Sony doesn't say 'no' to UMD-less PSP
by Randy Nelson 
{ Feb 26th 2009 at 9:15PM } 
Interviewed by MTV Multiplayer, John Koller, who heads up SCEA's marketing of PSP, said that he "Can't comment either way," but did add, "I will reiterate that the digital component is very important to us. That's all we can say at this point."
Perry referred to the ostensibly new PSP model as a "fully digital online device;" one that would forgo UMDs in favor of downloadable, digitally distributed software. That said, Koller's comment already has us putting together our E3 2009 bingo cards.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
decapitor @ Feb 26th 2009 9:20PM
Axe the UMD and memory stick and add SDHC cards and I'm down for one.
finnith @ Feb 26th 2009 10:06PM
It's Sony, I don't think they'll drop their own proprietary media format.
patapon_rocker (The Old slycooper_rocker) @ Feb 26th 2009 10:22PM
or even better, both the memory stick and sd. that way, old psp owners won't get butt raped...
Night Elve @ Feb 26th 2009 10:25PM
Really?
As far as I know Nintendo use a proprietary format for their DS games.
UMD as a format for movies was a failure, but for games it's pretty great. Digital Distribution is great and all, but it would really suck that the only way to buy games is by this via.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Feb 26th 2009 10:52PM
i'd be all for some type of SDHC slot. maybe they could put the retail games on a propriety SDHC card that uses the same slot. i would still like to see a MS Duo slot on it too though since i have a couple of those cards already.
im really having a hard time believing that they would go ALL digital distribution so soon, though that would be a very effective way to deal with that whole piracy thing. i would still expect some kind of brick and mortar retail option too, just not neccessarily the failure that is UMD (failed as a movie format, failed at being secure, failed at being practical).
Gavin @ Feb 26th 2009 11:08PM
I don't see why so many are saying 'its too early for 100% digital distribution." I mean, I can't be the only one who knows about Apple's iPod and iTunes... right?
All joking aside, going media-less does a few very useful things for Sony:
a. Increased focus on the PSN / More incentive to use it
b. More anti-Piracy
c. More money (it cuts out EB / Used game sales, removes inventory, shipping, and fabrication costs)
d. Makes marketing on the PSN / in Qore more effective, as ads can directly link to purchasable products. (likewise, demos can lead directly to a shopping cart)
e. Better battery life. (at least then spinning a disc)
GG
Gavin @ Feb 26th 2009 11:15PM
Oh! Also...
It could allow Sony to make downloadable content compatible between the Console and Portable platforms. It would be even nicer if it was DRM free too, and allowed you to freely move it between those devices...
Rahul (Rurouni Kenshin Forever!) @ Feb 27th 2009 12:23AM
I have hope that Sony won't be stupid and put an SD slot in the PSP2. The PS3s with memory card readers accept SD as well as memory sticks and same with their Vaio computers made in the last 5 years.
Rahul (Rurouni Kenshin Forever!) @ Feb 27th 2009 12:25AM
Or what Sony may do is make downloadable/digital games only work on the memory sticks thanks to the MagicGate encyrption on them and SD cards to store music/videos, thats fine by me as well.
The Baron @ Feb 27th 2009 2:53AM
On the other hand, a UMD-less PSP gives Sony a monopoly over all games on their system. You want to pick up a copy of a game cheap in some sale? Better hope PSN is having one then.
And you're relying on their kindness and goodwill not to hike up the price of new games.
Scuffles @ Feb 27th 2009 10:15AM
I am aware of apple iTunes ..... and I have happily avoided it like the plague.since its inception I don't own an Ipod I use my psp to play my MP3s and when I feel like getting a new MP3 I go to amazon because they don't have DRM. While Apple did let people convert their MP3 collection to a higher bitrate with no DRM they also charged them again for every single song, no thanks.
Tho since there is no physical product there should be no problem with cross platform compatibility... I however see no reason one would have to migrate anything but the save data since there is no reason you wouldn't be able to have the game installed on both your PSP2 and your PS3 since (I'm assuming) they are registered under the same PSN account. I for one would love to see a game I could just up and take on the go, get home connect my psp to my ps3 and continue to play from where I left off on the psp.
and the one thing you did leave out is direct digital content cutting out good deals on games ... They have no motivation other than to get people to buy things on impulse by dribbling out a sale now and then. But there is no product to move no warehouse full of anything that hasn't sold in 7months that they will need to liquidate. There is a file on a server cluster, and in no way think they will pass any savings onto the customers eliminating the jobs in manufacturing or distribution (while most manufacturing is probably done overseas anyhow) you can expect to pay the same 49.99 for the digital copy of the game and when your PSP2 hiccups and corrupts the data (sites the PS3 movie fiasco that only let you attempt to download the movie ONCE after you paid for it) your left with nothing but a firm hand shake and a thank you for your money. I would like to site the Xbox MP3 fiasco where they just decided one day to pull their DRM servers .... thanks you for your money enjoy your broken files.
Companies have a lot to prove if they expect the public to accept fully digital content. Things like post system life cycle support. 20 years from now where am I going to go to get games for my beloved PSP2 ? cause I know exactly where I can go get games for my beloved Atari200 or my NES/SNES Genesis or any of my other wise unsupported consoles.
Longhorn4Life (PSN MariusElijah) @ Feb 26th 2009 9:20PM
I think there will be a new PSP but it will most likely be a redesigned, should be better than the DSi
Popfrogs @ Feb 27th 2009 12:58AM
It's already better than the DSi.
Kinsey @ Feb 26th 2009 9:21PM
i still want a UMD drive in the next PSP damn it!
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Feb 26th 2009 10:56PM
im not super attached to it either way personally. them keeping or nixing the UMD drive only helps me decide to trade in my PSP towards the next model or keep it to play my old games from time to time
JayFight @ Feb 26th 2009 11:47PM
personally if they do a umd-less psp i would hope they have some way for me to trade in my hard copies of games for digital ones so i can still play them
Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Feb 26th 2009 9:26PM
The problem with that is that people who aren't "connected" can't purchase games. Also, how would one upgrade from a previous PSP version? None of your physical games would work. It sounds good on paper but I worry it could limit the user base.
Deone @ Feb 26th 2009 9:29PM
What user base is there to limit?
Game_playa @ Feb 26th 2009 9:34PM
They could always sell memory cards with games on them a la DS
Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Feb 26th 2009 9:39PM
Deone,
I know it's not at the level of the DS but I think it's still somewhere in the ballpark of 50 million consoles in the wild. That's nothing to scoff at.
Game_Playa,
That's a really good thought. As far as I know the PSP Brite hasn't been hacked yet and I know piracy is their biggest concern. I don't know if it's possible but what about some kind of mini blu-ray disc instead of UMD? I think the memory card idea is a pretty good one for a physical medium.
LaughingTarget @ Feb 26th 2009 10:03PM
I would put download stations in major retailers. Allow the retailer to take a cut of whatever is downloaded and bought through the station. Consumers can hook the PSP2 up to the station, swipe the credit card and load games right to the unit. They can even come back and re-download should they lose the data without cost, like the PSN already allows.
This may actually sell more games.
I already use my PSP exclusively for stuff I get off PSN. I haven't messed around with a UMD since early 2007.
patapon_rocker (The Old slycooper_rocker) @ Feb 26th 2009 10:25PM
LaughingTarget should work for sony.
Urza @ Feb 26th 2009 11:04PM
So? They don't buy the UMDless model. If 360 and PS3 can have multiple skus, so can PSP.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Feb 26th 2009 11:18PM
well im one of "not-connected" people technically with a bad as my connection is. i dont like to think of having to download all my games when it takes as long as it does now. i think Sony should drop the UMD seriously because the main reason they used it in the first place was too prevent piracy.....and we all know how well that worked. a propriety flash card would be ideal IMHO since it would use less battery, load faster, and they could easily find cards that best the UMD's 1.8GB of storage. only drawback would be that flash memory generally cost more than CD media but that hasn't held the DS back yet, so who knows.
either way, i think it's time for a brand new PSP.
Extinction @ Feb 27th 2009 1:37AM
"i think Sony should drop the UMD seriously because the main reason they used it in the first place was too prevent piracy"
No. The main reason was to bring 1.8 gigabytes to a handheld. If they went with memory stick, then developers would be pressured by publishers to lower filesizes (to DS quality) so people with the smallest memory sticks could still buy the game. Memory stick is not good enough, how many 1.8 GB games can you fit on yours? I have 45 games and 10 movies. They don't make memory sticks large enough to fit all that. And you can't swap them in and out of a memory stick as easily as ejecting a disc. I for one don't want a HANDHELD to require a PC.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Feb 27th 2009 6:23AM
So the PSP goes the Route of the MP3 player. if Done CORRECTLY they could end up making MORE money with it than the PSP1. I for one would be down with it being Digital media only. as long as I could get a digital copy of the 12 or so PSP games I already own as well as they release a LARGE Memorystick at a good price. i.e.: 120GB Memory Stick for under $80
Roto13 @ Feb 26th 2009 9:27PM
Hmm. On one hand, I like having physical games. On the other hand, this way I could take all of my PSP games with me. :P But if there's no UMD drive, it wouldn't be backwards compatible.
patapon_rocker (The Old slycooper_rocker) @ Feb 26th 2009 10:26PM
i already can take all my games with me. :D
bought of course.
Kevin949 @ Feb 26th 2009 9:29PM
Bad idea by sony, they will be losing out on their upgrade fan-base if they don't offer a method for playing their current games on the new system. I for one don't feel I need yet another portable system to lug around when I'm out and about.
First the DSi with no GBA slot and now a UMD-less PSP? No thank you. Besides, it's not like games will be any cheaper in a disc-less format plus I actually enjoy reading a manual that I can reference to while playing a game.
Gavin @ Feb 26th 2009 11:23PM
I agree that games wouldnt be cheaper. Just more profitable for Sony / Publishers. That isnt exactly a bad thing, because it allows them to 'get more money from a product' without raising the price of it for the consumer.
they can always offer the current PSP titles as downloads (like the PSOne titles available for the PSP over the PSN) Not that you want to pay to download stuff you already own...
Then again, could be cool if they let you rip games from your UMDs to the new device's HDD. Kinda like the 360. Since those are 'old games' Sony wouldnt have to worry about losing sales.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Feb 26th 2009 11:33PM
i think BC is really only important for the first couple of months after you buy a new console. the courtship phase, if you will. when i get a new console, i usually only get 1 or 2 new games with it, so naturally, i'll play my old games on it during the inevitable post launch drought until i build up my collection more. but after i get my collection going, i dont want anything to do with the old console.
i cried foul when Sony dropped the PS2 BC from the PS3 (i already had my 60GB anyway though) but after looking at it, i hadn't played a PS2 game in months anyway.
so yea, BC is overrated if you really look at it.
Kevin949 @ Feb 27th 2009 12:07AM
Having BC on a home console is one thing, you can keep your old console you had. It's not that big of a deal. I, however, was stating specifically for portables because ditching that ability means the person would either have to basically give up their whole library or keep the old portable and have the new one and that's just too much crap to carry with you for it to really be considered "portable" at that point. Unless they offer some method to transfer your games to the new system (if it is indeed UMD-less) then I think it's just not a great idea to completely disregard their current customer base.
Home Consoles != Portables.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Feb 27th 2009 10:05AM
guess i misunderstood ya. but u certainly have a point. i used to lug around a PSP, DS, Zune, a bunch of games, and a Treo eveywhere i went. when i stopped carrying the PSP, DS, and the games, it was literally a load off lol.
that said, i still think the UMD drive should probably go anyway on a personal note since, as i said before, i never use the BC anyway. i wouldnt mind seeing some kind of transfer method the rip the old UMD games but i really cant dee it happening cause how would they be able to regulate people buying a game and sharing it with like 20 of their friends? im thinkin they should sell all games on both the PSN (like they do now in Japan) and on some type of flash card like the DS. i know the majority of people have access to the internet but not All do but everyone can go to a neighborhood game store.
Shoyz @ Feb 26th 2009 9:33PM
I heard someone suggest Mini-Bluray disks.
I wholeheartedly suggest this also.
This would add tons of storage, while keeping a drive.
Sony could ALSO then allow you to insert your UMD drives removed from the UMD-protective cases. It would destroy the point of the cases, but at least you can't whine about no Backwards Compatability. They can just sell cases for them anyways.
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Taylor Swift Defense Force, Gobot in disguise) @ Feb 26th 2009 9:43PM
it would also cost a shit-ton of money and will probably be an even bigger pain in the ass to develop for. Honestly, if they can't compete with DS market, blue ocean dat shit like Oh Snaps! The only real PSP market is Japan and Im sure the people there aren't left with a limited number of areas with Wi-Fi support. Replace the UMD with SD, keep Memory Stick support and just go full download.
Shoyz @ Feb 26th 2009 10:04PM
How are you talking about marketing decisions when download-exclusive is one of the worst you can make?
Tons of people, including myself, would not buy one just for that reason.
SecretAgentHam @ Feb 26th 2009 9:33PM
forget doing that and just focus on releasing UMD legacy titles on the PSN EVERY WEEK!
also if you want to go on with the UMD-Less psp, have some kind of (send us your proof of purchase of your game and recieve a voucher to download the game on PSN!) kind of deal. that way you cant fake it, and its a win win... the PSP has been a missed opportunity for sony but with this slew of new games coming our way, i REALLY hope PSN activity picks up for my little handheld.
Deone @ Feb 26th 2009 9:36PM
Since its just a rumor, I'm not going to totally rip them but I don't see how this could be good idea at all. It may be the future (music is already almost exclusively download only, with no 'slots' for media [outside of memory slots or USB cord slots, you get my point]) for media content, and sony may pride themselves on being on the cutting edge, but this idea is akin to offering the BD player without being DVD compatible. Just doesn't seem like good business.
Perhaps if you had save files on your stick, they will let you download the games you used to have on UMD for free, for a certain period of time after logging in your new PSP. Then maybe it will work.
Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Feb 26th 2009 9:41PM
Agreed. They would need to have a way for backwards compatibility of already owned games.
skyzbig @ Feb 26th 2009 9:42PM
So it's basically a yes.
PSP sales are gunna tank now until the PSP2 is revealed.
ice~ @ Feb 26th 2009 9:50PM
I wouldn't mind a new PSP, but wouldn't Digital Distribution only seriously hurt sales of games, because from what I know, digital games (not counting PC) only make up for around 1% of the market...
Chris @ Feb 26th 2009 10:06PM
Perhaps that's because no major platform so far has been digital download only. In the past it didn't make sense to spend a long time downloading a game to an expensive memory stick when it was cheaper to just buy a physical copy, but with connection speeds getting faster and memory sticks cheaper, it might be more feasible now.
goonie_filmz @ Mar 4th 2009 10:58AM
If true, this will be the downfall of the PSP. Consumers, especially parents, are not ready for digital distribution of expensive content like games and movies. Most parents have trouble turning on the computer, let alone signing up for the PSN and imputting credit card info [assuming they have one].
KobeBryunt @ Feb 26th 2009 9:54PM
Seriously, Sony needs to put the current psp out of its misery, redesign it to make it smaller, preferably clam shell design, and it would sell a lot.
el serpiente @ Feb 26th 2009 11:36PM
You should change your name to "Howard Stringur".
Premature ejaculation man @ Feb 26th 2009 9:57PM
I'd say that DD DRM can get cracked a lot quicker than new physical data formats...But look at the PSP's piracy...
I'm not a fan of Digital Distribution because Australia (does it happen elsewhere? Not including America) has very restrictive download limits.
ElStefio @ Feb 27th 2009 1:26AM
I've recently moved from the UK to NZ, and the limits over here make me feel like i've had a leg removed. Suddenly i find myself being a lot more fussy about what demo's i download for the PS3, and for the second half of every month i'm having to keep a very close eye on my usage meter...
Let's just hope that the rise of digital distribution (of all types) leads to countries such as Aus and NZ dragging themselves out of the 90s... Honestly i can't remember the last time i had this kind of problem in th UK..
Twist @ Feb 26th 2009 10:13PM
Be very cool to see one with either dual memory card slots (and dual analog sticks) or a SSD and a single memory card slot. Like others I say go SDHC but of course it is Sony and the only thing keeping their memory card formats afloat (or at least keeping them from sinking at an even quicker rate) is their own products. Game could be released on read only cards that would hopefully be cheaper than their read/write cousins. Of course 100% digital distribution would be cool as well except for the whole you can't trade it at GameStop thing.
JonD @ Feb 26th 2009 10:23PM
This can't come soon enough. I bought the very first version and I am more than ready to upgrade. Those shots of the mythical PSP-4000 look great.
Juddinrs @ Feb 26th 2009 10:23PM
Touch screen and two joysticks is all you really need, they dont have to totally get rid of the UMD drive. just leave it there for PSP1 games and they can make all PSP2 games downloadable. PSP games arent that big of a file atleast not the cso :)