In a no-holds-barred Texas cage match.
Yesterday’s post was all about the adventure of getting the PSP, but had little to say about the system itself. Since I posted about how cool my DS was after I got it, I suppose I oughta knock out the obvious “which one is better?” thing first.Is the PSP better than the DS?
Yes.
And no.
I know that’s not an acceptable answer to people who like to choose a side in these “system wars,” but so what? They’re not the same system. They do different things. Each one does some things better than the other.
Graphics – PSP
There’s just no contest here. None. At all. Seriously.
Sound – tie
As far as I can tell, anyways. They both sound great, especially through headphones. The DS may have better speakers, but it’s hard to judge since there are no identical games to compare.
Control – tie
No, I’m not pussing out on that one. For the most part, I don’t use the “innovation” of either system. PSP has the little analog nub and the DS has the touchscreen. I use the screen in Sawaru, but that’s about it. I find that Super Mario 64 DS and Mr. Driller both work better with the d-pad. On the PSP, I’ve only got the one game to try – Ridge Racers – and I find that it works better with the d-pad as well. Maybe I just don’t have a game for either system that really taps into some magical level of control yet.
Innovation – DS
Yeah, I know, “innovation” is a buzzword in gaming now – and it should be – but it’s still easy to use it as a copout for why something didn’t work. “Oh,” they’ll say, “it was too innovative and the public just didn’t get it.” Hey, gaming is easy to get – games should be fun.
How hard is it to remember that? Try new things all you want, but make them fun.I think the DS is succeeding here. The stuff they’re doing on the touchscreen is pretty sweet. Other developers are getting it too. Sawaru is great. Sega’s got a good game out. There’s that weird X-Files-esque surgery game I want to get but can’t since it’s all in Japanese. New things are being tried and they’re working. Well.
Sony’s main innovation with the PSP is taking home console games and making them portable. Don’t get me wrong, they’ve done an incredible job of it, but there are no new game types or genres being developed.
Not that there need to be.
There’s plenty of money in the same old thing, and Sony’s not doing this as a charity venture. They’re in it to make money. (Even though it’s rumored that they’re losing around $200 per PSP sold.) If people will shell out the bucks to take the games they like a home on the road with them – hey! Why not offer that?
For the companies, it’s about money. For the gamers, it’s about games. Buy the system that plays the games you like and you’ll be happy. The choice is yours – PSP or DS?
The best answer? PSP AND DS!
^.^