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Joystiq

Echochrome cheaper on PS3 or more on PSP; a matter of perspective

by Christopher Grant on Feb 8th 2008 2:40PM

Like an MC Escher drawing, this news could be seen a handful of different ways: either Sony is doubling the price of Echochrome for the PSP UMD release or is halving the PS3's downloadable price. Either way, Siliconera reports that when the game is released in Japan on March 19, the PSP version will cost ¥3980 (about $37) while the PS3 release will cost ¥1800 (about $17). Update: The price discrepancy is due to the former version containing twice as many puzzles -- the value of which is debatable considering you can make your own.

Sure, the price could change for the North American market (as Siliconera sagely points out, several games from Jeanne D'Arc to Patapon have been cheaper here) but what about our Japanese gamer brethren? With Patapon going for a ridiculously low $20 on UMD, could they really charge much more for the simple, yet similarly bewitching, Echochrome?

echochrome

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Source

Tags: Echochrome, Game-Yarouze, Japan-Studio, PS3, PSN, PSP, Puzzle, SCE, Sony-Computer-Entertainment

Reader Comments (24)

It might be to cover production/packaging/shipping costs, but that's about all I can think of. It would be better if they split the difference or just released it as a PSP download to keep the cost low for both versions.

Japanese gamers... if the PSP version is cheaper here, just import. :\ It's not region locked or anything.

IMO this should have been a title that was made specifically to be transferable to PSP from the PS3. Similar to the PS1 games.

Thats weird. Why not just DL in 1080p glory to your PS3 and remote play for PSP?

I expect:

$20 - PSP
$10 - PSN

This game MUST have been just a LITTLE too big to be a PC Store download for PSP. That distribution method suits it better in my eyes.

Echochrome huh? Why did people pay $600 for a system and then go buy a black and white stick figure game. I don't get it...

INO, RITE?

I mean, I bought my PS3 and there are literally zero games or anything else on PS3. It's a big vacuum. In fact, it's stealing games from my classic gameboy collection... that stack shrinks weekly. But it's all gonna pay off on a downloadable title....

Why did you buy a Wii when you can just go outdoors and exercise for free? Or a 360 when you can just join the army and shoot people for free?

Pretty much my thinking too. Donut get me wrong the PS3 has some good games, but I'd be urinated (just like 360's early days when the best game for yonks was that Geometry Wars game) if some hyped game was something like this.

I'd rather buy this on a weaker system or as a super cheap indie PC title.

It's called potential: it's not because it's there that it means that you have to push it all the way. More horsepower allows more possibility.

But of course, that's in pure ideal Game Design world: in the real world, consumers have expectations. But hopefully, this generation is starting to show the change in some trends, such as accepting lower standard games available on PSN, XLA or even VC/WiiWare.

Because as it had been hammered over and over again, gameplay is more important than graphics. (If that were false, then WoW would be doomed and I'd be wondering what the hell I'm doing wasting my time on the Peggle demo)

ThornedVenom: I completely agree that a high-powered system like the PS3 should have simplistic low-powered games like this for whenever a PS3 owner wants something fun, but doesn't need any fancy glitz.

BUT, the thing that a lot of people are complaining about, myself included, is this: If we don't already own a PS3/PSP, why should we have to buy a $200-$500 piece of hardware just to play a game like echochrome that would have absolutely no problem running on cheap hardware we already have like the PS2 or, in echochrome's case, even the PS1.

It's like having a movie that was shot in standard-def black&white with a grainy lens and releasing it on BluRay/HDDVD, but not regular DVD.

That's not the ONLY game we buy dumb fuck. I also buy Xbox live arcade games because ,get this, they are FUN!

You're too much of a fanboy to understand that concept though.

Wii owners buy hardcore games, as PS360 owners buy casual stuff

Plus, its echochrome, a perspective-based puzzle game, who can resist?

if this is $15 or less in the states, it's a definite download. gott: some games are pretty, and some are clever. as long as they are fun, that's all you can ask for.

"as long as they are fun, that's all you can ask for."

Remember the words you just said... don't complain about Wii graphics then.

But he can complain about the lack of fun in Wii games still, right? Just wondering where we're standing on this for your next rant.

@Fernando

Of course, there's a difference between paying $5-15 for a game and $40-50 for a Wii game. The best part about the 360 and PS3 is you can get cheap less graphically impressive games on the XBLA/PSN AND more modern looking full priced retail games. There are actually games on the XBLA/PSN that look better than full priced Wii games... and are fun too! Imagine that!

This could simply be due to the enormous distribution costs in Japan. There doesn't need to be such a markup in the US to distribute a UMD....

Anything more than 20 bucks for the UMD, and this game will not be bought.

I really wish people researched. The PSP version will have 100 levels, while the PSN version will be 50 levels. OMG twice the content = twice the price + media cost, built in profit for retail stores, plus packaging. Hmmm.

I want this game so much...but I'm an Xboxey person. And PSP and DS screens give me headaches.

PC version please?

The PSP can run echochrome? SWEET.

"Update: The price discrepancy is due to the former version containing twice as many puzzles"

That just raises the question: Why does the PS3 version have half as many levels? It certainly can't be a matter of download size. There's no reason any of those levels should take more than 1 kilobyte each. Two at the absolute max, if you're sloppy about it.

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Breaking News

Echochrome cheaper on PS3 or more on PSP; a matter of perspective

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Reader Comments (24)

Posted: Feb 8th 2008 2:56PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Feb 8th 2008 2:59PM foxhound said

Posted: Feb 8th 2008 3:07PM GamGams said

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Posted: Feb 8th 2008 4:02PM SheppyReturns said

Posted: Feb 8th 2008 4:28PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Feb 8th 2008 6:34PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Feb 9th 2008 12:04AM ThornedVenom said

Posted: Feb 9th 2008 8:28AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Feb 9th 2008 11:58AM Abuzar said

Posted: Feb 9th 2008 2:30PM Mr Khan said

Posted: Feb 8th 2008 4:12PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Feb 8th 2008 4:46PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Feb 8th 2008 4:54PM SheppyReturns said

Posted: Feb 8th 2008 5:03PM Vidikron said

Posted: Feb 8th 2008 7:02PM bsd107 said

Posted: Feb 8th 2008 4:27PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Feb 8th 2008 5:45PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Feb 8th 2008 7:20PM Alex R said

Posted: Feb 8th 2008 9:55PM Zorink said

Posted: Feb 9th 2008 12:06AM ThornedVenom said

Posted: Feb 9th 2008 8:27AM (Unverified) said

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