PixlBit

I focused mostly on the rebuilding of my console game rig in part 1 of this edition of GameRig1UPDate. This time I’ve decided to talk more about my portable game systems. Much has changes since I last spoke of them. Long ago I was only interested in getting one portable system to fit all my gaming needs on the go. Not only for just gaming but for other multimedia functions as well. Like current smartphones of this generation that can stream videos and music, I too had hoped to find one portable game system that could fit my needs of games, videos and music all on one device. After all these years I must confess that despite my best efforts I have failed in finding that one system.

Too many technical and financial huddles kept keeping me from pursuing this quest of an all in one device. So instead I’ve had to make due and downscale my ideas. Perhaps I’d have better luck with a PS Vita. But until then here is my current portable gaming set up.

I spoke briefly in my current PSP set up. This PSP 3000 series replaces my original bulkier PSP 1000 series from years past. I had somehow ended up bricking my PSP 1000 when I used the PSP Media Manager program off the PC to help transfer a system update. Since then I’ve been far trusting in using it for any future system updates but instead used it to store back-ups of my various digital offerings I have saved on my PSP to NSONICUS PRIME or my desktop PC. I didn’t like my PSP 3000 at first given how it felt so lightweight and cheap compared to the far more bulky and sturdier PSP 1000. But I’ve come to appreciate the weight loss of this new unit given how I carry it with me all the time in my media bag. Though it was a pain to get a new case for it since my original Logitech PSP case wouldn’t fit it, it worked out better in the end by finding a case that had a plastic protective screen that straps over the unit. It was even able to hold two more extra MS DUO memory cards and UMD’s in the process.

I had a plan for my new PSP. My PSP 3000 was to be able to do four key features that fit my own personal tastes. For me to be able to do that was to find a way to boost the maximum memory capacities of the unit. The end result of that was in as I mentioned in the first part of this GameRig1UPDate by means of using a MS Pro Duo Dual Slot Adapter. By using two 16 GB micro SD cards I was able find a cheaper alternative in getting 32 GB of memory on my PSP. After that the rest of my plan was. Or so I thought. I won’t focus on too much time on what each of these key features I wanted my PSP to do to save time. Just know that they were meant for two specific genres in gaming. The third one being that I would be able to use my PSP like an average MP3 player. To that extent I can say that was accomplished. But the fourth, and most important aspect I’ve always wanted, took a bit more work to do. It took some doing but I was able to pull it off albeit in the lamest terms by some.

Behold my PSP: The Portable Horror Movie Machine

Ever since I learned that my PSP was able to output video images with use of the PSP’s Component cable, it was my dream to be able to play certain horror videos either on the go or wherever I went. You never knew when you might’ve needed something to darken the mood. My original plan was to digitally download various horror movie titles to my PSP’s hard drive so I could have them on the go along with my component cable in my media bag. That way I was ready to go to watch whatever I wanted when I was in a circumstance where I couldn’t play a game due to travel accommodations. That plan later feel apart when I learned that my 32 GB of HDD space on my PSP wasn’t enough to store many horror movies on it. Though I was able to use more than one MS Pro memory card for the sole purpose, my 16 GB one specifically, you’d be surprised how much memory those videos can eat up. I wasn’t able to use my 32 GB due to the overabundance of digital games and music I currently have saved on there. So besides in using my 16 GB MS Pro memory card I found myself resorting to other primitive means of acquiring the titles I wanted on the go: UMD’s.

Yes I actually have amassed a good number of UMD movie titles when they went on sale long ago. When Sony decided that UMD’s wouldn’t be used as a decent media storage medium most of the movies offered on UMD were selling for super cheap. Some for as much as $.99 in some stores. It was the HDDVD fire sale all over again. So I spent that time finding as many Horror movie UMD’s I could lay my hands like “28 Days Later”, “30 Days of Night” and that Dawn of the Dead remake. Most of these UMD’s are just loose discs and sadly most of them are stored away, buried in various totes from my move. I was lucky enough to dig out these three horror titles that I will admit do see a good amount of play during these Octoberween days. Though “The Silent Hill Experience” isn’t exactly a movie the other two do fit the bill at the moment. I of course had to invest in additional battery packs for my PSP since using UMDs take up much more power to use than just accessing videos off the MS Pro memory card. I had to resort to a generic 3.6V 2600 mAh Li-ion Battery than the official Sony extended use battery pack but it is better than the standard issue 3.6V 1200 mAh battery that this PSP game with. It beats bringing along the systems AC adapter.

It took many a year but my portable horror movie machine is a reality. Even now I plan to have my usual “Hellsing Ultimate” marathon sometime in the coming days.

So that’s the “horror” aspect of one of my portable game systems. I’ll have to touch on another portable game system next time.

Ta-ta

“N”

BONUS VIDEO!

In the first episode of “Camera Obscura” we saw Claire stumble upon a strange book and old camera among her grandfather’s possessions. Now we learn what exactly makes this camera so special.

 

Sleep well tonight…..