Sony PSP News and Tips

Should you wait for the PSP Go?

Handheld gaming systems have evolved tremendously throughout the years. Still remember the glory days of the grayscale screen of the original Gameboy and the limited palettes of the Game Gear? Nowadays, handhelds rival their more powerful console counterparts in terms of graphics, of processing power and of the complexity of the games they play. The Nintendo DS and the Sony Playstation Portable have led the way in the technological and cultural revolution initiated by these gaming handhelds.

But the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP have also evolved.

Enter the new Nintendo DSi, the third iteration of the company's flagship portable gaming system. The Nintendo DSi, released in April of 2009, boasts of fantastic features the merits a new release (or re-release as some quarters say). These features include dual cam, a sleeker and more lightweight design, better audio playback, improved WiFi connectivity, an additional level of brightness, a dedicated DSi digital store, and so much more. Some of the games in development are specifically being made for the Nintendo DSi.

Nintendo deemed the release of the DSi as a necessity given the edge that its competitor, the Sony PSP, enjoys over the previous iterations of the unit. The Sony PSP is simply more powerful with two 333MHz processors, and has better multimedia functions. The games for the Sony PSP are more comprehensive given these advantages.

The Nintendo DSi is intended to compete directly with the Sony PSP.

But Sony has smartened up.

Instead of following the 10 year lifespan they have promised for the Sony PSP, they are now on the verge of releasing an upgraded version of their handheld system. Codenamed the PSP Go!, the new Playstation Portable is taking some chances on a few unique innovations which include "digital distribution only" policy in selling games. The PSP Go! will no longer have the UMD slot. Instead, software can be purchased on the internet or on Sony PSP Go! kiosks that will be strategically positioned in well populated areas. Additionally, the entire design of the PSP will be changed. The PSP Go! will feature a slide-in casing and an additional analog stick. It will also have 16GB of internal memory. Also, the PSP Go! has been engineered to accommodate a seemingly endless variety of Go! branded add-ons that will increase the functionality of the handheld.

Exciting times, indeed!

The question in many gamers' minds is this: should one buy the Nintendo DS today, or wait until the latter part of 2009 or the early part of 2010 for the Sony PSP Go!?

Let's put things into perspective.

The Nintendo DSi and the Sony PSP Go! will still play the same games that their current iterations are supporting. In terms of game experience, nothing will change.

So, Nintendo DSi or the Sony PSP GO!?

To answer that question, you have to ask yourself which systems' games will you get to enjoy better?