Portable gaming and you.

I've thought about this question a decent amount in the past. Sometimes whenever I hear of a game that people really want, I hear/see people say "Oh, that looks great, but it's on the PSP/DS. Too bad." I often see people say that portables are much too small for certain games, or that they could never see themselves playing a particular game on the go. I was curious as to what you guys thought about portable game consoles, as well as iOS/Android devices.

The reason I find this topic interesting is because I generally use my portable systems in the same locations that I use my home systems or computer: at home. True, I'll often bring my DS or PSP with me to play between class or on break at work, but the bulk of my gaming with these is on my bed at home. Becuase I play a lot of Jrpgs, and one of the current trends seems to be making these games for portable systems instead of home consoles, I've found myself playing more often on these than my Wii or PS 2 these days. I will admit that part of it is also some weird laziness of setting up the other consoles (even though it's just a matter of going into the other room that has the consoles, turning everything on, and then plopping down to play)

I guess the biggest reason that I like portable game systems, besides the fact that the games I play are on there, is the intimacy of the whole thing. It's so easy to just curl under my bed covers and play a bit of Etrian Odyssey or Valkyria Chronicles II or Dragon Quest before bed, with the screen right in my face and my earbuds on.

That said, I do know that for many people, portable games are more for a quick experience between activities. This is partially why the PSP has struggled in America recently, and why iOS and Android Games have grown more popular (it also helps that these games tend to be cheaper).

TL;DR, how do you feel about portable systems and portable gaming as a whole? When and where do you play portable games? If you found out that a game you really wanted was going to be made for a portable system, would you be disappointed?

edited 21st Jan '12 11:07:59 PM by Barrylocke

I actually prefer portable gaming to regular console gaming myself.

Portable systems allow me to sit wherever I want, in what position I want, while I plug in my headphones and bury my face in the screen ignoring everyone else. Which is awesome. They're also portable. Which is nice. I can take them with me on car rides and ignore people.

I also tend to get through them quicker because of what I mentioned above. It's harder for me to be distracted that way.

I can also do all of the above except listen to headphones.

The headphone jack on my 3DS doesn't work.

I've noticed the same thing myself. Much of my portable gaming is spent at home in addition to when I'm out and about, impractical to lug a console or gaming PC along...but these days, mostly at home. The portable aspect there is definitely nice in that you're not constrained to a given place in the house, and especially with consoles, fighting over who gets to use the TV and home theater speaker system in the living room.

That said, I generally don't play in short sessions, either. I'll likely spend at least 30 minutes with a given game, if not hours, depending on schedule. Naturally, that lends itself to being at home better, when you don't have to worry about moving around so much.

I personally don't have a problem with traditional video games (the types us core gamers are used to) being made for portables in general, unless the controls would really suffer for the game in question just by trying to put it in a portable format. Other than that, the only other problem I could possibly have is not owning the portable in question, but knowing me, owning most game platforms is not a matter of "if", but "when I can afford it and I'm reasonably sure there's no enhanced 'lite' revision around the corner".

Considering that I'm only occasionally at home...

In any case, it's either PC or portable gaming for me. 'Cause they're what I usually have with me. And it's more convenient for playing with friends.

I'm just waiting for the day when screen size is the only downside to a portable. Honestly, if all of my Wii/PS3/360 games were available on a handheld, I'd have picked up the handheld version instead, hands down.

You see, my situation is a bit... "different" in that my daily commute adds up to 5-6 hours per day (!!), so I spend more time on my 3DS than my several console systems, especially since I have to wait for my family to GTFO of the living room to use my 360 or PS 3.

I wish more of the games I like were portable.

On the other hand I find games easier to get into at home.

But when I walk to work, I usually have something on my Ipod to play, since I'm just going to be walking past the same old scenery.

But I do find myself treating handheld stuff more casually.

Also, I wish there were more visual novels available in english. Those are definitely some "games" it would be fine to "play" even if you are slightly distracted. You only need to concentrate to make a choice and even then it's like a maximum of three button presses.

I prefer portable gaming to console gaming. The reasons for this are already stated here, it's much more "private", since when I want to, say, play a JRPG, for example, I don't need any other people around me who might blurt "this is boring, play something different!!!" all the time, because I want to play such games at my leisure. I spend much of my time in JRPGs grinding against random monsters, so anyone except my brother watching me play would just bug me into going to continue with the story/fight the boss anyway (and probably loosing horribly, if it's a boss like Mathador) or begging me to play something different. I don't have this (first-world-problems) when I'm playing on my Game Boy Advance or Nintendo 3 DS, since I don't let anyone watch me play that often there.

edited 22nd Jan '12 4:24:32 AM by Jaryl

I've been a fan of home system games since 1988. The original Gameboy got me intrigued a year or two later, but it was Final Fantasy Legend 2 (Saga 2) and FF Adventure (Seiken Densetsu) that got me to really like the system. Since then, I've been a portable system fan as well.

One of my main objectives over the last few years has been improving my social life. So when I'm done with work for the day, unless the weather is awful or I have some obligation, I try to get out of my condo and attend get-togethers and events. I bring a portable system with me, especially if I have to commute for more than a few minutes, or wait for a while. These days, I'm using my Ipod Touch quite a bit, but I still use my DS and my PSP when I have more than a few minutes to spare.

Regarding Ultimately Subjective's comment, if you want more visual novels in English, then be sure to support companies which are currently making/translating products, and support fans who are creating their own games and translations. If you're a creative person, then write your own with Renpy or Novelty Maker.

edited 22nd Jan '12 9:20:28 AM by dorkatlarge

I'd rather play games on a big screen with a quality sound system. Handhelds are fine, (I've owned every Nintendo handheld since the Game & Watch) but for certain games, like lengthy RP Gs, I'd rather not be hunched over a tiny screen.

+1. portable ftl.

I play portable for portable specific games. Like Patapon for the PSP. or Ace Attorney for the DS

I tend to play portable games over long periods of time, usually at home or on the bus (a trip which is about an hour and a half long). The majority of the games that I have for my DS and PSP are JRP Gs, and I find it more enjoyable to relax in bed than to sit out in the living room and play.

My PSP is the only console I own, primarily because:

1) full-size systems are expensive 2) I'd rather spend that money on a computer 3) I used to jump on a bus for 3 hours a day.

So I'm on the portable front. Also, when I used to have 3 hours of bus each day, I also had 2-hour stretches between lectures, and there wasn't always a buddy to hang out with. There's a reason I've clocked in over 600 hours across Dissidia and Dissidia 012.

I've always favoured portable gaming. Generally when I'm chilling I'll be surfing the net and watching a film in the background (I prefer this to music when I'm at home). A portable console allows me to game as well without sacrificing one of the other two, which I would for console or PC gaming.

I do a bit of all three, but you just can't beat a handheld for me.

When I'm out at sea on my carrier, I have to wrangle with a ton of dudes if I want a TV to play my PS 3 on. By comparison, all I need to play my PSP or my 3DS (or games on my laptop, for that matter) is occasional access to an electrical socket to recharge.

There are a lot more sockets in my berthing than there are televisions, of course.

edited 22nd Jan '12 7:03:53 PM by Tinweasel

I'm pretty much done with portable gaming, honestly, aside from iPhone apps. I can't be arsed to buy handheld games when I could get games that are pretty much the same, but better on consoles.

I play portable games more, mostly because of the whole laziness factor. The only thing I really feel should be kept to consoles primarily is voice acting, because (at least, assuming it isn't really, really bad) I prefer to listen to it, but the fact that I'll often be playing it while other people are in the room watching TV or something means I'll usually be playing portable games with the sound off.

I like Portable Gaming solely so I don't have to go through the hook-up process of connecting my console to a TV Screen or finding outlets to attach them to.

And because when I am sick in the bathroom I can bring my game in with me to endure the trials of body crisis.

Sometimes I find myself in the bathroom longer solely because I'm playing the game.

edited 23rd Jan '12 9:34:55 AM by Vorpy

I own a PSP, but I very rarely actually play it out and about. Part of that is because I tend to get a bit... vocal when playing certain games (looking at you, Dissidia Duodecim), and like someone else said, I don't play it like you're really supposed to play a handheld, for a few minutes at a time, I'll spend half an hour or an hour at a time on it. I don't even play it at home very much, usually only when I've exhausted my PS 3 games. If the games I wanted on PSP were also available on PS 3, I would get them for PS 3. I haven't played Wipeout Pulse since I got Wipeout HD, for example. Also, my Pulse data got corrupted after it crashed or something.

In conclusion, it's just another console to me, but it nice to at least have the option of taking it somewhere.

Being completely honest, if you're playing a portable game without the sound or headphones, then you're doing it wrong.

Yeah, whatever.

I like console and portable gaming, especially in recent years, as the experience of each gets closer to each other.

Depends on the game. Pokemon? No, I don't always need to hear it. Zelda? Yep, headphones on. Always.

edited 23rd Jan '12 2:07:21 PM by BadWolf21

I use headphones with my PSP as well, even if there isn't anyone else around, just because they're so much better than the PSP's speakers.