Retrospective: Three years with the PSP

by Ross Miller { Mar 24th 2008 at 3:45PM }

Today marks the third birthday of Sony's PlayStation Portable. Our sister site PSP Fanboy takes a look back at the 50 biggest moments in the platform's history. From the worst marketing disaster to what sold 77,777 copies on its first day, everything is covered.

Tags: features, psp, psp-2000, psp-fanboy, retrospective

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Lp47PS3 @ Mar 24th 2008 3:50PM

Happy Birthday my most favorite handheld!

Co @ Mar 24th 2008 3:52PM

Whoops! You forgot /sarcasm at the end

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 24th 2008 3:55PM

Your favorite? Really?

Actually its not until recently that I wish I hadnt sold mine. But its not a major regret. I would never re-buy one theres just not much there for 3 years of being on the market. Sad but true. God of War 3 should be amaxing on PS3 so Ill just wait for it then.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 24th 2008 4:01PM

You mean, you only handheld?

If you think that the PSP is great, the DS is amazing. The DS has a huge library of excellent games... is like the PS2. A lot of unique games, a lot of RPG's (is what I play on my DS mostly... huge library of good RPG's)

protos28 @ Mar 24th 2008 4:08PM

Fernando,

Its pretty obvious that you don't own a PSP, so maybe you shoudl take your own advice. I own both, and other than a few times a year when a must-have game comes out for the DS, I play my PSP far more than I do my DS. Also, I like using it for movies and music and other stuff. Pretty sure that the PSP is the king of SRPGs right now too, which is my favorite genre, so yeah, enjoy your DS but please don't go spouting off about the PSP when you don't even own one.

LaughingTarget @ Mar 24th 2008 4:10PM

Only reason I still hate mine is because I actually bought it three years ago. If I got it recently, it would be cheaper, have more memory to handle the newer games that are inevitably going to thumb their nose at my antiquated unit, have a better battery life and smaller.

PSP from three years ago = retarded piece of shit that should have never been produced.

PSP now = solid unit.

I'm not giving Sony more money though, the first PSP is enough and if games start going the Skype route, Sony can kiss all of my handheld gaming dollars goodbye forever.

Mr.ESC @ Mar 24th 2008 4:11PM

Hurray for the PSP!

I have a NDSL and as Fernando say is amazing. ..if Jrpg are your thing.

Personally I still like more the PSP more than the Ds but after playing with the Ds for a while you can’t help notice some dumb designs decisions on the PSP.

Hardware wise DS>PSP and that’s debatable because the PSP can do a lot of stuff.
Software wise PSP>DS The Ds have some genera’s missing for example racing and fighting games unless you have some GBA games.

If you ask me both the PSP and Ds have great games but the PSP have an awful reputation also that it gets as much respect as a Ngage.

FrankTheCrank @ Mar 24th 2008 4:13PM

There are a ton of shit games out for the DS.

CATZ anyone? How about DOGZ?

For every 10, maybe 15 shit games, they might have a decent game. And all the good stuff is first party, just like Nintendo likes it.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 24th 2008 4:13PM

Protos

I do have a PSP... if you like sRPG you can play Heroes of Mana, or Final Fantasy XII on the DS.

If you like traditional RPG's, theres a lot of them, a lot of support from a lot of good developers, specially Square Enix.

protos28 @ Mar 24th 2008 4:21PM

Sorry Fernando, but those two games are pretty meh in terms of SRPGs, especially when you look at the PSP games: FFT, Jeanne D'Arc, Disgaea, Wild Arms XF. Don't really wanna do a list wars, but really, comparing the PSP to the DS is apples to oranges at this point. Both machiens are pretty awesome, and you spouting off about how the DS is worlds better than the PSP is just kinda sad.

Curtis the Claw: Brawl Code 1075-0441-3284 @ Mar 24th 2008 4:21PM

"And all the good stuff is first party, just like Nintendo likes it."

Your a complete idiot if you think that only Nintendo puts out good stuff for the DS, I can understand why people say that only Nintendo puts out good stuff for the Wii, but the DS is a complete different story...

You obviously haven't heard of Phoenix Wright, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, Lunar Knights, Contra 4, Final Fantasy III, and Resident Evil: Deadly Silence.

Those are just a few out of the many great DS games availble that aren't made by Nintendo.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 24th 2008 4:26PM

Protos

Well, you can pick any other RPG from a huge library of games:

You have every Nintendo first party tiles

Mario Kart DS, Mario 64, New super Mario, Yoshis Island, Yoshi Touch and Go, Mario an Dokney March of the Minis, both Kirby games, Metroid Prime, Metroid Pinbal, Big Brain Academy, Brain Age 1 and 2, Tetris DS, Zelda Phantom, Pokemon, Elite Beat Agents, Meteos, Mario and Luigi Partners in Time, Picross, Advance Wars 1 and 2, Animal Crossing, Nintendogs, Wario Ware, Star Fox

And third party games;

Megaman ZX 1 and 2 (2D, ala school... also the Megaman RPG's, but I dont like that games), Viewtiful Joe, both Castlevania games, A LOT of Final Fantasy games, Tales Series, Secret of Mana, sonic rush 1 and 2, soon Sonic Rpg, soon Kingom Hearts, soon Ninja Gaiden, soon Insecticide, soon Assassins Creed, Call of Duty 4, soon N+, Puzzle Quest, Worms, Lunar Knights, Lost, Trauma Center Magic, Heroes of Mana, Dementium, Final Fanasty Spin offs, Dragon Quest, Geometry Wars, Phoenix Wright, Magical Starsign, Rune Factory, Etrian Oddiseyy, Lunar

And a lot more of games every month, specially a lot f excellent quality RPG's...

And cool aplications too... Jam Sessions, Elektroplankton... soon Guitar Hero.

And there are a lot of upcoming games: Disgaea (and four more Nipon Ichi games), Square Enix The World Ends With You, Final Fantasy IV, Shiren the Wanderer, Sonic RPG by Bioware.

Soma Bringer, Rhondo of Swords, Luminous Arc 2, Doraemon, Knihts in the Nightmare, Valkyrye Profile, and Dragon Quest IX.

You have no idea how many good games exist for the DS.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 24th 2008 4:30PM

Protos, the DS will have Disgaea too.

Also Final Fantasy Tactics A2, and Drone Tactics, or Sprectral Forces: Genesis, or Summon Nights if you like Strategy RPG's

protos28 @ Mar 24th 2008 4:33PM

Yes Fernando, i have no idea, because I am stating a personal opinion and you must be right all the time, right? Way to make it a list war, because quantity is much better than quality, regardless of a player's preferences and desires. Quite a few of those games on the list are not even rpgs, and adding them to a list you keep meticulously updated in your head to show others how "DS ROXXORZ" over the PSP through sheer numbers is not cool. But hey, thems your opinions, cowboy.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 24th 2008 4:33PM

And also soon we will have Fire Emblem, Front Mission, Archaic Sealed Heat, heck, even Advance Wars if you like strategy gams.

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Mar 24th 2008 4:34PM

For fucks sake, girls. Do I have to break you up?

jopojelly @ Mar 24th 2008 4:46PM

You guys DO realize that your opinion doesn't matter, right? You're just wasting your life posting your 'arguments' here....

Curtis the Claw: Brawl Code 1075-0441-3284 @ Mar 24th 2008 4:49PM

"Way to make it a list war, because quantity is much better than quality"

Well actually I've played most of the games on his list and they are quality...So what's wrong with a large quantity of quality games?

samfish (Brawl: 2793 0291 2277) @ Mar 24th 2008 4:56PM

"You guys DO realize that your opinion doesn't matter, right?"

Exactly.

MY opinion, on the other hand...

upz @ Mar 24th 2008 5:19PM

Hey Fernando, you know how you always say those PS fanboys do nothing but make lists?

...

ViagraFiend @ Mar 24th 2008 5:21PM

lol!!! I have never laughed at a fanboy so hard. Fernando is such a little bitch! hahahaaa! Look at all his whited out comments!

Oh. And the PSP is badass.

Sora267 @ Mar 24th 2008 5:47PM

"So what's wrong with a large quantity of quality games?"
The problem is that they were arguing over RPGs, not every quality game >_>

Mills and Boom @ Mar 24th 2008 5:56PM

My logic makes me want to agree with Fernando.

The DS is better suited as a handheld with its hardware. It has more games, more genres, higher rated games.

Still love the PSP but it's no DS on so many levels.

RoboChamp @ Mar 24th 2008 6:02PM

LOL at Fernando.

Curtis the Claw: Brawl Code 1075-0441-3284 @ Mar 24th 2008 6:03PM

I agree, my PSP was a portable SNES and PS1...Only now are there games that I want for it such as GoW and FF7.

Nightvortez @ Mar 24th 2008 7:18PM

Interesting fact about the whole "PSP has no good games" thing, it actually has more 80%+ (gamerankings) rated games out than the DS (46 vs 39).

Maverick Saturn @ Mar 24th 2008 7:43PM

Personally, I'd rather play God or way, FFCC and Monster hunter 2 then anything available on DS.

Its all my little cousins that have DS, I'd look the right prat with one in my hands, but thats not the issue, I've just gotten so use to playing my PSP, not just for my variety of games ranging from MSG, football and others such as WIpeout, but also for music, internet, and the new go messenger which like Skype is incredible.

Lp47PS3 @ Mar 24th 2008 11:12PM

I'd like to add to all this bashing going on. This is Sony's first handheld and what Nintendo's 4th ( i don't keep count ). So the PSP is holding up quite well against the DS considering it's Sony's first handheld in the this portable market.

Fernando

You should check out Gamerankings some time. QUALITY is more important than QUANTITY. The PSP has the most quality for it's games but not has much quantity as the DS. But if you look at it most of Nintendo's "Quantity" is made up of (1.1 - 5.1) rated games. Where as the PSP has more games around (7.1 - 9.3)

No flaming intented here just some simple statistics or simple news some of you (fernando) try to ignore.

FrankTheCrank @ Mar 24th 2008 3:55PM

I remember pre-ordering this and being blown away once I got it. Unfortunately, the games were far and few so I got rid of it.

Now I want one again. A PSP lite would be nice right about now. Too bad I have to make that mortgage payment. Stupid house!

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 24th 2008 4:00PM

I hate my mortgage with a passion as well. And whats with these children getting hungry all the time. You would think those Flinstone Vitamnins would be enough...sheesh!

DangerMouse @ Mar 24th 2008 4:56PM

I've given up on the games, tbh. Nothing else on the system interest me. Handheld fighters was the main reason i picked it up, but with such a terrible D-Pad and stiff buttons, it just kills the fun. I pretty much use it as an MP3 player most of the time and the video is such a pain to get working. I'd rather just drag videos over, instead of converting them to a certain format and all that other crap involved. If i could access youtube without hacks, then it'd be so much better. The internet browser is dog shit, and slow as hell. I swear i got an internet browser working in windows on a 75mhz processor with 8MB of ram.

I laughed at the dual screen and touch screen of the DS, but it's turned out to be amazing. It's a shame it's limited to games only.

Curtis the Claw: Brawl Code 1075-0441-3284 @ Mar 24th 2008 5:09PM

I remember being blown away to, I couldn't believe how good the graphics were for a handheld. The problem was there were few good games for the first year or so, I only played SNES games on mine, it was sad. I eventually sold it and now I am thinking about getting a slim sometime soon.

Maverick Saturn @ Mar 24th 2008 8:01PM

I was close to selling mine at the very beggining, but I thought I'd wait it out, something was bound to come along and show us something different.

And something did, heck, many things did.

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 24th 2008 3:56PM

*amaZING =/

Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Mar 24th 2008 3:58PM

Sony put Sega out of the hardware business - never forget.

But, I have to admit, aside from the DS, the PSP is the most exciting games console out at the moment. (Especially when compared to the dross of the 360/PS3). If it wasn't for certain reasons, I'm sure I would have brought one. Maybe.

FrankTheCrank @ Mar 24th 2008 4:01PM

Those of us who loved collecting Sega hardware won't soon forget.

Sega released a crazy amount of hardware in a 10 year span. I loved collecting all of them and still have some to this day. Who can ever forget the Nomad or the CDX? And what about that monstrosity, a Genesis with a Sega CD and a 32X sitting on top. Sick.

I hated Sony for a while, it took me some time before I got a PS...but I eventually assimilated.

Mr.ESC @ Mar 24th 2008 4:14PM

Sega killed themselves.

Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Mar 24th 2008 4:23PM

A Google exact search on "Sega killed themselves" brings up 138 results. That's useful information.

Sega didn't kill themselves, rather, the public where scared of innovation. Well, that's what I tell myself anyway.

Sega are planning a comeback soon, so it's all good. 9/9/09 to mark the anniversary of the Dreamcast, or 10/10/10. Or maybe they'll spring a surprise date on us, like with the Sega Saturn.

But the key thing to remember is that Sega are coming back.

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 24th 2008 4:25PM

Just imagine if the Dreamcast had DVD movie reading capabilities. We would be playing Dreamcast 2, maybe =P

NATO_Duke @ Mar 24th 2008 4:32PM

"But the key thing to remember is that Sega are coming back."

You say that like you know. Do you have a time machine?I thought they were denying this idea.

Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Mar 24th 2008 4:37PM

NATO_Duke,

Sega fans have to keep the hope alive.

DangerMouse @ Mar 24th 2008 5:35PM

"Sega didn't kill themselves, rather, the public where scared of innovation. Well, that's what I tell myself anyway. "

Nintendo seems to have a pretty good handle on it. Innovation has to be handled with care, you can't just throw it out there and expect the public to latch on.

John McPoop @ Mar 24th 2008 4:04PM

I love my PSP... Such an amazing little device...Its such an amazing all in one device much like the PS3.. GPS, Skype, TV Out, UM Movies, Games, Internet and Remote play among others. Much like the PS3 it also has the stigma of being a jack of all trades and master of none but I enjoy my PSP and get lots of PT out of it.. I also appreciate the more mature content of a lot of the games unlike the DS (which is also a great system in its own right). I can only play a game featuring Mario so many times.

And oh yeah it has built in Wi-Fi & a web browser-- Im looking at you Xbox 360!!!

All in all I have to say its the best and most advanced handheld system ever made... I can't wait for Crisis Core and the Wii port of Monster Hunter 3..COnsidering the Wii and PSP are about the same as far as processing and graphics go ;)

FrankTheCrank @ Mar 24th 2008 4:07PM

Oh no he didn't!!

Fernando is fuming and is about to post a reply.

Sean @ Mar 24th 2008 4:07PM

Skype, GPS, etc are better suited to your phone. My phone at least has a touch screen which makes google maps 100x better than on your PSP.

Co @ Mar 24th 2008 4:09PM

*shakes head, palms face*

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 24th 2008 4:10PM

More mature games?

Honestly, the DS has a lot better and mature games thatn the PSP.

You know what... I don't even want to make a list... think whatever you want... but the DS has the best handheld games, more third party and first party support than the PSP.

I can name you 3 good games or every 1 PSP good game.