More than Alien Vs. Predator, many fans have been waiting for the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP to go head-to-head. While the general features are very different, one thing that they both have in common is wireless capability. What sets them apart and what is in store for everyone in the future?

Comparison of the Nintendo DS and PSP’s wireless functions:

The innovative 2-screen with touch panel, the Nintendo DS and the multi-media player, the PSP - these two very different game systems both have wireless features. In this article, the capabilities of these two hardware systems are compared.

The independent wireless DS and the PC-like PSP:

The wireless function of the DS uses IEEE 802.11 standards, but the wireless connection isn’t shown on the settings screen. The signal strength and wireless connection are only shown on the start-up screen. During normal operation, only a blinking power lamp confirms the wireless connection. For Nintendo, multi-player portable gaming has been supported via cables since the Gameboy. The wireless connection replaces the need to tango with tangled wires.


The start-up screen shows the wireless connection.


The blinking power light confirms the wireless connection.

The PSP is equipped with wireless LAN features based on IEEE 802.11b, the same type used to connect to wireless access points. Ad-hoc mode allows it to connect to other PSPs and Infrastructure mode allows it to have a MAC address and connect using SS-ID and WEP 64/128 bit settings. This closely resembles a PC and the box displays the Wi-Fi certified logo. Perhaps this is a hint about what might be coming from Sony…

By using the advanced wireless settings, it’s possible to connect using PPPoE, as well as a manual IP address. Connecting to the Internet directly via PPPoE didn’t seem possible, but Direct PPPoE and Bridge PPPoE routers are supported. It may be possible for the client terminal to connect via PPPoE and connect via a global IP address.


PSP showing Ad-hoc mode and Infrastructure mode features


SS-ID and Web settings using Infrastructure mode


SS-ID and Web keys are entered with an on-screen keyboard


Connecting via PPPoE


Confirming the MAC Address


The Wi-Fi Certified seal

The wireless settings are equipped to perform an SSID search, find the nearest access point, and automatically connect. The included public wireless LAN tool is used when the channel cannot be found using the SSID, password, and signal strength.

The body of the PSP has an ON/OFF switch and also indicator lights for the wireless features, compared to the DS, the PSP lets the user know more about the status of the wireless signal.

To reduce power consumption, the default wireless system is set to “Low Power Mode”. When the signal strength between another PSP unit or access point is weak, try turning the Low Power Mode off and give reactor #5 more power Scotty.


Automatic SSID input


The ON/OFF switch for the wireless and the LED indicator


Low Power Mode


Testing the Internet connection

Multi-Player Gaming with the Nintendo DS:

The difference between the DS and the PSP becomes clears when looking at the DS’s wireless multi-player function. The overall impression is that the DS is a clear winner. The DS supports three modes; DS wireless play, DS download play, and PictoChat. The DS wireless play requires all the users to have the same cartridge. The DS download play requires only one user to have the game.

To give a perfect example, take the game DAIGASSO! BAND BROTHERS, if the DS uses download play, up to eight players can play using only one cartridge. On the other hand, if every user has the same game, not only will there be no download time, but the number of people that can play at the same time becomes infinite, truly a multi-player game.

In the puzzle game, Polarium’s case, DS wireless play can only be done by two people at the most, DS download play isn’t possible however, it’s possible to have play a trial game with other players up to ten times. As long as there’s enough juice, two people can keep playing until the cows come home.

PictoChat uses the included chat feature to allow up to sixteen people in up to four chat rooms. Text can be entered via either a soft keyboard or written on the screen by hand. Of course, if people are using PictoChat or playing a game, another user can’t automatically intrude.


DAIGASSO! BAND BROTHERS, which supports DS download play and DS wireless play.


If everyone has the game, the number of players becomes limitless.


By using DS download play, people can play the same game even if they don’t have the cartridge.


By using the internal PictoChat feature, up to sixteen people can play in up to four different chat rooms.

While the DS allows for wireless play on one ad-hoc system, conversely, the PSP uses IEEE 802.11b and allows users to choose up to four connection channels; ch1, ch6, ch11, and automatic. Multi-player gaming is possible if the user and opponents are using the same channel. When there is a wireless signal, one of the game units becomes the host and notifies other units, which become guests. In this way, it functions the same as the DS. The games that went on sale at the same time as the PSP, Everybody’s Golf Portable and Ridge Racer allow up to eight people to play. However, the PSP has Game Sharing functions, which allows data to be sent to other units. In this way, it may be possible to have a similar experience to the DS download play.


Using ad-hoc mode, the channel can be selected automatically or it can be chosen by the user.


The Game Sharing function allows data to be sent to other PSPs.


Starting wireless play from host PSP for Ridge Racer.


Screen image of the guest PSP.

The PSP’s Internet Capabilities:

The lack of the Internet connection environment is a big difference between the PSP and the DS. The PSP supports connections to an access point via Infrastructure mode. The PSP can connect to the Internet via a network adaptor. In the future though, there will be continued development of online games.


The network adaptor function of the PSP.

As mentioned previously, the DS can connect wirelessly, but lacks the SSID, WEP, and MAC address features – for this reason, the DS can’t connect to a wireless LAN.

However, the DS’s voice chat and other developments use the Internet. Future developments may include online games played via the Internet. Traditional ways of connecting to the Internet may not be possible, but it may be possible with a wireless supported game cartridge, hardware update, or a module similar to the Game Boy Advance.

In the battle as a multi-player gaming device, the DS has won this round because games can be played between several players via DS download play and internal features, such as PictoChat. Conversely, the PSP has more Internet features and can already support a network adaptor. Perhaps in the future there will be software which supports network sharing and downloading between PSPs. However, for both units, the PSP and the DS, since they both support multi-player gaming, the way to win the war will be done by future developments to use the Internet.

Aricle Inspired By:
http://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/special/7831.html