Sony's John Koller says 'tangible disc' still important

by Justin McElroy { Apr 16th 2009 at 10:40AM }

In the latest assault in what we've come to think of as "Operation: Spite David Perry," Sony's John Koller is still insisting that the UMD disc is a valued member of team PSP, telling Gamesindustry.biz, "We look to the tangible disc as continuing to be very important. I think there's certainly a consumer out there who values tangibility. We say that alot [sic] in our research." We're hoping he means "see that a lot," or we're not sure they understand exactly how research works.

We've had our top decoders working on Sony's UMD message, and we think we've got it just about cracked: "We're going to keep telling you to buy UMDs until the moment we tell you our next system won't play them." We may not like it, but dammit if we don't respect it.

Tags: dave-perry, john-koller, psp, psp-2, sony, umd

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Cosmo @ Apr 16th 2009 10:49AM

If dickholes like Time Warner and their ridiculous internet bandwidth caps have their way, physical media is going to be here for a loooooooooooooooong time.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Apr 16th 2009 10:52AM

Dear lord why I am reminded about this every damn day....

Its bad enough I stay in a test market....BLAST!!!

But hell the PSP has Wifi so I can easily use the Wifi in the library or Mall and not hurt my bandwidth...lol

Lee @ Apr 16th 2009 10:52AM

Look around for a new ISP
Contact current ISP
Terminate contract with current ISP
---
Sign up with new ISP.

Problem solved.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Apr 16th 2009 10:59AM

the only other ISP in my Area is AT&T and I HATE DSL...

HazyCloud @ Apr 16th 2009 10:59AM

@ Lee

Sometimes there aren't many other ISPs in your area. You can get stuck with one very easily.

Cosmo @ Apr 16th 2009 11:16AM

I'm a bit ticked that Verizon's FIOS will probably never come to my area due to AT&T having a monopoly in my area. Let's hope they can step up their fiber optic game to compete with FIOS and never go with ridiculous caps.

madhat @ Apr 16th 2009 11:22AM

@Lee

Maybe your little plan works great if you live in New York City, but in most areas of the country, even high tech university towns, you have a "choice" of one ISP.

BananaBoat @ Apr 16th 2009 2:38PM

@Aggie - You've got to ask yourself the following question: "What is better, 10mbps capped at 30 gigabytes a month, or 6mbps without a cap?" Personally I'd go for the slower yet uncapped plan every time, even if it means DSL.

The sucess or failure of TW's money grab rests on subscribers in these "test markets". If there is a mass exodus to the competitors service, they'll probably rethink their plans. If no one leaves, they'll probably roll it out nation wide.

I'm surprised to hear that their "test market" is an area with actual competition. Most of the markets they'll probably eventually roll this pricing scam out to are those without competition where people would have no other choice.

BananaBoat @ Apr 16th 2009 4:46PM

Nevermind Aggie. Reports are coming out that TWC is scrapping its plans to test the caps.

Looks like we've won...for now...

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Apr 16th 2009 10:50AM

of Course they are going to say that. Dont want to kill PSP game sales. But with games like Resistance: Retribution being released DAY1 on the EU PSN you have to wonder just HOW much longer the UMD based games will be around. I'd give them until PSP2 is launched, which may very well still have UMD drive but will push people toward Digital service if they dont release many games on UMD for it.

Cosmo @ Apr 16th 2009 11:01AM

In some places, digital distribution will work better in others, such as it will work better in Japan due to that country having a very advanced internet infrastructure vs. rural areas of the U.S.

The slow loading times of some UMD games and the horrible grinding noise of the drive when loading data does get to me though, that drive is almost as annoying as the Xbox 360s. Its so refreshing when your able to play the game on the memory stick and there is pure silence.

Courtney @ Apr 16th 2009 11:08AM

I have to think that getting rid of the UMD drive would significantly lower the cost of the PSP. Going to a purely digital format might allow them to get down to a significantly lower price than the DS.

Just guessing though.

Scuffles @ Apr 16th 2009 4:17PM

And you really think a significant price cut in the manufacture of the system is going to translate into any savings for the consumer .... if anything with no motivation to move physical product (EG a warehouse of UMD games) there is no motivation to say put things on sale other than the occasional rope in a new crop of gamers with a sale then slam them with all the pay DLC that we cut out of the game during production that we have already sold to our existing install base.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Apr 16th 2009 4:19PM

how many PSP games have DLC tho???

Scuffles @ Apr 16th 2009 7:00PM

PSP DLC isn't as common as say the main console systems but it is becoming more common place for instance but the first game I can think of that tried out DLC just as an example was Wipeout Pure (I'm a big wipeout fan so it was more than welcome) it was also one of the first games released for the PSP consequently the reason I purchased it.

The next instance that comes to mind was some PSN download only exclusive game that in its description listed a bunch of play modes that turned out to be available only through later purchased DLC expansions.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Apr 16th 2009 7:07PM

I know Rock Band will have some and most likely so will LBP...but thats just a few games...

xx Beta Max xx @ Apr 16th 2009 10:53AM

I enjoy hearing the PSP repent for its sins.

DeathroW @ Apr 16th 2009 11:01AM

DIAF UMD!

Anton32828 @ Apr 16th 2009 11:02AM

The comment about "tangibility" could easily be a reference to Magic-Gate secured Memory Stick distribution of games at retail. The rumored PSP2 could have two memory stick slots --- one for downloads and game saves, and another to play "tangible" games that are on secure memory stick, not UMD.

This is all just speculation on my part --- I have no inside information on any of this.

Cosmo @ Apr 16th 2009 11:08AM

I would prefer the PSP2 to have an SD and memory stick slot. I don't mind if you could only store games on the memory stick, but it would at least be nice to store all of your media and other files on cheaper and more widely available mini or micro SD cards.

fikhl @ Apr 16th 2009 2:15PM

I guess everyone would love to have a bit of backwards-compatibility in PSP2 of some sort. I, for one cannot think of a PSP2 without UMD. and please don't tell me that you can re-download 'all' your purchased games for the new machine, it's just ridiculous.

Cosmo @ Apr 16th 2009 6:06PM

I want some degree of backwards compatibility in the PSP2, whether is it by UMD or digital/ISO format.

jsut @ Apr 16th 2009 11:12AM

Consumers only want tangible media because it's what they're used to. I was the same way when digital distribution on PCs started out, but now I see it as a great inconvenience to have to buy physical media, and find it a home on my shelves. It's part of why I spend more time gaming on my PC than on my consoles.

After people have time to adjust to digital distribution on the PSP (and other consoles) they'll probably find physical media a burden too.

WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Apr 16th 2009 11:12AM

The sooner games can be streamed directly into my brain, the better.

What POSSIBLE negative repercussions could there be? I can't think of any.

Markez @ Apr 16th 2009 12:04PM

Well I suppose there would always be the threat of a Johnny Mnemonic head asplode kinda deal?

Marty @ Apr 16th 2009 11:16AM

It's going to be a while before consumers are ready to go all-digital with games, music, and movies. But then, I imagine Sony is interested in keeping that love for tangible media alive, since it has its hand deeply in Blu-Ray's cookie jar.

Apollo @ Apr 16th 2009 11:20AM

When she gets there, she knows.................

Xegyn @ Apr 16th 2009 11:21AM

The advantage of the physical format is that you can buy/sell used games. I also like the flexibility of giving away or lending old games to friends and family. I definitely take that in to consideration when I purchase games that are both on disc and the PSN store.

Cosmo @ Apr 16th 2009 11:28AM

That is a good benefit of physical media. Maybe make a way to be able to sell and then revoke your license of the digital game or purchase used licenses?
One benefit of digital games is that if your game is ever lost such as by a hard drive crash or sadly a stolen memory stick or PSP, you can redownload that game again. Whereas if your physical disc becomes damaged, lost or stolen, tough luck.

McWeen @ Apr 16th 2009 11:32AM

Until DRM is perfected (probably never) physical media will always be a better option to me.

Angel Mass @ Apr 16th 2009 11:39AM

Looks like UMD is going to make it for the PSP2

billzilla @ Apr 16th 2009 1:07PM

Joystiq writers hate Sony so much, they're willing to be grammar cops (in this case rather nitpicking ones - and I consider myself a rather harsh critic of 'netspeak' and apostrophe errors in particular).

Why don't you guys just abandon pretense and call this whole thing NINTYSTIQ and get it over with? Then your passionate love affair with Mario & Co. won't be hindered by this annoying and tattered mask of 'unbiased cross platform news'.

I for one applaud Koller in his 'illiterate' gambit to save the physical format. It's the first pro-consumer news I've heard out of SCEA in a long, long time. Abandoning UMD discs would be damaging to the PSP legacy. Just let people break open those stupid plastic cases and give us a nice clean slot load and some little sleeves for our bare discs. Other platforms use bare optic discs, no reason the PSP can't.

Peels87 @ Apr 16th 2009 3:36PM

haha, look at their most recent infamous article on the playstation section

webmaster @ Apr 16th 2009 1:31PM

Cool screenshot of The Legend of Kyrandia..:)

I agree. tangible CD/DVD's are still important.. Because in 10 years, that game and/or download service or Company may not exist.

Imagine not having a copy of Thief or Duke Nukem..... ugh.

Giroro @ Apr 16th 2009 2:28PM

Like has been said and proven many times before:

OPTICAL DISC + HANDHELD = BAD IDEA

Scuffles @ Apr 16th 2009 9:26PM

Yeah but at the time it was probably the cheapest option they could go with to get as much storage as they did, Heck when I first got my 1gb memory card it was $90.00+ now you can pick the lil monsters up for ~$4.00.

Don @ Apr 16th 2009 2:33PM

"We've had our top decoders working on Sony's UMD message, and we think we've got it just about cracked: "We're going to keep telling you to buy UMDs until the moment we tell you our next system won't play them." We may not like it, but dammit if we don't respect it."

I hope you're joking about "respecting" that sentiment. All the Sony doublespeak serves no purpose for me except to piss me off.

http://handheldaddict.blogspot.com/