Portable Console Online War: PSP vs. DS

The PSP and Nintendo DS war is far from over. Just a week ago, Alaric S. blogged about the current status of PSP and DS in terms of units sold in Japan and in the US. There was no clear winner in that category and has obviously gotten all of you heated up. GameDaily.com has an interesting article that pits PSP against the Nintendo yet again, but this time looking into one of the most revered features of the handheld consoles, online capabilities.

The Nintendo DS seems to be doing something right with its free Wi-Fi Service that keeps gamers connected, making things more interactive. And with the release of Metroid Prime: Hunters and Tetris DS, the online link up has just gotten a big boost. Although the DS is on the right track, a few more features  won’t hurt. GameDaily suggested expanding the PictoChat to include features that work more on clans or a few customizations. It’s just a small add-on that targets gamers who really like to hook up with other gamers, but in general  it may not be all that neccesary. Another idea is to expand the game support setup by offering some kind of online download service, which will resurrect classic Nintendo games we love. This may actually see the light of day with its possible tie-in with the Revolution’s Virtual Console service. If Nintendo wants to get a lot of online participation, it should offer tournaments and celebrity plays, and while they’re at it, add more hot spots too.

Over at Sony, the PSP seems to have gotten the edge in gaming quality. Sony is also doing the right thing with the availability of PS One games for download on the PSP (later this year).  This move just might pave the way for a full-on gaming network that will push for greater online play. GameDaily says: Sony’s easily got the resources and finances to set themselves up a service along the likes of Xbox Live and Nintendo’s Wi-Fi Connection. Maybe the PlayStation Network is the answer, but so far, it seems to heavily support the PS3. What Sony should do here is provide some kind of push that allows for greater connection of online play across the board, without having to really deal with set-up issues or worrying about trying to find a buddy. Ease of service would really make this a smooth running machine, and a dedicated network would be the answer.

With both PSP and DS doing the right thing with what they currently have, it’s what they need to improve on that will make this war even more interesting. The handheld that will bring online gaming to the next level will surely emerge as the winner.

The PSP and Nintendo DS war is far from over. Just a week ago, Alaric S. blogged about the current status of PSP and DS in terms of units sold in Japan and in the US. There was no clear winner in that category and has obviously gotten all of you heated up. GameDaily.com has an interesting article that pits PSP against the Nintendo yet again, but this time looking into one of the most revered features of the handheld consoles, online capabilities.

The Nintendo DS seems to be doing something right with its free Wi-Fi Service that keeps gamers connected, making things more interactive. And with the release of Metroid Prime: Hunters and Tetris DS, the online link up has just gotten a big boost. Although the DS is on the right track, a few more features  won’t hurt. GameDaily suggested expanding the PictoChat to include features that work more on clans or a few customizations. It’s just a small add-on that targets gamers who really like to hook up with other gamers, but in general  it may not be all that neccesary. Another idea is to expand the game support setup by offering some kind of online download service, which will resurrect classic Nintendo games we love. This may actually see the light of day with its possible tie-in with the Revolution’s Virtual Console service. If Nintendo wants to get a lot of online participation, it should offer tournaments and celebrity plays, and while they’re at it, add more hot spots too.

Over at Sony, the PSP seems to have gotten the edge in gaming quality. Sony is also doing the right thing with the availability of PS One games for download on the PSP (later this year).  This move just might pave the way for a full-on gaming network that will push for greater online play. GameDaily says: Sony’s easily got the resources and finances to set themselves up a service along the likes of Xbox Live and Nintendo’s Wi-Fi Connection. Maybe the PlayStation Network is the answer, but so far, it seems to heavily support the PS3. What Sony should do here is provide some kind of push that allows for greater connection of online play across the board, without having to really deal with set-up issues or worrying about trying to find a buddy. Ease of service would really make this a smooth running machine, and a dedicated network would be the answer.

With both PSP and DS doing the right thing with what they currently have, it’s what they need to improve on that will make this war even more interesting. The handheld that will bring online gaming to the next level will surely emerge as the winner.