Handheld Gaming Console Buying Tips

I found out the other day that Amazon.com lets me create a “store” of my own, where I can handpick products that they sell and I thought it was a good way to highlight games that I have played and would like to recommend to others. My good friend Maria even wants me to go a step further and recommend handhelds and consoles and accessories and games for people like her who are just getting into gaming and have no idea what they need. I tried doing that but quickly got overwhelmed by the sheer number of items amazon.com has to offer. Now, since she needed help choosing a handheld system, I thought I might as well write it up and share it with everyone else so here goes.

1. Decide what system you want. There are many many choices out there but I’ll just focus on the top two: the Nintendo DS ($129.99) and Sony PSP ($169.82+). The DS is the most successful handheld console, its most unique feature being the two touch-screens which allows for a more direct interaction in games. The PSP is not far behind though, and appeals more to technophiles because of its non-gaming functions. It allows you to play back music and videos which can be downloaded from a PC, connect to the internet through wifi (it has a 4.3-inch screen), and many other nifty things. The bottom line is, if you are only interested in playing games on your handheld then go for the DS, but if you want a handheld gaming console/PDA, then get the PSP.
2. If you’re going for the DS, you have a choice of three colors: black, white and pink! Then I would recommend getting the Travel Kit, which comes with ear phones, a car charger and a carrying case, among other things.
3. Buying a PSP is a little more complicated because you have many options. The core pack costs $169.82 and contains the barest minimum: the console, battery and an AC adapter. The value pack costs from $209 upwards and includes the core pack PLUS a 32-meg memory stick duo, earphones with remote control, a slip case, a wrist strap, and a sample disc. And then there’s the entertainment pack, priced at $219.82, which includes the core pack PLUS a game called ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin Trails, a UMD movie Lords of Dogtown, and a 1-gig memory stick. I would go for the value pack.
4. For the PSP, you will also need to get a USB Cable so you can connect it to your PC for downloading stuff, unless you’re set up with a wireless network that will let you access your desktop/laptop files directly from your PSP.
5. No matter which system you go for, you will also need to get the following accessories, if they don’t come with the pack:
• a carrying case
• extra batteries (especially for those long plane trips)
• ear phones/head phones

Unfortunately, I am by no means an expert on this since I have neither a PSP nor a DS. But I’m the resident geek among my non-gamer girlfriends so I’m expected to know all these things.