On March 24, Sony released the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in North America. The PSP is Sony’s first handheld gaming console and a direct stab at a market that has been dominated by Nintendo since the launch of its Game Boy line in 1989. Can the PSP become the leader in handheld gaming, or will Sony’s newest console join the ranks of failed handhelds brought forth by such former gaming giants such as Atari and SEGA?

The basic PSP Value Pack retails for $299 and contains the system, a sampler disc, a 32MB Memory Stick Duo card, headphones with remote control, a soft protective case with hand strap, an AC adapter and a battery pack. As a bonus, the first million North American adopters will receive a copy of the Spider-man 2 feature film on the unit’s Universal Media Disc (UMD) format.

The sleek and stylish PSP bolsters a gorgeous 4.3 inch, 16:9 wide screen TFT LCD display that will definitely impress. The PSP is also capable of rendering PlayStation 2 quality graphics, which now gives gamers the opportunity to play current generation console quality titles on the go.

Like its main competitor, the Nintendo DS, the PSP has built-in 802.11b Wi-Fi that gives gamers the opportunity to play online (infrastructure) or against other challengers in close proximity (ad-hoc). Setting-up your PSP to communicate with your home wireless network is a breeze and you’ll be playing video games over the Internet in no time. As I write these lines, five games utilize the infrastructure online mode: Twisted Metal: Head-on; Gretzky NHL; NBA; MLB; and ATV Off-Road Fury.

On the down side, the PSP doesn’t feature as much battery life as its main competitors the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance. According to the handheld’s instruction manual, the PSP has an estimated battery duration of approximately 3 to 6 hours when gaming and a lifespan bordering on the 3-to-5-hour range when using the device’s video playback. Gamers expecting to use the device on long trips will need to purchase an additional battery, which will set them back around $60.

One of the major problems found in the PSP launch shipments are dead pixels on the unit’s LCD screen. A large portion of PSP owners have reported having bright or dark spots on their screens, which can hinder the unit’s playability. Read more…

The “For the Gamer” column is a weekly article that I write for [here] magazine based out of New Brunswick, Canada.