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Switching to the PSP 3000 - is it worth it?
datac0re
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Registered User regular
So I'm debating on trading in my old (fat) DS and nabbing myself one of the new PSP 3000 bundles that includes Ratchet and Clank. My question, fellow PA'ers, is this - is it worth switching over right now? Is the PSP 3000 going to be around for a while, or am I getting in too late? The last thing I want to do is plunk down $200 and then have the next gen PSP come 6 months later.
And for those who have a PSP and have/had a DS - how do you like your PSP comparatively to the DS? I'm looking for a more adult-oriented handheld, and frankly I've just been less than impressed with the DS catalog lately.
And for those who have a PSP and have/had a DS - how do you like your PSP comparatively to the DS? I'm looking for a more adult-oriented handheld, and frankly I've just been less than impressed with the DS catalog lately.
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I like my PSP because of CFW to be honest (better for battery life, faster load times). I have both, but lately I've been playing my PSP more (Gundam Battle Universe, Patapon 2, and now Dissidia: Final Fantasy, and I will probably get the new Monster Hunter 2 expansion when it comes out in English)
The PSP does seem to suffer from a greater lack of infrastructure games (not entirely sure) because in Japan, Ad-hoc mode works great with the population densities, but not so in the US.
I wish the PSP2 will have a touch screen though. It may feel gimmicky for some, but when you've tried typing stuff on the PSP you'll wish for a touch screen.
One thing pissing me off about the DS in general though is how they added region locking to the DSi.
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http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=78078
My personal recommendation is to get a PSP 2000 series. It'll be more amenable to Custom Firmware (CFW), and there are almost no new features on the 3000 that make it a complete sale. If you can get a 3000 for around 20 bucks more than an equivalent 2000, then it'll be an alright purchase.
There are plenty of good games on the PSP now. If you need particular recommendations, even after reading Slash's link, you can always ask these forums. Be particular. Don't just ask for "good games".
Well, considering I had to Google CFW to know what you were talking about, I'd say it's not a problem for me
As far as the ad-hoc mode stuff is concerned... I'm not sure I totally follow what you're saying. Are you just saying that the multiplayer aspect of the PSP isn't all that great?
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* Ad-Hoc - Local Wireless, up to 8 players, theoretically more. Almost all Multiplayer PSP games are through this method.
* Infrastructure - Online, up to 4 players, theoretically more. Few games have this.
A third method recently added was Ad-Hoc over Infrastructure, but this requires a PS3 and the Ad-Hoc Party program (currently in Japanese Beta on the PSN). Or you can use X-Link Kai, which has been around forever, but requires a lot of technical computer skill and is quite finicky.
There are quite a few great multiplayer games for PSP. I'm still a big Monster Hunter fan, and Monster Hunter is pretty much the flagship multiplayer Ad-Hoc PSP game, but there are many other games with great multiplayer modes.
Also, everyone says "I'm not into homebrew", but if you have a PSP and you end up enjoying it, you'll want to look into custom firmware anyway down the road. It unlocks doors to faster load times, longer battery life, etc. The point should be moot, though, because by the time you get interested in custom firmware, someone will probably have cracked the firmware of the PSP model you are using.
Yeah I had read that thread prior to posting, but that one was more of a "what games should I get" thread, not a "I'm considering buying one" thread.
As for prices - I can get a 2000 core by itself for $169.99 or a 3000 that includes Ratchet and Clank, Echochrome, and a 1 GB memory stick for $199.99. The 3000 seems like a much better deal to me.
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By the way, they're putting the hack-proof mobos into new off-the-shelf 2000s. You have to get a used one to get one that's CFW-friendly.
I also use my PSP as a music/video device, which the DS is simply not good for, and why I'm holding off on stuff like an iPod Touch/iPhone.
Switch: US 1651-2551-4335 JP 6310-4664-2624
MH3U Monster Cheat Sheet / MH3U Veggie Elder Ticket Guide
Are the load times / battery life that terrrible?
Steam Profile: miserium
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1GB will not be enough if you do a lot of that (DFF is like 500MB for the big install, I forgot what MH2's was)
Not that many games use it, only the really big ones.
Switch: US 1651-2551-4335 JP 6310-4664-2624
MH3U Monster Cheat Sheet / MH3U Veggie Elder Ticket Guide
Currently, there are quite a few games available that can run directly off the memory stick (like Echochrome), and these are blazing fast with minimal load times and save battery as well (the memory stick uses a lot less battery than the UMD). A lot of the older games out there benefit greatly from running on the memory stick, which is where you see the savings in battery life and load times. Of course, not all old games can be played off of the memory stick "officially", which is where CFW comes in. I won't speak much more of the process, only that it can be done.
You shouldn't have too much problems with load times on a PSP-2000 or 3000, and the games that suffer from crippling load times are exceptions rather than the rule (and are often a sticking point on game reviews).
The 2000 and 3000 are almost identical. The 3000 has a shinier screen and a built-in mic, but that's it.
That is the main thing that is holding back my homebrew adventures.
Wombat: without getting into details, a magic memory stick is just a normal MS with a few files put on it (you can backup your saves, use your normal memory stick as a MMS, and then put your saves back on it), and you can get a working Pandora battery for about ten bucks.
If your firmware version is high enough (like if you updated it any time in the last year) you need a pandora battery and MMS to mod any of them. It's not a big deal if you know a friend who has CFW already as there are programs to make Pandora batteries in software, but if you don't have any friends and high firmware you need to buy an external accessory; either a TOOL battery or a little gizmo that'll switch your factory battery into TOOL mode.
Personally I got the Battery Service Tool and it couldn't be easier to use. Just slip the battery into the tool, hit the button, and you have a Pandora battery.
http://us.codejunkies.com/Products/PSP-Battery-Service-Tool__EF000530.aspx
edit: I forgot, there is a method to manually hardware hack your battery into a Pandora battery, but that takes a level of skill and comfort with hardware that I don't have.
the monthly gamestop rag had this pic up, and the 3000 looked like shit.
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My brother has 3000 and I have a 2000, I've seen that screen cap a hundred times and just my opinion but it is NOWHERE near that noticeable of a difference. The image that they show is like super zoomed in, to the point where it's unrealistic that you would be as glaring obvious as it is in that screen cap. By no means does the 3000 screen look like "crap". Yes, if you already know ahead of time about the whole "scan lines" thing, you are probably going to be able to see them, but if not you'll likely never notice them or let it bother you. I showed my brother (who is only 15 BTW) the two PSPs side by side playing a game, and he liked his 3000 better because the screen "looked more colorful". He didn't notice anything about scan lines. I would say he represents a good majority of the non-anal gaming population who is just out to enjoy playing games and doesn't get too caught up with dead pixels and such (that was the BIG fiasco with the PSP-1000 series, again... IMO totally blown out of proportion as well).
As far as the loading times and battery life, I think both are negligible if you have an ounce of patience or have been playing CD/DVD based video games at some point in your life. I have yet to play a game that is anywhere near as bad a PlayStation One/Sega Saturn era with loading. And with battery life, I think it's more than adequate. It usually runs about 3-4 hours, or longer depending on the game and your brightness setting, but I usually never play any sort of video games for that extended period of time anymore. Just stick the thing back on the charger when you are done playing and it's never an issue unless you are on an extended ride on an airplane or in a car/bus.
... Honestly I would still choose the 2000 over the 3000. Despite the colors being brighter on the 3000, I don't think it's THAT much better - or worth selling your 2000 for a 3000. That and the whole homebrew thing is a real deal sealer for getting a 2000.
1000 vs 2000 = 2000 is an obvious choice and better upgrade all around, no debate.
2000 vs 3000 = Even. New PSP owners getting the 3000 are going to love the screen. Older PSP owners will probably still prefer the 2000 screen and Homebrew.
1) You obviously haven't played Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony. *grin* It got so bad for me that I had to rip it to a memory stick to make it playable. It's a thoroughly enjoyable, if buggy, game otherwise. Indeed, I quoted it in my example simply because it's the worst loading times that I know in a PSP game.
2) The battery life is greatly reduced if you play multiplayer because the WiFi eats up battery life on any model of PSP. I know this because I'm addicted to Monster Hunter and play a lot of it at home and at work.