3DS vs. NGP (PSP2) Are you ready to rumble?!

Today I would like to take the moment to write about the two next-generation handhelds as many people would see them. Last summer, Nintendo announced the 3DS with a line-up of titles which flabberghasted the audience. They planned remakes from the Nintendo 64 classics like Star Fox, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and games like Kid Icarus, which is of course fabulous news for the Nintendo fans, but as one would already guess, their handheld competitor Sony, couldn't stay behind and announced the Next-Gen Handheld, or PSP2, a week ago. What are the major differences?


3DS

Nintendo announced the 3DS on the E3 of 2010 and showed in a trailer what kind of games we could expect and the graphics it can generate. It was definetely stronger than the standard DS and it showed games like Splinter Cell and even MGS3: Snake Eater in full 3D. The major upside, in addition, was the arrival of older N64 games like Ocarina of Time which can be played in full 3D. Release date for US is March 27th, and Europe the 25th. In Japan it will be released on February 26th.

NGP (PSP2)

Announced last week on January 27th. It showed some heavy artillery with a trailer of the line-up titles which showed graphics comparable to those of the PS3. Many people reacted a bit suspicious (it's not the first time Sony shows titles with better graphics than the actual outcome) but after a couple walkthroughs of games like Uncharted, it was pretty convincing. The line-up consists of the stronger series from Sony like Resistance, Killzone and Uncharted. Some NGP specific games like Little Deviants (Google is your friend :D) looked cool but they will have to prove theirselves once they are released. Speaking of releases, NGP will be released end this year (for now, ''end of the year'' announcements are usually a sophisticated form of saying ''we don't know, we probably will delay the release date to next year, but we still want publicity for our handheld).

Now, for the official description of the two handhelds, without trolling or biased bullets shooting through the air between fanbases...

Screens

3DS:
The 3DS has two screens. The upper is the 3D screen (diagonal 8.97cm, resolution 800x240 pixels)which actually doesn't need any form of glasses whatsoever to give the 3D effect. This is a big advantage as handheld, but also as overall gadget. The lower screen is a 2D touchsensitive screen (diagonal 7.76cm, resolution 320x240) which can be used for the game exclusive extra controls.

NGP:
The NGP has a touch screen which has the size 5 inches (16:9) and a resolution of 960 x 544, 16 million colors and OLED technology. The touch screen can be used while playing for some extra game exclusive features. The OLED must provide a brighter screen and overall very sharp.

Hardware: tech talk

3DS:

CPU: 2 x ARM11-processors (266mhz each), 64MB RAM

GPU: PICA200 133MHz GPU by DMP, 4mb videoRAM

External dimensions: Approximately 5.3 inches wide, 2.9 inches long, 0.8 inches tall.

Cameras: One inner camera and two outer cameras with 640×480 (0.3 Mega) pixel resolution.

Sound: Stereo speakers positioned to the left and right of the top screen.

Sensors: Circle Pad, Motion Sensor, Gyro Sensor

Wireless communications: Spotpass, Streetpass. Can communicate in the 2.4 GHz band. Multiple Nintendo 3DS systems can connect via a local wireless connection to enable users to communicate or enjoy competitive gameplay. Systems also can connect to LAN access points to access the internet and enable people to enjoy games with others. Will support IEEE 802.11 with enhanced security (WPA/WPA2).

Controls: Touch screen, embedded microphone, A/B/X/Y face buttons, +Control Pad. L/R buttons, Start and Select buttons, “Circle Pad” that allows 360-degree analog imput, one inner camera, two outer cameras, motion sensor and gyro sensor.

NGP:

Comparing the two handhelds, it shows that the 3DS still isn't focussing on the most power, but the innovative little technologies which enhance the form of gaming. Sony focussed on more power and also touchbased features. They both laid some eyes on the wireless communication, which is becoming more important nowadays. Though the NGP also has 3G mobile network connectivity and multiple forms of Wi-fi.

Handheld specific features:

Let's compare and share their unique features

3DS:The 3DS, as you've probably already guessed, has the unique ability to present its games in 3D on the upper screen without using glasses or anything. There is a slider which controls the amount of 3D effect, so it is possible to play games with or without 3D. Nice little extra features are 3D photo's and movies and Streetpass and Spotpass. Streetpass makes your 3DS communicate with other 3DS devices to share information about profiles or whatever (So you can go out in bars and try to spot chicks with 3DS'es, just saying...wait..what?). Spotpass searches wireless acces points, even in sleep mode, to gather information or updates.

NGP:
Sony saw that the touchsensitive screen was ready for the market and had an audience in the gaming industry. Too bad they saw that after the release of the Nintendo DS, but hey, Sony has one now in the next NGP. The touch screen can be used in games for some extra controls. Another new technology is the rear touchsensitive pad on the back of the NGP, which can be used in games aswell. Little Deviants showed some footage where this feature is used.

New touchsensitive pad on the back

Cameras
Well obviously, cameras are awesome! At least, Sony and Nintendo think so, they both have multiple cameras on their handheld. The 3DS makes use of this with its 3D photos and movies. Sony has a camera on the back and front, which is probably used in games. Also, they will probably (just like Apple did) introduce some magnificent ability to communicate with videochat via 3G (like they reinvented the wheel or something). But, I guess that's just speculation.

Games, that's where it's all about!
Both Nintendo and Sony did a pretty good job on the line-up I must say. Nintendo used the holy grails from the past like Ocarina of Time and Star Fox, while Sony is probably focussing on some little titles from the big series like Resistance, Killzone and Uncharted. What surprised me last year, and a week ago, is the support of third-party developers for both the 3DS and NGP. 3DS already got some titles like Dynasty Warriors, Assassins Creed, Driver and Metal Gear Solid. The NGP also has Dynasty Warriors, a Call of Duty title and maybe, just maybe, they will make a Metal Gear Solid title too? (Peace Walker HD, anyone?)
No doubt the games are gonna rock. Ocarina of Time itself is already magic, it will only be more spectacular with the extra 3D effect. On the NGP it is phenomonal how it can almost reach the PS3 graphics on such a little device. Uncharted was beautiful and the tech-demo of MGS4 was also spectacular.
 The 3DS has backwards compatibility, so it will play DS games with ease. The NGP however is a bit more difficult since it doesn't support UMD's anymore. The latest rumors state that they have a solution for putting old PSP games on new flash cards, but that doesn't solve the fact that I can't play my old PSP games on the NGP. I also own a PS3 and I am not surprised Sony messed this up again, cause they already screwed me over with backwards compatibility with PS2 games. Native HD upscaling my ass. So +1 for Nintendo here.

Uncharted on the NGP

Ocarina of Time on the 3DS

Audience and price
I guess this is the main difference of the two handhelds. Sony's strategy is about creating more power in a device and maintain the hardcore gamers, aswell as the mainstream, which isn't surprising. Nintendo focuses on the audience that it already has and will probably expand its territory because of the focus on the 3D feature and more child friendly games.
The 3DS will cost about $250 in the US and €250 in Europe (yeah, they tend to just change the currency symbol, instead of adjusting the currencies). The price of the NGP is still unknown, but with the hardware I've seen, it will not be wallet-friendly.

Future trends
I know for sure that the 3DS will rock sales again, hell, even I want the 3DS and I'm not a uber Nintendo fan. But I am pleased with it backwards compatibility, where Nintendo never let me down. Plus, the old N64 games are pure gold, so big chance I'll be playing those for a while. Other people will probably have the same idea, which will boost sales. Also, the mainstream audience of Nintendo is bigger than Sony's.
As for the NGP, I sure hope the price tag doesn't make people laugh their ass off and walk away. Of course there will be a vast amount of people buying the newest Sony product, and they should, I mean, it will probably be a great product. But on fanbase battlefields, I'm sure Nintendo will have higher sales the first month.

Overall verdict
I highly appreciate the extra power the two handhelds have. The 3DS is strong enough to present games in 3D and I'm excited to see what kind of games will use this feature (since developers have the choice to incorporate 3D, they are not forced to create 3D games). Nintendo showed, yet again, it can be innovative in the gaming industry and handheld market. Sony has its own way of doing that by adding a touchsensitive screen, power of a bull in one machine and the rear sensitive pad. I'm also surprised which games will use the rear pad. But for now, we will just have to wait...

In the end....its always the gamer him/herself that chooses the path of enlightenment of his/her beloved company. Wait, I got a quote for this from Iwata (Nintendo's CEO):

''They're trying to appeal to customers from a different direction than us. The customers will decide which is correct.''' 

See? The customer will decide, I agree!