The Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP
 

So, coming in the next few months durring E3, May I believe, two new units are going to be unveiled from two large companies. So what are the big new items going to consists of.

If you don't know, the PSP is the PlayStation Pocket. The most positive specs are stating it has the processing power of the PS2 with the Polygon capabilities of the Dreamcast. Other specs are placing it closer to the power of the original Playstation in both processing power and graphical ability. More conservative sources are putting it somewhere in the middle. In any event, it is known Sony wants to sell it around 300 dollars and it will feature CD based software.

However on the DS, even less is known about the hardware. Specs have not been released, only rumors from various magazines ranging from 128 bit processing power (the power of the GC) to more conservative estimates from Nintendo itself of 64 bit powers mostly geared towards sprite based graphics. What IS known is that this system is going to be using two seperate CPUs which are going to be powering 2 seperate screens. No game ideas are known for the use of the double screens, but various japanese companies have already expressed intrest in the hardware (including Sega) and many have development kits. Its also been expressed that this new system is not a replacement for Nintendo's poplar GB series, but a 'third pillar' as Iwaru put it. Simply, it will be a third branch of major hardware to go along with the GB and what next major home console Nintendo is going to be coming out with. The Medium is also explained to be a new type of technology, a card type system that is suppose to hold about 180 MB capacity and faster loading times than a CD. With all this, there's also the news that one of these screens is going to feature touch screen capabilities. I can just imagine what that could be used for a game like Zelda or an RPG.

But now that we know some of the basics, I wanted to make a thread about both. I have a thread on another board and its gaining info almost every other day. I'll start posting the info I get here. Also, we could just discuss game ideas we could have for these new systems. I can just imagine a Zelda handheld like Link's Awakening, but we could use mapsand switch items on the second screen. It could be great.

how big is this "DS" going to be??what size are the screens and what size is the whole unit??

A little is known about the DS. It will have 2 screens each 3" in size. They will be in a vertical configuration. The storage medium is supposed to hold 1 Megabit. I've also heard a rumor that one of the screens will be touch sensitive. The processors are an Arm 9 and an Arm 7. What kind of graphics hardware it will incorporate is unknown. Apparently the Japanese devs have had the dev kits for a bit but last I heard no North American devs did. They were just getting around to that when the announcement was made. EA announced that they were considering support for the system.

The PSP is a little better known. It is powered by 2 333MHz R4000 MIPS processors. That's almost 10 times the raw clock rate of the PS1's single processor. The graphics are then achieved by 2 graphics cores. One is to assist in handling the math for the 3D graphics while the other is a 166MHz GPU that does the actual rendering. The PSP uses a minidisk format that has a caddy to protect the discs. Said discs hold about 1.5GBs of data. Last but not least the screen will be 4.5".

Nintendo claims the DS isn't meant to compete with the PSP. However, the DS is being pushed for an end of the year launch which just happens to coincide with the PSP launch date. Nintendo better have more up their sleeve than what's been released if the DS is going to be an effective counter move to Sony's PSP. Because that PSP looks to be Dreamcast level at least in terms of raw power. Only in memory is it lacking, and there is a rumor that Sony has increased the RAM in the thing. Of course, I know that Nintendo is working also on the successor to the GBA. But that's not going to help much if the PSP vastly overwhelms the DS.

After all, if the PSP launches with Dreamcast visuals and the DS can only manage N64 or sub-N64 that's going to hurt.

PS. Yamauchi has stated that the DS was his idea. One that he had about 18 months ago. Somehow it really seems to fit. Certainly it's eccentic enough.

300$ for the PSP? Sony must be damn confident that they can sell those, considering the GBA SP is what, 80$? and already has a huge library of good games.

I do not believe the price for the PSP has been announced yet. Just some rumors kicking around from a few sources. One was a manager from Sony commenting on the UK price. The other was EA, who claimed $199 to $249 for the price. Oh, and I forgot to mention that EA is onboard with the PSP and has committed to releasing a good number of games. A dozen between launch and March 2005, including all the big sports titles of course.

Who knows what will happen. The DS is getting support and its most likely going to be less expensive then the PSP in both hardware and software so that might be at their favor. However, the PSP name, graphical power and certin games might be in its favor. I think it would be in Nintendos best effort to focus on 3rd party and maybe put a Zelda on the system at launch.

Oh, also people might be more intregued by the two screen option and actually buy it over the more 'powerful' system. But then again, they might just want the more powerful system. We'll have to see. At the moment, I'm wanting to try the double screen more than anything, but I still am not counting out the PSP, which looks like it could be very interesting. Let's hope the lag time is cut this time though. -_-

well, remember that Gameboy has beaten more technologicaly advanced competition in the past. When the Neo-Geo pocket and the Game Gear were released, they had collor and whatnot, but the gameboy and its steamed spinach graphics still beat them out.

That was then, this is now. The Gameboy has advanced enough that a leap in technology, ala the PSP might be welcomed. Also, the DS in all respects is a bad move. Sure, Nintendo claims that it isn't their replacement for the Gameboy, saying that both systems can coexist, but the same was said of the NES & Super Nintendo.

Plus, given the fact that this new Nintendo system is something of a knee-jerk reaction to the PSP, added with a flashy gimmick, its seems like a cross between the SegaCD & the Virtual Boy system. Either most games will learn to ignore the 2nd screen feature, or the thing simply won't sell.

Personally, I'd think that Nintendo would be better off developing a successor the Gameboy & not releasing anything for the moment. Nintendo can't afford to be too creative for its own good. That's one of the things that killed of Sega.

Sky Warrior Bob

actualy, what im wondering, if the double screen thing is supposed to be like a multiplayer version of gameboy. im remembering a really old handheld football game that my older brother had when i was a kid. it had one central display, but the two ends had controll buttons on it, so two people could play the same game. thats what i think the DS is supposed to be, it'll probably be able to play GBA games, just without the need for the second gameboy and link cable.

although there is still the air of the Virtual Boy surrounding this.

That is true of course. However, not everything is the same this time around. Back when the Gameboy was introduced it was Nintendo who was dominating the console market. Nintendo has never had to face an opponent who was this powerful. Sony is the one who now dominates the market, which is a lot more than you can say for SNK or Sega. The Playstation name is far more powerful than the Neo-Geo name.

Of course, that's only for consoles not handhelds. But still. Name one other handheld that has had been backed by as large and powerful a company, had the kind of software support that the PSP is already showing (a dozen games from EA including the very well selling sports games), and had a name as powerful as Playstation behind it.

Sony could drop the ball and Nintendo could keep the handheld throne. However, this is no threat to be ignored, and Sony could easily take over the market just like they did with the PS1.