Is ANYONE here a fan of portable gaming?

I'm not asking for people to argue over whether the DS is a gimmicky piece of crap or whether the PSP is an overpriced fad. I'm simply asking if there's a single person here, other than myself, who enjoys playing portable games.

If so, why? If not, explain.

I used to loathe portable games. I could never get into Gameboy, Gameboy Color, GameGear, Lynx or Nomad games, regardless of the fact that I have owned and played every version of the Gameboy since the original grey "bricks" were released in '89. I just couldn't get past the juvenile technology, massive size of the units, and battery life issues resulting in some of the more powerful handhelds.

However, since the release of the Gameboy Advance, I've had a complete change of heart. The thing that drove me to the other side was simply the fact that the GBA was basically a portable SNES. However, it wasn't until the ultimate convenience of the GBA SP with it's smaller, more portable size, clamshell design (to protect the screen) and front-lit display (so I can actually see the goddamned game) that I was fully convinced of the awesomeness of portable gaming.

Truth be told, there's a lot of great portable shit to be found out there nowadays. Games like Fire Emblem, Mario & Luigi, Mario Golf: Advance Tour, Metroid Fusion, Metroid: Zero Mission, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, both Golden Sun games, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow and several others have constituted some of the best gaming experiences I've had in years.

Recently, I've been playing through a relatively unknown GBA game titled "Ninja Five-O" in which you play a ninja detective fighting crime in a modern-day city. The gameplay is like a mix of Shinobi and Bionic Commando, with lots of grappling-hook action. It's a fantastic title, and it's honestly a shame that so many people will never even hear of it, because it's a portable game, and not a very successful one either.

I've become such a huge fan of my Gameboy simply because it offers gaming like that found on the SNES. In an age of massive-budget AAA titles like Metal Gear Solid 3 and GTA: San Andreas, it's nice to have a platform in which old-school 2D gaming is still a major focus.

So, what say you? Why do you, or don't you, enjoy the games offered with portable mediums like the Gameboy and PSP?

I've been playing handhelds since I can remember. I have an original massive Game boy, and the original game gear (game gear doesnt work anymore . Game boy is still running strong. Those were fun as all hell. THen came the game boy color. IT was cool, but it was just basically game boy games in some small color to me. The most recent and last one I got was game boy advance.

I do think a few titles for the newer handhelds these days are neat, but only 1 or 2 and I don't think those justify me getting the handheld itself. One day, if they make a game that makes me completely ditch diablo 2 an WoW, I'll buy one. Till then, it's not worth the money.

I guess it's cause I don't really like a game unless it has a massivly multi player online part to it.

You see, I just can't do that. I feel compelled to play everything. I don't think I could ever get into an MMO simply because of the ridiculous commitment I'd have to make to a single game. I honestly can't fathom how any game could remain entertaining after years worth of playing it, online or not.

I bought a PSP, and it was like have a PS1 and 1/2... but the games I had were merely okay... then I discovered some other 'functions' for the PSP like the ability to put a full hour of quality video on a 256 meg psp card or music or even surf the net with the right settings. Im just waiting for the day they bring soul calibur to PSP and I can play it on wi-fi, then I will never stop.

The great thing about handhelds is that you can pay the games on them more or less anywhere!! The only problem is if you don't have any good games to play. If a great game is brough out on a handheld then you've got fun for ages!! Take the handheld anywhere and you can play it...the best being in the car on long journeys.

My faith in handheld gaming has diminished over the past few generations. I had a grey brick when they first came out along with about 15 games. I loved it. I had a Sega Nomad which I poured my life into for a few years until it fucked up (if you yelled at it, it would lock up). I had a Game Gear and loved the fuck out of some Sonic gaming. I bought a GBcolor when they came out and more games. Then I bought a GBA. I have one game. And that game is Link's Awakening which isn't even a GBA title. I'm considering getting a DS because I played a few games and it doesn't seem like a gimmick with the right application (The Yoshi game with baby Mario). The PSP looks like it has no good games and 3D gaming on a handheld seems stupid to me. I'd rather have super sharp 2D graphics than shitty PS1 quality 3D graphics.

You're just not playing the right stuff, Robo. Grab any of the games I listed above and you'll change your tune. Fire Emblem, Mario & Luigi, both Metroid games, LOZ: The Minish Cap and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow are more than enough incentive to give portable gaming more of your attention.

As for the DS, Yoshi Touch n' Go is a good choice, but there are better games. WarioWare Touched, Kirby Canvas Curse and Meteos are the three best, and they are perfect examples of how the touchscreen can be used creatively by developers.

I don't go anywhere really, and I'm sure as hell not gonna waste that much money on a handheld to play at home. So far my summer has consisted of sleeping, playing WoW/doing other shit, and spending time with Nikki. I really just have no use for a handheld.

I don't like portables because I don't really want to carry around games and play them. I play games at home. When I'm out, I'm with friends.. no reason to play games.

nintendo fanboi at its best.....tsk tsk

nintendo fanboi at its best.....tsk tsk

Sony fanboy at his worst. Tsk tsk.

I just don't have the opportunity to play portables anymore. I could substitute them for my rare pc or rarer console gaming sessions, but then I'd have to buy portable systems, which = why?

I used to like playing GB on trips. Zelda and Pokemon kept me entertained for hours.

If I'm going on a long trip now, though, I'm almost always driving. If I'm not driving, I'm bullshitting with the guy who is driving to keep him awake or headbanging to music or holding the "Show Us Your Titties!!" sign out the window.

I like the PSP because it does (and will do) so much crap. Recently I've just been using it to play SNES games, and some movies.

LOL now you can download game ISOS and run them off your memory card...haha been playing lumines and coded arms on this B!

The PSP looks like it has no good games and 3D gaming on a handheld seems stupid to me. I'd rather have super sharp 2D graphics than shitty PS1 quality 3D graphics.

Actually Ridge Racer for PSP is an awesome title, and the graphics are comparable to a racing game on Dreamcast. The selection of games isnt the best yet, but Im crossing my fingers that some quality ones will be coming out.

I used to play the grey gameboy back in Grade 3 (it was a gift from my uncle), and back then I didn't mind holding a gameboy around and play it outside...

Now, first of all I don't have so much idle time when I'm out (I'll be talking, driving, shopping, walking... other than sitting around doing nothing), and then lately I can't really stand the small screen.

Also, since I import quite a lot... I can't really support any other gaming system financially.

I suppose I just have a tendency to find myself waiting a lot more than other people. I have to ride in a work truck to and from Rawlins, Wyoming (4 hours each way) every week, and the Gameboy really comes in handy on the rides. On top of that, it just seems as though I find myself perpetually waiting on other people, giving me more than ample opportunity to abuse my handheld regularly.

Plus, playing videogames inside all the time gets stale. If I've got a day off, and nothing better to do, I'll usually grab a book or my Gameboy and head outside.

Well as I said I rarely have a time where I've got nothing better to do than play a handheld, although I could see myself just taking a break from my computer/TV/etc in the middle of the day and going out for a bit with my good ole gameboy, but I can't see myself paying THAT much for one.

Hell, I could just buy a hooker.

You can't imagine paying 80 bucks for a GBA SP? You buy liters of "Citrus Drop" and "Dr. Sparkle" instead of Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper, don't you?

Well as I said I rarely have a time where I've got nothing better to do than play a handheld

That's where the difference between you and I comes in. I don't consider myself to ever be in a situation where I "don't have anything better to do than play a handheld." I find myself with free time, and decide to dedicate it to playing videogames. Sometimes I'm in the mood for a good console game, but sometimes I'm in the mood to play some Fire Emblem in the sun. I just go with whatever appeals to me at the moment. Handhelds, for you it seems, would feel almost like a last resort, right? To each his own, I guess.

I had a Game Gear way bak when. Actaullt, I still have one, it's just that I don't play it anymore. The battery pack stopped working, the adapter stopped working, and I've just never put batteries into it.

I never really used it to it's full potentioal, Instead of going outside, or walking around with it, I'd always hook it up to an outlet somewhere in the house. Kinda funny, I have a portable, yet I don't play it unless an outlet is around. It has a rechargeable battery pack, but I think I left the batteries in too long.

Anyways, I had games like Virtua Figheter, Sonic Spinball, columns, and some racing game. Out of those, Sonic Spinball was my favorite, but it got fried up a long time ago. Virtua fighter was kinda neat, it was the only fighting game I've seen with a story mode, but it lasts all of two minutes or less.

I haven't played any of the Nintendo handhelds much. I played a little bit of one of the Poke'mon games, and I played LOZ: The Minish Cap at the store for a little bit.