My SOCOM beta arrived today. I'm about to go play for the first time, but after reading the instructions, I'm worried about this control scheme.

Just thinking:
Has there ever been a non-launch game more crucial to a system's survival than GTA : LCS? Sure Halo 2 was critical for the studio, but if it had sucked, Microsoft still would have many millions of xboxes already in people's homes and their goal of product recognition in this generation would have already been met. If anything, Halo 2 was critical for the success of Xbox Live. Now think about GTA:LCS -- If it's an amazing, well-done game (nobody expects it to be revolutionary or even mess with the established formula), it could be a huge system-seller during the holiday season. It would be the savior for the system. if it's a bad game (or even a decent game that's significantly flawed in the controls or some other important aspect), people will likely write off the entire system and that would be the beginning of the end.
Think the good folks at Sony are nervously looking over shoulders at Rockstar right about now?

I don't think people will write off the system if GTA is mediocre. It looks promising, but who knows. A lot of people like Madden for PSP, I think it's just average. Burnout is still the best game in my opinion.

There are a lot of good games on the PSP. And, the success or failure of GTA:LCS will not determine the PSP's survival. Anyone with Lumines, Hot Shots Golf, Burnout, Ridge Racer, and on and on will atest to that fact. Plus, with the web brower, movie, and picture functions, this system will go down in history as one of the best hand held systems every made.

I'm sure there will be BETTER handeld games. I still think they are working out the kinks for the PSP...basically, the load times. Madden is what really annoys me with the pause between TD's and other plays. The Menu Load times are tolerable, but when gameplay is sacrificed, it's a bit annoying. I'm wondering how the load times on GTA will be with a large city. Weren't they BAD on the PS2...they could be horrible on the PSP...we'll see, I have it on order anyways.

I played GTA:LCS last Friday, and from what I could tell, it will be huge. The game looked almost exactly like the first GTA III for PS2....I even recognized where I was going. The controls seemed perfect as I was flying down the sidewalk smashing pedestrians, then getting out and beating people down. For anyone with any doubts...If you would like a portable version of the first GTA III with multiplayer, new story, and motorcycles...get this game!

Prince of Persia: The Warrior Within Redux for PSP

stu : cool you played GTA :LCS. I'm sure it will be a good game. Glad to hear it controls perfectly.
edstein : I know there are some good games for the PSP, but let's be honest, there isn't really a "must have" title yet (at least for those who don't have the system -- all those who do should certainly pick up Lumines). Most games, even impressive ones are ports from consoles. Even if they're impressive versions, they still compare unfavorably with the console versions and non-system owners probably wouldn't feel like they were missing out on much.
Now GTA : LCS is an exclusive sequel (ok, prequel) to one of the (if not THE) biggest-selling games of all times. If that game is a grand slam, it'll move a lot of PSPs this holiday season (which is crucial, since the DS and 360 will be competing for that big-ticket purchase this winter).
Certainly there will be other great games for the system (loco roco would be one that should rock the reviews if the first level is any indication), but a potential system seller? They're few and far between (especially when that system is handheld, costs $250 and has no video output).
And while I occasionally use the browser, I acknowledge it's clunky at best. The video potential is cool, but it's brutally hard and time-consuming to use the stick for media. Apparently people are buying movies on UMD, but I'm not one of them and couldn't fathom why anyone else would (for the price of less than ten UMDs, you could buy a portable DVD player and watch all the movies you already own anywhere). The ability to use it to view my digital pictures is awesome, no doubt. But I benefit from having a Sony camera. For those who don't, it's less enticing, I think.

2.00 has been officially downgraded, so that'll help.

It seems that the PSP is going to "win" Europe and "lose" Japan no matter what. GTA will keep it competitive with the DS in the U.S. for the forseeable future, which is remarkable given Nintendo's killer christmas lineup - Nintendogs bundle, Animal Crossing online, Mario Kart online - and it's early launch. It will be interesting to see what Sony has up their sleeve come Pokemon DS.

How do I backup my games? I have Madden 06 and I've read that if you load it on a memory card it runs a bit faster....how would I go about doing this? I still have a 1.50 if that matters.

You have to use one of the UMD loader programs. I don't have mine with me at work, so I can't check which one it is. When you put a UMD in and load the program, one of the options is to dump it to the memory stick.

Thanks noonan....I found it. I tried to dump Medevil, but it was too BIG I think, I stopped. Not that big of a deal....

Any deals on 2GB Duo's?

It looks like $150 is the best....but OOS most places. They just came out with a "gaming" one also (the neat clear ones...it is blue)

You guys seen the LocoRoco website? It's in japanese but you can see the whole first level in the background! Plus by clicking on the yellow link on the right you get a game trailer. Looks addictive!

http://www.playstation.jp/scej/title/locoroco/

i rented madden and was so angry at the game that i wanted to drive to EA and shoot the ass who ok'd the release. long load times, crappy running game, and most of all, the game would just sit when trying to punt or field goal. screw madden. i'm done with it on psp.

Yeah, I'm about to trade my Madden PSP in also....I have to hit up my GameRush...I have 3 PSP games I want to get rid of.

Well, I'll be trading in my copy of Madden when I pick up Castlevania DoS later this week. The load times are unacceptable.

I'm real close to selling my PSP. Aside from Hot Shots & Ridge Racers there hasn't been any other game I've enjoyed playing on it. Pretty damn pathetic if you ask me, although I have enjoyed the emulation capabilities of the device.

I got to play Namco Museum PSP. It's okay, a good selection of games in my opinion and a few Namco gems that I love (Dragon Buster and Tower of Druaga) that I'm shocked were ADDED to the US release. Who else but me likes those clunky old games? The new arrangements are REALLY poor though, especially Galaga.. HUGE let down. The Capcom Classics PSP disc looks like it's going to have some cool games on it (BLACK TIGER!! WONDER TWINS!!) but I'm hoping that selection makes it to the big boy consoles as well, I'm not liking this console/portable classic compilations having different selections between them.

Here's a pic I took the other night.........



Being able to do stuff like that is probably the only reason I still have my PSP.

any way around the 2.0 upgrade for the emulations?

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/10...s_6134859.html

How cool is that, ANOTHER DOWNLOAD!!!

This one is called CLASSIC PACK 3

www.wipeoutpure.com

Enjoy!

So not only does this not address 2.0's problems with WAP, but it doesn't add any other functionality, either?

Good luck with that, Sony.

Yeah, I read about that 2.01....what a joke. I'll keep my 1.50. I can see why Sony does this though, there are a LOT of illegal games being loaded out there (not roms either, but actual PSP rips)

Virtua Tennis should be the next game to get. I have GTA and X-Men Legends on pre-order, but I'm hesitant now. I barely play my PSP...and I'm curious how the load times will be in GTA. They can't be good, can they?

They are supposively better than the PS2 load times.... which doesn't say much since the PS2 load times were so bad, but we'll have to see.

Wow, that's good....when is the release date, the 25th? I wonder if they really will implement the 2.01 update with it.