| I'm fairly certain there are folks at
| |
| | for a secondary media display device. In
|
| Nintendo feeling some serious
| |
| | each instance, simply connecting the PSP
|
| self-loathing right about now. You see,
| |
| | to your PC with a 5-pin USB cord will let
|
| back in the mid-90's Nintendo contracted
| |
| | you drag files from your hard drive onto
|
| Sony to develop a CD-ROM drive for the
| |
| | the PSP's Memory Stick. Pictures and
|
| Super Nintendo. As the project
| |
| | music are fairly straightforward, while
|
| progressed, a number of factors (one of
| |
| | video is less so, requiring you to
|
| them being the spectacular failure of the
| |
| | convert it to .mp4 format and set up a
|
| Sega CD and its' followup the 32X) led
| |
| | separate folder on the Memory
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| Nintendo to can the project. Sony was
| |
| | Stick.Picture viewing is a breeze. The
|
| left holding the bag, with a CD-based
| |
| | PSP interface is set up in a horizontal
|
| gaming system but no one to sell it
| |
| | heirarchy displaying each function; you
|
| to.Making proverbial lemonade from
| |
| | simply navigate left or right to choose
|
| lemons, Sony turned around and produced
| |
| | the application and then vertically to
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| what is perhaps the most successful game
| |
| | choose the source. Selecting 'Pictures'
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| console in history, the Sony Playstation.
| |
| | and then 'Memory Stick' will let you
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| The result? For the first time in
| |
| | browse whatever images you have stored on
|
| history, Nintendo took second place in
| |
| | your Memory Stick. Since the PSP uses
|
| the video game console market, while
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| | standard Memory Stick Duo format chips,
|
| fellow rival Sega got out of the console
| |
| | if you have a digital camera that uses MS
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| business altogether.One segment of the
| |
| | Duo sticks, you can simply slap the stick
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| gaming market Nintendo still has a
| |
| | from your digican into the PSP and browse
|
| stranglehold on, however, is the handheld
| |
| | to your heart's content. The PSP allows
|
| sector. Beginning with the original
| |
| | you to zoom in or out and pan the photos
|
| Gameboy, the name Nintendo has been a
| |
| | in any direction using the nub.Music is
|
| veritable synonym for handheld gaming.
| |
| | just as easy...you just drag your ATRAC
|
| This dominant streak has held sway
| |
| | (ech!) or .mp3 (yay!) music files onto
|
| through several subsequent iterations of
| |
| | the Memory Stick, and then navigate to
|
| the Gameboy. Some have claimed Nintendo's
| |
| | them the same way you did the photos. One
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| dual screen DS handheld system to be a
| |
| | thing the PSP is not, however, is an
|
| revolutionary step forward in portable
| |
| | iPod...you have to set up folders for
|
| gaming. Others have decried it as
| |
| | each group of tunes you want, though you
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| gimmicky. Whichever side you fall on,
| |
| | can assign tracks to song groups and play
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| there's no doubt Nintendo execs are
| |
| | them back at will. That said, the PSP's
|
| fingering their collars as Sony prepares
| |
| | music playback functionality is great.
|
| to rain on their parade with their new
| |
| | The PSP comes with a decent set of
|
| Playstation Portable - aka the
| |
| | earbuds and a remote extension allowing
|
| PSP.Comparing the two systems, I'd say
| |
| | you to control the PSP's music functions
|
| there's a real chance Nintendo may
| |
| | without having to dig the unit out of
|
| finally have a serious challenger to the
| |
| | your pocket. More importantly, it sounds
|
| portable gaming throne. Most assuredly,
| |
| | great. If you know how to edit .wmu
|
| Nintendo will claim that they are
| |
| | playlists, you can even assign thumbnail
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| pursuing a different demographic than
| |
| | images to the tracks which will appear
|
| Sony (read 'kids'), and to their credit
| |
| | when you play back the tune on your
|
| the pre-teen crowd will probably favor
| |
| | PSP.Videos are the biggest pain in the
|
| the DS over the PSP. But for anyone over
| |
| | arse, mainly because you have to do the
|
| the age of 12, the PSP is definitely a
| |
| | most fiddling. Luckily, homebrew PSP
|
| serious contender for your pocket
| |
| | programmers have already jumped to
|
| change.Okay, so enough Nintendo-bashing.
| |
| | action, and there are already a number of
|
| Review the damn thing already.The first
| |
| | freeware apps available online which will
|
| impression one gets from the PSP (once
| |
| | let you drag 'n drop video onto your PSP
|
| you've ravenously clawed your way through
| |
| | with little or no trouble.The biggest
|
| the packaging) is just how sleek the
| |
| | drawback to all this media fun is the
|
| system is. From a purely aesthetic
| |
| | fact that the PSP ships with a measly
|
| standpoint, the PSP is one seriously sexy
| |
| | 32mb Memory Stick. By the time you start
|
| piece of cutting-edge tech. The system's
| |
| | messing around with music and video
|
| faceplate is fashioned of one glassy
| |
| | files, you'll be sorely aching for a big
|
| piece, interrupted only by the protrusion
| |
| | 'ole 1GB Memory Stick.So okay, I'm sure
|
| of the various buttons. The backside is
| |
| | you're wondering whether or not any of
|
| just as nice, with the UMD disc door
| |
| | the horror stories you've heard about the
|
| featuring a prominent PSP logo inside a
| |
| | PSP are true. One of the bigger points of
|
| silver metal ring set flush against the
| |
| | contention that's hounded the PSP is the
|
| backplate. The two shoulder buttons are
| |
| | dreaded 'dead pixels' issue. Reports have
|
| clear plastic, and the perimeter edge is
| |
| | circulated widely that a number of PSP
|
| accented in silver giving the whole thing
| |
| | units have been plagued by 'dead pixels',
|
| a very streamlined look.Of course, looks
| |
| | pixels which are either permanently light
|
| are one thing, but how does it actually
| |
| | or dark, depending on how they're stuck.
|
| play? I'm happy to report that the PSP
| |
| | My unit does indeed have a handful of
|
| delivers very well in this regard. For a
| |
| | these dreaded dead pixels, but
|
| portable system, weight is an important
| |
| | seriously...I think you'd have to be a
|
| factor, as it is by nature handheld. The
| |
| | real anal-retentive type for it to be
|
| PSP is fairly lightweight, especially
| |
| | considered truly bothersome. I'm certain
|
| considering all the hi-tech goodness
| |
| | that a handful of PSP's have some serious
|
| crammed into it's slim chassis. In fact,
| |
| | issues, and Sony has agreed to repair or
|
| it weighs just about the same as the
| |
| | replace these units at no cost. However,
|
| Nintendo DS, if you need the comparison.
| |
| | seeing the problem first-hand, I can
|
| You could easily play this thing for
| |
| | honestly say that it doesn't seem to be
|
| hours straight without feeling weighed
| |
| | that big an issue. In fact, over the last
|
| down.One thing that takes a little
| |
| | week or so, some of the 'dead pixels'
|
| getting used to is the somewhat cramped
| |
| | seem to have disappeared, leaving only
|
| form-factor. While the PSP's controls may
| |
| | two barely noticeable spots. The other
|
| be perfect for Japanese gamers, most
| |
| | standout problem with the PSP's screen is
|
| Westerners will find that having a go
| |
| | that it is a veritable magnet for smudges
|
| with the PSP will involve a short
| |
| | and fingerprints. Sony thoughtfully
|
| learning curve while hunting for a
| |
| | includes a microfiber cleaning cloth with
|
| comfortable grip. Really, though, it's no
| |
| | the unit, and believe me, you'll get a
|
| worse than any handheld system before it,
| |
| | lot of use out of it. If this really
|
| and there's no denying that Sony designed
| |
| | bothers you, be aware that for less than
|
| the PSP with ergonomics in mind. The back
| |
| | $5 you can buy a number of PSP 'skins'
|
| of the PSP has a very subtle curvature on
| |
| | which protect the screen from smudges or
|
| each side, creating a natural shallow
| |
| | (gasp!) scratches.The second biggest
|
| channel for placing one's
| |
| | concern about the PSP has been the
|
| fingertips...it's a small detail, but it
| |
| | battery life. So far, in my experience,
|
| counts.Sony smartly modeled the PSP's
| |
| | the power supply is adequate for what the
|
| controls on the PS2's Dualshock
| |
| | PSP is...a portable gaming system. With
|
| controllers, minus two of the front
| |
| | average use, you should expect to get
|
| triggers and the right control stick.
| |
| | between 4-5 hours of use between
|
| Replacing the left stick is an analog
| |
| | recharges. I generally use the PSP to
|
| 'nub', which works much better than it
| |
| | while away lunch breaks or spare moments
|
| sounds. Rather than tilt on an axis, the
| |
| | in the evening when I've got nothing
|
| nub moves gently in a horizontal
| |
| | better to do, and I have yet to encounter
|
| direction, giving you the same control as
| |
| | a situation when I've been left with a
|
| a stick but without the height a stick
| |
| | fully discharged PSP. If you really
|
| would require. It's actually a small bit
| |
| | expect to put some time into the PSP, you
|
| of genius, and works great in action.As
| |
| | will probably want to get into the habit
|
| you've probably heard, the PSP's main
| |
| | of carrying around the included 5v power
|
| selling point is its' 4.3-inch hi-def
| |
| | supply or invest in a secondary power
|
| screen. While 4.3 inches doesn't sound
| |
| | source (Pelican currently sells a 'power
|
| like much on paper, the PSP's screen
| |
| | brick' which will recharge your PSP twice
|
| really must be seen to be appreciated.
| |
| | on a single charge for a mere $10). Other
|
| Both games and feature films look
| |
| | reports, from UMD's ejecting from the
|
| absolutely fantastic, and since the
| |
| | unit when its' twisted, to poorly
|
| screen is formatted to a 16:9 ratio both
| |
| | fabricated 'square' buttons, have really
|
| applications can be appreciated in full
| |
| | been overblown. I'm sure you can find
|
| widescreen, high-definition glory.
| |
| | faults with the system, but overall, it's
|
| Watching Spiderman 2 (which was included
| |
| | very well manufactured and should
|
| in the first million units sold in the
| |
| | withstand years of use provided you take
|
| US) is a remarkable experience; when I
| |
| | care of it.A minor issue of mine lies
|
| first booted it up, I laughed at the game
| |
| | with the UMD movie lineup. While I'm all
|
| store manager and proclaimed 'It looks
| |
| | for enjoying fan-favorite fare like
|
| better than my television!'. And sure
| |
| | Hellboy and Kill Bill, I wonder if film
|
| enough, it does. The screen is bright and
| |
| | studios will truly embrace the format.
|
| crisp, and you may find yourself picking
| |
| | Will we ever be able to enjoy Citizen
|
| details out of the image that you might
| |
| | Kane or the works of Jean Cocteau on the
|
| not have noticed the first time around.Of
| |
| | PSP? I think not. Considering the highly
|
| course, movies are one thing, but the PSP
| |
| | proprietary nature of the UMD format, I
|
| is primarily a game platform. You
| |
| | can't imagine the studios taking a risk
|
| wouldn't think so, but games benefit from
| |
| | on less bankable material for
|
| the PSP's hi-def screen moreso than
| |
| | consideration for UMD release. I suppose
|
| films. Watching something like Wipeout
| |
| | those of us who enjoy the occasional
|
| Pure in motion is amazing; not only is
| |
| | foreign or classic film will have to
|
| the image in razor-sharp hi-definition,
| |
| | resort to storing flicks on the Memory
|
| it's also widescreen, allowing a larger
| |
| | Stick. Oh well...least common
|
| view of the playfield than ever before.
| |
| | denominator, I suppose...Film snobbery
|
| Again, you'd think a 4.3-inch screen
| |
| | aside, the PSP is truly a remarkable
|
| wouldn't capable of very much, but it
| |
| | piece of engineering. When the PSP's
|
| just isn't so. Without a doubt, the PSP's
| |
| | specs were first unveiled a mere two
|
| screen is one of the greatest single
| |
| | years ago, it was widely believed that
|
| innovations the handheld gaming world has
| |
| | Sony's handheld system was vaporware in
|
| ever seen.Powering the PSP is a single
| |
| | the making, and that the final product
|
| 333mhz processor, which may not sound too
| |
| | couldn't possibly deliver. Amazingly,
|
| impressive up front, but visually, the
| |
| | they have. Nearly every point on Sony's
|
| PSP stacks up favorably with it's bigger
| |
| | ambitious list is intact. With numerous
|
| sibling, the PS2. All the flourishes
| |
| | hardware and software improvements on the
|
| you've come to expect from the full-size
| |
| | way (digital camera attachments,
|
| gaming platforms, sharp textures, lens
| |
| | installed web browser and chat clients,
|
| flares, hi-poly models, can be found on a
| |
| | PSP MMORPG's), Sony has crafted the first
|
| device roughly the size of a scientific
| |
| | true challenger to the handheld gaming
|
| calculator. Pick up Ridge Racer, perhaps
| |
| | throne...and suddenly it feels like 1995
|
| the most visually impressive title in the
| |
| | all over again.Alex Mayo is a graphic
|
| PSP's launch lineup, and you won't miss
| |
| | designer of Irish/Filipino descent who
|
| the PS2 iterations one bit. Ditto for the
| |
| | grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was
|
| aforementioned Wipeout Pure, which
| |
| | raised on comic books, punk rock, and
|
| actually manages to overtake the PS2's
| |
| | grade-B kung fu movies, which explains
|
| Wipeout Fusion by a fair mile...and not
| |
| | his complete and utter inability to deal
|
| merely by virtue of it's portability.
| |
| | with real life in a rational manner. He
|
| It's actually a better game...if that
| |
| | is reasonably well-educated (if Art
|
| doesn't say anything to you about the
| |
| | school counts), reasonably well-read (if
|
| power of the PSP, nothing will.The PSP
| |
| | graphic novels and the 'Letters to
|
| also lends itself to other applications,
| |
| | Hustler...' columns count), and
|
| such as viewing photos, watching videos,
| |
| | reasonably well-fed (if Sliders from
|
| and playing music. Though these are
| |
| | White Castle count).Alex currenty
|
| definitely secondary uses for the PSP,
| |
| | supprorts himself as a freelance graphic
|
| they are no less good selling points, as
| |
| | designer and as the helmsman in charge of
|
| the PSP handles them well enough to be a
| |
| | a popular Asian-American Pop Culture
|
| serious consideration for anyone looking
| |
| | webzine.
|
