A lot of people like to say that the PSP "sucks," however the PSP is only considered bad because of its game direction. The PSP itself is a pretty damn powerful system for something as small as it is, and therefore it can pull of some impressive feats for gaming in terms of handhelds. However, the PSP just didn't use that potential and stuck with crappier versions of console games {which of course are going to be of much better quality on a console due to the technology} or spin-offs games that nobody really cares about. The appeal of taking these games "anywhere" just doesn't work when most people play games during their spare times. Handhelds only come in during long periods of waiting, but those moments aren't exactly a selling point if the game collection is sparse and uninteresting especially in comparison to its competitors. In fact, a big appeal to people about the PSP is the concept that it's like a small computer. However, in the game industry people aren't going to care about computer like components when basically all they want from the system is to play games with it and it is, after all, a game system. If the PSP had gotten more original titles then I'd imagine it'd be more popular. I mean, if you got more games like Dissidia or Pixeljunk then the system would be good. However, it didn't.

What appealed me to the DS is that it has a larger range of games which far exceeded the PSP and had more originality to it than that system. While the PSP boasted games which were basically dumbed down versions of the original, the DS offered an entirely new experience that was different from its counterparts. While these can range from bad to good, it was no doubt different which appealed to a good number of people. If we're to speak in terms of hardware, the DS technically isn't as powerful of a system as the PSP but because of this it proves the most important thing in the game industry - it had good games which people have interest in.

If we are to rewind to the last generation we can say that this was much of the same case with the PS2 and it's dominance in the last generation. While the PS2 as a system was technically inferior to other consoles in terms of its quality, it still sold more than its competitors. Why? Because the games it boasted were numerous and popular. As a result, a lot of people gained interest in it and thus many people deemed it the "best" system of its generation. Which is basically the same that can be said about the 360 in comparison with the PS3 this generation, however the two systems are now more equally balanced when it comes to exclusives.

All in all, the PSP is a good system by the technical point of view but it just didn't use that potential. I myself am now taking an interest in the PSP considering its new line-up of games, but I still don't think it matches up with the DS due to the games it has. If the PSP wants to gain more gamers interested in their product, I think that dropping the dumb downed versions of console games and going for more original titles is the best route to go. Thankfully, this is the direction it's headed and I'm pleased to hear what Sony is coming up with it.