PSP getting ports from new sources
by Steven Bailey 
{ Jan 21st 2007 at 10:45PM }
It's no secret that the PSP (as with any system) gets ports of games from other consoles. Most of the ports to PSP logically come from the PlayStation 2. But all that is starting to change. With the PS3 on the rise and the PS2 on the decline, PSP is starting to get ports from some unexpected places.
The DS has many a game that it's shared with the GBA, but recently it seems like more and more GBA games are jumping over to Sony's portable. The most obvious of these are all of the recently announced Final Fantasy projects. From Final Fantasy Tactics to just plain ol' Final Fantasy, these GBA remakes are being remade again for the PSP. But it doesn't just end there, the PSP will also see a port of the GBA RPG title Riviera (which is great for me, since I never played that game).
Of course, while it seems like quite a few PSP games are from GBA land, that isn't the only system sending off titles to PSP's library. Xbox games like Xyanide and Painkiller: Hell Wars are reported to have versions coming out this year for PSP and the DS racer Asphalt Urban GT 2 will be out shortly. Even the PC isn't exempt as fantastic physics platformer Gish has a release date for our system of choice.
The future though seems to be the Wii and PSP connection. While Alien Syndrome is one of the only Wii/PSP games announced so far, the fact that Wii games have to be developed independently from the rest of the home consoles means many developers may be looking to PSP versions as another source of profit. Of course as with any business move, these ports will have to make money if this is to become a serious trend.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Word of the street @ Jan 22nd 2007 12:12AM
I dont consider old ports as something bad as long they are better than the originals and the price isnt too high.I would pay for a port.
The ones that really upset me are the PSP originals like pursuit force or GTA:VCS,i mean i know the whole point is make games portable but come on just leave us a few originals.it really upset me the whole pursuit force thing.
While getting ports for other sources isnt bad infact i think is good,making ports of PSP games really pisses me off.
sumdum gai @ Jan 22nd 2007 4:12AM
Wait a minute, so Gish is coming to both the PSP and DS, or just the PSP? Either one is fine by me. That game was great and does the physics thing better than Loco Roco.
Merc25 @ Jan 22nd 2007 10:01AM
"From Final Fantasy Tactics to just plain ol' Final Fantasy, these GBA remakes are being remade again for the PSP."
uh...since when was Final Fantasy Tactics on the GBA, I know their was Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, but that one isn't coming to the PSP.
The Riviera game looks like it was from the Gameboy Color(which was as power the NeoGeo pocket color).
Michael Anderson @ Jan 22nd 2007 10:01AM
I really don't care where the games come from so long as they work well and are good. But I tend to favor the 'new game based on existing franchise' approach. Some examples:
- Dungeon Siege - this PC 'franchise port' works decent, but load times were a pain.
- Medal of Honor - pretty well done once the controls got sorted.
- Brothers in Arms - well, *that* was awful ;)
... and so on.
In terms of actual ports, I think it all depends on what they bring to the table. Final Fantasy I & II are a great example. The GBA version added loads of content and tweaked some of the features. It combined two *huge* games into a single package. It was bursting at the seams with value at a $30 price tag. But what value -add will the PSP version offer? Better graphics but with longer load times? Better sounds but with a higher price?
I mean, I loved Riviera on the GBA, but there has to be a compelling reason for me to do a re-buy then what I've seen to date.
The problem for me is that I love the PSP graphics, but for gaming-on-the-go that isn't my biggest priority - so a prettier game doesn't mean a better game by default.
Alien @ Jan 22nd 2007 12:01PM
I think ports on the PSP are at least decent , especially the bigger titles ( see : POP , Tekken , MOHA and many others ) , so I have no problem with them . Especially because I dont have te time and chance to play tham on a home console ... so mi conslusion is : welcome ports :D
Nebulous @ Jan 22nd 2007 12:40PM
Just to let you know. Final Fantasy tactics was never on the gameboy advance. It was final fantasy tactics Advanced that was on it. Which was technically a direct port from the playstation. So FFT for the psp has very little to do with psp games being ported from GBA. If anything FFT is staying from where it originated.
Kade Storm @ Jan 22nd 2007 2:16PM
Dudes, we can't clump all ports into one category. Like Michael Anderson said, it's about the niche these games will present on the PSP. Tekken was worth it, because it brought a truly PS2-like essence to a sleek slim portable! Now that's hot!
On the other hand, I don't know, I am getting rather insulted by these GBA-level rpgs and ports on the PSP. I mean, the SD-characters are cute on the SNES and the GBA, but this is the PSP - give me something like XenoSaga (oh, now I've really asked for it, haven't I?) C'mon, I really wanna' play that game on a portable, as I just don't have the patience to run this shite on the PS2.
Anyway, here's to hoping that we get some good ports.
Strangler @ Jan 24th 2007 1:05PM
what I still dont get is why the wonderswan color had better original rpg and squaresoft support than the psp does now, infact it probably had more support than the gameboy and gba did.
icruise @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:47PM
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is a completely different game from Final Fantasy Tactics. Different characters, different story, everything. The game system is similar (they're both strategic Final Fantasy games after all) but they are not even close to being the same game.
Strangler @ Jan 26th 2007 10:46PM
I dont see why they would charge more than 20 bucks for those ifnal fantasy games considering even the new pirates and the warriors psp games as wella s powerstone collection whicha re all way more advanced and newer games ar eonly being sold for $20.