Recently I acquired a Playstation Portable. The whole phenomenon of portable gaming for the most part has passed me by. When Nintendo came out with their Game Boy I had other interests on my mind and it never really looked all that attractive to me. Similarly, other offerings just never quit tapped into my ‘I must buy it’ nerve. Additionally I was something of a die-hard PC gamer, with a tendency to shun console games.
So why the PSP now so late in the game? There are several real advantages in getting a portable system.
First, I can take it with me wherever I go. This may seem a bit on the obvious side but I’d never really considered it from this angle before. I go a lot of places. Trips, commutes, doctors offices, weddings, bed. The PSP, fitting in the palm of my hand can easily come with me if I choose.
Second, I had fallen out of gaming. My aging windows machine just wont support most of the modern games available. I’ve got a spiffy laptop but I run Ubuntu on it and it doesn’t have much of a graphics card being small and light. The PSP is a great way to get back into the gaming community, which brings us to. . . .
Third, I wanted to get back into gaming without investing a thousand dollars or more into a serviceable gaming computer that would keep me going for several years worth of titles. I love the latest technology, probably more so than the next guy but I don’t love dropping tons of cash on the latest video card just to do it again in six months. The PSP was a one time investment. Along with the case, the memory stick and a game it comes to less than $250. It’s nice that most of the titles I’m interested in I can get for $20 or less. Brand new titles can run up to $39.99 but usually drop shortly after release.
Fourth, I like games I don’t need to invest hours of my time into. There’s a lot more going on in my life now than when I was last a hard core gamer. I just don’t have hours to spend building up characters or blowing foes away online. Portable gaming systems offer titles that can be immersive or that I can spend a quick half hour with and still get lots of enjoyment out of it.
Yes you have to put up with a screen that’s not a 24” monitor or a massive plasma television. I find myself pulling the system closer and closer to my eyes as time goes on or if I get really caught up in a particular session.
I’m so far very happy with my latest gadget. In the near future you can expect to see reviews on a few of the latest titles for the PSP – starting with Dungeons & Dragons Tactics after it is released in mid-August.
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July 31st, 2007 at 10:53 am
I love my DS… brain age is awesome.
July 31st, 2007 at 12:17 pm
I played brain age on my wifes fathers DS – we had alot of fun with that one.
July 31st, 2007 at 12:48 pm
I had a tough time choosing between DS Lite and PSP – ultimately I went with the graphics though. And the D&D game.
June 29th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
In an interview with California Watch, state Treasurer Bill Lockyer.