PSP download service launching simultaneously with PS3

Izumi Kawanishi, Sony's head of platform development in Japan, has let slip a few more details on the forthcoming PSP download service -- namely, that it'll launch alongside the PS3 which, last we heard, was still this November (just not everywhere). In addition to featuring PSone games that'll be playable with an emulator, the download service will also include movies, though no mention was made of a certain music service. All that content will find its way to your PSP via a WiFi-enabled PC or PS3, but it looks like we'll still have a to wait a bit to find out just how much it'll cost.

[Via Joystiq]

[SonyDSPSP @ Sep 6th 2006 12:52PM]

Just another way Sony is trying to make up for their delay.

[Chocolate Starfish @ Sep 6th 2006 1:07PM]

Maybe Duke Nukem Forever should be the highlighted game on there.

[Kevin @ Sep 6th 2006 1:10PM]

Well looks like this isnt going to happen...

[Chef @ Sep 6th 2006 1:29PM]

Personally, I'd love to play Vangrant Story, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and the original MetalGear Solid, that automatically justifies a purchase of a PSP.

Automatically increases the PSP game library 100-fold, including all Final Fantasy 1-9 (incl the remakes), Tekken, Silent Hill, Grandia, Gran Turisimo, etc

Also a great chance to play several very under-rated games like Hogs of War, Urban Chaos, Invasion From Beyond which they will probably never remake.

[Ryoga Vee @ Sep 6th 2006 1:31PM]

Hark, whats that I see? Final Fantasy VII?

[Euan @ Sep 6th 2006 1:49PM]

Right so does Europe have to wait until 03/07 for this too?

:D

[Jake @ Sep 6th 2006 1:57PM]

"All that content will find its way to your PSP via a WiFi-enabled PC or PS3"

You'll also be able to download directly to your PSP using any WiFi hotspot.
http://psp.ign.com/articles/730/730124p1.html

[djSyndrome @ Sep 6th 2006 2:00PM]

When they say 'PC', is it platform-agnostic? Even though I own a PSP, I don't plan on getting a PS3 and I don't use Windows. I would hate to be out of luck for this, as it seems like it might actually put the PSP to good use (provided the price is right).

[The Jones @ Sep 6th 2006 2:02PM]

>>Right so does Europe have to wait until 03/07 for this too?

Likely the Europeans won't have to wait since the service is doesn't require the PS3.

Says you can download via PC and WiFi, PS3 is just another interface to the service according to the article.

Also if its internet-based, even if the site isn't up in Europe you can just come to the US site and download it since PSP games and firmware don't have region code.

[Gromit @ Sep 6th 2006 2:09PM]

>>When they say 'PC', is it platform-agnostic? Even though I own a PSP, I don't plan on getting a PS3 and I don't use Windows. I would hate to be out of luck for this, as it seems like it might actually put the PSP to good use (provided the price is right).

If you can download via Wifi on the PSP means you really don't even need a PC(or Mac), probably requires a firmware update, but you can install any firmware on any regions PSP so it shouldn't be a problem.

Luckily 4GB Memorystick Duos are around $100 now, there are a bunch of PS1 games I would like to play, also the save-state feature in the PSP where it'll save the state of the game when you turn the power off would be cool on those longer PS1 games like Final Fantasy Tactics.

[James @ Sep 6th 2006 2:20PM]

As, I don't agree with downloading these games since I have purchased so many PS1 games, I wonder if anybody will figure out their format and come out with a way for people to take their games and put them on the PSP. I do want to play my Final Fantasy VII and The Legend of the Dragoon on my PSP.

[John Laur @ Sep 6th 2006 2:33PM]

You know what? If they'd have had this service when they launched the PSP they'd have sweptt the DS under the rug, or at least they would have had a chance to do so.

[solomonrex @ Sep 6th 2006 2:48PM]

I can't say this is good at all.

Those titles are mostly bad. How are we going to play Quake 2? Are we getting GT2 because GT4 for the PSP is never coming out? Where has it been?!?!

Basically, what's the big deal? The PS2 and PS3 already play these games without buying them a second time.

[Alex @ Sep 6th 2006 2:59PM]

as long as this isnt a subscription based thing, and given the games aren't drm-ed, i think it will be a huge success.

[Alex @ Sep 6th 2006 3:05PM]

o yea, by huge success, i meant lots of people will be encouraged to download the games and play... which doesn't necessarily mean sony can earn lots of money from it...

[Gromit @ Sep 6th 2006 3:10PM]

>>As, I don't agree with downloading these games since I have purchased so many PS1 games, I wonder if anybody will figure out their format and come out with a way for people to take their games and put them on the PSP. I do want to play my Final Fantasy VII and The Legend of the Dragoon on my PSP.

Not like you still can't play them on the PS1/PS2/PS3, if you want to play it on a portable then you gotta download them, simple as that.

If you don't want to use the service you can still pop them into your PS1/PS2/PS3 and play them to your hearts content, bitching about it is pretty lame. Esp since Sony is very good about backwards compatibility.

Same goes for the all classic collections on Wii and Xbox Live, nobody is forcing your to buy the new versions. If you want them they are there.

[Wanax @ Sep 6th 2006 4:32PM]

How big are these downloads? FF VII was 4 freaking discs, granted, most of it was FMV but the game itself was probably still a few hundred MB. Gonna need some big Memory Sticks if you want multiple games.

[Gromit @ Sep 6th 2006 7:29PM]

>>How big are these downloads? FF VII was 4 freaking discs, granted, most of it was FMV but the game itself was probably still a few hundred MB. Gonna need some big Memory Sticks if you want multiple games.

Most games that were large were due to FMV, gaming code was small, most games barely filled the CD-ROM.

Back then, most FMV back were in Mpeg-1 (not even MPEG-2), I'm sure now with built-in H.264 MPEG4 support in PSP they could compress the crappy VCD quality PS1 video down very significantly, also music/sound could likely be compressed using more modern codecs as well. I'm assuming even large games can fit below 1 Gig, and most games to several hundred megs.

4 Gigabyte duos are pretty cheap now, probably even cheaper by the time it comes out, and likely 8GBs will come out sooner or later.

[ADub @ Sep 6th 2006 8:50PM]

I would absolutely love to see this happen especially since I don’t have a single PS1 game or system, but would love to play FFVII, Resident Evil, Vagrant Story, Silent Hill, Grandia, Parasite Eve. Just to name a few. I am very intrigue and psyched to learn more about this!! I just hope the price is right!!

[James @ Sep 6th 2006 9:16PM]

"Just another way Sony is trying to make up for their delay."
what delay? the delay in europe? who cares about europe.

[rooot @ Sep 7th 2006 6:09AM]

so europeans have to wait till march 2007?

[James @ Sep 7th 2006 2:43PM]

i wonder if i get all this earlyt because i have a US PSP...

[James @ Sep 7th 2006 4:28PM]

>>firmware don't have region code.

theres firmware for each region actually, i have a japanasese model, 2.8, and it has a TV feature, my US PSP doesnt have that... or a UK one...

[Daniel @ Sep 12th 2006 6:49PM]

that shti GANGSTA

[Daniel @ Nov 21st 2006 3:05PM]

James Said: Who cares about europe.

WTF? It's not just europe you @$$hole - but australaisa and tonnes of other places as well.

This service might actually make me want to buy a psp, like every says - as long as the price is right.

[adam @ Jul 9th 2007 2:39PM]

too big price for me Sorry :D:D
my site: http://www.pspgamesites.info/