We just sat down for an interview with Sony's John Koller, who among many other interesting tidbits and factoids (more on those later) assuaged fears that our giant UMD library would be entirely forsaken. While light on details -- they're still figuring it out, he said -- there will be a "good will" program by which owners of current disc-based titles will be able to obtain digital copies for use on the
PSP Go -- "a set number of titles for a set period of time," to be exact. He couldn't confirm all games, or at least all your personal collection, would be transferrable -- that might have to do with the number of digitized games they'll have at launch, which will be at least 300 but not the whole back catalog -- but despite calling it a short-term program he did say, should you receive a new UMD game later down the line, you should still be able to make the digital transfer. As for price, we're still looking to confirm something there, but they wouldn't be putting so much effort into the program if it wasn't at least for a discount, if not free.
If you happen to like your discs, Koller said UMDs aren't going by the wayside so long as the PSP is still around, but he expects digital to start taking an increasing share. Looking to the future, he confirmed all first-party titles and most third-party titles (by the developers' own volition, not a mandate) will be available as digital downloads day and date with the UMD hard copies, and yeah, despite the reduced shipping and manufacturing costs, it'll be for the same price, too.
posted Jun 4th 2009 7:03PM
do we have to drop them off at those public bins with the funky lids that like to snag your arms? i hate those.
Hopefully, they do get their act together and make all PSP titles available like this. I'd definatly be in line for the PSP Go if I was able to move my entire library over to digital.
Thought about the arm and leg you might need to use though?
250$ is a lot for me.
If the posters here can afford Apple hardware, then they should be able to afford a PSP Go.
Actually, I can't afford Apple hardware, so it's a different story for me.
Actually can't afford Apple hardware, so yea.
well...this is nice, kinda shows that sony isn't as evil as everyone makes them out to be all the time.
Now for AT&T on the other hand. Mmm, about that death star logo...
They stated that they will be bringing current games to PSN network. I doubt that they will bring every SINGLE game. Probably the best sellers for sure. .
Cant wait to get my hands on it and play some FF 7 on it... and Metal Gear Solid... and Assasins Creed....and Gran Turismo... Star Ocean...
i could keep going but i will stop.
I really doubt you could...
clone dvd mobile by slysoft.... just sayin.
If you've already spent $40 on a game, and $250 on the new system, you shouldn't be charged beyond that to enjoy the game you already purchased.
*sigh It should be slightly cheaper. Even $5 would make a difference.
That's like saying that renting movies online should be cheaper then renting in the store. In reality they're usually the same or more to rent online in some cases. Same with purchasing movies. Seems like only music is only cheaper online then in physical media. In practice it costs a small fortune to run those server farms compare to pressing/burning & shipping the physical media. Plus they've figure out that any difference in bypassing the middleman (IE retail store) should go to them since they're the one's selling the product. So they get profits on they're books from the manufacturer side and the distributor/reseller side. Ack!
Assuming this applies universally and is not unique to ArenaNet, they can't really do this without lowering the MSRP. The reason is that by selling something directly to the consumer in their own store at a price lower than the MSRP, they would be discouraging people's usage of third party retailers, meaning that said retailers would possibly be looking to break their contract with the company. Also, I'm pretty sure that there's something to make sure that this doesn't happen in a company's contract with a retailer.
"That's like saying that renting movies online should be cheaper then renting in the store. "
No, it's like saying digtally downloaded books should be cheaper than physical books. Which, at least in the case of the Kindle, they (usually) are.
The biggest thing you're giving up with a digital download is the right to sell the game. This is a huge benefit you're giving up with no compensation.
So why should I pay the same amount when I'm saving the seller a huge amount of money AND getting less in return again?
This is pretty darn decent of them. Most companies would make you by another copy all over whenever they come out with a new system and / or format.
You mean like Ninty with the Nintendo Wii?
...or like sony with the PS3 for PS and PS2 games
I really hope they figure this out for the 10 people who care.
i care! also, what am i going to do with all that japanese UMD porn i bought from akihabara? :(
So when this comes out you should rent a ton of psp games from gamefly and download them for free to keep?
You could just wait the 3 weeks it'll take for someone too crack the PSP-Go, or crack the downloaded game files and you'll have all the game you want...Free..
At least Sony is making an effort to keep UMD buyers that go too the PSP-Go happy. Most companies would just say "different system and format - so tough luck - checkout is in that direction *points*"....
Knowing Sony that's not going to happen. They will make you give away the UMD, probably.
Good will?
Makes it sound like they'll count on your honesty to download only what you own, but of course they know that we have no honesty.
Or they ask you to turn in your UMDs for digital copies.
yah, they should have allow UMD owners to have their all games converted to digital copies, and special discounts or trade-in their PSP-1000/2000/3000 to PSP Go!...
I know this would not be a perfect solution, but this is my idea.
Since most likely if you have some UMDs, you probably have a PSP. Make a program for the computer that can take an image of the disc to transfer to the PSP Go or at least verify you have the disc to authorize a download. Of course this still does not elminate the problem of honesty.
There are already programs that can rip UMDs, but there are two problems with that plan. First, they require custom firmware. If you are still using UMDs, you probably don't have CFW :P Second, you would have to be able to hack the PSP Go so it can play game ISOs. I doubt this will happen quickly... the PSP 3000 still hasnt been hacked
I hope they get this worked out. I really like the idea of the Go! as I'd love to have all of my games on the go, accessible and pocketable.
Ahhhhhhh, come on Sony!
I atleast expected there to be a drop in the price of the games...
There is no money spent on making cases, the actual Disks themselfs. No shipping, no cost of shops stocking them...
And yet all this means is that all that money saved is going straight back to Sony?
No idea why they call it good will, they should do this anyway, not just to please the customers...
What about the UMD videos?
No shipping or manufacturing costs and they're still the same price? I think that brings a little more weight to the "I can't sell it when I don't like it any more" argument.
Good Will? On the part of the consumers, perhaps, not Sony. This is how I see this playing out:
1. Sony requires you to physically mail in your UMD to them, so that they can verify your ownership. This will reduce the number of people (though I'm sure they are still some out there) who will just rent the game.
2. They email you a code that allows you to download your game. I get 10GB of data transfer a month for $5, so I'm assuming this cost to them is minimal.
3. Sony resurfaces the UMD, repackages it and sends it back out to retailers, most likely under the guise of a NEW copy.
So now you have your freshly downloaded copy of a game that you paid good money for, forfeited your physical copy of the game and all rights to borrow it to a friend or sell it to subsidize your next purchase, and given Sony the ability to resell the game you already bought.
I'm usually not a conspiracy theorist of any kind, but they have to prevent people from merely renting games and obtaining a full digital copy, and they have to do something with all the UMDs that people send them. #1 and #3 seem like possibilities to me.
Thoughts?
Thoughts? I think your tin hat is too tight and it's cutting off the blood flow to your brain.
Repackaging used products and selling them as new is totally illegal (not to mention bad for PR) and would get them in huge trouble if caught. And of course they would get caught because they couldn't pull off a scam of that magnitude without hundreds of people inside Sony being in the know so a leak would be inevitable.
That's why companies sell "refurbished" items - they have to be identified as such.
First off, have you really known Sony to be a company with a mind for PR? I can think of numerous PR faux pas on their record. Second, your point about selling used products as refurbished is valid. However, Gamestop has been selling used games as new for years. These are games that are removed from their packaging, put into cardboard sleeves which often scratch the disc, and are available for employees to take home and play at any time. Electronics Boutique also did this before Gamestop (not sure about Babbages/Software Etc as I never worked there).
Thanks for your input.
Well I'll be... this just might actually make me want to get one of these now.
This is actually a good thing instead of having people re-purchase all their games again, but knowing Sony, there must be a catch. I'm guessing the selections would be only games that nobody bought, or the procedure is so complicated that it's easier to just re-buy the games again.
"all first-party titles and most third-party titles (by the developers' own volition, not a mandate) will be available as digital downloads day and date with the UMD hard copies"...
Ok, where is my Patapon 2 UMD? Sony forgot to mention that they would be sending me an empty box with a digital download voucher when I pre-ordered...
Sony keeps whining that piracy is killing their game sales, but I think they are also a bit sour about rentals and used re-sells as well- this is convenient way for them to eliminate virtually all media production/packaging/distribution costs and still gouge the customer for $20-$40 a pop for a single customer only digital format.
If Sony would drop the game prices to $5-$10 then I might consider a PSP Go!; but I can buy used UMDs for $8 - $15 and be just as happy...
You guys are such sheep. Please stop kissing Sony's feet.
Sony is doing the same thing Apple has done for years. They are ignoring what is best for the customer and doing what makes them the most money.
I guarantee you that the PSP Go is MUCH, MUCH cheaper to make than the original PSP. Are they passing any of that on to us? Nope. 16GB of memory is cheap as hell and in no way would make a system significantly more expensive. Add in the smaller screen (which is usually the most expensive component), no UMD mechanism, and non-removable battery and you have a crappy re-tool that is NOT worth $250.
Then they add this "feature" of downloading games for no discount. Insane. Downloading one song for $.99 is one thing, especially since you can't just go buy one song at the store. Downloading a $30-$50 game and getting no media is insulting. What if I have to erase it to make room for other games? Do I still "own" it?? Not an issue at all if I have a disc. What if I lose the system (or it's stolen) or drop it and it breaks? Do I still have access to the games if I buy another PSP Go??? Not an issue if I own media.
I bought the original PSP on launch day in 2005 and was a huge fan. Once games started to be crippled by having only one analog stick I started losing interest, but I have always been excited about the prospect that Sony would make a must-have follow up device. This PSP Go is lame as hell and there's no way I would buy one.
J
Guess what? Sony doesn't care if you buy one. If you do, great. If you don't, who cares? You already bought a PSP a long time ago. You're not the target for the PSP go. People who don't already own a PSP are the targets, so the fact that they're trying to allow you to get digital copies of your UMDs is actually pretty nice. I don't see Nintendo allowing me to trade in my old N64 carts for a Virtual Console download or my GameCube Discs for a "New Control" disc or Microsoft allowing me to trade in an Xbox disc for an Xbox Originals download.
As for price, I was hoping it would be cheaper as well. I agree that $250 is too much when you can still get a PSP-300 for $169, but it's not like it's way off base. An iPod Touch 16GB will run you $299 and it has a smaller screen than the PSP go. Don't forget that they also added Bluetooth with this version.
Now for downloads. First of all, if you don't want to download a game, then don't. They're still selling UMDs. They say that right in the article above. Patapon 2 is an exception, and IMO it was more of an overpriced PSN game, but whatever. But if you do decide to download a game, it's not like you only get one download. If you have a PSP, you should know that you can simply go to your downloads list on the PSN store and re-download anything you've ever downloaded before right from there. I did it today in fact. FFVII took up too much space on my memory stick, so I decided to put a couple of other PS1 games on my other memory stick. I just plugged my PSP in (although you can also download straight from the store or the PS3), went to my downloads list, and re-downloaded them to the new stick. Not difficult at all. I was even able to transfer my game saves using Media Go. And the downloads are tied to your PSN account and up to 5 PSPs. So if you buy another PSP go, you will be able to re-download all your games as long as it isn't your 6th PSP you're trying to put it on.
And seriously, people need to stop complaining about no second analog stick. This isn't a PSP2. It's more like the PS2 Slim was to the PS2 fat. Why didn't Nintendo add an analog stick to the DSi or two more face buttons to the GBA SP? Why didn't Sony add a DVD drive to the PSOne for large games? Because it's a redesign of an existing system. I swear, people will complain about anything...
It has a non-removable battery? Do you have sources?
How utterly craptastic if true. As if paying Physical Media prices for downloads were not enough of an insult.
The original PSP was 250 when it launched I dont see what the big deal is.
Everyone keeps on saying this is overpriced because of how its old technology (basically). I mean, come on, if it's still 64MB of RAM, 333Mhz, etc. then there's something. Not to mention NO UMD and SMALLER SIZE. Hate the recession for this.
Please note the added 16gb of memory/bluetooth then go look at the price of the $199 iPod Nano or the $299 iPod Touch and then tell me its not reasonable.
Not to mention you get a bigger screen and a pretty sizable collection of good games.
yeah, but you are comparing an ipod touch to a psp. And even worst, a firmware-locked psp. The psp is the best console if you hack it for emulators, if you leave it like original, you start talking like the millions of owners demanding new games at least every few months, the psp is the new nintendo 64, sold millions yet everyone had just a few games to use it....
Does anyone know if you can use the Bluetooth to connect to a Jawbone or similar headset for use with Skype? That'd nearly sell me on the idea on its own.
And if it was hacked so I could keep SNES games in my pocket.
Yeah you can. You can also use Bluetooth headphones and a dualshock 3. http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=psp&thread.id=3450381
i've got only 1 game (Untold Legends), so it's fine with me...
@ Martin: I was told by one of the SCEA reps there that you can do bluetooth pairing for skype...
i think thats my hand in the picture cuz i was at the booth with the photographer
But my games are all from Japan...
Non-removable battery source here:
http://e3.gamespot.com/story/6210984/psp-go-hands-on-preview?tag=topslot;thumb;5
End of 4th paragraph:
"The sliding mechanism moves smoothly, and it seems like it could take a decent amount of wear and tear. Like the iPhone, the PSP Go does not have an interchangeable battery."
LAME.
Also, you guys are talking about Skype like it matters. This is a gaming console, and what matters is its GAMING potential. Gimmicks like Skype won't make up for the smaller screen, same (barely useful) controls, no media access, non-removable battery (which is completely insane), etc.
This has gone from fail, to Fail, to FAIL. All of you sheep who keep defending Sony need to wise up.
J
Actually, a number of my wife's relatives would love a portable Skype device. They're scattered between two hemispheres and 4 different countries, you see.
But $300 (gotta remember accessories and taxes) is a bit too much for something that could conceivably be done on an internet-enabled cellphone. For less.
Otherwise, I agree with you. The PSP-Go sounds like one big FAIL waiting to happen here. Unlike the DSi, the PSP-Go offers no new features or hardware for developers to take advantage of. The digital downloads being the same price as the UMD versions basically punishes users with an inferior version that can't be resold. And what digital format HASN'T been cracked within days of creation? I fully expect that within a month after launch the PSP-Go and the UMD transfer process will be hacked wide open with easy-to-use software packages available to those who know how to use Google.
Honestly, screw Sony. They've really screwed us over in the UK. I was considering a PSPGo, but then I saw the price. Yes I was slightly disappointed, but it only worked out at this: 250.00 USD = 155.958 GBP which wasn't too bad. Only then did I go onto Play.com to find out that it was £250. How the hell does that work out? $250=£250? That makes 250.00 GBP = 400.630 USD yet the PSPGo is only $250. Seriously screwed over, really put me off. £250 for a PSP Go? I can buy a PS3 for that price, though I already have one. I just really want to know which asshole decided on the pricing for the UK. I doubt hardly anyone was going to buy one, people only started buying the PSP over here when it down to £130. £250? Rip-off.
Get an iPod touch, it's a better value proposition because it has more technologies incorporated than the PSP Go. Did I mention it's an iPod?
I see a HUGE downside to moving to digital distribution: sweaters! What else are grandmas going to buy? Video games have been about the only thing my grandma has bought for me the past 20 or so years.
I think Sony should create a program to convert UMD's to digital, this way even ppl who d/l games for their hacked PSP's can put them on their new ones...
Seriously. THEY SHOULD help those UMD owners. I own a first gen PSP and it's breaking down soon.... but...
having the digital copies same priced as the UMD is abit absurb.
I will not be buying PSP Go if the games are digitally signed and are locked to one single PSP and not transferrable.
I like the idea of the PSP go, but not if the games are the same price as a physical copy of the game. I remember on the ps3 they offered a digital download of warhawk for $20 less then the physical copy. The psp games should follow this, although not $20 discount but possiblt $5-10. And wouldn't 16 gb be a little lacking? Aren't PSP games pretty huge in file size? Still not sure about the psp go but it does look amazing.
most PSP games range from about 700 mb to 2 GB so you would be able to keep about 8-16 with you at all times...