SOCOM 3 downloadable content PSP & USB compatible

by Dan Choi on Feb 22nd 2006 12:30AM

SCEA has announced that they will be making available downloadable $5.99 map packs for the PS2's SOCOM 3 starting next month, and the kicker is that you won't need a hard drive to use them online.

While official HDD compatibility is still in the offing for the downloadable content, support has also been extended to "compatible USB Mass Storage Device[s] (such as a USB Flash/Thumb drive)" and "Memory Stick Duo Media (minimum 32MB)" via a PSP. Offering DL content for devices other than the less-than-popular hard drive means that owners of the slimline PS2 can also get in on the updated action (as the "PStwo" doesn't work with the older peripheral).

The first map pack out will include the SOCOM II HDD-exclusives After Hours, Last Bastion, and Liberation, "re-worked to add the latest SOCOM 3 features including multiple game types per map, respawn modes, day and night options and weapon customization." As for the other two packs? "The second and third map packs will follow over the next several months and will feature classic maps from the original... SOCOM" as well as completely new maps built for the latest release. How large (in terms of file size) do you think these new and updated maps are going to be?

[Thanks, Shtumf aka Vince - UK]

Source

Tags: PS2, PSP

Reader Comments (24)

Extremely smart move from Sony. USB Flash Drives, even 1-2GBs are really cheap, compared to other methods of storage *cough*Memory Sticks*cough*

This is great, as I can only see this maps taking only about 3-12mbs of data. Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why the PS3 HDD is 'sold seperately'.

as i understand it, the pstwo has hacks available to add an hdd...

"Anyone know why you can d/load over 2000kb patches for games like star wars"

If you are referring to the original Star Wars: Battlefront for the PS2...that patch was b/c of a network bug and the way it accessed online servers.

As for why you can't download maps? Thats a good question...

Can I use my iPOD?????

Does the psp need to be on at all times, or does it just load the map and then i can shut it off? Otherwise im going to have cords all over the place (ethernat cable from router to my ps2, cable to my psp from ps2, power cable from psp to wall).

The end of free content is gone...

fist Halo... then EA, now SCEA...

I'm glad Vavle still releases free maps for Counter Strike and other games

Yes another kick in the teeth. They better be some bloody good maps if they want us to pay for them. Seriiusky the Battlefront 'pack' was an insult.

I couldn't install anything on my Blackberry before :(
Hope this guy'll help me to play better!

So they're releasing 3 old maps, and charging money for them. Sounds like value!

So you are saying they are trying to sell me maps that I already own and I have to purchase the a new memory stick to leave in my PStwo on top of that......rrrright

Isn't allowing users to put maps onto a USB drive going to open them up to hackers?

Armin

I kind of feel your pain. I do not mind paying for new content, but come on making us pay for old maps. They could bundle those in for free with the new maps, at least Halo release a couple of free ones then made you pay for the rest. I understand that it costs money to have somebody creating maps and new content. But I think you should at least get some older retro stuff for free.

Jim

You know as I started thinking about this after waiting to confirm my last post. It came to me that maybe these game companies should start taking the same attitude that the console companies take. Maybe these game companies instead of selling their games at a profit should start selling their games at cost or for a small lost. Then make up the profits by selling additional content. Or selling small amounts of advertising inside their games (example: Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory had Nokia phone ads on the computer screens in the game).

I think these game companies are starting to get a little to greedy.

Jim

So the PSP is included only in that it is used as a storage device for the maps to play on the PS2? Theres no downloadable maps for use with SOCOM FTB?

2 things that have me scratching my head. 1. those maps werent made to be played with 32 players in mind. theyre fairly small maps compared to SOCOM 3's new maps. i guess they'd be pretty fun for respawn deathmatches, but not much else.

and 2. what if you already have these maps on your HDD (which i already do)? we'll see i guess.

I thought the Halo maps were eventually given away for free.

Did you know that EA also makes you pay $2 to play their games online on the PSP? You can skirt the fee by signing up to their Spam list or pay $2 for the privilige to not be spammed by EA.

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/fight-night-round-3/spam-alert-fight-night-3-psp-costs-privacy-155716.php

On the plus side, USB flash drives are so common now that give them away preloaded with press kits at big trade shows now. These are mostly mere 64MB units but that is plenty compared to what you pay for a PS2 Memory Card. So good on Sony for supporting the use of a inexpensive device that isn't limited to Sony and its licensees.

On the negative side, HDD owners are getting very little of they respect they deserve from Sony. That Sony feels no obligation to support those who paid rather a lot for a 40GB with so-called free game that required a paid subscription. Sony needs to be very upfront about how HDD support will work on the PS3 and the drive, if it is optional, needs to be available at launch or within well less than a year to give consumers any reason to believe it will be well supported. It isn't as if IDE hard drives were an exotic technology when the PS2 launched. This was a device that was selling tens of millions of units annually. If Sony had been on the ball with the PS2 HDD it would be supported by nearly every game rather than a token handful.

"as i understand it, the pstwo has hacks available to add an hdd..."

Yes, there is, but it is extremely difficult. Even with 36 color-coded wires, a 10w soldering iron, and a 1/64th tip. In my opinion, it isn't worth it really....a hard drive in a PS2 is essentially worthless, even with HDLoader and/or a modchip.

I've already broken one trying to do this, but no big deal...I've got more PS2s LOL! At least it's still fixable.

I agree that premium content should only cost money if it's new content. Re-selling old maps is a load of crap.

I imagine this announcement does not bode well with the SOCOM community.

And where are the SOCOM FTB maps?

Wait, so what if a buddy of mine downloads these maps, and saves them on his usb storage stick thingy.... Cant I just copy it from that to my own usb storage drive?

But what you have to understand is that Zipper took the time to completely rework these maps. There is no way they could be playable in their old form. To add the features, give a graphical upgrade, it only makes sense to charge for it. Regardless of it being a old map or new map. They are taking the time to do these maps. Time is money and someone is spending that time doing this for us. It's a business, you can't go around giving things for free. They are even making these available to more people by adding the USB thumb drive feature.

Now I'm sure they expanded these maps, some might be the same. But the scale of the buildings and such are going to be huge in comparison.

think about how many hours it takes to rework a map, all the little details and stuff. AND they have to be careful to close all the proxies so that ppl can't glitch into the walls...

Some of you people sound like little girls, "Its the end of free content". Stop cryin so damn much 2 dollars per map,OMFG you might have to skip McDonalds one time this month to pay for the map pack, poor you. Since they are holding a gun to your head and making you buy the map packs when they do actually come out, and they are making you pay to play Socom online too. I have an idea, if you have a problem with the fact theyre revamping some old maps and charging a whoping 2 dollars per just go underground man, dont let em find you to force you to pay that whopping 6 bucks,dont buy em man. Sissies

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SOCOM 3 downloadable content PSP & USB compatible

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