Questions about the DSi and PSP!

[Kumo]

So my DS Lite is dying, and I'm wondering if somebody could shed the light on a subject I don't really know much about for those two systems (PSP and DSi).


BATTERY LIFE. It's the #1 thing I worry about in a game system. I have the DS Lite, and it had a decent battery life (especially with the ability to switch the power settings).

I've been thinking of replacing the DS Lite with the DSi, and also maybe purchasing a PSP in the future (a 3000, not the GO). Could anybody enlighten me to the battery life of each system on the different settings, ie, the longest and shortest in the modes? It would really help me out. Thanks.

[Momiji]

I don't know anything about the PSP, but the DSi, at full brightness, lasts about 3-4 hours of constant use.

[Yeargdribble]

I'm not completely sure, but from personal experience it seems like the battery life on PSP 3000 is about 5 hours. You can turn on a feature that auto-dims the screen when appropriate which prolongs the battery life a tiny bit.

[Slothy]

I have a PSP-2000 and though I've never really bothered to time it I'd say I get at least around 4 hours out of it, maybe more.

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

I only have a DS Lite, but when I was going to purchase it, I was looking up DSi's too, and from what I can tell the DSi's battery life, according to Nintendo, is slightly less than that of the DS Lite.

PSP? I have no idea though.

[JKTrix]

This article compares the DSlite and the DSi in various aspects, but has the different battery lives at the different Brightness settings.

Let's Compare The DS Lite and the DSi - DSI - Kotaku

The PSP 3000 and PSP Go battery lives are apparently equivalent, despite the PSP Go not having any moving parts.

PSPgo – Your Questions Answered – PlayStation.Blog.Europe

The raw details:

Battery Life
Nintendo DSi: The lowest brightness (9-14 hrs), low brightness (8-12 hours), medium brightness (6-9 hours), high brightness (4-6 hours), highest brightness(3-4 hours)
Nintendo DS Lite: The lowest brightness (15-19 hrs), low brightness (10-15 hours), high brightness (7-11 hours), highest brightness(5-8 hours)

The battery life is equivalent with the current models meaning approximately 3 to 6 hours for gameplays and approximately 3 to 5 hours for playing back videos.

[Yeargdribble]

Wow, sounds like if you're looking for battery life the DS Lite is the way to go. I never really play mine on anything but low brightness because there's rarely need to. It so rarely needs charging I tend to forget where the cord is when it finally does.

[Kumo]

Thanks for the feedback guys. My DS Lite is on it's way to dying. The swivel is chipped and broken, left side speaker goes out all the time, and sometimes the shoulder buttons/touch screen don't respond. It's seen its fair share of battles, so it's almost time to retire it.

I might just go with a DSi first, then get a PSP 3000 later. Screw the PSP Go and not having the physical game anymore! I mean, what if you're system is stolen? How would you get everything back?

[Skyblade]

I would get a new DSLite over the DSi. Longer battery life and the ability to play GBA games. They're still sold lots of places, even new ones.

[Formalhaut]

All the DSi is in my uninformed view is a camera.

...

[Kumo]

There are DSi only games in the works that use the camera, and there is also an added SD card slot which could add some more homebrew possibilities later or the next iteration of the R4 card. Look at games like Zelda for the DS which used EVERYTHING the system had to offer. You had to use the Mic for noise and blowing, you had to close the system to transfer things from the top screen to the bottom . . . I'm SURE there will be some cool games that use the camera eventually, then people will go out and buy the DSi. I usually use the 2nd lowest brightness, and I'd be happy with 8-12 hours.

But yeah, we'll see! I won't buy it in the next few months, but maybe next year.

[Skyblade]

There are DSi only games in the works that use the camera, and there is also an added SD card slot which could add some more homebrew possibilities later or the next iteration of the R4 card. Look at games like Zelda for the DS which used EVERYTHING the system had to offer. You had to use the Mic for noise and blowing, you had to close the system to transfer things from the top screen to the bottom . . . I'm SURE there will be some cool games that use the camera eventually, then people will go out and buy the DSi. I usually use the 2nd lowest brightness, and I'd be happy with 8-12 hours.

But yeah, we'll see! I won't buy it in the next few months, but maybe next year.

Yes, look at the Zelda game. It was terrible. It had gimmicks for the sake of gimmicks, poor gameplay, bad controls, terrible plot, repetitive dungeons, boring characters, and pointless gimmickry. It was the worst game purchase I've made in a long time. And any attempt to include the camera in a game will be just as bad.

[Kumo]

I enjoyed The Phantom Hourglass a lot. Totally different world than Twilight Princess, and picked up right after The Wind Waker, continuing the story. It's great when games continue where the last one left off. I found the controls as innovative, not gimmicky. Using that stuff is better than having to input a 14 button combination to solve puzzles and the like on older systems (see Ocarina songs).


Anyways, just read something over on kotaku.com that said nVidia is working on the NEXT chip for the DS due to be announced at the end of 2010. Does this mean ANOTHER new system is on the way? Or just another iteration?

[JKTrix]

Also notice the big ol' 'Rumor' tag on that post. I wouldn't concern yourself over it much at this point. Nintendo just released the DSi, they will not release another handheld system so soon after that.

I'm not going to say 'they're not working on a new handheld', because that would be incorrect. They (and any company) is always working on something new. Just don't bother waiting for it if you're on the verge of purchase already.

[Momiji]

All the DSi is in my uninformed view is a camera.

...

That's because you're uninformed. Good job.

Luckily for you, I wrote a nice, long article explaining everything way back when on omgmygame. And this was before I got my hands on some of the ArtStyle games and Flipnote Studio.

It's much more than a camera.