Psp - no idea where to start

cathys1_2

Dh is 30 this year, and announced he wants a PSP as his pressie!!!! I have had a bit of a look around - but not sure where to start, what is a good deal etc. I seem to think Amazon have a pretty good deal. I want to make sure he has everything he needs to get going - and family can buy the games - what do you suggest!

TIA

Cathy

Hulkwarriors

Hi Cathy,

I dont know the specifics of prices surrounding the consoles but i used to work in a computer game shop and that is wher ei woulkd advise to go.

The best prices around are genrally From Gamestation and they can usually do a deal if you see it cheaper. and then there is Game and also a few independant stores (in the southwest we have Eplay and Pink planet). Your best bet is to go into a store and tell them you want info and the best deals and just play them all off of one and other untill you get the best deal.

If you speak to a manager (generally the person in a suit) they can give you better deals.

And as a note i would steer clear of places like Argos and Catalogues as they are really expensive compared to the current and always varying prices.

sjc_2

Also worth looking what deals Toys R Us have on, I managed to pick up a good pack from them with three top games and accessories for my Son before Christmas for £170.

But be careful and check out the games as some times they try and off load the cheaper old games. I found a deal online with Toys R Us and got the local store to match the bundle, but had to speak with the manager and show the print out before they would.

gaming_guy

and to save games, videos, mp3's and photos you will need a memory stick

dont buy one off ebay as the majority are fakes

cathys1_2

Ok thanks

What I want to know is about the starter packs - are they worth it - what are the MUST HAVE periphials (sp!)?

Cathy

cmjohnson_86

If i were you you should get a starter pack with atleast a 1gb memory stick, called a giga pack in shops. I would also suggest getting the following games;

Lego Star wars II - The original trilogy (A must have for any star wars fan)
Fifa 2007

Hope you find it all ok, Im sure he'll love it.

black-saturn

I bought myself one of these about 2 months ago to keep me amused on my long train journeys and I've got to say it's one of the best things I have ever bought. It's loaded up with MP3's, videos, my holiday photos and you can also buy games and films for it.

I bought mine from Game but they also had some good deals at Gamestation. The one I bought was preowned but you wouldnt know as it was like new. You can buy the games and UMD films for it on ebay and sell them on on ebay when you've finished with them too. The good thing about buying from Game is you get points for it.

cmjohnson_86

Yeah game also have a 10 day no questions asked refund policy, which most games shops dont.

cheapaschips_2

if i recall - argos were doing a value pack with a 1 gig card and a couple of games reduced to about £180 in the sale.
can't see it on the website but i'm sure there was a poster in their window.
i'd have to say that is a good deal.
i got one a few months ago and yes they are the ultimate boys toy...!!!

Little_John

Stock "Sony fixed" prices of the 3 options
Base pack should cost £150 in that you get a PSP, battery and a charger
Value pack should be £180 you get the same as above but also get headphones, remote control and a 32mb memory stick, soft case and a sample UMD
Giga Pack should cost about £210-220 as the value pack but comes with a 1GB memory stick opposed to the 32mb

The value pack is worth paying the extra for the memory stick, remote, soft case and headphones. The memory stick allows him to save his progress in games, the case helps protect the psp, the remote allows him to leave the psp stored and control music playing on it.

If he really intends to use it as a video and music player he will need a larger memory stick I would recommend a 2gb card opposed to the 1gb in the giga pack. it is cheaper to buy a 2gb card and a value pack than it is to buy a giga pack OK it may be about £5 more but it is about the same. there are many other reasons to having a large memory card should your hubby decide to search for homebrew he will find out about playing iso games from a memory card without the need for the UMD disk amongst a lot of other stuff really cool stuff.

When buying a PSP every one seems to sell the console and a game or games, places like Argos, and the dixons group will get their package and sell it until they get a new one you will find the games tend to be older and not really the popular games people want they are trying to shift old stock. Games shops usually change their bundled games as new games come out so the stuff you get are more likely to be worth getting. The only problem doing things this way is that the games shops sell at RRP PSP games RRP is £35 where most places sell at £30 so when comparing prices on the bundles remember you can get games cheaper elsewhere.

Required additional stuff, I would buy a screen protector, it is just a film that goes over the screen to prevent scratches as scratches can be off putting when playing I use a Hori protector imported from japan it is really good you wouldn't know it is on there. Nothing else really needed, he may want a usb cable with built in power connector for the psp that will allow him to charge it from the PC while transferring files to the PSP or any time he needs to charge he can use a usb port on a pc/laptop. I also bought some cases to hold umd's when I'm out and about they are just a little larger than than a UMD.

india

You can buy the memory from ebay I got my son 2gb for £18.60 inc p&p.
It came with a 5 year gurantee and is Sony brand.