Which is the best handheld video game system?

My 10-year-old plays the hell out of his DS. Can't speak for PSP.

My son is 10 and he got a DS for his birthday and loves it. Plus if your son already has a Gameboy Advance, the DS will also play those games.

Not to mention that you can pick up a lot of good used games at places like Gamestop.

To update everyone -

I was probably going to get the DS based on everyone's suggestions, until the other night, when my son became fascinated with my wife's Ipod and the concept of downloadable music. I knew that the PSP could also be used as an MP3 player, so that, coupled with the release of the new PSP 3000 tipped the scales.

Last night I went and got him this new box set that includes the PSP 3000 and the Ratchet & Clank game, plus the UMD of National Treasure 2. Cost = $199.

Let's just hope that it isn't a passing fascination.

Cool! I'm sure your son will love it. You really can't go wrong with either one, IMO. It's just one would have advantages over the other depending on how you play it. Most of my friends and cousins prefer the PSP over the DS because of it's various extra features.

A thread you might want to check out now that you've decided on the PSP:

http://www.wordforge.net/showthread.php?p=1665676
(especially post #8. )

and...
http://www.wordforge.net/showthread.php?t=57568

8 years old ?

I was going to vote DS, DS by far!

You really think your 8 year old is going to be downloading a ton of music? C'mon. Goto Walmart and buy a 20 dollar mp3 player and see how that goes first.

DS is easier for a kid to use and has MUCH funner games to play.

HOWEVER!

The games are so freakin small there is no way your kid isn't going to lose them. My cousin's kid has already lost two of her games and she's 13. Let me tell you it sucks to be looking under couch cushions for an animal crossing game you just bought 2 weeks ago. And once those little things are gone, They're gone. Never did find any of those lost games

So I too must vote - used Gameboy Advance. See how that goes first. Sure he may get beat up at the bus stop alot for having a lame old system, but better that than being one of those little rich jerk offs that have everything.

Big ups for Ratchet & Clank. Those games are shiny nuggets of video game heaven.

He has been glued to it the past two days. Literally, it never left his hands today.

Two, actually. I've been meaning to post a thread about some of the changes that have been going on with me, but I haven't gotten around to it. You've noticed I haven't been around nearly as much the past couple of months? There are reasons.....

If you want it just to play games, get a nintendo DS. If, like me, you want lots of media like mp3, video, games, e-books, get a PSP. It's a sweet little device.

I remember when my cousin bought one. She paid $350 for it at the time. It was the most awesome thing I had ever seen. She only had two games, that being "Sonic The Hedgehog" and "Tazmania". So much fun.

I agree. I like both systems, but the PSP was my choice because of the similarities to the PS2, and because I can save pics, watch movies, listen to music, surf the internet and play PSP games. By the way, speaking of PSP games, Force Unleashed on PSP? Lots of fun.

J.