Just to follow-up on the most recent post with the Pros and Cons of the Sony PSP, here’s an excellent PSP review by CNET. Check out the video…

The PSP, Sony’s first endeavor into the handheld market, branded as the main contender to the Nintendo DS. Launched originally in Japan at the end of 2004 and in North America and the PAL regions in 2005 the PSP set new technological standards for handhelds.

The PSP featured a new format for games, the UMD disc format which was originally designed to handle both game and movies. One of the PSP’s biggest selling points was it’s ability to act as a portable multimedie device, used not just for games but also for movies and music. Sony has released two further editions of the PSP, the Slim (PSP-2000) and the Brite (PSP-3000) and numerous software updates over the years to increase the PSP’s capabilities. The updates to the PSP have made it now viable to be classed as an all in one portable device featuring the likes of Skype, the ability to stream content from your PS3 and a fully functioning web browser. Also the PSP has full analog control and in most respects is technically superior to the Nintendo DS.

Those technical specifications of the PSP are not to be scoffed at, boasting a 6.7 inch screen, in-built wifi, a USB port and the ability to take memory sticks (Memory stick Duo) as well as supporting multiple music and video formats.

The PSP has been beset by problems from it’s launch with the huge popularity of it’s rival the Nintendo DS and the failure of it’s UMD movie’s which have since been discontinued by Sony another publishers. However, as the years have went by, and with the upgrades to the hardware and software alike, the PSP is now selling nearly as well as DS in most places. One of the main reasons for this resurgence has been the increase in the quality of games, especially over the past year or so. As developers get to grips with the technology of the platform and see the increased sales the games have become much more innovative and generally of a higher quality.

Some of the most notable games have been pseudo-sequels to many popular franchises such as God of War, Grand Theft Auto and nearly all of EA’s long running sports outfits. The PSP has also had some of the most innovative hand held games such as Loco Roco and Patapon as well as great puzzle games like Lumines.

In the past year Sony has also introduced the ability to download original PS1 games at a much an affordable price, and due to the technical aspects of the PSP these, in some respects run better than on the original system.

One other interesting thing which has came to the PSP is a vast community. These bedroom coders have created new applications and sometimes even new games for the PSP and this is now seen as one of the unspoken selling points of the handheld. Sony however have forever been trying to stop this movement by continuously patching and reinforcing it’s security protocols via the PSP software update program.

The PSP has came along way from where it was at launch with many of it’s problems sorted out, and with much better support from third party developers who provide the main source of gaming content for the system. With the numerous updates and hardware changes the PSP has certainly shown itself to be a strong platform which will likely continue to be developed for the foreseeable future.

The Nintendo DS, launched in 2005, revised in 2007 to the Nintendo DS Lite has fast become one of the most successful handheld system in history. Following on from Nintendo’s success with the Game Boy Series, the DS ushered in a new era of dominance for Nintendo in the handheld market.

The main feature of the DS is the it’s Dual Screen technology. The top screen acts as normal, showing off the fast paced and unique action of the many different titles on offer, while the bottom touch screen is where the DS makes it’s money.

Packed with the DS is a neat stylus pen, used to control the action of the touch screen. It opens up many different avenues for original game design and still manages to provide the same vibrant colors and slick gameplay as it’s top-bound brother.

Along with the dual screens you get a decent set of speakers built in, normal button controls, a microphone, the ability to play old game boy advanced games and built in wifi capabilities.

One of the biggest titles that took advantage of the DS’s capabilities was unsurprisingly Nintendo’s own Nintendogs. The basic premise of the game is like the good old Tamagochi, except this time the object of your affection is puppy. Using the stylus on the touch screen you can feed, train and play with your dog and also use the microphone to give voice commands. Nintendogs is part of Nintendo’s range of Touch Generations games.

However, if training small dogs isn’t you thing there are many other titles on the DS which will appeal such as Trauma Center and 2 – a game involving touch screen based surgery – Hotel Dusk – a film noir styled detective drama and even a music creation game involving small underwater animals called Electroplankton.

One of the best things with the range of games of the DS is that even with it’s touch screen capabilities many game designers have still produced fantastic games using the standard controls such as Mario Kart DS and Contra.

Even though the DS does have many good points, it does have it’s drawbacks. The relatively low technical specification of the DS does mean that it doesn’t have much graphical oomph to it. Also there have been many unsuccessful add ons such as an underperforming web browser to take advantage of the built in wifi receiver and an MP3 player. Neither of these additions or the many like them have shown that the DS is only really good at one thing – playing games.

It is here that the DS excels with its huge range of titles from every conceivable genre and so many unique and exciting ways to play. No matter what type of game you want to play there should be something on the Nintendo DS to satisfy.

It turns out that Nintendo has seen the problems with the DS and will be bringing out a 3rd generation model named the Dsi. It’s main feature will be two cameras, one on the outside and one on the inside, just like some phones. How the Dsi’s cameras will be used in any games is still to be announced, but it is set for worldwide release in summer 2009.