indy2029

I understand how everyone is defending nintendo (they've made some great games), but its futile to say nintendo will have the same capabilities as PSP. How would you use the DS as a web browser? how would you upload the software? How would you play your own mp3s, movies, or pics? Sure there is speculation that some sort of add-on SD card converter will be release, but that's all there is, speculation. And besides if something does come out, itll cost money (which is what people are saying will hurt sony - buying additional peripherals) and will be extremely inconvenient.

What will be interesting is how modders exploit the Memory stick capabilities. I have a feeling people will be able to play many emulators.

Josh H

The DS has built in WiFi, so I'd assume they'll put out a browser on a game card when they launch the online functions in the spring as currently rumored.

The MP3, player is announced. Movies are futile as the screen is too small IMO. But I'd never use the PSP or DS for either of these functions. Both are far to big for MP3 players, compared to Dell DJ's iPods etc that will hold a ton more songs and are much smaller. And the screen on both is far to small for movies. I'll stick with my laptop for portable movie watching.

What it comes down to for most is games, and which of the two will have better game lineups. After all these are portable gaming consoles first, all the other features are secondary.

Josh H

Have you tried Feel the Magic? It's very similar to Wario Ware in that it's quirky mini-games. The main difference is that it's mini-games rather than microgames so there are less of them and they are more indepth and last longer. But it seems that most people that dig Wario Ware also like FTM.

PixyJunket

You're in the wrong decade for this arguement Josh.

PixyJunket

Wario Ware is coming in February.. or March. Well both actually, but I can't remember which month the DS one comes out (but both are going to be wildly different and both will be MUST BUYS).

BeckysBoy

I recently finished FFTA (well, the main plot portion, anyway) and saw, to my horror, that I had spent something like 270 hours playing it. Now, a lot of that time was not active playing, but still. No other game has held my attention for that long on ANY console, with the possible exception of Animal Crossing. I think that's indicative of the kind of gameplay experience that's possible on a portable (and not just the PSP).

BeckysBoy

The DS has wi-fi, so I'm not sure what you're talking about. And the media player for the GBA/DS is old news. Pictures and impressions of it have been available for weeks.

Here:
http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/573/573438p1.html

And here:
http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/573/573950p1.html

ElementZ

So, do you guys think that emulators will be coming out on the psp. Think of the possibilities. Playing zelda, metroid, old final fantasys on the psp. this gives me DOUBLE

PixyJunket

That depends on if you can run external software from the memory sticks. I wouldn't count on that though, it just opens up too much possibility for piracy of actual PSP software. If you can run software off the stick, what's to prevent somebody from tricking the PSP into thinking the stick is the disc drive and running copied PSP games from it?

joeblow69

But weren't they talking about downloading games from the web to the memory stick to run them? (or was that the DS?) You probably need to be "signed" to run apps from the memory stick, but I'm guessing the hackers will find a way around that.

Josh H

I doubt we'll see any emulators for just the reason Pixy mentioned.

PixyJunket

Well.. if they do offer that, I'm sure fan-based software will show up.. but like I said, having the ability to do that opens up to many danger signs for Sony and it's publishers. The DS on the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if Flash RAM cards are already available. If you're looking for emulation I'd keep my eyes on the DS first until it's confirmed if the PSP will run external software of any kind. Still.. I wouldn't count on anything above SNES generation emulation on either handheld, which I'm sure both are capable of handling nicely.

Man, I'd kill to have Monster World IV on the go.

Darknight

Pixy: It's just a shame that Wario Ware was available in the first week of December in Japan but isn't coming out till February or March here. You can't tell me they couldn't have at least had it out by Christmas. I think its poor planning on Nintendo's part to only have one title offering and it only be a port.

With regards to running applications and software on the PSP, Sony has already built in the functionality to run applications from the memory stick. It's really only a matter of time I think rather than a question of if it will happen.

ElementZ

Another question. Will you be able to store saved files on your pc and have the ability to e-mail them off to somebody else.

I wonder if game companies will have updates ready to download. That would be very sweet.

sofdec

^ Yes

Darknight

It's already being done. People are backing up their save files and swapping them with friends.

Josh H

I'd imagine we'll also see some games on both the PSP and DS eventually allowing the sharing of game saves, codes, items etc. via WiFi. I'd be shocked if Animal Crossing DS didn't allow this.

Darknight

The problem with Nintendo DS's wifi is the way Nintendo hides it and right now has only shown their protocol. That causes doubt if you will have easy access setup for 802.11b protocl which it supposedly supports, but we can only go by what others are saying. Thus there is doubt where as it's already shown how easy it is to set up wifi on the PSP and people are already connected to the net with it.

Deadpool

I was all set on buying one of those portable media devices but I think I'll hold off and wait & see how the PSP will do with converted video files.

Question - the PSP only accepts Memory Stick Duos right? Or will any memory stick do?

Darknight

Only Memory Stick Duos and Pro Duos. Duo means its the smaller sized memory stick so normal memory sticks are too thick and too long to fit in the slot.

Josh H

Keep in mind the DS is aimed at a younger crowd so I'm sure the WiFi when they role it out will be extremely easy to use in whatever way they intend.

Darknight

The problem is, Networking is anything but streamlined and easy to set up so I have high doubts that Nintendo can get WiFi standard of 802.11b easy to use without all the different configuration. There's just no way around it to make it any easier than what the PSP has done. It's a shame too that it looks like you might have to set it up per game rather than the system having it in the system setup like on the PSP.

PixyJunket

Here's something making me consider a PSP:
http://www.the-magicbox.com/0501/game050112c.shtml

Josh H

Good points. I really don't know much about WiFi. But still, I'm sure Nintendo will make it easy to use somehow, as that's always there goal. Maybe they'll prove me wrong. We'll see.

Darknight

I've dealt with plenty of wireless networks and I really think the whole structure of it is really not consumer friendly. Sony did an admirable job of making the PSP as easy to set up as possible, but even then its not at a level that I would think Nintendo would like to approve of as simple. It also sorta annoys me to think that you may have to set it up per game rather than having settings within the system that each game can look up. So really, I don't think Nintendo really can do anything to make it easier, and I think Nintendo may have already screwed soemthing up about it.