DS vs. PSP : does DS really win?

[shmokes]

I've been reading a lot of love about the DS lately, both about how great and innovative and fun the system is, as well as how it's killing the PSP in the market.  I was kind of under the impression that the PSP, while powerful, didn't have many good games, while the DS, while underpowered was all about fun.

But a quick check at the reviews at Gamestop paint a slightly different picture.  There are 36 PSP games that received an 8.0 rating or higher, while there are only 18 DS games to receive the same distinction. 

Have I been misplacing my faith in the DS?  I've never played a PSP and have only played a couple minutes of DS. 

[Tahnok]

Good games are in the eye of the beholder. There probably aren

[pointdablame]

I had one of my little sister's friends tell me how much better the DS is because of its place in the market.  Screw that.   Sales are a great business statistic, but I don't give a damn about it in the end as long as both systems have enough fans to warrant more games.

And they both do.

I own both a PSP and DS Lite, and I love them both.  The DS Lite is newer and has more of my attention right now, but overall, I'm still going to give the nod to the PSP.  They both have great games, they're both fun, and they are both nice pieces of hardware.  I like the PSP more just because it seems "nicer" in a lot of ways, but its hard to explain.  I like the screen much much more, the speakers on the PSP are very nice (the DS Lite speakers are very disappointing), and I like the form factor of the PSP and the overall feel a bit more.

You can't deny the touch screen's fun factor though.  You do things with the DS that the PSP can't even touch, and that's a big deal.  It's not the gimmick that I honestly thought it was for a long time.  It's a nice feature, and I really enjoy it.

So what am I saying?  I like the PSP more, but love them both.  Go get more hands on time with both, and a few different types of games and see what you think.  The PSP is also a homebrew/emulation powerhouse IMHO, and the DS is not in the same league there.  I play both often though, and don't want to get rid of either, so it's really going to come down to what you like more.  Forget reviews and market share.. just go play the games

[brophog]

The DS trounces the PSP in sales. The PSP's top performer, it's movies, have been pulled off the shelves of major retailers due to low sales.

That speaks for itself. I thought the Sega Saturn had phenomenal games too........and it lost.

[SirPoonga]

Look at those games that are rated above 8.0 again.  Notice the trend for each system.  PSP games are long term games, DS are games good for filling up time.  each has it;s purpose.  I think the reason the DS is selling better is because when people want a portable game system they want games they can fill time with, whether it be the bus ride to work, airplane trip, etc...

[ChadTower]

What is win?

Seriously, buy the one you like, who gives a crap what anyone else bought?

[shmokes]

I've never really played either of them and I don't know anyone who has either of them.  I don't "like" either of them at this point, but I don't want and won't get both of them.  Game reviews are useful.  If I can only get one I'd like it to be the one that is best, or at least most suited to my tastes.  Getting the opinions of gamers about which is the better unit can give me an idea of what to expect.

[ChadTower]

Well that's exactly the point.  They are different units that do different things.  There is no "better" here.  There is only "how well does it match what I want to pay and what I want to do".

Basically, it comes down to:

Do I want a handheld to play touch/dual screen games or do I want a handheld to play hi res games?  That is pretty much the question.  Anything else beyond that is entirely dependent on the answer to that one.

[pointdablame]

Also consider how often you'll use the multimedia capabilities of the system.  With a flashcard you can play movies and pictures on a DS Lite.  You can do the same on the PSP.

However, the DS screen resolution is VERY small comparatively and video does not look great on it IMHO.  Video and pictures are better suited for the PSP, so if that's something you'll be interested in, its something to consider.

For me, it's a gimmick either way.  I've put video on my PSP and my DS, and I just don't get it.  I don't want to watch videos on my portable gaming system, so it means little to me.  If its a big deal to you to be able to watch some TV episodes whenever you're out, or something similar... the PSP is the "better" choice in that one area if you ask me.

[ChadTower]

That's fair to say.  The comparison comes down strictly to hardware. 

What do you want to do and which does it better?

[shmokes]

And overall developer support and which system has better games and which system has more games.

As to video support, I agree it's gimmicky.  I can wacth Divx movies on my PDA and find that I simply never, ever do it.

[pointdablame]

Another thing to consider is just how much you love Nintendo games.  I had my PSP way before my DS Lite.  I have played a lot of PSP games in all types of genres and have found something I really enjoyed in every genre.


But I wound up getting the DS though for two reasons:  I tried the touch screen and saw that it really wasn't a gimmick.  And it was the only place to get Nintendo games (obviously).  It sounds simple, but its something to consider.

Sony just doesn't have that factor if you ask me.  Sure, you can only get Daxter and GTA etc etc on the PSP, and those are AWESOME games.  But there is something about Nintendo games to some people, and if you are one of them, you'll probably be better off with the DS

[pointdablame]

And overall developer support and which system has better games and which system has more games.

As to video support, I agree it's gimmicky.  I can wacth Divx movies on my PDA and find that I simply never, ever do it.

They're pretty even nowadays.  Gamespot has the DS with 460ish games and PSP is 470ish.  There are plenty of games (good, bad, and great) for both systems.   There are also a ton of new games on the horizon for both systems.

Yes, the UMD movie business has been shot in the leg as brophog said, but the games are the meat of it if you ask me.  That is why I think his argument (and even the sales numbers to an extent) is silly.  Both systems are selling *enough* to stay afloat

[ChadTower]

And overall developer support and which system has better games and which system has more games.

Completely secondary to what you want to do.

If you want a multimedia device, the DS is not good.

If you want touchscreen and dualscreen games, the PSP is incapable.

Better/more doesn't mean much if you chose the wrong hardware.  And better is so subjective that asking opinions is just going to get you a bunch of responses that only cloud the issue more.

You're making it more complex than it needs to be.

[SirPoonga]

I don't know, devleoeprs are moving towards the DS.  EA said they are going to focus more on the DS.  I seen Madden 07 on the DS, it looks amazing considering the system.

I would like a PSP for emulation since the DS's screen is smaller resolution than TV so NES and SNES emulation look horrible.  But I got the DS because I wanted quick games to fill time, like when at the laundromat and such.  So far Tetris DS, ADvance Wars Dual Strike, and New Super Mario Brothers have done that just fine.

Oh, add another plus to the DS, it supposrt GBA games.  I have the classic Dr. Mario gba cart too.

I saw something cool the other day, someone made a tic tac toe game that can be played using wifi between a psp and ds.  That's cool.  Need more cross platform games.

[pointdablame]

I've read a lot about EA moving from PS3 to other consoles, but there are still a LOT of games in development for the PSP.

I don't think either system will be taking a game lead (as in.. have a substantial NUMBER more than the other) anytime soon.

[shmokes]

Actually another important factor is system connectivity.  I'm all about the Wii, and some of the stuff Nintendo did with GC/GB Advance connectivity were really cool, at least in Animal Crossing and Zelda: Windwaker.  The fact that they no longer require a cumbersome cable connection (cos the Wii and DS will communicate via the built-in Wifi) makes it all the more attractive.

Well . . . we'll know after August 28th.  That's my birthday and I never give my wife hints as to what I want cos I'm afraid she'll already have thought of it and then be disappointed cos she'll know that I already have my suspicions.  But that's one of only two things (within reason) I can think of that she knows I want so there's a pretty decent chance that'll be my gift.  On the other hand she may be thinking way cheaper now that we've got the new baby and she took a bunch of time off work (affecting our budget).

[JackTucky]

I don't know, devleoeprs are moving towards the DS.  EA said they are going to focus more on the DS.  I seen Madden 07 on the DS, it looks amazing considering the system.

Maxim mag said that the DS version of madden 07 beats all.  The voice recognition handles your audibles...

I have a PSP because I never saw a nintendo game I really liked.

-J

[Fig]

Ive got both the PSP and DS and I see myself playing the DS more do to the fun factor of the games.I'm 33 years old and Nintendo has been a part of my life since I was 12 as well as my sons (He's 5 now) I think you'll see people like my self getting a DS to remember the past and relive there child hood memory playing the NES,SNES,N64,GB Mono,GB color etc.
People can Diss Nintendo all they want but they been there for us far longer then ANY other manufacture put together.
My 0.02 worth

[Stingray]

I have both, play both and would be loathe to give up either. However if forced to keep only one it would be the PSP. I probably do play it a bit more than I play the DS, but both are worth owning without a doubt.

-S

[divemaster127]

I have a psp & my boy the ds, they are both nice but for all you can do I have to go psp hands down...
dm

[Level42]

Once upon a time, there was the Gameboy. It featured a tiny little screen with LOUSY black-and-white graphics that were almost invisible unless lit be a football stadium lamp.

Then there was the Atari Lynx. A fantastic back-lit color screen, adult sized (mmmm, where did Sony get that idea from).

We all know how it ended....

Of course Sony has a lot more power and money then Atari then. I still believe the portable market is MOSTLY a kid's market. Nintendo will win this one I bet.

[ChadTower]

The Gameboy was far from the first handheld changable game based game console.  The Microvision probably was.

[Hoagie_one]

Cnsidering unhacked retail m odels, I think the DS has more to offer in games, but hands down on multimedia and hackable features, the PSP is far cooler

[Otraotaku]

EDIT: PSP VS the DS, i do have both a PSP and DS, and have to say that overall every game is lacking gameplay length on the PSP, you can beat almost any typical game/port in the time it takes the battery to run low (well literally some) the games look great but are way too short... it took me weeks and months to beat shonen jump super stars, where it took me a few hours to go through each mode on Naruto: Narutamate Ninja on the PSP.

all my games on the PSP like starwars BFII, Ghost in the Shell, Samurai Warriors: SOW, Tenchu,Death JR.,Mdievil,Rengoku,Darkstalkers, and even Metal Gear acid was too short for me... i like my games to take time to beat, and not worrying about playing through it in one day. The DS has only failed me on a few of those games... it doesnt bother me too much considering i bought all my PSP games for less than 10-20$ on ebay... that alone may tell you why?

a few example of some DS games i had to rid of being not currently worthy of my DS Collection because of gameplay depth or just plain too repetiive..
Sonic DS, (it was good but didnt have enough sonic-freindly characters)
Dragonball Z, SSW the modes were very few, and was written by a rap-artist
and Feel the magic, very short and way too repetative.

In conclusion id have to say if you want to play games, go get a DS, (or a 1.5 PSP motherboard ^.<) and go with a PSP if you want all that and a bag of Potato Chips...

btw, look out for Final Fantasy III on the DS, and Tales of Symphonia/Phantasia on the PSP

[lloydcom]

PSP Vs DS?

Nothing and absolutely nothing touches my game gear.

Put sonic on and play the night away.

I know its old, but I paid a bundle for it when it came out and it still works a treat.

and it has a TV adapter too..........

[pointdablame]

PSP Vs DS?

Nothing and absolutely nothing touches my game gear.

Put sonic on and play the night away.

I know its old, but I paid a bundle for it when it came out and it still works a treat.

and it has a TV adapter too..........

I always liked my Game Gear except for the fact that it ate through 6 AA batteries in roughly 10 minutes.

[Daniel270]

btw, look out for Final Fantasy III on the DS

FF3 as in FF3 or FF6?  The whole SNES version renumbering kinda screwed that up for me...  I've got both versions (FF3 for SNES AND FF6 for PS1)

[Jabba]

I have both as well. I play the PSP more than the DS. Better games (for me) brightrer screen, way better sound.

My kids play the DS.

The PSP seems more fragile than the DS, so thats why I don't let the kids at it. DS built more like a tank.

PSP seems cheaper/easier to hack, you need less gear other than a Pro Duo card and the software whereas the DS you need a M3/Passme and SD or Mini SD (or, yes, the less compatible CF card).

And finally, you can play GBA games on the DS, bringing the number of titles you can play into the thousands (forgot how many GBA games there are, I seem to think well over 3000.)

[ChadTower]

PSP Vs DS?

Nothing and absolutely nothing touches my game gear.

You need a TurboExpress.  Same era, far far far far far better.

[eastbayarb]

I personally love DS for the games, and PSP for the emulation. Vice versa doesn't really hold true, but that's just me. DS has the advantage of being able to play all the great GBA games. I guess it's just cuz I am more of a 2D/old school gamer at heart. No system can touch PSP's homebrew/emulation scene, but GP2X (MK-100) is slowly gaining on it.

[TOK]

I like the driving/racing games, and when you look at games that are on both systems such as Ridge Racer or Burnout Legends, the PSP version is always superior. Burnout Legends on the PSP is one of the standout titles, the DS port is trash. Some of the more demanding games, like MX vs. ATV Unleashed didn't even get ported. I read the Mario Kart DS reviews, and it sounds like it's a fun game, but I'm not looking for cartooney racing games.

The PSP is the clear winner for my game tastes. I don't even use the media features, it wins for me as a game console.

[Otraotaku]

I like the driving/racing games, and when you look at games that are on both systems such as Ridge Racer or Burnout Legends, the PSP version is always superior. Burnout Legends on the PSP is one of the standout titles, the DS port is trash. Some of the more demanding games, like MX vs. ATV Unleashed didn't even get ported. I read the Mario Kart DS reviews, and it sounds like it's a fun game, but I'm not looking for cartooney racing games.

The PSP is the clear winner for my game tastes. I don't even use the media features, it wins for me as a game console.

thats only if your into cars and sports.... the PSP is yours and yours alone... I personally hate racing/sports I would never buy one for any console, but thats just me. Mario kart is still the most interactive racing game on a handheld IMO.

[shmokes]

Can you get those gigantic pictures out of your signature?  At least put them side-by-side instead of stacked on top of eachother so they don't take up so much space.  God, what a pain in the ass. 

[Otraotaku]

Can you get those gigantic pictures out of your signature?  At least put them side-by-side instead of stacked on top of eachother so they don't take up so much space.  God, what a pain in the ass. 

Sadly there isnt enough room... >,<

[shmokes]

Sadly there isnt enough room... >,<

Can't you just open them up in photoshop or fireworks and shrink them?

[TOK]

thats only if your into cars and sports.... the PSP is yours and yours alone... I personally hate racing/sports I would never buy one for any console, but thats just me. Mario kart is still the most interactive racing game on a handheld IMO.

Mine alone? I'm thinking there are probably a few less people into Manga than cars and sports.
I think the handheld you're looking for is the Nerd Boy.

Edit: I'm sorry I wrote that. Not sorry enough to delete it, but I apologize anyway.

[Otraotaku]

thats only if your into cars and sports.... the PSP is yours and yours alone... I personally hate racing/sports I would never buy one for any console, but thats just me. Mario kart is still the most interactive racing game on a handheld IMO.

Mine alone? I'm thinking there are probably a few less people into Manga than cars and sports.
I think the handheld you're looking for is the Nerd Boy.

Edit: I'm sorry I wrote that. Not sorry enough to delete it, but I apologize anyway.

lol, im not really into manga, btw... but the commments ok, the PSP is just pointed towards the non-gamer kinda gamer... the one who thinks hes playing a game but not quite watching a movie. the kind that doesnt like or lacks the creative gene to play something out of this world type of genre.

[TOK]

lol, im not really into manga, btw... but the commments ok, the PSP is just pointed towards the non-gamer kinda gamer... the one who thinks hes playing a game but not quite watching a movie. the kind that doesnt like or lacks the creative gene to play something out of this world type of genre.

I see... The non-gamer kind of gamer like me that has an Atari 2600, a Commodore 64, and Atari 130XE, a ColecoVision, Game Gear, Game Boy, PS1, XBox, 3 PC's, a Dreamcast, and 2 MAME cabinets (one vertical, one horizontal) in addition to the PSP.

I love games, I just don't love DS games. Can't state it any simpler.

[shmokes]

I love games, I just don't love DS games. Can't state it any simpler.

That seems like a stretch.  Check it out:

I love games, but not DS ones.

I said the same thing but shaved two whole words plus a letter of the length.  Much simpler.

[TOK]

I love games, I just don't love DS games. Can't state it any simpler.

That seems like a stretch.  Check it out:

I love games, but not DS ones.

I said the same thing but shaved two whole words plus a letter of the length.  Much simpler.

I could have just gone for "DS sucks", but I was trying to be diplomatic.

[shmokes]

I think it would be better if you said DS is teh sux0r

[Otraotaku]

believe what you wish, but the truth is out there... in many forms. i shouldnt have to tell you that 3 avg PSP games = the length + added gameplay of 1 DS game. nope, you should know this already if in fact your not denying it already. PSP games are simply tooooooooooooooo, short.

[pointdablame]

believe what you wish, but the truth is out there... in many forms. i shouldnt have to tell you that 3 avg PSP games = the length + added gameplay of 1 DS game. nope, you should know this already if in fact your not denying it already. PSP games are simply tooooooooooooooo, short.

are you seriously making this argument?  This is silly.

There are short and long games on both systems.  Partners in Time was depressingly short in my mind for the DS and GTA is a long, LONG game for the PSP.

Plus, why does this matter?  Good games are played without times in mind and are played again if they are really good.  I don't care if a game is 50 hours long if I really enjoy it for 10 hours.  Plus, a good number of handheld games (both DS and PSP) are not made with length in mind, but instead with short bursts of gameplay.  That is why you have pick-up-and-play minigame games, driving games, etc etc.

[TOK]

When you look at the games that are ported to both systems, the DS versions are crippled in comparison. Given the PSP's superior storage options, it's completely possible the PSP will eventually have longer games just based on the capabilities of the hardware.

That said, game lenght isn't a consideration for me. If it was, why would I be on an forum mostly dedicated to the emulation of games that last 15-20 minutes? I'd always opt for a shorter quality game than a tedious long one. Brotherhood of the Blade is an example of the latter on the PSP. I was completely tired of it before I'd made it even halfway through.

[shmokes]

I like for most games to be shorter these days, to be perfectly honest.  This wasn't the case before I graduated high school, but nowadays I just don't have much time.  I only log like 10 hours a week on average, with the occassional free day where I can play ten hours of videogames in a single day.  My favorite type of videogams, by far, are adventure/action-adventure games.  These games have stories and I don't like to leave them unfinished anymore than I would want to start a good book or movie and leave it unfinished.  I'm thankful for games like Chronicals of Riddick - Spectacularly good, but only about 12 hours long. 

There are occassional masterpieces, like virtually every Zelda game ever made, that are so good that I don't apply what I said above to them.  I want those few games to be 40-50 hour games just to keep the experience going.  But for the most part I like short and sweet.  Quality over quantity.

[postalp123]

I have had both, basically I got a DS to pass the time until the PSP debut, so considering both, heres a comparison:

Nintendo DS:

Not only are the Dual Screens (One a Touch Screen) innovative, but most of the DS games take full advantage of these features, creating gameplay that can't be reproduced on almost any other system, even consoles. The stylus/thumb nubule has been utilized in many ways: Analog Control (Quite succesfully for FPShooters and Driving/Flying), Puzzle and Writing Recognition, hell, even Mock-Surgery. The second screen also adds a much appreciated status screen for some games that would (On other systems) require you to pause and sift through menus to get the same effect. An integrated microphone is also utilized (Though not much) but seems to do a good job of word recognition.

The DS has great game support, with many different DS titles to choose from, Action, Adventure, RPG's, Driving/Simulation (This is where the touchscreen shines), even Survival Horror (Yes, Resident Evil for the DS)and Sniping (Yes, Silent Scope), and as of late, DS has been coming out with these "Brain Training" type games, which I have personally tried and have nothing but good things to say about. Then you have the backwards compatibility, which basically adds countless Gameboy Advance titles availiable (Can you say Final Fantasy? YES!!!)

PROS:
* Innovative Dual/Touch screen design
* Games actually take advantage of DS's design to make unique yet fun gameplay
* Quite effective stereo sound
* Clamshell design protects screens from everyday abuse
* Backwards compatible to Advance games
* Good battery life (4-9 Hours, DS lite even longer)
* Low price (Regular DS $100 used, DS lite $130 new)

CONS:
* Underpowered when compared to the PSP
* Cartidges are chip based which limits size of games, and therefore content


Sony PSP:

The first thing I thought when I opened up my new PSP was "SEXY!!!!!!". This thing is simply beautiful, not just the sleek design, but the crystal-clear huge screen (For a portable) shows vibrant colors and lines. The PSP is wonderfully engineered with a Beautiful wide screen at an unbelievable 4.3" (Huge for a portable), stereo speakers, and authentic Playstation-style controls, even an analog tab (Although not the most accurate analog I've used).

Whereas the DS handles like a PDA when you power it up, the PSP handles more like an actual PC or a media device, with a menu that lets you play games (or any other type of media off of the memory stick). The games themselves sport graphics that are a cut above the DS, but not quite up to PS2 standards, lets just call it the PS1.5 graphically. And lets not forget the Movies that are avaliable, pretty much DVD quality, but IMO the movies would seem better off for someone who travels/flys alot. Not knocking it, just find all those "Home theatre" mounts for the PSP with the speakers on them a little weird when I can just watch the same movie on my much larger TV.

I have to admit this now, Sony really dropped the ball when they launched this badboy. The PSP would have smeared the DS off the bat, but sony made 3 major mistakes that really slowed down the PSP's progress:

A) They force-fed you to buy the PSP via a "Value Pack" that pretty much included worthless stuff to milk more money out of the consumers, effectively raising the price from $175 to $250. That turned off alot of people.

B) They had almost NO game/movie support at launch, and, for the first 4 months thereafter.

C) They sold ALOT of defective units (Some with dead pixels on screens, some with dead "X" buttons)

PROS:
* Sleek and beautiful features
* Large high definition screen
* Great stereo sound
* Authentic Playstation controls with a true analog stick
* UMD format created large capacity for games
* Large capacity Flash Media sticks gave almost endless storage space
* UMD Movies are DVD quality

CONS:
* Screen unprotected and quite fragile
* So-so battery life (3-4 hours maximum)
* Moderately high priced still due to the "Value Pack" at $250


Unfortunately I had to sell both my DS and PSP when I came upon hard times a year+ back, but recently I decided to get one again, after careful thought and consideration, I went with the DS due to the current Game Support and remembering the fun I had playing it vs the still somewhat fun but mostly "Eyecandy" feeling I got from my PSP.

I hope this helps.

[Hoagie_one]

I only wish the PSP had better MP3 playback options.  Like multiple playlists, easy shuffling and whatnot.  There aren't a great deal of games for the PSP that blow me away, but there are certainly enough. 

The big screen of the PSP has definately woo'd me as of late.

[shmokes]

I never mentioned that I got a set of golf clubs for my birthday, which is actually cooler than a DS or a PSP.  And, luckily, my birthday was on the first day of school so I jumped online and registered for a golf class.

So, the debate isn't as relevant to me anymore (I had suspected my wife was giving me a DS-lite).  At least not until the next time I might get one, which is a long ways off at this point.  All things considered, since Wii will  almost surely be the first next-gen console I'll own, the DS will probably win out for it's connectivity/expansion features for that system.

[farmecologist]

Trying to do a 'which is better' comparison is almost impossible ( however, it makes for good reading )  .

*Any* system will have an 'A' list of fantastic games that will draw people to the system.   Also, it totally depends on the type of gamer you are.  Being an 'old school' type of person naturally leads me to the DS-style 2D platformers.  However, I am also drawn to the fantastic 3D games of the PSP like 'Daxter' and 'GTA'. 

So pick one and know that you will probably spring for the other at some point!   

[shmokes]

So pick one and know that you will probably spring for the other at some point!   

No way.  I just don't play games that much anymore -- especially on a portable system.  My GBA has been off for at least the last 6 months straight.  Probably closer to a year.

[farmecologist]

Ha! I'd have to agree with that..I don't play games that much anymore either...just don't have the time to invest.   However, I *like* portables because you can usually find some quick playing games. 

From the looks of your post count, it appears you must spend quite a bit of your free time here at BYOAC!   

[shmokes]

  Yeah, but most of it is at work.  If I could get away with playing videogames at work I suspect my post count would be much lower.

[farmecologist]

That's why u need a portable system!