Japan To Get All First-Party PSP Games as Digital Downloads

[DoctorFinger]

Sony has long seen the PSP as more than just a games platform. Now with the advent of the Wi-Fi PSP Store they see it as one more thing: retail outlet. Starting next Wednesday with the upgrade to firmware 5.0 Sony will make all future first party PSP titles available for digital purchase in Japan. Some of the titles coming soon which will be available in this manner include: Secret Agent Clank (11/20), Patapon 2 (11/27), LocoRoco 2 (12/4) and Resistance Retribution.

No word on when - or even if - a similar store would be opening for PSP gamers in other regions like North America and Europe. Sony also declined to reveal how much these digital copies would cost. We also haven't heard what kind of battery life you'll get playing the games off of a memory stick versus the UMD (which has moving parts and is therefore a power hog).

This is, in short, the beginning of the end for the UMD format. Yeah you'll still be able to get these games on the physical UMD, and at least for now the third-party games will only be available that way, but it's clear that Sony has lost faith in this particular format.

Sources - Joystiq; PSPFanboy.

[NoName]

That's great. While I'm not a big fan of the new iDS, if Nintendo follows suit I think this is the beginning of a good trend.

[JayVe]

I agree wholeheartedly. This is excellent news. The UMD is a fucking stupid decision. It is comparatively big, consumes a lot of power, and is fragile. All three of which are reason enough to NOT put a UMD drive into a portable product since size, battery life and durability are all concerns that are KEY to portable devices (but not home systems).

Anything that brings one step closer to the demise of UMD is a good thing (tm). Kudos to Sony for stepping up to the plate on this. Lets hope it becomes a worldwide decision moving forward that EVERY PSP game gets a digital distribution method, cause UMDs are astonishingly lame.

Also, I'd love to see a PSP that removed the UMD bay filling the space with battery power and internal memory.

[Gorvi]

Originally Posted by DoctorFinger

This is, in short, the beginning of the end for the UMD format. Yeah you'll still be able to get these games on the physical UMD, and at least for now the third-party games will only be available that way, but it's clear that Sony has lost faith in this particular format.

That's taking it a little far, don't you think? DD is more profitable for them and it's easier for them to get away with it on the PSP. Even if this comes to the US, I'll still grab all my games at retail. I'm the old fashioned type, I like having my physical media.

[Rogue_hunter]

Originally Posted by JayVe

Also, I'd love to see a PSP that removed the UMD bay filling the space with battery power and internal memory.

Never have I agreed with you, but damn, this is the best thing they could ever do. Though, it probably won't happen until the PSP2.

[JayVe]

Originally Posted by Rogue_hunter

Never have I agreed with you, but damn, this is the best thing they could ever do. Though, it probably won't happen until the PSP2.

Agreed. Someone over at Sony has had a goddamn bug up their ass about optical discs. Putting optical discs in a handheld makes as much sense as a turntable in your car. Sure, it can be done... but at what cost to practicality and common sense?

So happy to see things changing over there. I'm all for use of proprietary formats to deliver content, as long as those formats make sense... unlike UMD.

[DoctorFinger]

Originally Posted by Gorvi

That's taking it a little far, don't you think? DD is more profitable for them and it's easier for them to get away with it on the PSP. Even if this comes to the US, I'll still grab all my games at retail. I'm the old fashioned type, I like having my physical media.

I think it is the beginning of the end. They're not - IMO - going to be using that format on PSP2 whenever it comes out. They've stopped putting movies out on it, and they'll see soon just how many people want digital downloads. I feel the same way you do about physical media - especially when they get that expensive - but in a portable system it's no longer a necessity.

[JayVe]

Originally Posted by DoctorFinger

I think it is the beginning of the end. They're not - IMO - going to be using that format on PSP2 whenever it comes out. They've stopped putting movies out on it, and they'll see soon just how many people want digital downloads. I feel the same way you do about physical media - especially when they get that expensive - but in a portable system it's no longer a necessity.

Having used a computer, PDAs, and cellphones that all offer some form of digital purchases, I don't see what the big deal is. I don't remember the last time I purchased SOFTWARE for my computer, PDA or cellphone in a brick-and-mortar store. I buy all kinds of downloadable games for my home systems all the time. I don't see what the big difference is between buying games online for home systems and buying games online for portable systems.

Castle Crashers
Bionic Commando
Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People
MegaMan 9
WipEout HD

No boxes for any of these. No disc. No closet full of game boxes and discs. I know it is gonna make some of you sick, but I just threw out a whole closet of old PC game boxes, discs, manuals and yes... even cloth maps and keyboard overlays. Gawd, I got so much SPACE back!

[Gorvi]

Just as long as they leave the option for both, I'm fine. I'm ok with purchasing smaller games digitally, but full games I want the whole package.

[Johan]

I never thought I would become a DD proponent, but 65+ XBLA games later, I am. I love it.

[JayVe]

When is a game a 'full' game? What criteria are used to measure? Is it file size? Game length? Graphical fidelity? To me, they are all games. Bionic Commando, Castle Crashers, WipEout, Braid and others are just as much a 'full game' as anything I can buy in the store.

[JayVe]

Originally Posted by Johan

I never thought I would become a DD proponent, but 65+ XBLA games later, I am. I love it.

Exactly! I used to be very anal about owning all the discs and manuals for all my software. Why the hell was I keeping around old MS DOS floppies? I'm a convert now.

[Gorvi]

Originally Posted by JayVe

When is a game a 'full' game? What criteria are used to measure? Is it file size? Game length? Graphical fidelity? To me, they are all games. Bionic Commando and WipEout are just as much a 'full game' as anything I can buy in the store.

That's a matter or opinion, I suppose. It'd be different for everyone.

[JayVe]

Originally Posted by Gorvi

That's a matter or opinion, I suppose. It'd be different for everyone.

That's why it is a question.

When is a game a 'full' game? What criteria are used to measure?

[Gorvi]

Originally Posted by JayVe

That's why it is a question.

When is a game a 'full' game? What criteria are used to measure?

For me? I guess that's changed over the course of time. I think it depends on features and the actual scope of the game. Most downlaodable games are much smaller in scope than their full retail coutnerparts. Of course, there are games on both sides that make it a bit blurry, but generally that's how I see it.

[jeffbax]

DD makes far more sense on a portable system than home IMO. Just look at how we store our files on MP3 players. iPhone distribution is the wave of the future for portables. I won't be giving up my hard copies for the home theatre systems tough.

[MagGnome]

I've become a big fan of digital distribution in the last few years.

Of course much remains to be seen in the future, such as how companies will handle things like DRM and product shifts. Will I be able to play my XBLA games on the next Xbox?

[Johan]

Originally Posted by MagGnome

Will I be able to play my XBLA games on the next Xbox?

I too am extremely interested in this, and if I'm not able to do so, I'll be quite cranky. I'd like to be able to redownload them to the new box (under my account, of course), AND have a way of transferring the save from the 360 to the "720" or whatever.

Also, enabling license transfers to the "720" would be nice as well, for offline play.

[MagGnome]

Originally Posted by Johan

I too am extremely interested in this, and if I'm not able to do so, I'll be quite cranky. I'd like to be able to redownload them to the new box (under my account, of course), AND have a way of transferring the save from the 360 to the "720" or whatever.

Also, enabling license transfers to the "720" would be nice as well, for offline play.

I agree completely, and I wish that these issues would be addressed sooner rather than later.

I'd be a lot more comfortable buying XBLA games if I knew that I would be able to play them five or ten years from now. The same goes for PSN titles and WiiWare/Virtual Console.

[JayVe]

Originally Posted by MagGnome

I'd be a lot more comfortable buying XBLA games if I knew that I would be able to play them five or ten years from now. The same goes for PSN titles and WiiWare/Virtual Console.

Well, you will be able to play your PSN and Wii titles in the future, at least on your PS3 or Wii... it isn't like they'll stop working. With the PS3 and the Wii, you can back up the files to your own hard drive or flash card in case certain files are de-listed from their network services. I believe Sony gives you a limited number of installs should you need them. After that, and you gotta buy it again. Nintendo licenses things to your Wii's serial number. Change Wii's and you have to contact Nintendo to transfer licenses. Never had to go through that myself so can't vouch for the experience.

As for Live titles, you don't get a lot of options for backing up your own files. I suppose you could download them again, unless they've been de-listed from Live. Are your games tied to your account, or your Xbox? If I transfer my Live account to another Xbox (through the use of an Xbox memory card), can I get access to all my previously purchased titles?

Overall, I expect a fair level of assurance that I'll be able to play my purchases on my current generation of hardware, but would be happily shocked to find that my license extends to future generations of game system.