October 2007
Portable video game systems
How to pick a pocket-sized entertainment device
Sure, you can play games on your iPod and your cell phone. But for a true portable gaming experience, you need a handheld
gaming console. Depending on the system you choose, you can compete wirelessly with other players, watch movies, listen to
music, and more. Sony's PSP and Nintendo's DS Lite are the two most popular, and current, handheld systems.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Price. At $170, the PSP costs about $40 more than the DS Lite. Most games retail for about $30. For some PSP offerings, you might pay $40, and a few DS Lite games are about $35.
Available games. There are 135 games on the market for the PSP. Its choices are generally more sophisticated, with intense graphics. You can choose from among nearly 500 games for the DS Lite, which is also backward-compatible with many Gameboy and other older Nintendo games.
The acronyms in the names offer clues to the kinds of games you'll find for each system. The PSP, or PlayStation Portable, emphasizes portable versions of PlayStation games. As a result, PSP games are more targeted toward gaming enthusiasts. The DS in Nintendo DS Lite stands for Dual Screen. The bottom screen is a touchscreen, operated with a fingertip or the included stylus, giving Nintendo an opportunity to provide games tailored toward its unique interface. There's also a voice-command option for some DS Lite games.
Multiplayer options. With both systems, you can play with other users within range of your system, or you can go online with a WiFi connection and compete over the Internet.
Other functions. More than 430 movies are available for viewing on the PSP. With optional TivoToGo Transfers ($24.95), you can also watch television shows on the PSP. Using Memory Stick storage, you can store and view photos on the PSP, and listen to music in MP3, WAV, WMA, and other formats.
Bottom line: If you have an older Nintendo handheld system, or if you are looking for sheer quantity of games and a less costly console, the DS Lite is the better system for you. If you want to watch movies, listen to music, and store photos as well as play games that are more hard-core, the PSP is the way to go.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Price. At $170, the PSP costs about $40 more than the DS Lite. Most games retail for about $30. For some PSP offerings, you might pay $40, and a few DS Lite games are about $35.
Available games. There are 135 games on the market for the PSP. Its choices are generally more sophisticated, with intense graphics. You can choose from among nearly 500 games for the DS Lite, which is also backward-compatible with many Gameboy and other older Nintendo games.
The acronyms in the names offer clues to the kinds of games you'll find for each system. The PSP, or PlayStation Portable, emphasizes portable versions of PlayStation games. As a result, PSP games are more targeted toward gaming enthusiasts. The DS in Nintendo DS Lite stands for Dual Screen. The bottom screen is a touchscreen, operated with a fingertip or the included stylus, giving Nintendo an opportunity to provide games tailored toward its unique interface. There's also a voice-command option for some DS Lite games.
Multiplayer options. With both systems, you can play with other users within range of your system, or you can go online with a WiFi connection and compete over the Internet.
Other functions. More than 430 movies are available for viewing on the PSP. With optional TivoToGo Transfers ($24.95), you can also watch television shows on the PSP. Using Memory Stick storage, you can store and view photos on the PSP, and listen to music in MP3, WAV, WMA, and other formats.
Bottom line: If you have an older Nintendo handheld system, or if you are looking for sheer quantity of games and a less costly console, the DS Lite is the better system for you. If you want to watch movies, listen to music, and store photos as well as play games that are more hard-core, the PSP is the way to go.
