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