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Handheld Gaming is a Lifehack
Last week I was struck with just how much I love portable game systems like the Nintendo DS and the Playstation Portable.
I am now playing them and enjoying them much more than my console games systems such as my Gamecube, PSTwo and Xbox. I see myself buying a majority of games for portable game systems in 2006 compared to the normal console system. On mulit-platform releases I would prefer the PSP version over a PS2 even if it is a bit more expensive and the graphics are not as polished but it is portable and that goes a long way.
The reasons for my current handheld gaming obsession are as follows:
All of one's DS games will fit in a small metal tin.
All one's PSP games will fit in a lunchbox.
The battery life on the Nintendo DS and PSP has gotten much better compared to past game systems and since they have built in rechargeable batteries you don't have to screw with buying AA batteries. The external battery packs on the PSP help.
The Nintendo DS can play GBA games and is it sort of backwards compatible and the PSP can have multi-platform ports of PS2 games.
Both the PSP and DS have online game play and in room wireless gaming via Wifi networking.
The PSP and Nintendo DS are import enabled right out of the box so you can play all sorts of wacky Japanese games without having to screw with a mod chip or boot disk.
They are girlfriend and cat friendly. I can have my DS and or PSP in my bag and can whip it out at my girlfriend's place when she is hell bent on watching some TV show that I have very little interest in. (She watches Alias DVDs in an almost constant loop. I mean it is a good show but come on. Enough Alias.) This also means I can lie under an electric blanket and have her cats sitting on top and still pay GTA Liberty City Stories or Viewtiful Joe DS.
They are commuting friendly so if I go over to Seattle on the ferries that run across the Puget Sound I can kill time on the two hour round trip.
You can use the DS or PSP as a watch and you can sort of use the PSP as PDA, web browser and movie and music player
There are lots of good 2d games on the Nintendo DS and GBA and now lots of good 3d games on the PSP and DS
The Nintendo DS touch screen can be pretty slick and there are different colors of DS, PSP and GBA.
There is going to be linking to home game systems like the PSP to PS2 and PS3 and the DS to the Revolution to transfer data between related games.
Overall I think that portable games fit much better with my lifestyle, sort of a lifehack and I can enjoy them easier if I am not bound to only play them at my place on my TV. I know there is a perception from the Gameboy era that hand held games are you know... for kids but it is easier to fit a DS and PSP into a busy schedule thus making them cool.
Jake at December 15, 2005 
Games
Comments
I know exactly what you mean, I have been playing my DS more then anything lately, but not because its portable.
I have found more games I like on the GBA/DS then my home consoles.
Posted by: Zach at December 15, 2005 8:56 AM
as a father and as someone that works 1.5 hours away from home i totally agree with you...portable gaming is the future. sony was smart to enter the market, and nintendo rules for giving us a fresh take on what a handheld gaming platform can be
peace out yo!
Posted by: hibiscusroto at December 15, 2005 5:58 PM
I'm still waiting for my PSP to offer more quality entertainment. But, right now Wipeout and Lumines work.
I was trying to find that tin over at my local Hot Topic but I failed in my effort. :( I'd rather have a nifty little tin that can hold all of my DS games than that one thing Horii put out.
Right now I'm using my PS2 hard drive/FF XI box to hold all my GBA and GB games in. Which aren't a lot, really, but at least the box found some more usefulness outside of holding the hard drive.
Posted by: Arluss at December 20, 2005 9:27 AM
Alias is the best show ever and if Jacob didn't want the constant loop then ask why he has bought me every season on dvd??????/
Posted by: kymberly oliver at December 25, 2005 11:21 AM
