DS or PSP?

Which *one* should I buy? Ideally I'd own both. The PSP is from Sony and so I'm thinking the games would be more my speed, but the DS is pretty cool and a lot cheaper.

I need a video game fix. My xbox is broken and american xbox 360s cannot be found in Germany. The PS3 was delayed again so I was close to getting another PS2 but I don't think that'd be wise since I probably won't even look at it once I have a PS3. What I need is a new handheld.

I have a GBA, but only a few games so the backwards compatibility of the DS isn't really an issue.

You can see the bind I'm in. I'm completely torn and I need help.

What sort of games do you want to play?

Do you enjoy your GBA? A lot of the games on the DS are very similar in format and style. If you're looking for cutesy pick-up-and-play stuff then the DS is probably more for you, but if you'd rather play RPGs and driving games and suchlike, you'll probably prefer the PSP.

I've been leaning towards PSP. The only turn off is how expensive the damn thing is. Also our selection of games is... retarded for lack of a PC term.

Fuck it. I'm gettin' it. Thread closed. Thank you for your time!

PSP FTW

(By the by, if you wait until the PS3 and the Revolution come out, the handhelds will probably drop in price.)

I'm disappointed in myself. I went to the store to get a PSP and I came back with Diff'rent Strokes season 2 and Gilmore Girls season 4.

le sigh

Heh - heh ... well your purchase speaks quite a bit about buying a PSP actually. I think that you should get the PSP w/ a gig memory card. You can fit about 4-5 half hour sitcoms on it when you're not in the mood to play. I have to agree that the game situation has been looking pretty grim but there's hope. Mega Man and Syphon Filter are some hot, fresh and tasty new releases. A look into the future and things look very exciting for the PSP. I would also be remissed if I forgot to mention the web browser; not the thing you want to use for casual browsing but very handy in a pinch. Fee and I were playing Scrabble at a coffee house the other day and used the PSP's wireless internet access to check spelling.

This is not to say I don't have love for the DS; it does fill a fun portable gaming niche but for the multitude of features - I love my PSP.

lastof9 failed to mention that he has both - so his recommendation comes from one who knows. But yeah - if you're buying it for games, maybe the DS, if you want something that is a good all around toy (movies, tv shows, internet) go with the PSP.

PSP!! I am a big fan of the PSP!

I play mine (ok, my girlfriend's) like everyday! I pitched a fit about wasting money on it but now I love it!!

i heart my DS. the PSP has almost no games i would play but i already have a ton of DS games. i'm a big fan of Nintendo in general. i'm playing Animal Crossing right now....i like cartoony games, and stuff with a puzzle element. the wireless capability is awesome, too. and i personally don't understand the appeal of wanting to watch things on such a tiny screen. the only time i think a PSP would be a better idea would be if you had a long commute or something, like a guy who came in to the store i work in last night to look at one.

This is the key difference. The PSP is a lot more than just a gaming machine. You can store photos, videos, mp3s and have wireless internet access. Whereas the DS just plays games.

Do get the 1GB memory card so you can store more junk in the trunk.

Blegh on both handhelds.
this is the shit:

Animal Crossing is amazing
And yes, the wireless function is awesome, my boyfriend and I play 2player Mario on both our DS' with only one cartridge. Win!
And may I just point out, the short battery life of the PSP makes watching films pointless, as you never get to see the end unless it's plugged in... in which case you could watch it on a regular screen

The PSP is currently far too expensive to be worthwhile as a gaming platform. There are perhaps two or three truly compelling games for it so far. Now, if you want to also surf the internet, play music, watch movies, and so on, on it, then maybe it might be worth buying. Maybe. It's also worth noting PSP games have a standard price point that's 5-10 dollars higher than most DS games. (Most of the worthwhile DS games retail at 35, but there are some exceptions that go lower.)

Personally I would choose the DS at this point. Yes, I know, I scoffed too, but my DS was 90 dollars used (and would still have been worth it at SRP) and games like Advance Wars, Castlevania, Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga, Trauma Center, Phoenix Wright, Animal Crossing, Mario Kart (if you're into that sort of thing), Metroid Prime: Hunters (potentially, anyway), and so on would be worth that even if no more games were ever to be released for it. Which, of course, is not the case.

The PSP may someday take the lead, if it can find proper game support and a reasonable price point (I'm a bit surprised Sony, of all companies, is having such trouble with game support.). Or it may not. There's a reason Nintendo has traditionally dominated the handheld market.

Expensive is a relative term.

I agree though, available games that interest you should be the primary factor in your decision.

I can't believe no one mentioned the Gameboy Micro. It's pretty sweet and tiny with cartridges that have dozens of old school games on them.

Having said that i have the PSP and the graphics are pretty sick on it. First person shooters though are pretty weak to play on them and it's a little hard for those of us with large hands to use the buttons all that well. Still, it's great because i can put pictures and movies on the memory chip and even look at porn on it!

do u like creative quick fun games or the bland games that ps2 currently has?

Are you really comparing the PS2 or was that a typo?

DP

When you can buy equivalent or superior current generation consoles for less than the price of a handheld, it's too expensive. (IMHO, of course.)

Why isn't this a factor for the DS, what with the Gamecube being cheaper in most circumstances? Well...because, IMHO, the DS already has more worthwhile exclusive games than the Gamecube has acquired in years. And when you factor in the GBA games it can also run... well.

(I like my GC, you understand. The few worthwhile exclusive titles it has are phenomenally good. But there just aren't many.)

I own both and haven't been that impressed with either to be honest.

I play a couple of games on each, mostly puzzle games at this point since they seem to have more replay value than anything else I've tried out.

Since you sound like you want a gaming device more than a "I can do lots of cool shit" device,, I'd say go with the DS, since it's not as expensive and you can play all the GameboySP games on it, which gives you a pretty big selection of games in addition to the DS library. Although the thing isn't the most comfortable thing to hold for long sessions IMO.

PSP has a couple really solid games I enjoy, but that's about it. It's become mostly storage for amusing video clips or photos from online, to share with coworkers, or a way to check myspace from work. It's by far more comfortable to me than the DS, but without a reason to play it for long sessions IE good games, that's kind of a null point.

While the PSP is going to be updated in the fall (thinner and more memory), it's still a smart buy today. It seems to be a much more versatile device, with plenty of support.

~Trilo~

It's also worth noting that digital TV and web browsing support are on their way for the DS, as addon cartridges that will, apparently, retail at around the price of a game. No word for sure yet as to whether they'll be available outside of Japan, but they're considering it, and I personally think it's likely.

So the DS may not remain a strictly gaming device forever.

if I had the kind of money it would take i would buy both.. to be honest ..... I like em both and have used both ... couldnt make a choice between the two

Oh, I would like to have a PSP at some point. I'm not satisfied unless I can potentially play any game that catches my interest. I can't do that unless I have all relevant consoles (and a reasonably high end PC). But at the same time there's a cost vs. value threshold that needs to be crossed before I'll bother. The N-Gage, for example, never made it there and probably never will, if it's even still being supported. The PSP and Xbox 360 haven't gotten there yet, but someday most likely will. The DS, to me, has been there, done that.