PSP Official Discussion thread.

[Hikuro]

Are they still doing that No Regional setting or was that all just pretty much BS?

[mikeszekely]

Well, I'm sure stores like GS, EB, and normal toy stores are gonna try and carry extra stock.

I looked at the screen caps for Wipeout Pure, really it doesn't look that great, but I think the selling point is being able to update the game with more maps and hover vehicles and what not, while other games don't do that, well except Coded Arms which I will be snagging in June when it comes out.  That will generate random maps which you'll be able to save when your playing with friends.

I'm thinking that PSP is coming out iwth more original games for itself then Nintendo DS is launching.  Really, I've seen maybe 5 games at most that are for the DS and not around for Gamecube, but all those games sorta blow in my opinion unless your a small child.

And since my Gundam SEED DS isn't coming out anytime soon it seems, PSP will probably be my bestest friend

in away they already did. they delayed europe release so US markets can have more.

Yeah, my store alone is set to get 70 units (compare that to the six or so DS's we got for its launch).

As for Wipeout, Pure looks better than Fusion on the PS2 did. Personally, I'm amped for that game, but if that style or that genre isn't you're cup of tea, I wouldn't expect Pure to change anyone's minds.

[mikeszekely]

Are they still doing that No Regional setting or was that all just pretty much BS?

IGN got their American unit early. They've tested American games on the Japanese unit, and Japanese games on the American unit, and they're glad to report that games are NOT region coded.

Movies, however, are. That's less Sony's fault and more due to pressure from the DVD Consortium, as I understand.

Oh, one thing about importing, though... while not regionally coded, localization does apparently make for more changes than langauge. While it doesn't matter if you're using a Japanese unit or an American unit, Japanese software can't link with American software for mulitplayer. Also, Japanese game saves aren't compatible with their American counterparts.

[Britai 7018]

I went to a gamestop, and the guy there told me all their accessories and games were street-dated on the 24th. That doesnt sound quite right, my personal suspicion is that they wanted to hold on so they could increase the tie-rates on their individual psp sales. In this particular case i think it hurt them because in that same mall, not 5 stores down there was an EB selling games and accessories =|

I just picked up some Hori screen protectors... man these are going to be a long 4 days. Im just really excited about Lumines, too bad all reviews (mags and firsthand) on Dynasty warriors seems to be pretty negative. Im now thinking about wipeout, untold legends or darkstalkers as my second game.

[bandit29]

I still haven't decide if I'm getting a PSP this week. Didn't preorder one. The Best Buy that is by my work said they are getting 300 PSPs. Could be BS. That's alot. I thought about getting Dynasty Warriors but for the same price I can get Dynasty Warriors 5 for the PS2 a week later. I'll probably pick up Ridge Racer, Lumines and Darkstalkers for the PSP.

[mikeszekely]

I went to a gamestop, and the guy there told me all their accessories and games were street-dated on the 24th. That doesnt sound quite right, my personal suspicion is that they wanted to hold on so they could increase the tie-rates on their individual psp sales. In this particular case i think it hurt them because in that same mall, not 5 stores down there was an EB selling games and accessories =|

I just picked up some Hori screen protectors... man these are going to be a long 4 days. Im just really excited about Lumines, too bad all reviews (mags and firsthand) on Dynasty warriors seems to be pretty negative. Im now thinking about wipeout, untold legends or darkstalkers as my second game.

Part of it was the tie-in sales rate, but the contest changed, simply because other stores are selling their stuff. Personally, I picked up Need for Speed Underground Rivals already. That said, because the company didn't expect people to want to buy stuff for a system they don't own, they didn't priority ship any of the PSP stuff, so even though other stores have a lot of different stuff, we just have some Pelican accessories and NFSU Rivals, so far. We'll be getting shipments everyday though... I hope all the games will be in by Thursday. If not all of them, then at least Wipeout.

dejr8bud, how big is your Best Buy? Most metro-area stores, especially bigger stores like Best Buy, are a lot bigger than the Gamestop where I work. And like I said, my store's getting 70. If the store is big enough and in a big enough area, 300 isn't impossible.

I'm not too concerned with Dynasty Warriors' reviews. The reviews might not look good when compared with other PSP titles, but compared to the other Dynasty Warriors games, the scores are par for the course.

Scores from Gamespot:

Dynasty Warriors (PSP) - 6.9

Dynasty Warriors 4 (PS2) - 7.1

Dynasty Warriors 3 (PS2) - 7.1

Dynasty Warriors 4 XL (PS2) - 7.4

Dynasty Warriors 3 XL (PS2) - 7.1.

Dynasty Warriors 5 will probably score lower than a 7.0, because (even fans of the series have to admit), Dynasty Warriors is just getting old. I loved 3, and I enjoyed 4, but (especially after playing Samurai Legends), even I'm beat. I don't plan to get DW5. The only reason why I'm getting the PSP version is because it might be more fun to play in bite-sized chunks on the crapper.

Edited March 21, 2005 by mikeszekely

[Hikuro]

The game stop I go too is maybe 50-30, so its a rather small store....but when Halo2 came in they were jammed, I could barely get inside the joint without all these kids with their mommies cryin "I WANT IT!!!" being subjected to violence at such an early age makes me wanna cry.....in joy!

I'm going to be getting rid of one or two things today and tomorrow, the least amount of cash I gotta spend for the next two weeks the better....I maybe have 100 dollars to go, PSP and NFSURivals.

[bandit29]

I went to a gamestop, and the guy there told me all their accessories and games were street-dated on the 24th. That doesnt sound quite right, my personal suspicion is that they wanted to hold on so they could increase the tie-rates on their individual psp sales. In this particular case i think it hurt them because in that same mall, not 5 stores down there was an EB selling games and accessories =|

I just picked up some Hori screen protectors... man these are going to be a long 4 days. Im just really excited about Lumines, too bad all reviews (mags and firsthand) on Dynasty warriors seems to be pretty negative. Im now thinking about wipeout, untold legends or darkstalkers as my second game.

Part of it was the tie-in sales rate, but the contest changed, simply because other stores are selling their stuff. Personally, I picked up Need for Speed Underground Rivals already. That said, because the company didn't expect people to want to buy stuff for a system they don't own, they didn't priority ship any of the PSP stuff, so even though other stores have a lot of different stuff, we just have some Pelican accessories and NFSU Rivals, so far. We'll be getting shipments everyday though... I hope all the games will be in by Thursday. If not all of them, then at least Wipeout.

dejr8bud, how big is your Best Buy? Most metro-area stores, especially bigger stores like Best Buy, are a lot bigger than the Gamestop where I work. And like I said, my store's getting 70. If the store is big enough and in a big enough area, 300 isn't impossible.

I'm not too concerned with Dynasty Warriors' reviews. The reviews might not look good when compared with other PSP titles, but compared to the other Dynasty Warriors games, the scores are par for the course.

Scores from Gamespot:

Dynasty Warriors (PSP) - 6.9

Dynasty Warriors 4 (PS2) - 7.1

Dynasty Warriors 3 (PS2) - 7.1

Dynasty Warriors 4 XL (PS2) - 7.4

Dynasty Warriors 3 XL (PS2) - 7.1.

Dynasty Warriors 5 will probably score lower than a 7.0, because (even fans of the series have to admit), Dynasty Warriors is just getting old. I loved 3, and I enjoyed 4, but (especially after playing Samurai Legends), even I'm beat. I don't plan to get DW5. The only reason why I'm getting the PSP version is because it might be more fun to play in bite-sized chunks on the crapper.

I live/work in the suburbs of Chicago. The Best Buy near my work is pretty large. Ya I had heard most stores like EB and Gamestop were only getting 60-70 units, so when I heard 300 I was kinda surprised. If I strike out at Best Buy, there's a Circuit City, Walmart and Targert less than 1/4 mile away.

[Hikuro]

It's payday today, so I'm gonna see how well my check came out (probably crappy cause I'm litterally underpaid) and if I don't freak out after I do some calculations, I MIGHT just pay off what I got left and pick up NFSURivals and maybe something else cheap...depends how hungry I am

[Hikuro]

Got paid, it wasn't a bad check but still rather meek. I took out 150 bucks (cause I need gas and lunch) I paid off my 104 dollars worth of games and PSP. So I paid off my PSP and I got my Need for Speed.

The box was rather interesting. Its clear plastic with the traditional Need for Speed cover settings. Open up the box, take a wiff of that new game smell and you'll see the UMD disc which is a white body with a translucent cover over the need for speed title. Course I was very careful not to touch the recorder side : / really careful.

Read the instructions, that's real quick. And it gave a description of what is what on the PSP unit, very interesting...actually can't wait for thrusday to get a hands on look for it.

The Multiplayer aspect seems a bit lacking in my opinion, challenge your friends to a game on a circut match...man I wanna drag race or Drift race them, Circut races are boring.

if I'm reading this right, it looks like if you have one copy of the game, but a friend doesn't, you can still play the game with your friend, was I reading that right Mike?

[bandit29]

The Best Buy in my area is opening at 8:01 AM on Thursday(I assume the rest are too) Since we are gonna be slow this week at work, I might be able to get there in morning.

So how long will it take for Vivid, Wicked etc to release some porn in the UMD format? Or better yet how do I transfer mine?...

[Ghadrack]

Sony has finally updated their U.S. Site with PSP data:

Official Sony PSP data

It looks like some games will offer a "Share" feature that lates more than one person play a game using a single Copy of the game, I didn't see a list of titles posted though.

Man, I am dying to get my hands on mine I went ahead and bought Wipeout (I have loved them all so far, by far my favoraite racing games, Twisted Metal (I was the king of TM2, mmmm destructive goodness, Metal Gear Acid (Figured I would give it a try even though card games aren't my thing normally. I will probably snag a copy of ridge racer, Hot Shots is a few months off still I think, but I have a copy reserved anyhow.

Can't.....Wait.......Till.......Thursday....

[Dat Pinche Haro!]

hmm...i just realized something...if you get a psp it'd be easy to get saves from the net on to your memory stick...so i guess it's kinda good for those of us who are just too freakin' lazy to finish our games

[Gabe Q]

Does anyone know if they're going to release any good strategy RPGs on the PSP? I'm talking about games like Disgaea, Shining Force, Tactics Ogre, and Final Fantasy Tactics.

[Beltane70]

I'm having a big debate with myself if I should get a PSP here, before I go to Tokyo in May or getting one while I'm there since regional coding doesn't exist on the games. Either way, I still plan to buy one.

[Britai 7018]

Regional coding isn't on the games, but it IS on the movies, and all indications are that you won't be able to interact w/ other US models. That is, gamesaves and multiplayer won't work correctly.

[Zentrandude]

hmm...i just realized something...if you get a psp it'd be easy to get saves from the net on to your memory stick...so i guess it's kinda good for those of us who are just too freakin' lazy to finish our games

gba'ers do that already if they have a flash cart. It hurts playing the game more than helps it.

[JB0]

Movies, however, are. That's less Sony's fault and more due to pressure from the DVD Consortium, as I understand.

Except UMD movies aren't DVDs. The DVD consortium is irrelevant.

It'd be nice if they WERE relevant, as it would mean the PSP would play your existing movies instead of what Sony sells as PSP movies.

...

On the other hand, the PSP would be utterly massive for a game system... but there'd be room for the controls(the "square" button on the PSP is mushy and un-sensitive because it overlaps the screen and the reviews I've seen say the controls are too close to the edges of the system to make for comfortable gameplay).

[eugimon]

Movies, however, are.  That's less Sony's fault and more due to pressure from the DVD Consortium, as I understand.

Except UMD movies aren't DVDs. The DVD consortium is irrelevant.

It'd be nice if they WERE relevant, as it would mean the PSP would play your existing movies instead of what Sony sells as PSP movies.

...

On the other hand, the PSP would be utterly massive for a game system... but there'd be room for the controls(the "square" button on the PSP is mushy and un-sensitive because it overlaps the screen and the reviews I've seen say the controls are too close to the edges of the system to make for comfortable gameplay).

I thought that the mushy button problem was fixed for the US release? that's what the people at my local gamestop told me when I placed my pre-order... hmmmm...

well, I can still hardly wait for this thing. woohoo! almost here!

[mikeszekely]

Movies, however, are.  That's less Sony's fault and more due to pressure from the DVD Consortium, as I understand.

Except UMD movies aren't DVDs. The DVD consortium is irrelevant.

It'd be nice if they WERE relevant, as it would mean the PSP would play your existing movies instead of what Sony sells as PSP movies.

...

On the other hand, the PSP would be utterly massive for a game system... but there'd be room for the controls(the "square" button on the PSP is mushy and un-sensitive because it overlaps the screen and the reviews I've seen say the controls are too close to the edges of the system to make for comfortable gameplay).

I thought that the mushy button problem was fixed for the US release? that's what the people at my local gamestop told me when I placed my pre-order... hmmmm...

well, I can still hardly wait for this thing. woohoo! almost here!

Yes, the PSP's square button issue has been fixed for the US release. And yes, JB0, from what I read, improbable as it sounds, it IS in fact the DVD Consortium that put pressure on Sony and other companies to use region coding on UMD movies.

[mikeszekely]

Does anyone know if they're going to release any good strategy RPGs on the PSP? I'm talking about games like Disgaea, Shining Force, Tactics Ogre, and Final Fantasy Tactics.

Nothing's been announced for sure, but Atlus and Square have both announced PSP support. I'm hoing for a MegaTen game, myself.

[mikeszekely]

The Best Buy in my area is opening at 8:01 AM on Thursday(I assume the rest are too) Since we are gonna be slow this week at work, I might be able to get there in morning.

So how long will it take for Vivid, Wicked etc to release some porn in the UMD format? Or better yet how do I transfer mine?...

I'd expect porn on UMD to start showing up REAL soon.

As for getting your own porn, it depends on the format. It IS possible to rip a DVD and convert it to mp4, but it'll be easier if you have already have the porn as avi on your PC.

[mikeszekely]

The Multiplayer aspect seems a bit lacking in my opinion, challenge your friends to a game on a circut match...man I wanna drag race or Drift race them, Circut races are boring.

if I'm reading this right, it looks like if you have one copy of the game, but a friend doesn't, you can still play the game with your friend, was I reading that right Mike?

I didn't pay too much attention to that section of the manual... I'll look at it more in detail tomorrow.

So far, I picked up NFSU Rivals and Dynasty Warriors. I hope to *insert prefered deity here* that Wipeout arrives before the PSP does. Even if the rest of the games are late...

[JB0]

Yes, the PSP's square button issue has been fixed for the US release. And yes, JB0, from what I read, improbable as it sounds, it IS in fact the DVD Consortium that put pressure on Sony and other companies to use region coding on UMD movies.

No kidding? Strange.

And the button fixing comes from 1st-hand accounts?

Last I heard SCE's president was insisting the PSP was perfect, no one would tell Michelangelo that God should be a little more to the left, and no changes were going to be made.

I would, of course, be pleased to see it fixed.

Heard from 1st-hand accounts that the disk cannon feature is still intact.

Not sure whether it should be a plus or minus.

On the one hand, random ejections. On the other, DISK CANNON, WHOO!

[Zentrandude]

Yes, the PSP's square button issue has been fixed for the US release.  And yes, JB0, from what I read, improbable as it sounds, it IS in fact the DVD Consortium that put pressure on Sony and other companies to use region coding on UMD movies.

No kidding? Strange.

And the button fixing comes from 1st-hand accounts?

Last I heard SCE's president was insisting the PSP was perfect, no one would tell Michelangelo that God should be a little more to the left, and no changes were going to be made.

I would, of course, be pleased to see it fixed.

Heard from 1st-hand accounts that the disk cannon feature is still intact.

Not sure whether it should be a plus or minus.

On the one hand, random ejections. On the other, DISK CANNON, WHOO!

lol look out flying disc of death. oh noes they cut me with a spider man 2 movie.

[sabretooth]

you can use it to re enact the goblin scene in the first film (where he dodges pumpkin flying discs of death in the burning building)

[Britai 7018]

I'm pretty sure the fixed square buttons are official, at least it was reported fixed on both gamespot and ign.

Disc Cannon! Can't wait. As if mp3s, movies and games weren't enough...

[mikeszekely]

I'm pretty sure the fixed square buttons are official, at least it was reported fixed on both gamespot and ign.

Disc Cannon! Can't wait. As if mp3s, movies and games weren't enough...

Yeah, the announcement of the square button fix came after Kutaragi's infamous speech comparing the PSP to the work of a brilliant architect. Sony is now repairing PSPs in Japan with square button issues, and the US release is supposed to be free of said square button issue.

As for the the UMDs popping out, yeah, that's still a problem... if you like strangling your handhelds as you play them. From what I read, it's not like a bomb ready to go off if you touch it the wrong way, you really have to twist something that you really shouldn't have been twisting in the first place.

Edited March 22, 2005 by mikeszekely

[mikeszekely]

The Multiplayer aspect seems a bit lacking in my opinion, challenge your friends to a game on a circut match...man I wanna drag race or Drift race them, Circut races are boring.

if I'm reading this right, it looks like if you have one copy of the game, but a friend doesn't, you can still play the game with your friend, was I reading that right Mike?

From what I read, EA deliberately made the multiplayer in NFSU Rivals a little half-assed, because they expressed the opinion that it would be difficult to find more than one person with a PSP to play Rivals with.

Anyway, you read correctly that you can play Rivals with just one copy of the game... but when you do, you can only play with one PSP. For wireless linked play, everyone needs a copy of the game. Reading a little more carefully, the PSP supports sharing games ala the Nintendo DS for wireless play, but so far none of the games support it.

[bandit29]

The Best Buy in my area is opening at 8:01 AM on Thursday(I assume the rest are too) Since we are gonna be slow this week at work, I might be able to get there in morning.

So how long will it take for Vivid, Wicked etc to release some porn in the UMD format? Or better yet how do I transfer mine?...  

I'd expect porn on UMD to start showing up REAL soon.

As for getting your own porn, it depends on the format. It IS possible to rip a DVD and convert it to mp4, but it'll be easier if you have already have the porn as avi on your PC.

Cool. I can hardly wait.

Walmart and Target had a few PSP games out last night. I bought Darkstalkers. I'll probably go buy a few more at lunch today. Hopefully I'll be able to get a system this week lol

[Anubis]

The Best Buy in my area is opening at 8:01 AM on Thursday(I assume the rest are too) Since we are gonna be slow this week at work, I might be able to get there in morning.

So how long will it take for Vivid, Wicked etc to release some porn in the UMD format? Or better yet how do I transfer mine?...  

I'd expect porn on UMD to start showing up REAL soon.

Wouldn't that be a little complicated in practice though?

[Hikuro]

We don't wanna be thinking that Anubis. now now.

A friend of mine at work yesterday saw my NFSURivals case and thought it was the PS2 sequal. He snagged it and looked at it then at me going, "Dude! PSP! WHERE WHERE?!" Thinking I had one....sucker....

Told him I paid off the game and system but I wanted to get the game so I can study up and see how much fun its really going to be.

Afterall his boasting "Wow PSP!" When I finally told him how much I spent : / which was 160 dollars really...he freaked out.

Yes its a pretty expensive system, but I think that if you treat it nicely and with love and care unlike that of a Tamagachi, y ou'll get good results.

THAT'S WHY I'm trying to get a nice case for it that wont scratch the bloody thing up! But I'll wait and see Thursday...

Even though its not out yet, I'm still having high hopes for the PSP compared to my DS...right now I only got Mario for the DS, and I think by the end of April I'll probably have 2-3 more games for the PSP....and yet still have 1 for the DS till around June....then I'll have two : / DS just isn't impressing me much right now in their game market...

PSP, I waiting for Coded arms, yeeeeeeeeeeesssss.....

[mikeszekely]

The Best Buy in my area is opening at 8:01 AM on Thursday(I assume the rest are too) Since we are gonna be slow this week at work, I might be able to get there in morning.

So how long will it take for Vivid, Wicked etc to release some porn in the UMD format? Or better yet how do I transfer mine?...  

I'd expect porn on UMD to start showing up REAL soon.

Wouldn't that be a little complicated in practice though?

Logitech and a few other companies are making little stands with speakers to set the PSP in, so you can watch movies... uh... hands free...

I had to stop by the grocery store today. There's a Target right next to it, so I stopped to see if they were breaking the street date... no such luck...

[Hikuro]

I'm probably gonna take an early lunch to go get it to avoid the mess since they said they got alot of preorders in...

[mikeszekely]

My buddy called me... a lot of people have been calling to ask for the PSP today. The movie industry has everyone thinking everything comes out on Tuesday...

Me personally, I'm going to buy my PSP, then open the doors for everyone else.