Dumb. Higher than the average in ratings, many PSP games are quite good - not all of them, but enough to quash all the whining and bitching from people who picked up one or two lame PS2 ports and claim to know 'how it is' with the PSP library. The whole 'lame port' argument went out the window months ago after we started getting quality titles that were tweaked or made specifically for the PSP... And even then, the 'ports' on the PSP look and play a hell of a lot better than some OTHER cross-plat ported games for OTHER handhelds do.

Original hot titles like Loco Roco, WTF, Every Extend, Mercury... Oh, hell - I'm so sick of listing the cool platform specific games. And how does a platform "make mistakes," anyway? Does he mean SONY made mistakes? Whatever. I like the DS, but it certainly isn't as interesting to me as the PSP. Does that mean the DS 'made mistakes' -? Nope, it's just not getting the kinds of games I like (as much as the PSP has).

The bottom line is, Sony and the PSP have become media punching bags - a status that is about 80% fanboyish crap and 20% actually deserved. There are PSP issues, definitely (low response/ghosting screen, single analog, lack of USA color variety, slow porting of big JP RPG's, lack of TV output, lack of downloadable content, lack of internal storage, poor advertising, $199 pricetag with slightly more expensive games, etc.)... But the quality and even variety of games are, for the last f'ing time, NOT one of them.

Now if the PSP bashers will excuse me, I have to go wrack my brain over where I'm getting the money for Power Stone, Battlezone, Killzone AND Dungeon Siege after already getting Ace Combat and Vice City Stories this past week!

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I do not understand this "the games are not designed for portable" comment at all, in fact I think it's a really dumb thing to say. Do these same people think laptops should have special portable variants of applications? Do they despise all the snes games on the GameBoy? N64 games on the DS? In other words, WTF?

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Me again. Is this niche you mention really a niche? My hunch is that most people play the PSP at home as much as they do on the go and I doubt many want simple little games on the system, if they wanted that they would jump on that DS wagon.

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And for the record, here's the latest roundup of METACRITIC scores of recent games. The 'true' ports in this mix are still being well received...

Every Extend Extra - 82
Power Stone Collection - 75
Killzone: Liberation - 78
Death, Jr. II: Root of Evil - 74
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories - 87
ATV Offroad Fury Pro - 78
Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded - 78
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception - 82
FIFA 07 - 80
WTF: Work Time Fun - 68
Mercury Meltdown - 80
Gitaroo Man Lives! - 78
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - 81
LocoRoco - 84

See, like the PS2 vs. Gamecube, the DS has plenty of 1st Party stuff that's compelling (to many, although I've had my fill of Mario Kart, SMB, etc.) --but the PSP, like the PS2, has a MUCH stronger and varied assortment of third party devs pushing stuff out. It's not all perfect, but I think this Metacritic overview shows they're not exactly bad, either.

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I don't think the intent was to bring out the Sony Defense Force. That's just how he feels; if you guys feel his response is cliched, that's fine. He's not saying the PSP is junk or anything. It's probably more along the lines of, "I really want to like it, but it's just not doing what I wanted/expected."

"I like the DS, but it certainly isn't as interesting to me as the PSP. "

I'm still trying to figure out what is great about the PSP. All of its "features" are a waste to me; it's best application is clearly games. It's good that some decent games are finally coming out, but it's just annoying to play the thing...there's little incentive to play these types of games (console-ish games) on a small screen, "portable" or not.

FFVII: Crisis Core needs to come out. And I need a TV adapter still. *Sigh*

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+1 to SuicideNinja for referring to the SDF.

This post wasn't to highlight the PSP in a negative way. I don't think the comic does as well, either. Is it so bad to say that we had high expectations from Sony? I don't think so.

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SuicideNinja, you're comments illustrate that you're not a portable gamer, that is all. I just don't get how you can enjoy being tethered to a TV. The PSP is self contained (doesn't clutter up the living room) and since you hold it in your hand you're close to its large 16x9 screen, not unlike what you get sitting across the room from a TV (unless you sit up close to your 80" TV).

The PSP has had great games since it launched - WipeOut, Burnout, etcetera. The DS has lots of fine repeats, Mario Kart, Mario Bros, etcetera. They're both portable consoles. Joy-joy.

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"I'm still trying to figure out what is great about the PSP. All of its "features" are a waste to me;"

You have made this same point over and over again. Your blog is as spittle-flying-anti-Sony as you can get. Nobody cares what your opinion is on the PSP.

The PSP is a portable. If you don't like playing portable games (ported or not) then why waste your (and our) time with it..?

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Why I never got a PSP was because of the amount of money I would have to spend to have a good amount of memory in SD cards. And fricken battery life, it just doesn't last when your out and about.

Otherwise yes the game argument is out the window. No doubt about it. But a lot of you are dissing the DS game selection? There are more than first party titles. Children of Mana, Touch Detective, Phoenix Wright, Resident Evil etc.

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Wow , your right ... at least did you played RE on the DS . Well flash news , it was the worst RE I played ( I never played Gaiden ) . Its controls where horrible , and it was the worste loocking versions ... oh right , and it was a freaking port , not an originla game at all . Also Mario 64 DS , MKDS and many others atre just lame N64 ports . Oh , and lets just see , battery life WTF ??? I bought a replacement batterie , and guess what , my old one holds out 5-6 hours at max usage and the new one lasts 7 hours ( 3800 MAH ) . So quit bitching the batterie life , because at the images quality , what would you expect . If you rather want a batterie to hold out 10 hours , go and watch some pixels on the DS .

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9, the PSP doesn't use SD, it uses Memory Stick - and they're almost the same price (now) as SD. I've never gotten less than 5 hours from my PSP, and sometimes almost 7. Battery life has always been a myth that DS fans have perpetrated as a big PSP failing, when it isn't (like game selection or fragility).

Nobody is DISSING the DS game selection, it just isn't *as* appealing to me right now. Phoenix Wright is great, but Touch Detective? Not to me. Nor Resident Evil for its atrocious graphics and spotty controls.

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Something must be wrong, because Page's last post actually explains my exact feelings on playing a handheld, even within one's own sanctum.

And no! I enjoy the ports! I haven't played some of them on the consoles, and have had a decent time playing them on the PSP. Besides, to me, it's the ideal console at the moment.

Of course, not to offend some of you, but I am specifically angry at Sony right now, but that doesn't mean that I have a problem with the PSP (I'm part of the PSP defence force, now. As far as Sony's concerned, I wouldn't bother).

And as for battery life - PLEASE! I haven't had any issues in over a year. Hell, I actually appreciate the PSP's standby over the DS by a massive margin. That PSP battery may have some load on it, but its overall stamina is just fine in my opinion. Furthermore, to me, it's not only a portable, but a very handy and healthy alternative to a homeconsole.

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Dueling analogs is and will ever be unfunny.You can tolerate PSP jokes like the battery one if its funny,but it isnt.Dueling analogs comic are a waste of time,they arent funny and the invent imaginary stuff,so wtf?.

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