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