Going to get a PSP - Got it some new thoughts and questions (1/21/08)

[land sea air]

This is good enough to make me contemplate the PS2 version.

there isn't one

 

[FoolKiller]

there isn't one

How sad, you missed the announcement.

Twisted Metal: Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition Coming to PS2

Twisted Metal: Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition will hit hard the Playstation 2 systems in Spring 2008. It will have the same crazy gameplay as it has on the PSP console, allowing 2 player split screen carnages. The game is developed by Eat Sleep Play and published by SCEA (Sony Computer Entertainment America).

Except from the extra-long title, Extra Twisted Edition will bring things never seen before in other Twisted Metal games. For example, good-looking graphics, four new "Lost" levels that were built for the never released Twisted Metal: Black and a completely new level. Along with that, players will now be able to get Sweet Tooth out of this ice cream truck and explore an all new level filled with factoids from the developers themselves. Sweet Tooth exploring on foot. Imagine that!

The modes are: Story, where the player grabs a car and progresses through a series of arenas; Challenge, where players choose one car, the arena and go to battle; Endurance, where drivers take on an endless onslaught of AI-controlled opponents until the end. Also, there are some unlockable vehicles, such as Mr. Slam, Crimson Fury, Hammerhead, Cousin Eddy, ATV, Dark Tooth or Tower Tooth. The same cities, with fully enhanced graphics are available: Paris, Egypt, Tokyo and Los Angeles, plus a bonus level, exclusive for this version.

Of course, "Twisted Metal: Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition" comes to your Playstation 2 with some bonus content, like the "Sweet Tour" we already talked about (where you explore a new level with Sweet Tooth), "Twisted Metal: The Dark Past" - where players will be able to view a video documentary about this game franchise and find out everything they want to know about it and "Twisted Metal: The Lost Ending Movies"- where you will witness never before seen ending movies of the original Twisted Metal. All these will be available in Spring 2008!

 

[land sea air]

How sad, you missed the announcement.

Twisted Metal: Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition Coming to PS2

hell yes, now the question is, will it have online mode, and will that online mode be supported on BC PS3s

 

[FoolKiller]

hell yes, now the question is, will it have online mode, and will that online mode be supported on BC PS3s

I thought most online PS2 games were with a PS2 software app from the PSN? I never had any so I don't know. I do know they won't work with bluetooth headsets.

Oh well, I still have my USB headset that was never opened because I never had any games I wanted that went online.


Although, honestly Twisted Metal has always been good about making each character's ending diffeernt so that there was plenty of single player replayability. And Head On had enough unlockable stuff to make it even more so.


Oh, and I found Worms Open Warfare 2 yesterday.

I still hate Gamestop but Gamefly's stock is so small right now. I complained and just got a form letter response. I am tempted to reply back letting them know that Gamestop thanks them for my business.

 

[Thiele]

Also if you get a psp, keep in mind that the battery only lasts about 5 hours. And make sure not to drop it, i have some major problems with mine after it was dropped.

 

[land sea air]

Also if you get a psp, keep in mind that the battery only lasts about 5 hours. And make sure not to drop it, i have some major problems with mine after it was dropped.

well me and FK both have slim psps with extended life batteries so 6 to 8 hours is perfectly normal (especially when you are playing music through the headphone jack)

dropping just about any modern electronic device will generally cause problems of some sort or another, however I found my original PSP to be very resilient. even when it slid off my desk at work onto a concrete floor hard enough to crack the screen in the bottom corner but not single dead pixel and the game I was playing didn't even hiccup. I wouldn't expect the slim PSP to be quite as durable though considering it has lost the metal chassis of the original.

 

[WallRunner]

hell yes, now the question is, will it have online mode, and will that online mode be supported on BC PS3s

Yes, but you have to set it up with the PS2 Online setup disk or some games have their own built in setup features.

From,
Chris.

 

[FoolKiller]

Also if you get a psp, keep in mind that the battery only lasts about 5 hours. And make sure not to drop it, i have some major problems with mine after it was dropped.

Well, I got the hard case that has the screen protector clamp that holds it in place so you can play it in the case without it falling out. It also holds two UMDs and two memory cards.

And the 2200mah nattery will get much more life out of it.

Yes, but you have to set it up with the PS2 Online setup disk or some games have their own built in setup features.

Is that the same disk that comes with the PS2 modem?

 

[Thiele]

Okay, here inparticular is the problems i got after i dropped it:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=zY4x9LYYHn0
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=sUB6tOnDUX4

Also, i was listening to music the other night and left it on all night, and i still had over 70% battery the next morning, but i had the screen turned off.

 

[WallRunner]

Is that the same disk that comes with the PS2 modem?

Yes, or you can just use certain games built in connection maker (SOCOM 3's works)

From,
Chris.

 

[land sea air]

Just so everyone knows, the most recent update to the PSP adds skype andit is very cool, now I just need that damn camera so I have a microphone.

 

[[empty space]]

interesting thread.

ive been looking into a psp im starting to want one though im not sure i could afford one atm. but, with the God of War bundle + tax refund check, well. im tempted.

plus, i want something that i can take around and surf the wonderfull WWW with. im not expecting it to do niffty things like tabbed browsing, but, can it work with msn web messanger?

if i do get it, FF: crisis core and GoW will be my must owns, but, im not sure from there. GRAW2 and R6:vegas sounded good until i read reviews for them. i read else where that SFAIII and dark stalkers were also games to look into.

are there any good RPG's? i know there will be a new kingdom hearts game coming out ... sometime ... im not really interested in MP tbh. i like to play with, erm, by myself

 

[FoolKiller]

ive been looking into a psp im starting to want one though im not sure i could afford one atm. but, with the God of War bundle + tax refund check, well. im tempted.

If you have a need or want for portable gaming where you will make use of it then it is worth it. Right now I am using it to show off my Hawaii pictures to friends and family.

plus, i want something that i can take around and surf the wonderfull WWW with. im not expecting it to do niffty things like tabbed browsing, but, can it work with msn web messanger?

I haven't tried Web Messenger of any kind, but you do actually get three tabs in the browser.

if i do get it, FF: crisis core and GoW will be my must owns, but, im not sure from there. GRAW2 and R6:vegas sounded good until i read reviews for them. i read else where that SFAIII and dark stalkers were also games to look into.

If you do get it there are lots of demos on the Playstation Store. You just need a USB to USB-B cable.

Games I have now are Twisted Metal: Head On, Worms: Open Warfare 2, and Star Wars Battlefront 2: Renegade Squadron. They all three hinge on if you like that genre, but if you do like the genre then these are excellent games.

I also got Beats before I went on my Hawaii trip and that is a most excellent game, which is damned near impossible on anything above normal difficulty.

I also had a ton of PS1 games on it and managed to get 10 movies recorded from HBO on my 4gb memory card.

are there any good RPG's?

I'm not a big RPG fan but I know there are a number of Final Fantasy titles out for it.

im not really interested in MP tbh. i like to play with, erm, by myself

I have yet to do multiplayer on mine. Without voice and all that in-game it seems slightly pointless. Maybe with the new Skype microphone headset that will happen.



Also, I have currently been playing the Patapon demo. I have no clue what is going on, but it is kind of addictive.

 

[[empty space]]

interesting. surfings easy though a bit slower than pc/laptop obviously. need to transfer music and pictures over today/tomorrow. typings going to be interesting to relearn as well.

 

[FoolKiller]

interesting. surfings easy though a bit slower than pc/laptop obviously. need to transfer music and pictures over today/tomorrow. typings going to be interesting to relearn as well.

So, I take it you bought one? Or just borrowed on? Did you get a bundle or just the unit by itself?


If you have ever done anything like texting or web surfing on a cell phone the typing makes sense, but there is absolutely no reason, that I can see, why they can't give us a QWERTY keyboard like the PS3 has.

Transferring music and pics over is quickest for me if I just copy them to the memory card via a reader (mine's internal), but the USB cable option works well too. If you have a PS3 then you can really make your PSP shine, especially since the Blu-Ray 2.0 format will allow the PS3 to copy BD movies over to the PSP. In other words, the PSP is the only official portable Blu-Ray player.


Also, I know you said you were interested in RPGs. What about strategy/RPG/resource management/rhythm games? Yes, that is all in one game.

I finished the Patapon demo over the weekend and I am addicted. It combines strategy in battle with rhythm gaming and you can upgrade soldiers with your spoils of war. There is also resource management that you can get from both spoils of war, hunting, and a mini-game. And the resources vary greatly. The resources are then used for creating new units, and based on what type of resource you use will determine what attributes your unit specializes in.

For instance, a spear thrower needs a piece of meat and a piece of wood to be created. Now, in the demo alone there are three types of wood and two types of meat. The cheapest combination, tough meat and tree branch, yields a regular unit with 100 hp and low damage skills. Adding different kinds of spears and helmets can increase this. But if you make one using say cherry wood and tender meat you can create a 100 hp, high damage rating unit. Or if you use the ultra rare Hinoki wood (which the God Patapon's house is made from - you are the Mighty Patapon, btw) and tender meat you get a 200 hp medium damage unit.

And that is just one type of soldier in the demo.

And as there are three soldier types this means all kinds of combinations of resources yield all kinds of different results. Since I was playing the demo I am pretty sure there are many more units and resource combinations in the full game.


If this sounds interesting get the free demo from the store and try it out. I will warn you it does not save until you beat the demo, but the bonus is that if you beat the demo before playing the full game you get a weapon only available from the demo to use in the full game.

The graphics are very cartoonish and almost feel Monty Python inspired, but that is made up for by the quantity put in the game. Reviews state it at 15-18 hours, which is not bad for an addictive $19.99 game.

I haven't bought it yet but it is on my list. As it is quirky I am betting it will be available used fairly soon because some people won't get it or the fact that it has so many elements to take into account.

 

[[empty space]]

i got the core/base/170$ version with a 1gb memory card.

the typing is fine since im used to txt'ing somewhat, but, i agree. a full QWERTY keyboard would be sweet.

i tryied connecting my psp to my laptop and it didnt show so i guess ill have to try my gaming rig and see how that goes. :| i can get pictures over via email, but, ive troubles with larger files.

 

[FoolKiller]

i got the core/base/170$ version with a 1gb memory card.

That 1gb card will serve you well, but once you get into PS1 games and the like you may need more space.

Just so you know, I got a 4gb for $45 on Amazon.

I saw a new bundle for Japan where it came in a bronze color with a docking port for connecting to your TV to watch movies on with an included remote. The funny thing was, it came with a 32mb memory card. Why bother? A little music, just a handful of photos? Definitley no games, not even a demo. It seems utterly pointless to me. Nothing less than a 1gb card is useful for the PSP.

the typing is fine since im used to txt'ing somewhat, but, i agree. a full QWERTY keyboard would be sweet.

It is a bit of a hassle when trying to enter in a Web site or something like that. I think an attachment like the Mad Catz thumb pad for the PS3 controller would be an idea.

Honestly I want us to get the PSP GPS system first, then I'll worry about everything else.

i tryied connecting my psp to my laptop and it didnt show so i guess ill have to try my gaming rig and see how that goes. :| i can get pictures over via email, but, ive troubles with larger files.

Odd. By USB correct? And you mean the laptop didn't see the PSP?

Windows or Mac? In Windows it shows up as a drive in My Computer. I don't believe it has full Mac support yet.

Did you have the memory card in? It works like an external reader so it doesn't read it without the memory card in the slot.

Also, did you have the memory card formatted for the PSP? The PSP won't read it, thus nor will the PC, if you don't format it first.

Also, when you connect via USB you have to go under settings and turn on USB Mode under USB Connection.

And the obvious question, but just in case, was the PSP power on?

 

[[empty space]]

ah!

Also, when you connect via USB you have to go under settings and turn on USB Mode under USB Connection.

doh!

is it possible to get ps1 games without custom firmware? 1 more 80 hour run through of FFVII never hurt anyone and i never finished FFIX because of disk issues, but, its not worth it imo if i cant play the new games that are coming out soon which were major influneces in getting a psp in the first place.

 

[FoolKiller]

doh!

So, I assume that did the job then?

is it possible to get ps1 games without custom firmware? 1 more 80 hour run through of FFVII never hurt anyone and i never finished FFIX because of disk issues, but, its not worth it imo if i cant play the new games that are coming out soon which were major influneces in getting a psp in the first place.

This all depends. There are PS1 games available on the Playstation Store (http://store.playstation.com), and these have the bonus of being playable on the PS3 as well. You can buy them through a PC or through the PS3 and they transfer back and forth via USB. The pickings are slim, however, and they are direct copies of the CD code, so the controls don't always translate intuitively. Fortunately the PSP has four different control schemes (like making the analog nub your D-pad, and your left and right D-pad buttons L2 and R2) to allow you to work it out how you like.

As for custom firmware, I haven't done it myself but I do know that the modders are running less than a week behind official firmware updates (according to Joystiq), so if you did do it then you would probably still be fine.


That said, FFVII and FFIX are not one of the official ports. Also, would either of those fit on a 1gb card?

Here are the official Final Fantasy games for the PSP (according to Gamefly):


Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII - this is a prequel
Release: 3/27/08

Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions
Release: 10/10/07

Final Fantasy
Release: 6/27/07

Final Fantasy II
Release: 7/24/07

Here is the list of PS1 titles available on the US Playstation Store. The ones I have purchased are in blue.

They are $4.99 each, except Castlevania, which is $9.99. Still the cheapest price I have seen for it. Compared to the Virtual Console on the Wii these are a great deal.

Crash Bandicoot: WARPED
Jet Moto 2
Crash Bandicoot 2
Warhawk (original, not the PS3 title)
Wild Arms
Spyro the Dragon
Twisted Metal 2
Castlevania: SotN
Hot Shots Golf 2
CoolBoarders
WipeOut
Destruction Derby
2Xtreme
Jet Moto
Rally Cross
Jumping Flash!
Medievil
Crash Bandicoot
Syphon Filter
Tekken 2

I want Tekken 3, and I am contemplating Syphon Filter.






Side note: I bought Patapon last night. I just couldn't resist.

Pata pata pata pon! Pon pon pata pon!

 

[[empty space]]

i dont know if ff7 would fit on 1gb, but ive not really looked into that.

is that store where you got the pata demo? is there a god of war demo?

this post brought to you by my psp

 

[FoolKiller]

i dont know if ff7 would fit on 1gb, but ive not really looked into that.

I don't know if the custom firmware copies are just direct disc copies or not, but if so my math says no. Wasn't FFVII three CDs? That means that at least two were full. 700mb*2= 1.4gb. And I rounded down. I also don't know how much data is on the third CD, so I didn't even calculate that.

is that store where you got the pata demo? is there a god of war demo?

Well, I got mine from the PS3 version of the store, but a quick check tells me that yes the Patapon demo is on the PC version of the store as well. Oddly, the God of War demo isn't. However if you have or, know someone who has, a PS3 the God of War demo is available through there, or was at least. That could have been a timed release or something. I know it occasionally had some slowdown so it may have been pulled due to bugs. Wouldn't be the first demo to have that happen. Yet, somehow EA keeps all their demos up despite freezing systems up left and right.

Anyway, Patapon definitely. God of War, maybe.

If you can't find a God of War demo let me sum it up for you. It is just as much fun as the PS2 games, and the demo can be beaten in a matter of 5 minutes. And that was the first time through when I was relearning the controls. Now that I know what I am doing I bet I could beat it even quicker. It is basically a matter of killing about 30-50 grunts, a basilisk, and a boss. And I think it might end before you actually kill the basilisk, but you do fight him off.





[God of War critique]
My biggest complaint about God of War, and this goes across all versions, not just Chains of Olympus, is Quicktime events (you know, where you push buttons in a timely manner as directed on screen?). I feel as if the old-school tradition of finding a boss' weakness and exploiting it has been abandoned in favor of a rhythm game. Granted I complained about this in Super Mario Galaxy, but that is because I had to fight Bowser three times, in the exact same way every time. Finally beating him in the end had more to do with the environment than anything I did. I just happened to be in an area where he falls to his doom after the fight.

The problem with Quicktime events is that while the action performed on screen and the bosses are different my actions are the same every single time. I might as well be fighting the same boss over and over again. The only difference between GOW style quicktime events and SMG style repeated fights us that GOW shows better story telling, even if the gameplay was cheap. It's like picking between the lesser of two evils when someone truly innovative could have done it like they did back in the PS1 days, new boss and new weakness, thus new actions by me.

Am I starting to sound too much like Yahtzee (Zero Punctuation)?


Anyway, Chains of Olympus does look fun, but as with both past God of War games, it will get repetitive and only the interesting story will keep me going to the finish. I call this a rental.[/God of War critique]


And here's new idea for the Playstation Store. Downloadable timed rentals. My hard drive/memory cards won't be filled up with all those small games I like but won't replay, or I can actually test out a game. I mean, if they don't give me a ton of demos, or even mostly decent ones, the least they could do for those PSN only games is let me try them out in some way.

OK, back to the PSP discussion.

 

[[empty space]]

thats weird, ps3 only? i dont have access to one. im interested in GoW since ive been told its sonys answer to ninja gaiden ... which i loved!

ive not played the ps2 verisons though.

about ps1 games, yeah, i should have guessed it be at least that mush. but my crapy connection couldnt handle that large of a file.

 

[land sea air]

FK have you noticed that Jet Moto 3 is no longer up? or am I hallucinating and it was never actually there to begin with?

 

[FoolKiller]

thats weird, ps3 only? i dont have access to one. im interested in GoW since ive been told its sonys answer to ninja gaiden ... which i loved!

OK, I need to correct that. I hadn't actually signed-in to the Playstation Store on PC. I did that today and God of War is there. So, you won't be able to see it until you actually create an account.

ive not played the ps2 verisons though.

If you liked Ninja Gaiden then maybe you should. It is a good bit of hack and slash. For me they are a good rental because I like the story, but once I have finished that I don't desire to pick it up again. They are fun and the story is good but the replay value is kind of low unless you are one of those people that like to unlock the "supreme kick your ass and make you cry for your mommy" mode and then try to play through it without losing a life.

about ps1 games, yeah, i should have guessed it be at least that mush. but my crapy connection couldnt handle that large of a file.

Yeah, I just checked with a friend that custom firmware'd his PSP so that he could play Metal Gear Solid and it is a direct disc image.

However, he said that you could do Final Fantasy VII on a 1gb because it would have to be in three separate files, so when you switch discs in the game you would basically pull out the memory card and swap files.

As for a crappy connection, many people are using their own copies of the game which is why the legality issue hasn't come up much because it is just a "backup copy" and PS1 titles didn't seem to have much security encryption as many you could put in a CD player and listen to the soundtrack and sound files.

And before you ask, I do not know how to create your own disc image.

FK have you noticed that Jet Moto 3 is no longer up? or am I hallucinating and it was never actually there to begin with?

It went up last week. I thought I saw it on the PS3 last night, but it is not on the PC store now.



I have been playing through Crash Bandicoot lately and I forgot how much fun that was.


Also, if anyone wants it:
There is a free PSP demo online for Echochrome.
http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/03/06/echochrome-downloadable-demo/

Apparently you download the zip file and then extract it on to your memory card.

 

[[empty space]]

OK, I need to correct that. I hadn't actually signed-in to the Playstation Store on PC. I did that today and God of War is there. So, you won't be able to see it until you actually create an account.

then the store is my next location then 👍

Yeah, I just checked with a friend that custom firmware'd his PSP so that he could play Metal Gear Solid and it is a direct disc image.

However, he said that you could do Final Fantasy VII on a 1gb because it would have to be in three separate files, so when you switch discs in the game you would basically pull out the memory card and swap files.

As for a crappy connection, many people are using their own copies of the game which is why the legality issue hasn't come up much because it is just a "backup copy" and PS1 titles didn't seem to have much security encryption as many you could put in a CD player and listen to the soundtrack and sound files.

And before you ask, I do not know how to create your own disc image.

hmm ... interesting. ive an idea how, but, then theres another problem. i cant copy my disks due to the condiction of the games oh well. no big loss really.

[edit - are there really only 7 psp demos?]

 

[[empty space]]

im getting really annouyed at the PS store. between needing to relog in between every download attempt and the game downloader crashing/erroring. its almost not worth the hassle ...

[edit - made it to at least 100mbs of 163 before it got crashed/errored. (0x8004810b) i wish it had a resume function. guess ill just try for the patapon demo instead since its only 40mbs and just wait for GoW to be released.]

 

[suzq044]

.. can't you just dL it to your PC then transfer it to the system/card?

 

[FoolKiller]

[edit - are there really only 7 psp demos?]

Yeah, the PSP stuff on the store is fairly new. I can understand why the PSP was a bit of a laughing stock up to now.

im getting really annouyed at the PS store. between needing to relog in between every download attempt and the game downloader crashing/erroring. its almost not worth the hassle ...

[edit - made it to at least 100mbs of 163 before it got crashed/errored. (0x8004810b) i wish it had a resume function. guess ill just try for the patapon demo instead since its only 40mbs and just wait for GoW to be released.]

You mentioned you have a crappy connection so it could just be that.
There are GoW demo discs floating around.

.. can't you just dL it to your PC then transfer it to the system/card?

No. It requires you to download their downloader which only downloads to the PSP. I am assuming it's because you can buy full games and it authenticates your copy to your PSP so you can't just copy them over, as I switched the Patapon demo between memory cards and that was too easy without some kind of system authentication.

I imagine if they didn't sell full games it would be much easier to just allow downloads to go to your hard drive. I mean you even have to register a PSP with your PS3 before it will copy software over.

But they have mentioned eventually giving us a PSP store accessed from the XMB.


I think they need to put a Beats demo out because I honestly believe more people would buy it if they tried it.

 

[[empty space]]

after playing the pata demo and enjoying it, i picked up the full game. 👍 x 2 so far, just, how do i unregister a soilder? its not like you can just go out, face a monster, let him kill one and then quit because it resets as if you hadnt done the mission.

 

[FoolKiller]

after playing the pata demo and enjoying it, i picked up the full game. 👍 x 2 so far, just, how do i unregister a soilder? its not like you can just go out, face a monster, let him kill one and then quit because it resets as if you hadnt done the mission.

Unregister? As in get rid of one specific soldier, not the whole group?

Do you want to ever be able to bring him back?

What I do is I go into the mission select screen (the obelisk), select any mission (go with the Pata Plain just in case), and get to the point where you have to select your groups and equip them or whatnot. Select the group that you want to remove a soldier from and highlight the soldier you want to remove. At the bottom of the screen one of the options is to retire (or something similar) a soldier. It is irreversible, because he dies. So, make sure you unequip any special weapons or shields or whatever first. When you do this he kind of melts into the ground.

Now, I am assuming you want to do this because you have more valuable/rare resources and want to make stronger special units. So, of course going into battle at this point would be bad because you are one man short. Cancel out. It will ask you if you want to go back to Patopolis, and you just say yes. So, you don't go on a mission and the unit is permanently dead. Now you can make your new unit.


Also, I am assuming you know this by now, but if a unit dies in battle grab his cap that he drops and you can bring him back at Mater, the Tree of Life. In fact, it seems to do this automatically. So, if a man dies in battle make sure you get the cap. That way you don't lose resources making a new one or any special weapons he was carrying. Apparently the life force stored in his cap hangs on to those too.


Also, the official Playstation blog, http://blog,.us.playstation.com, seems to be doing weekly updates on Patapon tips, like how to get through the desert and the most recent one discussed how to get divine weapons and linked to a You Tube video of a guy making all the ultimate "rare-apons," which are units made using only the most rare items.

Here is a chart they provided of all the Yaripon and rare-apon units.

All of this stuff about different types of units gets to be important as you must sometimes switch out certain strengths and weaknesses based on the level. This is why the one major weakness I find in the game is that you cannot have separate platoons of one unit type. This would be ideal so that you can have an all attack platoon just for hunting, a strong defensive platoon for attacking strong bosses, and a well balanced platoon for you regular fights against troops.

One aspect I love is when you are fighting Zigotons is that their comments make it obvious that they see you as the aggressor and don't believe they were conquerors over you, rather containing your violent race with a zealot desire to reach Earthend and kill everyone on the way. The next time you are in battle watch what they say and start to think about whether you are the good or bad guy. You may find a sudden moral conflict in yourself.

So which are we? Perhaps we will only know when we reach Earthend and see IT.