How does everyone like their PSP? (long)

[el-cid]

Hi, newbie here looking for some info. I've been a gamer for a long looong time and I've been thinking about getting a PSP for a while. When I saw the thread about Ultimate G&G that just about pushed me over the edge, but I need some feedback first. I pre-ordered my PS 1 as soon as I could and loved it for a while, until it wouldn't read the new games that came out a year after it did. I did replace it with another PS 1 but I wasn't very impressed with having to do that. I've had hit-or-miss luck with most Sony products over the years and when the Xbox came out I got one and I've been really satisfied with it.

I've read about some problems with screen pixels on the american PSPs and am considering getting a Japanese PSP, but it won't play Region 1 USA movies, so that seems to be a big strike against that. I'd like to pick up a used PSP and take my chances if I can find the right deal, but I'm leery of it all. Please let me know your experiences good and bad. Thanks a lot.

[Glockstar]

I don't know about buying a used one... I know I sure wouldn't. The thing is quite fragile. I haven't had any problems with mine (except for one, which I'll get to in a minute), but I always take good care of my stuff. I got the Logitech polycarbonate case, and with the PSP in that have had no fears of it getting hurt at all. But that's me - I don't trust other people.

Plus, even with mine, there's still electro-mechanical things that could still go wrong with it. It is a Sony product afterall. That's why I wouldn't buy a used one. I've had a million things go wrong with a million Sony products, and thus can think of a million things tha could potentially go wrong with my PSP. Get a new one. And get an extended warranty or product replacment plan.

The only thing wrong with mine is a stuck pixel. It's a singular pixel that's stuck, but it's darn near to to deadcenter. The thing is, I hardlly notice it most of the time - you can only see it when the colors on the screen are white or light. (Mine's stuck on red.) Most of my playtime has been with darker games, that have very busy color palettes and lots of action, so I've never bothered with the inconveniences of sending it in or exchanging it.

So my advice to you is: realize that the PSP is not cheap. You are going to want to get an extended warranty or prp; and you are definitely going to need a bigger memory card! The 32mb one that comes with is darn near worthless anymore. (In order to play the newest games you need to keep up with the latest system software updates - which also take up memory card space.)

[el-cid]

Cool, thanks for the reply. That's the information I'm looking for. I have given it some thought and I agree, getting a used one, even cheap, sounds like asking for trouble. The pixel problem kind of worries me though. It seems to be an acknowledged problem but doesn't sound like Sony's completely addressed it yet. I like the fact that the Japanese PSPs have a screen made my Sharp (I think) but why not change all the screens? I may hold out a bit longer and see what changes are coming.

[Gadfly2317]

I was always worried about the analog nub, especially having seen them broken off of demo models at the Sony store, but mine is fine, and it was a launch day purchase.

That said, I haven't played mine too extensively because I'm a DS addict. However, I sunk a hell of a lot of time into Virtual Tennis and Hot Shots golf, and there is no sign of wear in the analog mechanism or buttons. . . all are still as responsive as the day I bought it.

[Glockstar]

Cool, thanks for the reply. That's the information I'm looking for. I have given it some thought and I agree, getting a used one, even cheap, sounds like asking for trouble. The pixel problem kind of worries me though. It seems to be an acknowledged problem but doesn't sound like Sony's completely addressed it yet. I like the fact that the Japanese PSPs have a screen made my Sharp (I think) but why not change all the screens? I may hold out a bit longer and see what changes are coming.

That's a good idea. No, that's a great idea. If you can, you wait until E3 at least.

[Glockstar]

And it looks like you won't have to wait for E3 either, el-cid.

Sony's going to be offering a barebones value pack later this month. The new cost will $199. With this new pack you just get the system, battery pack, and AC adapter. (Dropped are the soft carry-case; headphones; wrist-strap; and memory card.)

[Gadfly2317]

And it looks like you won't have to wait for E3 either, el-cid.

Sony's going to be offering a barebones value pack later this month. The new cost will $199. With this new pack you just get the system, battery pack, and AC adapter. (Dropped are the soft carry-case; headphones; wrist-strap; and memory card.)

No memory card??? This is actually a price increase then, right? Wasn't it selling for $249 with all the stuff?

[Renzatic Gear]

It's a ripoff equivalent to the Xbox360 value pack. As soon as you buy it you're gonna have to turn around and buy a memory stick anyway...so what's the point?

[Glockstar]

:confused:

The 360 Core Pack is a ripoff. But I don't think this new barebones PSP pack is. I certainly wouldn't compare the two.

Yeah, if you add up all of the stuff that you got in the old PSP Value Pack (the case, the headphones, the wrist-strap, and the memory card) it would total out to more than $50. But how many of those things do you really need or want, and how many are you just going to replace immediately on your own anyway?

The headphones are the only thing I see that you'd use, and that don't need replacing. Then again, how often do you really use them? I've used them, maybe, twice.

The wrist-strap...?

I used the case for a little while - it definitely served it's purpose - protecting the screen and keeping the dust off. But I felt a whole lot better about moving and storing my PSP once I got the Logitech shell case. I'd recommend that immediately to everybody; skip the velo case.

And the 32mb memory stick is just about worthless! I tell you right now, there's nothing worse than buying a new game, coming home, unwrapping it, sticking it in your PSP, joyfully turning it on to play... then finding out you can't play it because you need to download the latest system update but you don't have enough room on your memory card! You can get a 512mb memory stick for around $45 now, which will serve you well for all your PSP needs for a good long while.

So you can spend $250 on the system and on some decent acessories... or you can spend $265 on the system and on the accessories you really want - and need.