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We heard this morning that all PSP games will be downloadable by October 1st, save for some third-party games from uncooperative companies. This refers to games that will be released from that date on. But what does this mean for the currently available library?
It’s great that the PSP Go will be able to download and store games, but what about those of us who already own PSPs and UMD games? How will we be able to take these with us? Will we have to tote around two systems? Will there be some kind of trade-in or verification system? We all think the PSP Go is a sexy device, but these questions need to be answered before we commit.
This morning, Jim, Colette, Jordan, and I had a lengthy discussion session on the topic. You’ll find the transcript below. We hope you’ll chime in and let us know what you think about the PSP’s download dilemma.
| Colette B. | All PSP games to be downloads by Oct 1st? really? |
| Jim S. | That’s what Rubenstein says |
| | |
| Colette B. | wow |
| Jim S. | Apparently third party UMD games depend on the publisher, but it seems Sony expects practically the full library to appear on the PSN |
| Not too hard since the PSP only has five games ROFL ROFL ROFL LMAO! | |
| Colette B. | well, that would please me |
| LOL | |
| Jordan D. | haha |
| Jordan D. | i won’t be getting a Go until emulation is up and running again |
| Jim S. | I want a go, but I have UMDs. And I don’t want to own two PSPs |
| I hate how Sony constantly seeks to divide and confuse its customers | |
| Colette B. | Yeah, I would consider it if the library was downloadable |
| not otherwise | |
| Jim S. | The DSi, I can understand. It doesn’t divide consumers. The Go is so fucking alienating |
| Dale N. | well, if what we first heard is correct, all that shit will be downloadable |
| Colette B. | I agree with that |
| they need to roll out something that unifies it with the PSP fanbase | |
| Dale N. | those with a lot of UMDs (I have 22) would be fuxored |
| but I have a couple dozen game systems, what’s another | |
| Jordan D. | well, they’re supposed to have some sort of way for current users to get their umds in digital format for free, but idk |
| Dale N. | that’s the rumor, but i don’t know how they’d do it |
| Jordan D. | me neither |
| Colette B. | right…well, I’d keep an eye on that, and if it was true I would consider getting one |
| Dale N. | I’m a gadget whore, so I’m sold. |
| Jim S. | They should say, like, “mail us the UMDs and we’ll mail you a gift code” |
| Dale N. | But I like physical media, too |
| Jordan D. | the go is definitely a gadget whore’s system, which is why i want one too |
| Dale N. | plus, i don’t think they’re dividing the psp audience |
| Jim S. | If I could get my UMDs converted to files for nothing, then yeah, I’m all about the PSP Go |
| Jordan D. | haha “let us burn your fucking games and damn them to hell, then we’ll give you a code” |
| Dale N. | a PSP 2 would be, but this leaves it up to the gamer |
| Jim S. | But right now, my PSP 1000 needs an upgrade and I don’t know what to do for the best. |
| Dale N. | to pick which system |
| Jim S. | It’s certainly divided me. |
| Dale N. | Jim, the best option, no matter how you look at it, is a PSP 3000 and a 8GB MS Duo card |
| IT’s already a great system, and you’ll be able to d/l to your heart’s content | |
| Jordan D. | agreed |
| | |
| Jim S. | Yeah, I was going to get the Dissidia PSP 3000 |
| Dale N. | I wnat a Go because it’s small and portable and sexy, but the fact of the matter is that i could do the same things now on my 3000 |
| Jim S. | But I am a whore for new things |
| Dale N. | oh yeah – you should totally get that |
| Jim S. | And now I am confused |
| I also use my PSP as a full media device, and if the Go is better designed for that, this also is tempting | |
| Colette B. | Well, i like the size |
| but I just want a way to be able to play the PSP games I already own on it | |
| Dale N. | how would they do that? |
| Colette B. | well, that is my point |
| Dale N. | i thought of some kind of internet-based verification |
| like, pop the UMD in | |
| and it checks it out and says, ‘yep, you own this’ | |
| but then again, you could borrow your friends’ discs or whatever | |
| Colette B. | I’m not going to be able to find my Japanese imports even if the current library somehow magically becomes available for download |
| Dale N. | Colette, exactly |
| Jim S. | I think the only way to truly verify is to physically give Sony your UMDs in exchange for codes |
| Dale N. | about half of my games are imports |
| Colette B. | as it is I already have to carry my DSi and PSP at the same time |
| Jim S. | But of course, that is quite an operation to perform |
| Colette B. | so now I’m supposed to carry a third system for a whole separate set of games? |
| Dale N. | I look at it as the Netbook of the PSP world |
| well, i’m fucked because I have to carry my DS and DSi, as the damned DSi doesn’t play our review code roms | |
| and now a PSP and a PSP Go? | |
| here’s something, though – i could see my PSP Go as a daily device, one that i’d carry everywhere | |
| or, one that more gamers would carry everywhere | |
| (I carry a game system everywhere anyway) | |
| Surely they didn’t make a system without thinking of who would buy it, so who are they aiming for? | |
| Jim S. | Gays |
| Dale N. | It did have sparkles |
| Colette B. | Well, for me it really isn’t about the gadget |
| Jordan D. | i assume the kind of people who hate carrying around a bunch of games. not sure if that is specifically the people who already own a psp or not, though. also, the gays, as jim says |
| Colette B. | it’s about the games |
| Jordan D. | there’s always the hannah montana psp that got announced |
| Jim S. | I was one of the few people defending the PSP Go when it was first revealed. It looks more practical, which I like. |
| Colette B. | but I will admit, I load my R4 with the games I already own and take it with instead of having to carry an additional game pouch, and I love it |
| not having to carry the games would make a difference for me | |
| Jim S. | It’s smaller, the buttons can be folded away. The exposed screen is still ridiculous, but it’s an improvement, and as someone who travels, I want something that’s convenient to carry. |
| Jordan D. | i do the exact same thing with my psp. longer battery life, less noise, etc. |
| Jim S. | So I really do want a Go. However, I can’t justify having two PSPs |
| It is hard to justify one sometimes. | |
| Jordan D. | either way, i hope the system does well so that the PSP 2 is either all or mostly digital downloads |
| Colette B. | Dale has like, 4 PSPs |
| Dale N. | Again, I wasn’t sold until I held it. It had me right away then. |
| Dale N. | Now 3. And 4 DSs. |
| Jim S. | That’s because Dale is a hoofer. |
| Colette B. | Ideally like I would like is for there to be a way for the games I own for PSP to be downloadable to the PSP Go |
| I doubt it | |
| but we’ll see | |
| Dale N. | No, Dale is a consumer whore. |
| Colette B. | I think that’s the same as being a hoofer. |
| Jim S. | If I was a rich tech whore like Dale, this would not be an issue for me. I’d buy eight PSP Gos |
| Dale N. | But say they don’t. Would you buy one? |
| Dale N. | No UMD to Go transfer — would you still get one? |
| Colette B. | Depends on the games |
| Jim S. | Let me put it this way: With UMD transfer, I’d get one with little deliberation. |
| Jordan D. | i would, but not at that price. the price is a dealbreaker if there’s no compatibility with my current games |
| Jim S. | Without it, I would have to think long and hard. |
| Colette B. | If there were a few titles I really wanted I’d consider it |
| but yes…price is a factor | |
| Dale N. | I see – mind you that they’ll try to release every future game as a download. Does that help in your decision. |
| Jim S. | That depends on how many games we’ll see. Sony spends nearly all its time working on firmware and hardware updates and barely any on games |
| I am fucking sick to death of new PSPs and new firmware when I want more games | |
| Jordan D. | there were a lot of great-looking games at e3, but i’m not convinced either |
| Jim S. | A new bunch are coming out of E3, sure, but beyond that? |
| Jordan D. | yeah, i don’t know |
| Dale N. | So it’s more about faith in the system than it is the format? |
| Jim S. | I don’t know about “more,” but it is a big factor. |
| I don’t have faith in Sony when it comes to the PSP | |
| It seems to think hardware makes the system. | |
| No, games make the hardware. | |
| Colette B. | That’s exactly right — and it doesn’t. |
| Jordan D. | what sony needs to do with the Go is have a similar set up to what the iPhone has |
| Colette B. | Games make the system for me. |
| Jordan D. | tons and tons of cheap, awesome games |
| Jim S. | Sony itself proved that games > hardware when it beat the Dreamcast with the original PSX |
| it’s sad that it’s forgotten the lessons it taught the industry | |
| Dale N. | I’ll tell you what: if they have the PSX library ready for d/l, that would help |
| like…more of it | |
| Jordan D. | or just what japan has access to |
| Jim S. | Oh definitely |
| Dale N. | Also, if they adapt the DSiWare-ish model, that would be nice too: cheap, quick, fun games |
| Jordan D. | fuck, they have a lot of games |
| Dale N. | yep |
| on both the PSP and the DSi | |
| Jim S. | You tell me the Oddworld games are coming to PSP and I’ll start to care a bit more |
| Dale N. | But even then, you could play those games on the PSP 3000 |
| Jim S. | This is very true. |
| The PS3 as well, actually | |
| Colette B. | The whole PSP Go model is based on pressing the gadget whore’s buttons |
| Dale N. | For this year, I think there’s a strong lineup: Dissidia, Soulcalibur, Little Big Planet, Gran Turismo, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker |
| So many great games. And, I’m still scratching my head at the “only 5 good games” jabs | |
| Jordan D. | there’s also some motorstorm game. is that any good? |
| Dale N. | i have a ton of games, and there’s more I want to get. It’s an RPG lover’s system. |
| Yes, Motorstorm looked very good | |
| Jim S. | The trouble with the PSP is, it does have great games |
| Dale N. | Also, Resident Evil Portable |
| Jim S. | But those games are spread over what, five years? |
| Dale N. | Jim, that’s fair. but this year is different, for a change |
| Jim S. | At the moment, I’m seeing a worthwhile PSP game coming out every six months. That’s not good enough |
| I agree. But it’s one year out of what will be six | |
| Dale N. | and I think the pace will pick up with the lower dev costs and download-only distribution |
| Jim S. | And what happens beyond this year? Will Sony give up again? Are these games coming out just to fool us into buying a new PSP, whereupon we’ll be hung out to dry again? |
| Jordan D. | i really hope the lower dev costs help |
| Dale N. | Here’s the thing – it used to cost too much, but now devs can have worldwide distribution of games with a click |
| I never felt ‘hung out to dry’ like I did with, say, the PS3 | |
| Jim S. | Of course, that will stop the PSP Go being an option |
| Dale N. | There is always something I’ve been enjoying on my PSP |
| That’s true. | |
| Jim S. | Because with lower dev costs, they won’t *want* to make UMDs |
| Which will render the 3000 obsolete | |
| Which puts me back at square one | |
| Dale N. | Right. I do see that happening. |
| Jordan D. | you know what game we are all forgetting? pixeljunk f’ing monsters |
| Dale N. | And I think Sony does, too. |
| Jim S. | Definitely. Sony is just pushing this “Go is an option” to squeeze more money out of the 3000 while it can |
| Dale N. | But I see no harm in having older game systems around to play older games |
| Unless you live in a closet and you have 2 inches of storage space left | |
| hell, people still have their dreamcasts around | |
| Jordan D. | (nick chester) |
| Dale N. | LOL |
| Now, what if those UMD games you already own and love are avaiable from day one as $2 downloads | |
| would that change your mind? | |
| Jim S. | The difference with the Dreamcast is that it’s an old system. The 3000 is a new system that Sony tricked people into buying and will make obsolete |
| Which is a bit prickish, really | |
| You give me the PSP library for 2 bucks apiece and I’ll give Sony a lot of money | |
| Dale N. | I guess so. |
| Jim S. | I can’t see Sony being so generous though, of course |
| Colette B. | see, I would buy a PSP Go for Pixeljunk Monsters |
| which sounds crazy | |
| but that’s how I feel about that game | |
| Dale N. | No, that’s not crazy. |
| Here’s another observation about the PSP | |
| it doesn’t really feel like a portable – I mean, you can take it anywhere, but it has that mini-PS2 vibe | |
| maybe it’s just a tad too big | |
| now we’ve got this thing that’s the size of the iPhone — so pocketable, and download anywhere games? It’s pretty smart in design | |
| Jordan D. | that also ties in with the games, many of which aren’t suitable for a portable system |
| Jim S. | Yep. I fucking hate the old PSP design |
| Dale N. | so maybe they’re dicking over current PSP customers with the UMD thing — if you look at it this way, they almost had to do it |
| Jim S. | It’s not been designed with portable gaming in mind. It was designed to look “cool” |
| Dale N. | Right. but the Go feels like a very well designed portable game system…for once |
| down to the hand feel and button placement | |
| Jim S. | This I agreed with the moment I saw it |
| Dale N. | Here’s another thing: if you truly only have “five psp games” then getting this shoudln’t be an issue, right? |
| Jim S. | I love the design. It looks goofy, but it also looks practical |
| Dale N. | if you’ve got a small library, I understand the hangup |
| Jim S. | Well, that was a joke. I can’t remember how many I’ve got |
| Most of them are PAL though, which means I couldn’t trade them in, annoyingly | |
| Dale N. | oh shit, I forgot Persona PSP! |
| Jim S. | I think a big factor here will be seeing just how cheap the downloadable games truly are |
| Dale N. | Too many good games. I think people are blinded by the DS. I love that system, and have so many games that it’s stupid. But that doesn’t make the PSP worse for having less good games. There’s still a ton of great games to play. |
| Exactly | |
| Jim S. | And I imagine right now, Sony is trying to work out what it can get away with charging |
| Dale N. | They are reasonable on the PSN with old games |
| I hope that carries over. They have to know that much of their library is old. | |
| $10 will be too much for the old games. they give PS1 games away for half that. | |
| Jim S. | So far, we’ve seen them charging up to twenty bucks for downloadable PSP games |
| With the cheapest being around fifteen | |
| Dale N. | I think the new ones will continue to be $20 |
| Jim S. | Killzone Liberation is, I think, $15.99. I have a feeling that’ll be common for older UMD games on the PSN |
| Dale N. | And to that, I say download better, older games and play them on the go: FF7, Wild Arms, Hot Shots Golf (okay, so I’m alone on that last one) |
| Wild Arms is $5 – that is amazing to me | |
| I think sony has a nice portable coming up, but they have a lot to do on the backend to make this worth the transition for its customers | |
| so, day one: who’s in? | |
| Jim S. | I totally agree. I love the look of it, I like the idea of a self contained system that doesn’t need physical discs. However, I need to see more before I am convinced I don’t need my old PSP. |
| Dale N. | Just me? |
| Jim S. | I can’t say for sure yet. At that price point, I’m wary as fuck. |
| Dale N. | I mean, I just bought a new Green Japanese 3000 about a month or so ago |
| Colette B. | It depends for me what is announced game-wise by then |
| Jordan D. | depends if they have it in white |
| Colette B. | Yeah, but you buy everything |
| =P | |
| Dale N. | I’ll buy you! |
| Colette B. | HAH |
| Dale N. | While wearing the Monopoly hat! |
| Jim S. | “I’d buy that for a dollar.” |
| Dale N. | *slams down cash* |
| Colette B. | Tradtionally, I hold off on new systems until I have a better idea of what games will be there for it |
| right now, I don’t know what I get WITH the PSP Go | |
| Jordan D. | it’s the videogame quote that works in any situation |
| Colette B. | so I can’t say I’m in on day one |
| if a lineup of games is announced before then | |
| Jordan D. | actually, by the time the thing comes out, i’ll probably just be getting a PS3 |
| Dale N. | fair enough |
| Colette B. | then, well, I would be able to say |
| | |
| Jim S. | Tell you what, I’ll cut Sony a deal. Pack the PSP Go in with Talladega Nights, and they have themselves a sale. |
| Jordan D. | haha |
| Dale N. | hahah |
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Published: Jun 10, 2009 03:40 pm