Recommended accessories for PSP (Slim)?

[Ivo]

Hi everyone,

So I finally have a PSP to keep my DS Lite company. I'm wondering what sort of useful or cool accessories are there on the market.

It still has the "screen protector" it came with new, but I probably should get "proper" anti-scratch protectors to apply onto it.

I already have a pouch to carry it on, an USB data and power cable (USB on one side, mini-USB and DC jack on the other) and one of those Micro-SD to Sony's format adapter with a 4GB micro SD inside (so my card does not have MagicGate - I wonder if that is a big issue - if so I might want to get a genuine Sony card).

I already know about the car charger (not useful for me) and the TV cables (interesting, but considering my crappy TV not so useful either).

What else do you guys think I should look into?

[Anapan]

Replacement Analog nubs and a good set of earbuds?
If your TV doesn't support HD input, you may still be able to play games using it and the SD/composite cable by using the FuSa SD Plugin. Even without the plugin you can watch videos and other stuff in the OS/XMB with the composite cable.

oh, and don't forget the wrap around stand

[17DaysOlderThanNES]

for the love of god rip that factory packaging off your screen. That shit INFURIATES me. Who cares if you might scratch your screen when the alternative is a bubbled-out muddy-looking screen protector? My PSP screen (or front of the case, rather, the screen is behind it) is scratched to shit from the previous owner and you can't even tell when you're playing. Not to go off on you, but that is a huge personal pet peeve, especially with iPhone owners when they use eyeglass quality scratch resistant glass (you can only crack an iPhone screen, scratching it is nigh impossible with normal use).

As for cables, do you have a 2000 or 3000? 2000s can play XMB, audio, video, and PSX games with the composite cables. 3000s can play anything with composite cables. Otherwise, you'll need component cables and an HDTV (not analog compatible for PSP games) to play PSP games and/or emulator/homebrew. FuSA sucks, it's not even worth considering at this point.

If you have a 2000, get that bitch custom firmwared, NOW!

http://dl.qj.net/psp/homebrew-applicati ... 4-v12.html

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12472

As for the MagicGate thing, I don't think it matters, but I'm not sure as I coincidentally only have MagicGate cards (or do I? I'll have to look, I'm not at home). From what I read, it's just a DRM thing, so I would imagine a mini-SD card would give you less grief without any disadvantages, but I'm not sure. I think as long as the PSP recognizes it, you're good to go.

Oh, and you DEFINITELY want one of these, especially if you have big hands:


I got one for $3 off of eBay.

Best of all, that grip allows you to use a PSP fat battery (much longer battery life, especially with the 2200mAh version) by removing the battery cover and putting the grip on. You can also get a special larger battery cover, but then your PSP will be lopsided and feel weird.

[Ziggy]

Turn your stock battery into a Pandora battery so you can softmod your PSP, than get the fat battery to replace your stock battery.

[17DaysOlderThanNES]

Turn your stock battery into a Pandora battery so you can softmod your PSP, than get the fat battery to replace your stock battery.

the dealextreme battery is $6, no point ruining a perfectly good slim battery to save $6 and potentially just mess it up (as most people do).

[Scooter]

Oh, and you DEFINITELY want one of these, especially if you have big hands:


I got one for $3 off of eBay.

Best of all, that grip allows you to use a PSP fat battery (much longer battery life, especially with the 2200mAh version) by removing the battery cover and putting the grip on. You can also get a special larger battery cover, but then your PSP will be lopsided and feel weird.

I want a set of grips like that for my PSP fat. What are they called so I can do a proper search? The only real gripe I've had with my PSP is that my hands begin to cramp up after playing a game for 30 minutes or longer. It is hard to hold the unit steady AND manipulate the buttons at the same time.

[gtmtnbiker]

the dealextreme battery is $6, no point ruining a perfectly good slim battery to save $6 and potentially just mess it up (as most people do).

Agree 100%.

[Ivo]

It is a 2000 and I already have CFW on it (main reason for getting the PSP is emulators). It was already with CFW and I upgraded it to the latest version and formatted the card as well.

I want to rip off the factory "protector" myself, but really I'd prefer to put an actual protector on it. The PSP main asset (IMO) is the gorgeous screen, and I know I was looking for a unit without a single scratch - I don't doubt that having scratches on the screen will affect the market value, and in my case I don't even want to sell it but I want to keep it scratchless. But the factory protector is crap, that is correct and I'm buying decent protectors in my next order from Dealextreme.

As for the grips - I've been wondering if I should try one. I usually play on the DS lite and that is comfortable for me, so the PSP being wider (right?) means I should not have problems. The grips don't help the portability of the unit, sadly.

Now something else - the deal included a carry case that is one of those looking like these:
http://images.quebarato.com.br/photos/b ... 8941_1.jpg
Inside, on one of the sides there is a net for putting extra stuff (small cables, a UMD or a card etc) and on the other side there are 2 elastic bands in principle for snapping the PSP onto them.
Now I don't know if you have one like this, but I'm puzzled by the "button" shapes sticking on the case because the inside of it is organized such that if I face the screen and face buttons towards the shapes to "fit", then the net that would have the extra stuff is going to sit between the screen and the side of the case with the indentations. I.e. depending on the stuff you stored on the net, it would be right in front of the screen and may scratch it.
Apparently the idea is to put it like this:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5 ... SL160_.jpg
(although the case I have is rather slim and doesn't have as much extra space), which I think does not make much sense and in any case the indentations are not working to give the buttons more space if there is stuff between them and the cavities!

Ivo.

[Anapan]

I want a set of grips like that for my PSP fat. What are they called so I can do a proper search?

I think the most common name is "Charge Grip" (at least the ones with batteries inside the grip parts).

[17DaysOlderThanNES]

I want a set of grips like that for my PSP fat. What are they called so I can do a proper search? The only real gripe I've had with my PSP is that my hands begin to cramp up after playing a game for 30 minutes or longer. It is hard to hold the unit steady AND manipulate the buttons at the same time.

PSP hand grips, that's what I searched with. The problem is that there aren't many out there for fats, probably a combination of the fats are more comfortable (thicker) and less common. Also, fats are heavier and retaining one is more difficult.

this is the only one from the only seller I'm aware of:

http://cgi.ebay.com/SONY-PSP-1000-Retra ... 3153wt_928

Unless you plan on getting a slim, you should probably jump on that one b/c it seems no one cares to make one for a fat anymore.