Ok, E3 is just days away and both the PSP and DS will be unveiled. So the question is, who do you think will have the strongest showing of games, and which of the 2 will be better received. Some people are a little iffy with the DS for some reason, and some think the PSP is the future of handheld gaming.
Or will the trusty GBA outshine them both?



EDIT
Pinned and modified this topic to herald it as the centrepoint of discussion for the Handheld General forum. Depending on the state of the market as time goes by, we will have one dedicated poll here to help promote discussion. Of course, the most intriguing issues for the market of late is the PSP vs. DS debate, though because of the flow of news on the two of late, this may change very soon...

Stay tuned!

- Fusi

The GBA will win for sure, in my books. After constantly shining in the handheld market in different incarnations for over a decade, I feel the Gameboy can easily breeze past the gimmicky Nintendo DS and obtuse Sony PSP through it's simple structure, reliable library of games and add-ons and it's respectable price.

The PSP is turning out to be more of a competition for the PDA market if you ask me and I don't even wanna know about the DS, I mean, I just don't have a need for two screens.

Don't mention N-Gages in my presence, one of my elder brothers actually bought one... <_<

Ugh, the N-Gage...I can't believe I actually stood up for that thing prior to it's release! Can't...get...clean...!!

Anyhoo, I reckon the PSP is gonna turn heads. It's the only handheld that can do 3D (excluding Nokia's entrant for obvious reasons), and it's that wow factor that will bring the mainstreamers looking for their next shiny. Once that happens, more and more developers will get on board and Sony won't look back. :)

I have a feeling that it'll be either the PSP or the DS, i can't choose which one though. I just hope Nintendo gives the GBA some spotlight because i haven't heard much that's going to be revealed or shown at E3.

It'll be between the PSP and the DS. I think the interest of Sony's first foray into the portable gaming market, will win out over Nintendo's two-screens.

As much as i'd like to stick with Nintendo on this one, i'm going to go with the PSP.

The DS is too obscure, which will turn most people away. As for the PSP, well it's just another "leap" in the handheld graphics department.

Mmmm FFVII on PSP..that's what'll make me buy it.

Well they've both got my interest but im more keen to see what the DS will be exactly.

Article

This part especially:

hrmm... <_<

It's certain that the PSP will gain the most attention: So much controversy, and just look at the monolith company behind it...

While Sony is behind the PSP, what will the console offer that's new? Sure it has great 3D graphics, but we've playing with better graphics power for the last 2 years. (not on handhelds though ;))
I know the PSP will be good, but I want to see what new exciting things it brings to the handheld makert. And that's where the DS comes in imo. It does have less features and power, but the 2 screens, 1 being touch sensitive, i think could inject something new into the portable market. :)

So explain the success of the GBA, even though we had already played with graphics like that for the last 10 years.

Think about it. B)

Innovation and success have rarely been the best of friends when it comes to the gaming industry (at least, of late)...

Ok, after seeing the Metroid game on the DS, i choose the DS. That metroid game looks amazing!
Plus al those features on the DS especailly voice recognition, touch screen and Wi-Fi!

And it's got two screens...and plenty of killer games lined up. Don't forget that. :P

So, in short, yeah, I reckon the DS is gonna own. The only reason I can see the PSP winning favour is due to too many people trying to be "try hard cool" by calling Nintendo kiddy or going for the Sony handheld for that reason...it's Sony.

Here's hoping people are smart enough to go for the right product for the right reasons.

The DS has managed to completely surprise me in my expectations so far.
I was expected something fairly unexciting... i got the opposite!

Yeah. The DS has gotten me overly excited.
All my favourite games seem to have their own version on it.

Animal Crossing:
Mario 64:
Metroid: A 1st person shooter deathmatch on a handheld. incredible.
WARIOWARE!!!!!!: All the craziness of the original with added crazy stylus fun. Drawing stuff quickly, etc. Touchscreen will make you go crazy whilst playing it.

Pacman: This sounds very cool. Having a limited supply of ink, then drawing your own Pacman as big as you can (with given 'ink').

The touchscreen really does seem cool.

The PSP just really hasn't impressed me at all.

This handheld will be won based on public perception, and not quality. It's why I feel Nintendo will have an up-hill battle in trouncing the PSP, despite the fact it's a far superior console.

On what grounds can you state that it is superior already though? I mean we haven't even had a decent look at the games for each system in enough detail yet to cast verdicts on which system is better.

There are probably more concerns with the PSP at the moment, i.e. battery life and the cost of the machine, but I hardly think this is enough to sway my opinion as to already state which system is superior.

I agree completely. I think Sony's name will do them much more credit than they deserve, when clearly Nintendo will have the superior console. I love the propects for the DS. Much more intriguing than the PSP. Nintendo are doing things differently and I believe it will definitely pay off.

Sorry, let me clarify. I meant to say that based on their respective showings, the DS looked far superior and its showing was alot more impressive. Nintendo outlined everything they planned to do with the system, showed it in detail, and didn't hold back any of the details. It was almost as if Sony was hanging back, not completely confident in it's own presentation.

Basically, I'm basing my statement on both consoles showings.

VS



the DS has already won my heart. simple as that

Shit, that pic really makes the PSP look bulky and actually less stylish in comparision to the DS.

Gladly. Despite that the GBA has graphics like we did 10 years, that's where the appeal lies. You can no longer play 2D games on current consoles, so it offers something different - something you can't get anywhere but GBA. And personally I find it a nice change to play 2D games as they offer a different gameplay experience. And that's why the GBA has been successful. :)

And good shots, bob! :lol:

A lot of people are criticising the PSP's battery life, but I think the Ninty fanboys should worry about the DS's battery life just as much as the PSP's. Yeah, the PSP's processor CPU will draw more power than the DS's will, but let's not forget which system has two screens. ;)

I am not worried at all about the DS battery life, nintendo have been masterfull in there ability to get every ounce of power out of their handhelds. Nintendo are also aware that the two main reasons they have seen off every other competitor in the handheld market is battery life and their library of games. From what I have heard the PSP may only have a life of 2 hours when playing games like GT. This is simply not going to be enough. It can hardly be a portable when you have to sit next to a powerpoint just to play for a few hours. We will have to wait and see though, the truth will eventually come out.

In my oppinion the DS has already won. I just see the PSP as being too big to be comfortable and if it's true about the battery life only being 2-10 hours i don't see it being a huge hit. Not to mention the price, I am not sure if sony has unveiled the price but i would think it would be at least $495 australian. However, it has some great games coming out and I am sure many people will blindlessly buy it just because it's a playstation. So i predict average to good sales for the DS and average sales for the PSP.

A lot of people said that when they first cast their eyes over the Nintendo 64 and in particular Mario 64.

It's a different thing though. The playstation was a good system with no obvious flaws. The PSP clearly has a major drawback if the rumors about the battery life are to be believed. It's not the first time a company has tried to produce a more powerful handheld console and in all the other cases the poor battery life was what crippled it. On the topic of th 64 people would have been foolish to say that it had won when it was released some time after the PS and was already well behind in sales. You also have to remember that it was the lack of 3rd party support that crippled the N64, now consider that nintendo has a huge number of 3rd parties developing for the GBA many of whom are likely to have a go on the DS. I am expecting market share to be something like GBA-65% DS-20% PSP-14% Others-1%

I have no doubt that the PSP will do well but I don't believe it will be able to topple the GBA/DS. In saying that it has won, i mean that PSP was always starting in last place. What was shown at e3 would be a good indication on whether it could start in a better position. What i have seen hasn't been enough to convince me that is the case. So by saying i think the DS has already won, i mean that the DS/GBA combination is in a far stronger starting position then the PSP and sony are going to have to work their butt's off if they are to gain a considerable piece of the handheld pie. I hope this clarifies what i was saying. :)


EDIT: Also just on the 64/PS thing again. If the DS was the 64 then the PSP would have been like a PS1/PCU/Hi-Fi system selling around 2 to 3 times the price of the 64. If this was the case are we sure that the PS would still have been so succesful?

I think the majority of people that have bought a GBA, have done so because of its portability. Sure there are the more veteran gamers who love their nostalgia hit (such as yourself), but i'm going with the fact that its just good old portable gaming.

Damn Bob, those pics sure make the PSP looks big, but lets not forget how huge the screen on the PSP is, especially compared to the Game Gear and even DS.

I'm not saying who'll win the new handheld wars, there's not enough footage or information to make such a judgement so far, i'm mainly going with the PSP based on its look, my initial impressions if you will.

;)

EDIT: For good measure I printed out a red square the exact width and height of the PSP (170mm x 74mm) and took a picture of it and the GBA SP (side on) in the one hand (I needed the other to actually take the shot =P ) the results...



EDIT 2: More Webcam goodness!



Taking this with the PSP square covering my eyes was a bitch...I had to get the mouse into position first so I could simply click to take the shot :P





And finally, this is how we would be using the PSP if it were produced by Nokia :P

Oh and before you comment, I know...I have too much time on my hands ;) :P

Does anyone else think that it's going to be incredibly awkward to use the L shoulder button and the analogue stick at the same time?

Natrak you legend :lol:

My moneys on the Nintendo DS, the PSP just doesn't appeal to me as much and I think that the dual screen thingy is a great idea and it'll add something to most games of every genre, although I think that RPGs (thank god Elprez isn't here) will benefit more. Think of a Pokemon game that has real time battles on the DS, in a similar vain as the Stadium games but in the Game Freak fashion RPG, the other screen will obviously be used for inventory and issueing moves since one of the screens is a touch pad.


:rolleyes:

Its not looking too bad either, MP: Hunters looks like a decent game that might get some attention.

*Prays for Square to jump on the boat*

You also have to remember that a lot of third-party companies were extremely excited in developing for the Nintendo 64 before it was launched. With something as risky as the DS, think about the extra time other developers may have to put in to make use of the dual screens in a creative way, the same thing could occur.

To an extent it does but I think it's wise to rule out the GBA/DS as a combination. Again using the example with the 64, it's like saying that the original Playstation was up against the amazing sucess of the SNES and also newly released 64. Both new systems are starting on an equal playing field and we all know how quickly Sony can swing a huge market share in their favour.

I don't understand what you are trying to point out there.

I was just saying that the PSP is a portable games system with a crap load of extra features that aren't really needed but are nice to have and will probably have a fairly high price. So by likening the the DS to the N64 as you were i was saying that the equivalent to the PSP would be a PS with a lot of extra features and a high price. I was then asking the question if the PS did come with the extras/high price when it launched would it have been so well received.

Basically I am saying, will the extra features be a selling point regardless how much it costs or will the extra features merely serve to increase the price and damage sales as a result. Will parents actually pay $500-600(just an estimated value) for a portable for their kid, especially one with a big open screen just waiting to be scratched?

That's understandable. I'm basing my decision on the console that will provide the different gameplay experience. :) Not by who makes it. ;)

Now now Mr. Civic, you should know that i'm a pure gaming fanboy at heart, but have always swayed my attention towards Nintendo first and foremost.

What kind of "different" gaming experience (as opposed to just having the ability to view a map and the game at the same time) is yet to be shown. In ways of "gadgets", and I love gadgets, the PSP is looking unreal. Your putting alot of your decision in your faith in Nintendo to provide awesome gaming, which is a good thing, and once they start to bring out some "revolutionary" titles, so will I, but in terms of gadgets, i'm liking the PSP.

And good work on the size comparison Natrak, see people, it isn't as big as bob made out *lousy bob*. BTW Natrak..you look like you belong in a wrestling ring :P

But no one has shown us how think it is. they might of went with thinker rather then longer.

Wow, the PSP is even chunkier than I thought. :huh:

I mean, how is that system really portable? I mean, the GBA (not the SP) barely fit in my pocket...and that'd even bigger. Yikes, look like in terms of true portability, Nintendo's got the upper hand. Just look at how easily the DS fits in that dudes hand, compared to the next pic of the gigantic PSP. Don't get me wrong, the PSP looks good and all, but right now the DS looks a ton more appealing...

It doesn't look that big when you look at the pic comparing the GBA SP and the PSP. And just because it's portable, doesn't mean it has to be pocketable. Plus you need a screen big enough to watch movies on.

Atm, I like the PSP's style more, but the DS has the better-looking range of games.

So, um, whos the blind one here?

It's far, far too early to judge which one will "win" lets wait until they get released, the games they have and how many they sell before we judge the winner.

Or is that just too logical? :P

Well have a look at the PS2. Admittely it only had competition from the Dreamcast upon release but it launched at a massively expensive price and still managed to sell a huge amount of systems because of the additional features at the time.

Well I think your a little ignorant to think that the PSP will appeal soely to the child. I think Sony's idea and aim with the PSP is to sucessfully combine a lot of multimedia features into the system coupled with the primarily function of playing videogames. Admittely the launch price will be absolutely insane but Sony would already know that Nintendo have a monopoly market over the handheld gaming industry and have successfully changed that already in the console business. Basically like their console creations Sony know they won't be able to match Nintendo specifically upon quality games alone, therefore have attempted to merge the system into functioning for a wide degree of applications instead. By making it more "mainstream" I believe they will have an extremely good chance at taking over this market despite any problems the system may have.

Also, Sony intend to market the PSP to the 18-34 year olds. The children market is not on the agenda.