COMP

A COMP is a device commonly featured in the Megami Tensei franchise. It refers to the portable computer which many characters have used in order to communicate with, transport, and summon demonic entities. It is one of the most common elements to appear in Megami Tensei games.

The Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei novels
Akemi Nakajima carries a small hand-held computer with him at all times, which he uses to summon Cerberus at any time. Charles Feed also carries a similar device.

Shin Megami Tensei
The protagonist carries a COMP which he uses to communicate with demons. It houses the Demon Summoning Program designed by STEVEN. STEVEN later upgrades the protagonist's computer so that it can store more demons.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner (Saturn/PSP)
The Devil Summoner Kyouji Kuzunoha comes equipped with heavily modified gun that has been integrated with a compact COMP system. The hybrid device is known as "GUMP", which is a shortened term for Gun-COMP. Aside from it's obvious purpose, it still functions like a regular gun.

Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
The GUMP reprises it's role as the main demon utility device and primary sidearm, but has undergone a few cosmetic and functional improvements over time. It's use is now widespread among the majority of the active Devil Summoners.

Shin Megami Tensei: IMAGINE
Each player character in Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE carries a COMP. In the start of the game, the player can choose between two models. Snakeman upgrades the player's COMP once they become a Devil Buster.



Shin Megami Tensei IV
The COMP is set to make a return in the upcoming game of the Shin Megami Tensei series.

Devil Survivor
COMPs (short for Communication Players) bear a striking resemblance to the Nintendo DS (Nintendo 3DS in the 3DS remake). They were initially advertised as gaming consoles which allowed for web browsing, email and international online gaming. It's commercial tag line was "Play with people around the world!"

Naoya gave the protagonist and his friends specially designed COMPs to survive the Tokyo Lockdown. Aside from the Demon Summoning Program, a secondary application called the "Harmonizer" tunes to the wavelengths of humans, making attacks effective against demons while lessening the damage taken from them. The Harmonizer affects all humans and demons that are within range of the COMP.

COMP users came to be known as "Demon Tamers". The first time the Demon Summoning Program is initiated, a demon will emerge whose strength is proportionate to that of the user. A contract will not be forged until the tamer defeats said demon. Latter demons are obtained by participating in an online auction using Macca for purchase and contract enactment.

The COMP's battery life is limited; since electricity was cut off in the lockdown area, the only way to keep a COMP functional is by charging it with a hand-crank dynamo. This was the main concern that the party had in the beginning. They received one such device from Keisuke after failing to find some in Akihabara because of the widespread looting.

If the COMP runs out of battery power or breaks, a Demon Tamer loses his/her demon contracts and in turn will also make them vulnerable to demon attacks due to the disengagement of the mind link to the Harmonizer. The Demon Summoning Program can also go berserk, creating portals for demons to freely emerge.

Devil Survivor 2
THe COMPs in Devil Survivor 2 are actually cell phones that have downloaded a demon summoning app, created by the Anguished One. Unlike the COMPs in the first Devil Survivor, these COMPs do not have much inhibitions at all aside from the fact that when destroyed, the Demon Tamers relinquish control of his or her demons.

The Devil Children series
The Devil Children use devices called Devil Risers, which are gun shaped computers used for carrying and summoning demons. In addition, Devil Children carry a personal computer called a Vinecom, which aids in organizing information and sorting demons. Later in the story, protagonists often gain the King Riser which works as a second Devil Riser compatible with stronger demons.

Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)
Demon Summoning programs do not have a large role in the main story, COMP-like devices are prominent in the Climax Theater quest, Persona Thief. The main antagonist, Nirasawa, claimed to have created and placed a Demon Summoning program into a handheld computer, reminiscent of the original COMP created by Akemi Nakajima. One of the other major characters in this quest, Haruo Weyland, summons demons from an effects panel on his guitar called the "Infectious Groove", a reference to Carol J and his guitar GUMP.

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Unlike any previous game, Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey characters summon demons though the use of the Demonica, a worn suit opposed to a handheld device. The Demonica, which stands for "DEMOuntable Next Intigrated Capability Armor", is from Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey and bears many similarities to the COMP of other Megami Tensei games. The Demonica too allows the protagonist to summon, communicate, and transport demons, and also has several other functions. The Demonica initially starts by mysteriously receiving the Demon Summoning Program, which allows the protagonist to see the otherwise invisible demons within the Schwarzwelt. As the plot progresses, the protagonist and the crew of the Red Sprite gain several upgrades to the Demonica using the Rare Forma gained from the Schwartzwelt including, but not limited to: detecting more valuable forma, Gate Search, and revealing invisible doors.

Variations
It is worth noting that Jack's Squad has a different model of Demonica. It is black and more combat-oriented albeit vastly inferior to the ones used by the Red Sprite team as supported by Arthur, comments of Jack's Squad, and their needing a Forma Search upgrade from the Red Sprite.

Sub Apps
The Demonica also has sub apps, programs that effect thing such as battle frequency, prizes awarded from victorious battles, and how your summoned demon's skills grow. Unlike regular programs, sub apps only have a limited space to work with, and only a few can be equipped at any time.

Designation
The Demonicas of the crew have different colored sleeves depending on a crewmember's role on the Red Sprite. Yellow sleeves designate members of the Operations Team and related teams while blue sleeves designate members relating to support teams such as the Resupply Team or the Medical Team. A red sleeve always denotes members of the Strike Team. The protagonist (and Demonee-Ho) seems to be the odd one out, having a white sleeve marking on his Demonica which is ambiguous as to what it represents.

Trivia

 * In Persona 3, the player needs a "portable game system" to fulfill one of Elizabeth's quests. While the item itself is called "Handheld Game", Junpei states that the system is called COMPstation Portable, clearly referencing this device. He says he can give you his old model since he got the redesigned one.