There have been a great many PSP system bundles over the years, with new ones constantly hitting the market. A PSP in a bundle may come in a limited-edition color or with an exclusive game or video, and these can become hard to track down once production ends and they sell out.
A low-priced bundle might catch your eye, or come highly recommended by a well-meaning salesperson. But beware –- certain bundles contain an M-rated game or UMD movie, not rated by the ESRB. Always check the packaging to make sure the bundle comes with the things you want (and not the things you don't).
Here are five great PSP bundles for kids.
1. Invizimals Vibrant Blue PSP bundle
Sony (image courtesy of PriceGrabber)
This bundle is the only one to include the PSP Camera, for use with the Invizimals game and as a normal digital camera with the PSP's camera function. Invizimals puts the camera to innovative use by letting the player take pictures of "hidden monsters" in the real world, then having the monsters appear in the game. Kids will enjoy collecting the monsters and having them do battle, whether against the computer, friends who own the game or players over the Internet.
Bundle includes: PSP-3000 system in Vibrant Blue, Invizimals game on UMD, and one PSP camera.
Buyer take note: the PSP Camera is small, and could easily be misplaced when detached from the system. It also has a somewhat-delicate rotating lens.
Rated E10+ for everyone 10 and up.
2. Hannah Montana Lilac PSP bundle
Sony
A pretty alternative to a full-on "pink for girls" approach, I wouldn’t mind having a Lilac PSP of my own! It includes a sheet of stickers with a cute floral motif to personalize your PSP further. This set came out in mid-2009, and is still a common sight in many retail outlets.
Bundle includes: PSP-3000 system in Lilac, one 2 GB Memory Stick, Hannah Montana: Rock Out The Show game on UMD, and 3 episodes of the Hannah Montana TV show on UMD.
Buyer take note: IGN.com gave Hannah Montana: Rock Out The Show a rating of 5.1 out of 10. There are plenty of games that can appeal to girls, so even if the young lady insists on this bundle, consider broadening her horizons with some of the best PSP games for Kids under 10.
Rated E for everyone.
3. Madden 11 PSP bundle
Sony/EA
For the budding sports fan, consider the Madden 11 PSP bundle. It includes the newest NFL football game from the long-running and critically-acclaimed Madden series. This set came out in Summer 2010, but given the popularity of the Madden franchise, your best bet might be to snag one online.
If the player in question prefers baseball, there's also the MLB 10: The Show PSP bundle, featuring the latest game from the top-rated sports series on PSP.
Bundles include: PSP-3000 system in Piano Black, and one sports game on UMD.
Buyer take note: No Memory Stick is included with either of these bundles.
The Madden 09 bundle included the the game of the same name and a 1 GB Memory Stick, but it's a collectible these days.
Rated E for everyone.
4. Ratchet and Clank Silver PSP Bundle
Sony
The slick silver PSP has only been available in a handful of bundles to date, and this is the best one for kids. Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters marks the debut of the adventuresome lombax and his bolt-brained companion on the PSP, complete with their fun-filled arsenal of weapons and gadgetry. Since the bundle came out in 2008, it may be a rare find in most stores, but look around online and you can still nab this set.
Bundle includes: PSP-3000 system in Silver, one 1GB Memory Stick, Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters game UMD, and National Treasure 2 UMD.
Buyer take note: National Treasure 2 is rated Rated PG for some violence and action.
Game in this bundle rated E10+ for everyone 10 and up.
5. 3-Game PSPgo Bundle
Sony
This is the most complete set on the list. The three included games are available as digital downloads, meaning you would redeem the voucher in the PSN Store and put the games in the PSPgo's 16 GB internal memory. LittleBigPlanet would make a wonderful first PSP game for kids. You can bet they won't be asking for a new game anytime soon if you go with this one.
Bundle includes: PSPgo system, In-Ear Headset for voice chat, Soft Carrying Case, and 3 digital game downloads: LittleBigPlanet, Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters, and SOCOM US Navy Seals: FireTeam Bravo 3.
Buyer Take Note: SOCOM games aren't recommended for children under 13, especially not for online play. See What Parents Should Know About Online Interactions on PSP.