Convince me to buy a PSP

[gtmtnbiker]

I think the PSP is a great handheld. For emulation, I've played a lot of GameBoy color with MasterBoy. The only game that it could not handle that I found was Shantae.

PS1 emulation is very good with Sony's emulator. TurboGrafx is also good. GBA is the same.

N64 emulation is not that good.

[Niode]

PS1 emulation is very good with Sony's emulator. TurboGrafx is also good. GBA is the same.

It's not emulation. The PSP shares the same CPU architecture as the PS1 (PSP MIPS32 R4000 - PS1 MIPS32 R3000A). The graphics chip is also very similar having 2MB Vram as opposed to 1MB Vram on the PS1. The pops-loader essentially just hacks the contents of the PBP to be a different game. The PSP just thinks it's playing a normal PS1 download from the PSN store.

[gtmtnbiker]

PS1 emulation is very good with Sony's emulator. TurboGrafx is also good. GBA is the same.

It's not emulation. The PSP shares the same CPU architecture as the PS1 (PSP MIPS32 R4000 - PS1 MIPS32 R3000A). The graphics chip is also very similar having 2MB Vram as opposed to 1MB Vram on the PS1. The pops-loader essentially just hacks the contents of the PBP to be a different game. The PSP just thinks it's playing a normal PS1 download from the PSN store.

Although there are similarities between PS1 and the PSP, I would think there are differences (signficant?) that have to be accounted for. At the very least, a number of API calls would need to be remapped/reworked to proper PSP equivalents.

Here's a quote from

Grace Chen, Senior Manager of the PlayStation Store, explain why this is the case on the comment section of the Playstation.Blog:

There are a variety of reasons that need to be considered when releasing PSOne Classics... code emulation and testing, licensing rights, music clearances, etc.

[Niode]

PS1 emulation is very good with Sony's emulator. TurboGrafx is also good. GBA is the same.

It's not emulation. The PSP shares the same CPU architecture as the PS1 (PSP MIPS32 R4000 - PS1 MIPS32 R3000A). The graphics chip is also very similar having 2MB Vram as opposed to 1MB Vram on the PS1. The pops-loader essentially just hacks the contents of the PBP to be a different game. The PSP just thinks it's playing a normal PS1 download from the PSN store.

Although there are similarities between PS1 and the PSP, I would think there are differences (signficant?) that have to be accounted for. At the very least, a number of API calls would need to be remapped/reworked to proper PSP equivalents.

Here's a quote from

Grace Chen, Senior Manager of the PlayStation Store, explain why this is the case on the comment section of the Playstation.Blog:

There are a variety of reasons that need to be considered when releasing PSOne Classics... code emulation and testing, licensing rights, music clearances, etc.

It's not an emulator though.

[miked]

Well whatever the PS1 "emulator" actually is, its the best reason to own a hacked PSP. Especially if you like RPGs. Not only do they run fantastic but they look great on the small PSP screen. Sometimes when I boot up PS1 games on my PS3 its a little hard to look at the terrible graphics, but I have made it through many ps1 games because of my PSP.

If its PSP games you desire, then there isnt much that I can name off that hasnt been named already. MGS:Peacewalker has recently taken over my life. Its just too addicting.

[Erik_Twice]

I wouldn't buy it, the library of good games is very small so unless you want to play PS1 games while travelling I wouldn't buy it, buy a DS instead.

[gtmtnbiker]

I wouldn't buy it, the library of good games is very small so unless you want to play PS1 games while travelling I wouldn't buy it, buy a DS instead.

My recommendation would be to buy both. I probably spend 80% of my limited time with handhelds because I can take them anywhere.

[Pulsar_t]

Why buy both when you have new handhelds just around the corner?

[Niode]

Why buy both when you have new handhelds just around the corner?

Exactly. The best option is to wait. See what the new ones do and then go for one of them. You never know, the new PSP might still run UMDs (unlikely) so buying last gen tech is a bit of a dumb move right now, especially with the new stuff being announced in a couple of days.

Announcements of new systems always drives down the price of old tech, so you'd be wise to wait even if you still end up buying a PSP. It will mean it's cheaper. Only an idiot buys hardware on the eve of E3.

[Anayo]

Buy a PSP or I'll shoot you.

I lol'd.

He's very persuasive isn't he!