Tell me a bit about PSP please?

Fittle

Hi All,

My 9yr old wants a PSP from Santa - we had thought of a PS3 for him, but even when he's in friends houses, he's not that interested in it. Anyway, I am completely clueless about it - the only console he's ever had was a DS a few years ago (he wasn't that interested in it that much, either). So briefly, I've a few questions and I'd really appreciate if someone could advise cheers,

1. I notice the ads saying you can get the internet on PSP, how can you do this - do you have to buy credit (similar to your phone) for the system or what?
2. I notice it also says you can watch DVDS...how?
3. What games are 9yr olds playing on PSP these days?
4. What are the best 'bundles' out there (free game, cheaper console etc?)

Any other info you can offer before Santa actually purchases this, would be great, thanks:)

caspa307

http://www.toys.ie/-!115939-prd.aspx

thats a new psp out for christmas just basic plays games and films but no internet to bee honest your better off getting him the ps3 as theres a new psp out in febuary but its a little advanced for a 9 yr old

http://www.gamestop.ie/core/common/default.aspx?quickSearch=PSP%20Vita:%203G

F1ngers

Fittle wrote: »

Hi All,

My 9yr old wants a PSP from Santa - we had thought of a PS3 for him, but even when he's in friends houses, he's not that interested in it. Anyway, I am completely clueless about it - the only console he's ever had was a DS a few years ago (he wasn't that interested in it that much, either). So briefly, I've a few questions and I'd really appreciate if someone could advise cheers,

1. I notice the ads saying you can get the internet on PSP, how can you do this - do you have to buy credit (similar to your phone) for the system or what?

No you just need an access point - wifi hotspot.

Fittle wrote: »

2. I notice it also says you can watch DVDS...how?

It plays UMDs - Smaller discs than DVDs.

Fittle wrote: »

3. What games are 9yr olds playing on PSP these days??

Different strokes for different folks. It would depend on the individual.

Fittle wrote: »

4. What are the best 'bundles' out there (free game, cheaper console etc?)?

Shop around, they should be fairly cheap by now.

Fittle wrote: »

Any other info you can offer before Santa actually purchases this, would be great, thanks:)

I would advise against getting a PSP Go - Games are download only, prices tend to stay higher for longer.

As has already been said, there is a PSP Vita coming out early next year - which is the dogs wotsits as far as handhelds are concerned.
Probably no good to you unless your kid no longer believes in...;)

Oh, and a handheld console is not too advanced for a 9 year old.

hairynipple

PSP for €99 euro on Argos

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/9040535/Trail/searchtext%3EPSP.htm

RedXIV

Fittle wrote: »

Hi All,

My 9yr old wants a PSP from Santa - we had thought of a PS3 for him, but even when he's in friends houses, he's not that interested in it. Anyway, I am completely clueless about it - the only console he's ever had was a DS a few years ago (he wasn't that interested in it that much, either). So briefly, I've a few questions and I'd really appreciate if someone could advise cheers,

1. I notice the ads saying you can get the internet on PSP, how can you do this - do you have to buy credit (similar to your phone) for the system or what?
2. I notice it also says you can watch DVDS...how?
3. What games are 9yr olds playing on PSP these days?
4. What are the best 'bundles' out there (free game, cheaper console etc?)

Any other info you can offer before Santa actually purchases this, would be great, thanks:)

Hiya,

will try and answer your questions as you asked them. This is all under the assumption you are going to try and get the currently available model as opposed to the soon to be released PS VITA.

1. You can only browse the internet through wi-fi which would mean that if you have wi-fi in the house, he can browse the net on it, if you have no wi-fi, he has no internet. Its pretty painful to use the net on the PSP so I wouldn't worry about it, either as an issue or selling point.

2. You cannot watch DVDs, instead you can watch UMD disks, the same shape and format as the physical games. The big names (conveniently published by Sony also) will have been released on this format too but finding them these days is a bit tricky. You may get some in bigger games shops but the ones doing 2nd hand games are better.

3. Very difficult to answer that, as it depends on what he's into. FIFA is always released on the PSP as well or perhaps he'd prefer the more cartoon-y Ratchet and Clank adventure game? There are quite alot of good games on it, and you can download titles from the Playstation Network Store (this WILL require an Internet/wi-fi connection)

4. These are going to be very cheap around christmas with the newer model on the way out, I think you'd be very unlucky to find one over 120 euro.

There are some great games, including some of the original PSOne games you can download from the store, if he's expressed an interest, he may already know which games he likes?

Anything else you need, just ask

Fittle

Thats great guys, thanks for that!

Why is the one in argos so cheap? Any ones I've seen (in smyths) are around the 150 mark?

Hadn't a clue that there was a new psp coming out next year so thanks for that.

The main reason he wants a psp is that they get a playtime on fridays in school, where the teacher allows them all to bring in stuff. Most boys bring in their psps or dsi's - he has some games on an old phone of mine, but they aren't allowed to bring in phones:rolleyes: He has no interest in any of the technical lego stuff (the star wars one for example, where you have to build a specific model) that some of the boys bring in - loves the basic lego but thinks it's too 'childish' to bring to school and is afraid he'll get slagged:rolleyes:

As I said, he's not THAT into technology - he plays on that gamefudge site, or binweevils at home on the laptop some evenings so I'm reluctant to fork out too much money on a PS3 (for example) when I know it will be left sitting there, with him hardly using it.

Would that argos psp be a good buy for him - or is it an 'old' version? (keeping in mind that some boys in school might slag him for having last years psp!!)

RedXIV

Fittle wrote: »

Thats great guys, thanks for that!

Why is the one in argos so cheap? Any ones I've seen (in smyths) are around the 150 mark?

Hadn't a clue that there was a new psp coming out next year so thanks for that.

The main reason he wants a psp is that they get a playtime on fridays in school, where the teacher allows them all to bring in stuff. Most boys bring in their psps or dsi's - he has some games on an old phone of mine, but they aren't allowed to bring in phones:rolleyes: He has no interest in any of the technical lego stuff (the star wars one for example, where you have to build a specific model) that some of the boys bring in - loves the basic lego but thinks it's too 'childish' to bring to school and is afraid he'll get slagged:rolleyes:

As I said, he's not THAT into technology - he plays on that gamefudge site, or binweevils at home on the laptop some evenings so I'm reluctant to fork out too much money on a PS3 (for example) when I know it will be left sitting there, with him hardly using it.

Would that argos psp be a good buy for him - or is it an 'old' version? (keeping in mind that some boys in school might slag him for having last years psp!!)

That one in Argos is the newest PSP to be released but it's also the stripped down version. Its the PSP E1000, and it has removed the wi-fi and stereo sound. Now if you are planning to only buy physical copies of the games, this won't matter too much but any firmware updates etc will have to be done via cable through the PC. The sound won't bother a 9yr too much I reckon though. for an extra €30 you can get the PSP3000 which is the model released before this one but has more features than the newest model.

This may be the cynic in me but I'd also invest in a decent sized memory stick and keep his games on that, I know the kids are only young but its very easy for a game to "fall" into someone elses bag. alot harder if you have the games saved on the memory stick in the console.

Fittle

Thanks alot - I hadn't a clue about that console at all...appreciate this.

Taltos

Fittle - as someone who has a PSP - I think that you might be better off holding back a bit.
The PSP is now old tech - especially with the NGP VITA coming out.
I would expect you can still download games for the PSP onto the memory stick for a while but the catalog of games was never that exciting.

I see he already has a DS - has he tried the DSi? While the 3DS looks great I personally would hold off there too as I think there may be a change coming on that console too soon.

Some other options
1. PS3 - great all rounder. Brilliant Blu Ray player and home media center - however he cannot bring it to school with him.
2. 360 - similar to the PS3 but without the Blu Ray player. You will get huge discussions here about which is better - IMO - they both have their strenghts and are both great. 360 now has a device called a Kinect - puts you in certain games without a controller "you are the controller"
3. Wii - great for younger kids. Good range of games, I just got bored with it.
4. DSi - great selection of games and things that we cannot mention here or would get banned
5. itouch - download games from apple and listen to music.
6. ipad - as with the itouch - but pricey - there are some great games for both devices.
7. Android tablet - huge selection out there - from the Samsung all the way through to the HTC. Similar to the ipad. For 5,6 & 7 - you can watch movies etc if you know how to convert share them.

Hopefully somewhere in there you will find something. If he is not much into gaming - then maybe one of the tablets allowing him to read comics etc might be a better choice.

(Loved the PSP when it came out - some really good games but not a big enough catalog or strong enough FPS with the control layout).

Fittle

Thank you SO much for all that info Taltos - much appreciated!!

Think he has tried the DSi in a friends house and quite liked it - must mention that to him. He does like the laptop and plays some of the games online and watches stuff on youtube etc, but as there's only the two of us in the house, I wouldn't be bothered getting him a laptop for himself... but (thankfully) he much prefers to be outdoors on his bike or playing football (and long may that last).

And here's where I got lost and my brain goes fuzzy...whats your 'android table' ...by that do you mean all the touchscreen stuff (phones or ipads etc??). I have been using computers for work for over 20years but I'm still not 'hip' with the phrases..like HTC etc...

He loves music so I was thinking of an ipod - I was thinking if I got him a decent phone with a good memory for music, that might do the trick, rather than an ipod???

F1ngers

Fittle wrote: »

Thank you SO much for all that info Taltos - much appreciated!!

Think he has tried the DSi in a friends house and quite liked it - must mention that to him. He does like the laptop and plays some of the games online and watches stuff on youtube etc, but as there's only the two of us in the house, I wouldn't be bothered getting him a laptop for himself... but (thankfully) he much prefers to be outdoors on his bike or playing football (and long may that last).

And here's where I got lost and my brain goes fuzzy...whats your 'android table' ...by that do you mean all the touchscreen stuff (phones or ipads etc??). I have been using computers for work for over 20years but I'm still not 'hip' with the phrases..like HTC etc...

He loves music so I was thinking of an ipod - I was thinking if I got him a decent phone with a good memory for music, that might do the trick, rather than an ipod???

Was a typo by Taltos, meant to be "Android Tablet" - similar to but better than an iPad(imo).

Max Keller

Hi Fittle. I wouldn't recommend a PSP for a 9 year old. Personally I'd buy him a PS3. Max.

Fittle

Thanks for that Max - that was my original suggestion for him - but this whole 'bringing it into school' has taken over which is why he thought of the PSP.

Few weeks left for Santa anyway, in which time he might be convinced to change his mind

Boards is so great for stuff like this - when a mammy hasn't a clue (nor an interest) in this type of thing - advice very much appreciated guys, thanks again;)