PlayStation games for PSP now available for download

While we previewed it late last month, it's finally official: Sony has launched its downloadable PlayStation games service. Today, Sony Computer Entertainment America announced five titles that will play nicely on your PSP -- they include "Cool Boarders," "Crash Bandicoot," "Hot Shots Golf 2," "Syphon Filter," and "Tekken 2" -- however, Sony added in a press release that future titles would be made available later this month. These games will set you back a Washington and a Lincoln (that's $6, folks), but have to be purchased through the PlayStation store on the PS3, which probably is a bit frustrating if you already own a PSP but were sensible enough to avoid the PS3 insanity. Now if you'll excuse us, we have a grudge match to settle between Law and Yoshimitsu.

[Wonderboy @ Dec 5th 2006 3:31PM]

Seems like Sony's taking those "convergence" seminars a bit too far... With so few PS3s out there, this convergence is costing them accessibility to quite a few potential customers... which is never a good business plan.


Phew... that was tough making it through that comment without making a joke about the PSPs relatively lackluster sales... ;-)

[steve @ Dec 5th 2006 3:50PM]

so wait if they get stored on the ps3 hard drive
and the hard drive is non-proprietary
is there anything stopping someone from just downloading them off of bittorrent and sticking them on their ps3

[Andy @ Dec 5th 2006 3:51PM]

If these could be downloaded without a PSP, I'd say that it's a pretty decent deal. $6 isn't really all that bad for a PS1 game. I think that's more reasonable than the way that the Wii VC pricing is set up.

But I have a Wii/DS so what the hell do I know? :-)

[Billy @ Dec 5th 2006 3:52PM]

Sony is so stupid to require a PS3 for this to work. Talk about a guaranteed failure.

[Jason @ Dec 5th 2006 4:07PM]

Call me when I dont' need a PS3...

BTW, how about some more actual PSP games???

[mck @ Dec 5th 2006 4:21PM]

I'd love to pick up Crash Bandicoot, but a PS3 owner I'm not and probably never will be. Agh, they'd make so much more money if this was simply a feature included with a PSP firmware update.

[Bucket @ Dec 5th 2006 4:23PM]

Call me when I don't need a PSP.

[Lou G @ Dec 5th 2006 4:27PM]

Okay, I have a PS3 and a PSP. And I LOVE Crash Bandicoot. So how do i d/l the games? Do i need a credit card and do the games get stored on the PSP's memory stick? And how much memory does it take up?

[Michael @ Dec 5th 2006 4:30PM]

Why not create a store app on the PSP itself. It's got WiFi and you could download directly on your PSP. Just have an online account setup with your credit card information and create a username and password for the PSP. Then login on your PSP over WiFi, choose the game you want and download directly to the memory card and play, eliminate the PS3 altogether and give everyone with a PSP the ability to get those games. I am sure they would sell a lot more that way...

[KaosDG @ Dec 5th 2006 4:30PM]

Great news Sony! Now get off your asses and make it available to us PSP owners!

I don't want to spend an extra $500 or get shot in the ass just to play me some Crash Bandicoot.

[Padriac @ Dec 5th 2006 4:42PM]

So I need a system I can't get to play games on a system I don't want? Awesome.

[Andir3.0 @ Dec 5th 2006 5:41PM]

So you post a comment on a thread for a system you don't have about a system you don't want... sounds like a troll to me.

[gbr @ Dec 5th 2006 4:53PM]

Hey! Where's Riiiiiiiidge Raceeerrr????

[walk2k @ Dec 5th 2006 4:59PM]

Where did that image come from??

As far as I know, only 5 games have been released so far, and none of them is Metal Gear Solid, Doom, Quake 2, etc...

As for the rest of the griping. Get ahold of yourself for 1 second geesh. They are planning both to allow direct download to PSP (or dl to PC first) and allow playing downloaded PSX games on the PS3. Give it some time, the service JUST came out. Their focus is obviously on the PS3 right now and justifiably so.

[DBX00 @ Dec 5th 2006 5:05PM]

1) They are going to implement the playstation store in the next big PSP firmware update (beginning of the year).

2) As of right now, the file isn't stored on the PS3. The PS3 only acts as a middle man in the transfer and installation. This will change when they implement the PS1 emulator for the PS3 at the end of the year.

These things should come as no surprise since they made it clear when they announced the service. Also, I think the whole argument about the PSP not having games is bogus with all the great games that have been released in the last like two months (MGS, GTA, Ace Combat, etc.). Btw, the emulator works great and I like the fact that you can scale it to fit on the PSP screen. I'm looking forward to them adding more and more titles to the lineup as well as being able to store my collection on the PS3, so I don't have to buy a huge memory stick for the PSP.

[ace_frozen1 @ May 15th 2007 2:30PM]

dude, but look at all of the great games that you can use for ps1 and apearantly, you, unlike me who has a low income job can afford a ps3.

[GioNYC @ Dec 5th 2006 5:26PM]

By the time they get it to work the Direct PSP Download only (NO PS3 Needed) There will be more games avail, Mid Feb 07. So hang in there PSP Users. At $6 per game thats a pretty good deal. In June 07 you'll start to see the games up in Limewire. :)

[Alex @ Dec 5th 2006 5:44PM]

Wow, wait a go for sony to get their act together! PSP owners are hobbled by the lack of software for the system (seriously, name one truly great hit on the PSP) and to access a better library of content we have to get a 500-600$ system which isn't even out on this side of the pond yet (and SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT EUROPE has scared all the importers shitless about reselling the PLAYSTATION 3)?
That's why I play more SNES on my PSP than actual games.

[Hired.Geek @ Dec 5th 2006 8:32PM]

Syhphon Filter: Dark Mirror
Burn out Revenge
Kill Zone:Liberation
Daxter
SOCOM
SoCOM II
Grand Theft Auto:VCS
Grand Theft Auto:LCS
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

Coming Soon
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters


Shall I go on or is that enough for now.

[Castle @ Dec 5th 2006 5:53PM]

Noticed that the load-times are almost non-exisitent on the PSP version since its read off of the Memorystick instead of the old 2X CD-rom that the original PS1 has.

The load-screen will still come up since its emulated but it flashes and is only there for like half a second.

Now we need Vagrant Story, Tobal 2, and Final Fantasy Tactics to make this killer.

[Castle @ Dec 5th 2006 5:59PM]

>>Call me when I dont' need a PS3...

Its suppose to come in the next few months. . .

>>BTW, how about some more actual PSP games???

But, judging from this comment you don't even own a PSP and are just trolling, there are a plethora of good games out for the PSP now, and now being able access $6 PS1 games is increases the library significantly. Looking forward to Metal Slug Anthology coming in a week to the PSP.

Also, hoping that this move by Sony will make Nintendo consider allowing the NES/SNES/Turbo Graphics16 games purchased via VirtualConsole to be playable on the DS.

[Jason @ Dec 6th 2006 8:45AM]

Castle, Ive got the PSP and 10 titles for it currently, waiting on Metal Slug also. And STILL waiting for Gran Turismo. Still not enough titles out for the platform though considering its been out quite a while now. No killer apps either. Socom is fun as is Lumines, but nothing really killer yet. As for $6 PS1 games, still waiting for that as I have zero intentions of purchasing a PS3. So Ill stick to my statement that they need more PSP specific titles. Then again if you like rehashes, then maybe there are plenty of titles.

[Sammy D Kat @ Dec 5th 2006 6:11PM]

That's pretty lame. Downloadable content for my PSP is not compelling enough for me to get a PS3. With memory at a premium on the PSP, it's really not worth it - I'd rather just buy the disc. What I want is a way for me to get video content to my PSP (eg. music videos, movies, tv) without having to buy Sony's Location Free player.

[steve @ Feb 25th 2007 3:09PM]

use the MP_ROOT file on your psp memory stick

[Mike C @ Dec 5th 2006 6:21PM]

Even if you wanted and could afford a PS3, it's nearly impossible to buy one.

[James @ Dec 5th 2006 6:23PM]

Has anybody tried this with the latest DevHook? There's no way I'm giving up my SNES emulator (homebrew), but it would be nice to be able to buy PS1 games as well.

Would it be possible to go to a PS3 demo kiosk at e.g. Target and buy your PS1 games through that? I mean, do you have to have "continuous" PS3 access, or is just coming into contact with one sufficient? This might bear investigation...

[Paul @ Dec 5th 2006 6:25PM]

Pretty retarded that they are making this available only to PS3 owners. Aside from the incredibly low amount of PS3s available (for those who even want to buy one of those overpriced P.O.S.) what did they expect to accomplish by this? Did they think that people will go out and buy a PS3 just so they can play old PS1 games on their PSP?

People dumb enough to buy a PS3 should get the retro PSP games for free.
As far as the press release states these PS1 games are ONLY playable on the PSP, meaning you can't even play them on the PS3 which you used to download them on.

[Jason @ Dec 5th 2006 6:31PM]

Thanks for the clarification DBX00, but still no native GTurismo for PSP. The one title I purcahse my PSP for. And it looks like we will have to wait for the PS1 versions too.

[bazald @ Dec 5th 2006 6:42PM]

I don't know why you think they want everyone to buy these games yet. They probably want those of us willing to test PS3s to test this system. They don't want just anyone using it yet (in reality). They'll let you know its ready by offering FFVII.

[k0llateral @ Dec 5th 2006 6:52PM]

@ Paul.

"What did they expect to accomplish with this?"

Hmm... Its not really a industry-shattering decision, just a way to give psp owners even more enjoyment out of their handhelds. I don't think Sony did this whole thing as an attempt to get people to buy the ps3. Judging by the sell out launch, and the fact that it probably will be sold out for a while longer, Sony isn't really having a problem moving the console.

and wtf are "retro psp games"? You mean ps1 games? I wouldnt call them retro...

Lastly, Sony did say that they would allow a direct to psp download system later on, as well as a update for ps3 to be able to play the downloaded ps1 titles.

I dont know why you're hating so much on sony... Sure some people are mad because of the not-so-great system launch, some are mad because of the high price of the ps3; but people like you: you're just a fanboy (nintendo, microsoft, whatever) with an ignorant and uninformed opinion, and dont deserve a post.

[Steve @ Dec 5th 2006 7:44PM]

MGS PORTABLE OPS!

http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3155667

For the guy making the comment about "No good games for the psp" 9.4 from 1up.com

[evilfixx @ Dec 5th 2006 7:55PM]

No matter what good Sony does, you people (and Engadget) whine... If you don't like Sony, that's all well and good, bashing them doesn't make M$ or Nintendo better, go play your Wii, or your 360. Go pay $8 to $10 for a SNES Mario...

[Leomar @ Dec 5th 2006 8:38PM]

Sony this is ridiculous. It's like asking big momma (PS3) to pass,little kid (PSP), the cookies on top of the fridge so I can enjoy them. I want a PSP store for my games for the PSP. Is that so hard to understand.

[oboy @ Dec 5th 2006 9:00PM]

i think the unfortunate thing about this is that if you have the actual ps1 game, you'd have to pay for it again to play it on the psp.

but i guess that's how things goes these day.

[Caspar Field @ Dec 5th 2006 9:11PM]

Syhphon Filter: Dark Mirror
- Based on PS2 game

Burn out Revenge
- Bad port of PS2 game

Kill Zone:Liberation
- Based on PS2 game and apparently really poor

Daxter
- Based on PS2 game

SOCOM
SoCOM II
- Based on... you know what I'm going to say here

Grand Theft Auto:VCS
Grand Theft Auto:LCS
- Er, yep, another two based on old PS2 games

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
- Oh look! Variety! It's based on an old PSone game!

If you're going to write a list like that in favour of PSP, how about putting just one original title on there... Maybe Lumines, Exit, Every Extend Extra, Mercury Meltdown...?

And for god's sake, who on Earth really wants to pay $6 to play Crash Bandicoot again? Have you actually tried playing an old PSone (or N64 for that matter) game recently? Awful, awful, awful. The first wave of 3D console titles represent gaming's darkest hours. I for one do not want to relive them.

[Jason Kam @ Dec 5th 2006 10:36PM]

Stop calling the PS3 a POS! My god people, as if y'all wouldn't have one in yer living room sometime within the next 2-3 years. And it's just getting harder and harder to figure out why people are so upset with the price issue. Have you looked at prices of phones lately (without contract), phones lusty enough that you'd want are $400-$500 easy! How about that DAP in yer pocket $200? And these are things you are EXPECTED to replace every year or so?!?! Bit*hing for the sake of bit*hing is just plain trollin.

[Tech^Cellfish @ Dec 6th 2006 3:15AM]

DAMMIT! The PS3 isn't for sale here until march, so I'll wait just as long to buy old ps1 games for my PSP. (If not anyone starts liksang2 soon)

[W?r @ Dec 6th 2006 7:02AM]

Hey guy's

Well I think its awsome. Really like the PSP (though the whole UMD movie thing sucks, mostly because of the price) and this just makes it better. Soon we will have a huge achive of ps1 games to choose from. I also think that the new games for the PSP are getting better and better. What Ive seen the PSP is selling ok.

I live in Denmark so the PS3 wont be out until March, but who cares. When it comes out the firmware will be solid with A LOT of options. More games too choose from and the integration with the PSP will prob. be awesome. Yes PS3 is a expensive system, but I think it will be worth it. For me anyway.

If the PS3 still dosent deliver what they promise in March/april/maj, well then ill prob. turn to 360.

Cant really see why folks "hate" Sony. Yes the make some junk, but generaly they make nice stuff. I dont think they are better or worse than the other companies..

[Juvenal @ Jan 6th 2007 1:21AM]

Fuck $ony i would of bough all the FInal fantasy titles if i could just do it over my PSP another reason im not buying a PS3 :P All they want is money those asshols

[Shug @ Mar 29th 2007 6:13AM]

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING "I don't wanna PS3 whiney comments!"

You will be able to download STRAIGHT to PSP on release of the next major firmware update - what's so difficult about that concept?

It's only right at the moment of launch that you have to use your PS3 as a download portal... Jeez...

[dan @ Apr 20th 2007 10:30AM]

since first playing final fantasy 7 ive always hoped it would be a handheld game one day. sony better make it available now they have the technology. i want 6 million dollar games not 6 million pesos!

[Jirachi 99 @ Jun 9th 2007 3:08AM]

Lol u just made up a fake picture saved it to the memory stick and are trying to make us beleive its true

[deemski @ Jun 12th 2007 8:54PM]

yea, fucking sony, who is really pleased with the psp, fucking POS! i cant believe i bought valhalla knights, all their fucking games SUUUUCKKKK, medal of honor heroes is pretty okay though

[Nevarine @ Jun 24th 2007 1:11PM]

You're welcome to check out my lens if you're interested in PSP Game Downloads:
http://www.squidoo.com/download-games-for-psp/

[nSUPER OY @ Dec 27th 2007 12:23PM]

who needs ps3 aFTER THERE IS PSP OUCh opps fucK PS1,ps3 haHAhaHAhaHAhaHAhaHAhaSHAHaHAhaHAahA

[docsharp01 @ Mar 31st 2008 9:52PM]

Excellent article and comments about the PSP Playstation.
http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com

[SaltySnake @ May 26th 2008 3:00PM]

Is it possible to get games downloaded to the PSp from a computer onto the PS3? I know you can do it the other way around, but...

[Fisherman @ Jul 29th 2008 3:13PM]

I just wana play Final Fantasey 7 on my PSP and i cant find a way how to do it could someone give me a link. >:O

[joe @ Aug 23rd 2008 2:21PM]

Plzzzz!!! someone link me to where to get final fantasy titles, especiall FF7!!!!! ive looked everywhere, and cant find it!!! :(

[Jeronimo @ Oct 8th 2008 1:31PM]

Dudes why the ppl that buy and download the games doesn't copy the folder with the game downloaded to his computer and then publish it on the internet, i think it was a lot easier and cheap that downloading from the PS Store!