that your poor DS felt like (sh!t) because it's not final...
Well Sony has stated they will be ready to show the final PSP at the Tokyo Game Show in September. So what does this mean... The PSP isn't final either.

I think comparing 2 non final systems is fine.

[C.J.]

DS design = not final so that poll question means absolute squat.

Which Japanese developers did it ask? Remember, you are in Sony land.

Are they waiting until the day before to mention that it looks different?

[Michael Bluth]

DS design = not final so that poll question means absolute squat.

Which Japanese developers did it ask? Remember, you are in Sony land.

Weren't you just going on and on about how the DS is all final while there isn't any PSP developer kits with nailed down specs?

[Viper]

No, the DS shell design is not final, the PSP shell design is but no dev has PSP dev kits. They have DS dev kits.

[Michael Bluth]

No dev has PSP dev kits? Then how do you explain Death Jr and that Tales game?

[Viper]

They were built the same way a lot of early games are for new hardware. On comps with anticipated specs.

Adam, you know that.

[dncardman]

More people may LIKE to buy the PSP...until they see the price.

[Nights]

The Sony PSP portable Game Console, also called the 'Walkman of the 21st century' might only cost between $199 and $249 instead of the former published $300-$400.

A EA representative said the games will cost around $40. In an article on CNN Money it also is said that Sony plans to initially ship 3 Mio. units.

All I can say is wow a $20 or $70 difference... I4U news and CNN are the new sources for this.

EA made the last developer statement on the price, they believed that the price of the psp wouldn't exceed $249 although lower could be a possibility.

I still believe, like I stated from day one, that the price will be along the lines of $249.

[HolyPaladin]

So, our expectations of PSP greatness rely on 1) developers saying it is easier to program for than DS, and 2) it being more powerful than DS?

When the PS2 first came along, I read all kinds of articles about PS2 being difficult to program for, at least partially due to having vector units (V1 and V2). It also is the weakest hardware of the generation. So, PS2 was for this present console generation what DS is to the upcoming handhelds: less powerful and more difficult to program for. These don't make for water-tight arguments against the DS, then, since the PS2 dominated its generation.

We can sit around throwing arguments for and against either handheld, and it won't mean a thing. Somebody could write up a five-page essay about how PSP is godly and will crush DS's nuts, but it's still just discussion and talk, which won't influence the outcome of anything. DS depends on attracting gamer interest by offering up interesting new gameplay that you cannot find on PSP, in spite of the PSP's distinct advantage in the form of hardware power and capability. PSP may be able to do all sorts of neat things that gamers and non-gamers alike may be attracted to, but if the DS can whip up enough interesting new types of games, it can still gain its fair share of buyers.

Regarding these new types of software, we can't judge based only on what we've seen so far because there is a lot more on the way than just that. Heck, it doesn't even need for its best stuff to be there at launch, though a strong launch list is very useful, as they can always win people over the course of months and even years. DS just needs to bring us neat, interesting new stuff. If it doesn't, it won't account for anything. If it does, PSP's awesomeness won't stop it from selling.

[Vishus]

I don't know much about easier to program for than the PSP. I think its more like they can't think outside of the box since is something more than what handhelds did in the past.

It doesn't matter if PS2 was hard to develop for. It already had a huge fanbase behind it. Everybody thought it was the crap and the best for everything. Developers if they can create a good games they'll get a huge pie piece to make up for their shortcomings for working on the hardware.

The only thing that I can see the DS getting people other than the hardcore fans would be something that is considered "cool" or "tight" or "the shiznit" or whatever is the writing of messages to people and free wireless online gaming. I just hope they get past trying to look gaming cool.

[orcus116]

The Sony PSP portable Game Console, also called the 'Walkman of the 21st century' might only cost between $199 and $249 instead of the former published $300-$400.


Still man $200 is alot for a handheld.

[Xer0]

Yeah it is but with the HUGE user base that the PS2 comands Sony should not have much of a problem selling this thing to people with that price tag, after it is still a Playstation and to the mainstream that means best everything and the mainstream is were all the money is at.

[Glenn2K4]

The Sony PSP portable Game Console, also called the 'Walkman of the 21st century' might only cost between $199 and $249 instead of the former published $300-$400.

A EA representative said the games will cost around $40. In an article on CNN Money it also is said that Sony plans to initially ship 3 Mio. units.
slowly the PSP is crawling back onto my "must-have" list :corky:

like Draygus stated, the PS2/DS "hard to develop for" argument doesn't work because the PS2 had a strong playstation following that the DS won't, unless Gameboy owners count.

the DS has more footwork to cover than what many people think.
~ it needs an analog stick for 3D
~ it needs a better asthetic look
~ Nintendo needs to support its features instead of leaving it to developers

the DS battle is whether Nintendo can make "unique" portable gaming seem more fun than "graphically superior" portable gaming. This is where persuading casual gamers can get a little tricky. The DS must not come off as a novelty.

[Nights]

Still man $200 is alot for a handheld.
All I can say is compared to what?

The estimated price of the DS $179?

Regardless I'm going to buy both, there is just a lot of positive things about the PSP and I feel Ninentdo need to prove that the touchscreen and dual screen is great. With the games shown thus far, they have failed to put that impression on me.

[lmng3k]

Sony is slowely making the psp look more viable and affordable. with that price-features- and specs. i most likely will by both aswell.

[Glenn2K4]

i want the PSP and the DS as well.

both of their prices could be lower....but hey, if they have the right games I want, I will get them.

...yet still there looms the PSP battery life question. I have a problem with that.

[Nights]

I don't know if you read my post on battery life and what's going on. It's not as bad as people lead to believe.

If not we have a 2.5 hour dvd portable player basically. Meaning that if the game reads specifically from the disc only then it will be 2.5 hours. However segments of games can be switched to the memory which should preserve battery life signifactely. The question is how much.

They do know that games on memory only will last arround 10 hours.

[Viper]

Nights, that was based on actual gameplay, not motor drive for 2.5 hours, but gameplay for 2.5 hours.

[Nights]

no it wasn't

It was based on DVD's that use the Disc only.

You obviously didn't go to E3.. Otherwise that was common knowledge.

[GleefulFarewell]

Dude...the ESTIMATED batterylife for the PSP is

1. GAMES and MOVIES(anything that has a picture on the screen)= 2.5 hours
2. MUSIC = 10 hours!

[Viper]

no it wasn't

It was based on DVD's that use the Disc only.

You obviously didn't go to E3.. Otherwise that was common knowledge.
I've seen the Sony speech on battery life from the pre-E3 conference and they said it may be between 10 and 2.5 hours. In other words, they either don't know or are afraid to tell the truth, both are ver, very sad indeed.

Here are a few from E3 and more.


"Its built-in lithium-ion battery will have a life of 2.5 hours with video and 10 hours if used for audio playback only."
PSP and NDS disclosed and presented to public - Expansive coverage from E3 Expo (http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3359)



"Sony announced at E3 the equivalent of a gigantic shoulder shrug by giving only vague details of what that will mean instead of directly addressing what typical gameplay life will last. It's somewhere between 10 hours and 2 1/5 hours, that much we know.
E3 2004: Still No Battery Life Answers (http://psp.ign.com/articles/513/513734p1.html?fromint=1)



"Additionally, battery life was said to be comparable to other high-end devices (roughly 3-6 hours)"
New PSP Details (http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/450/450207p1.html?fromint=1)



"Sony announced that the battery life is estimated between 3 to 6 hours."
Sony Gamers Day 2003: New PSP Details (http://www.gamingworldx.com/news/SonyGamersDay2003NewPSPD.shtml)



"They claim 10 hours for game play time, but only 2 hours for video play time? What gives with that?

I had a sony laptop that claims 4 hours battery life and only gets 1.5 hours! I don't believe them."
Sony PSP doing it all wrong? (http://www.portagame.com/sony_psp.php)

[Michael]

That does sound like crap...movies 2.5 hours and games 10 hours...as I recall games take up more power...

[IEatFriedPikmin]

i honestly dont see why people would want a PSP. It is going to be very fragile. The uber screen is going to get ruined and scracthed up eventually. Its a PS2. Nothing new. And who would want to play a metal gear solid card based game? wtf.

DS is just way more innovative. Even though there are some week points... like no joystick, and the flash carts hold 1/14th of what the PSP discs hold, etc., the games will make up for it.

[GleefulFarewell]

well...its not like Sony is going to use the FULL CD...those cheap bastards...

[Nights]

If you played the E3 games. All I got to tell you is the touchscreen games. AKA Sonic for DS where major suckage. Playing Darkstalkers and (Analoged controled jack and dexter) will be far more fun than mario on the Dpad with dual screens.

Your not giving the Analog controls enough credit there. A stable in most games (almost all 3d games) and the ds doesn't have one.

[Viper]

If you played the E3 games. All I got to tell you is the touchscreen games. AKA Sonic for DS where major suckage. Playing Darkstalkers and (Analoged controled jack and dexter) will be far more fun than mario on the Dpad with dual screens.

Your not giving the Analog controls enough credit there. A stable in most games (almost all 3d games) and the ds doesn't have one.
You're also not recognizing one factor. The DS was not finalized at E3. An analog control stick is still very, very likely. Especially if Sony's stick worked well, Nintendo will also add one.

Remember how Iwata stated that any, "ANY" gameplay the PSP can do, the DS will do.

[Nights]

You guys are all wrong. The 2.5 was do to the Disk drive. DVD's have to use it the whole time, where as games can load segments to the memory which saves on battery life. The processor does use more energy but nothing compared to the disc drive.

That is why a game on memory could last 10 hours.
A game utilizing both will last somewhere between 9-4 hours depend on how much the game can store on the memory and how much processing it uses.

The 2 hours is a game like Final Fantasy that uses disc only. The fact is that it doesn't need to... Thereforth no actual specs were given cause there isn't enough games to test the average that have full kits.

[Nights]

You're also not recognizing one factor. The DS was not finalized at E3. An analog control stick is still very, very likely. Especially if Sony's stick worked well, Nintendo will also add one.

Remember how Iwata stated that any, "ANY" gameplay the PSP can do, the DS will do.

You also realize that the PSP isn't final and that the final version will be shown at TGS in September. Funny how that works against you too... And with graphics that lacking it will never be able to do the same thing. Games can be done on the PS2 and Gamecube that could not on the N64 due to the graphics alone. Examples Beyond Good and Evil, Legend of Zelda Windwaker, Jack and Dexter, Rez, GTA3 (polygon count means physics)....

[Viper]

I, he, said gameplay, not graphics....

How does the PSP not being final work against me in debating if the DS will have an anolog stick? That makes absolutely no sense.

[Nights]

Your debate with it's battery life...

Nullifies it... if you want to play that way..

[Viper]

PSP may not be finalized but the avaliable batteries that it can utilize are. The drive will still have to operate, the screen will still have to be backlit and is very power consuming. Those things alone, coupled with batteries that can be used give its estimated battery life. Unless it plans to use some havey duty $100.00 batteries, it's not going to give you much with conventional consumer batteries.