Lifestyle

Portable game consoles in vogue

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The PSP now provides a wireless network system, which allows players to use the portable game console to surf the net. The machine system software version 2.7 can even view Flash content.

Nintendo DS, meanwhile, enables game fans to take on other players around the world through its Wi-Fi connection.

Both the PSP and Nintendo DS have a link system. Players, who have the same game installed in their consoles, can connect through the system to play the game together. While the PSP players can go online to find their game partners, the DS players have to be in the same room to do the link-up.

Hand-held games have become so popular that some eateries organise gatherings for players to share the fun together. Shake Cafe, a newly opened cafe in Causeway Bay , organised a PSP Fun Night and a Nintendo DS Party during the past few months. An invitation was posted on the net and game fans just popped in for the gatherings, the cafe owner Annie Wu Mo-yee said. “I strongly believe that more and more people will join such activities,” said Wu, who is a game fan herself.

The women’s market for portable games is seen to be of great potential. Chan York-heng, chief editor of Game Weekly, a local game magazine, said: “In the past, playing video games was a men’s thing. But now many girls play too.” Many of the Nintendo DS games are targeted on girls, such as Cooking Mama and NintenDog.

“NintenDog was extremely popular among the girls when it was released. Many office ladies queued up for one,” Chan said.

Nintendo has introduced a smaller and lighter version of the DS, called Nintendo DS Lite, which is a hit among girls. The new model has different colours such as white, black, pink and blue for customers to choose from.

Although there had been a saying that the PSP was designed for boys and the Nintendo devices for girls because of the DS’s fancy colours, men players now do not seem to mind as long as they are happy with the product quality, Chan said. For example, university student Lai Suet-king said she and her boyfriend each had a DS. “He thinks the games are fun and we can share the games and play together through the link system,” she said.

To win in the competitive portable video game sector, PlayStation and Nintendo are expected to continue to develop their devices in more dynamic and innovative ways.

Young people play their hand-held game consoles whenever they like.