Boxwave PSP GameShield Enhanced with Thumb stick and Buttons
www.Boxwave.com
Price: $12.95

Continuing with our reviews of PSP Cases, Boxwave has provided us with a sample of their PSP GameShield Enhanced with Thumb stick and Buttons. This case is part of their GameShield lineup and is a cheaper case made to provide good protection for the front of the PSP (including the buttons and screen).

Coming in a simple plastic bag, there really is no retail packaging that the GameShield comes in. This is ok though as Boxwave products are sold through their website only and are not meant to be on a store's shelf. Most of their products either come in a simple white box or a all white blister pack (like the other GameShields), so a simple bag for the GameShield Enhanced is really no issue and is something to be expected.

Mounting the GameShield on your PSP is very simple. It attaches by using two thumbscrews that attach to the holes on either side of the USB port on the top of the PSP. There are no tools required to install the GameShield, and the thumbscrews are attached to the case so you will not lose them when you do not have the GameShield attached.

Unlike the other GameShields, the Enhanced version's unique feature is that it replaces the D-Pad and Triangle, Circle, Square, X buttons with new "enhanced" buttons, or in the case of the D-Pad, a joystick like device. The buttons are enhanced in that they come up farther and are thus easier to press. They are all independent little buttons that press down on the original buttons on the PSP. For the Joystick, the top part looks very similar in shape to a standard PS2 or Xbox thumb stick. It works by being connected to a rocker plate that is in the shape of the D-Pad that sits on top of the PSP's D-Pad. Then, there is a small spring on the front between the base of the thumb stick and the top of the case. This gives it the thumb stick feeling, and this actually works surprisingly well once you get used to it. The mobility is not as great as a normal thumb stick, but on the PSP it is more than the flat thumb pad below the D-Pad.

For the normal thumb pad, the GameShield has a simple circle cutout that allows access to the the thumb pad. I did find the cutout to be a little of center and thus make it hard to get the full range of movement out of the main PSP thumb pad.

To protect the screen, the GameShield simply covers the screen with the same clear plastic the whole shield is made of. This provides good protection in my mind since it is a hard plastic and it is also very clear so it will not make the screen look bad. There is a lot of glare though as the shield glares even more than the stock PSP screen.

Overall I think this is a good low profile case that provides good screen protection and at the same time makes the D-Pad more usable for some games. Do to the added height of the thumb stick, it makes the PSP a bit less pocket friendly, but for most people using the D-Pad like a thumb stick would be the main draw to this case. It is simple, works well, and best of all is a good price!

Pros:

• Low Bulk
• Good Protection for the Screen
• Turns D-Pad into a Thumb Stick like device
• Easier to press standard (triangle, circle, square, X) buttons
• Simple to put on and remove
• Low Price

Cons:

• No protection for the rest of the PSP
• Thumb Stick sticks out
• Cutout for PSP thumb pad is a bit off center

Thanks to Boxwave for the Review Sample!