Sony considering UMD game trade-in program for PSP Go digital versions

You don't need media go to back up your saves. Merely plug in your PSP into a computer and open it up in explorer (or the mac alternative to explorer) and then go to PSP>Save Data and copy everything...

Ecch, my poor brain. I meant Breath of Fire. ;-p

It would make sense (and money) for Sony to sell a UMD peripheral. Let people sync their UMDs to the PSP Go and they're good to go for a few days. Re-syncs would be necessary to prevent people renting/borrowing games to sync but it is eminently feasible. Sony would make money by being able to sell a $80 peripheral to facilitate all this.

I have to admit, like the Gameboy Player for the old Gamecube, I'd totally leap at the chance to buy a device that allows legit conversion of my UMDs to something the PSPgo can play. And otherwise, crackable PSP1000s and PSP2000s are going to become pricelessly useless to preserve collections.

Spam what makes you think that not having UMDs anymore makes your PSP-1000 obsolete?!?

Guys, this is exactly what Sony wants - to make people think that they NEED the PSPgo for digital distribution.

I cannot emphasize this enough: All older PSPs will be able to play any PSP game, whether it's a digital copy or UMD, import or domestic, old game or future release, it does not matter to a PSP-1000, 2000, or 3000.

ONLY THE STUPID PSPgo is gimped that it won't be able to play UMDs or only the old releases that Sony decides to make available on PSN. You won't be able to trade in all of your UMDs since some games will not be popular enough for Sony to put in the effort to digitize them. Therefore, the PSPgo will not be able to play some of the really good but relatively obscure titles if Sony decides not to put out a digital version of that particular UMD.

Yeah, that's why SRPGs/RPGs are more fun on handhelds: sleep/instant resume and play anywhere!

You do know u're paying more for something that doesn't have interchangable batteries, does all the things that the current psp can do (with the exception of bluetooth), a smaller screen?
=_=

wait... like getting an iPod nano vs the iPod mini? I take you for the kind of guy that gets a desktop computer every time since it doesn't even need batteries, can do more, gets a real keyboard and mouse, and has a bigger screen while being cheaper. so therefor a laptop has no value as a primary machine, and there is definitely no value in netbooks. *dripping sarcasm for those that don't catch it*

it is different enough in style, scope, and capabilities that I'd desire this one, but not the original. It's smaller to hold and store, It doesn't have a clunky portable mini-disk drive to rev up (and access to games is easier because of it), and the design actually doesn't look ugly to me. that's pretty huge for a portable gadget.

Nate you wouldn't get the original PSP but you would get this crap? All because of the transition to digital media? Hate to burst your bubble, but the original PSP can also do the whole digital download thing, as well as play all the games on UMD that Sony will never digitize for PSN. Face it, Sony will digitize 5-10% of their old UMD catalog at best, and a lot of good games on UMD will slip through the cracks. PSP Go will NEVER play all the games that the original PSP can.

digi- let me make it clear to you:
- I HATE the umd's. vibrating spinning disks in my hand. fugly contraptions to hold them in place.
- I dont' care for the design of the psp. It's bigger that I'd prefer. It's sides prevent use as a media player for me. It's like the original playstation vs the psone remake. One works, one works AND looks good.
- the psp can do digital media, but with the previously mentioned faults (major in my opinion), I'd never buy it. Also, as long as UMD's are a prefered format for anyone, good games won't be digital downloads. when digital makes sense, the games come.
- if they digitize 5% of the most popular games, I'm happy. If they digitize the 1% I'd buy, I'm happy. if they only digitize half the games I'd buy, I'm happy enough. I'm not going to buy games that aren't available to me. Just like I don't buy ps2 games for my ps3. It's not available to me, it doesn't exist. games slip through the cracks on any system.
- this new system just looks sexy. personal preference. It's awesome. I want it.

It's your opinion that it's sexy. To me and the others here it's fugly as hell. And stop using the argument that you have to use the UMD drive if you have the original PSP, because it's not true. You don't ever have to use the UMD drive again and it will function exactly like the go. Sony also said that every PSP game released from now will be a digital download so your comments about UMDs being the preferred format don't make sense. And you should chill out and stop being so bitter about discs, that's the natural progression of technology. You shouldn't make it sound so personal, it only makes you look like a fool.

"games slip through the cracks on any system."

Try naming any other system in the history of video games that couldn't play all of the games made for it.

in order of arguments:
- i know sexiness is an opinion, I was defending my preferences which are being attacked
- the UMD drive is still there - therefore it still annoys me for the reasons I've said.
- it'll be compatible with the same games as the go - I never refuted that - I just don't care.
- if sony makes all future releases digital - do you really think it's for any other than the go?
- it is personal, so stop calling me a fool for my personal taste. If I think it's sexy, let me think it's sexy. I hate UMD's because of taste, and i was pretty clear on that. you making my obvious personal taste into a logical argument and then saying yeah well "I think it looks like crap" "hate to burst your bubble" and all these pointless arguments meant to say my personal preference idiotic.
- Microsoft Windows (I wont go into detail, but I think it's self explanatory). Intel macs, and some online flash/java/browser games.
- depending on how you measure it, xbox on the xbox360 had most games fall through the cracks. The ps3 lost ps2 games. The wii is only compatible with the old emulated games that they give out slowly (plenty good ones lost).

I'm saying you're a fool because you say you're poor to begin with but then you would actually consider the PSPgo, with a price tag that is almost $100 more expensive than the relatively new PSP-3000 just because it "looks better" to you. I don't care if it slides in 16 directions, it's still a PSP that won't be able to play anything that the original one couldn't. Of course you're entitled to your own opinion, but so am I.

I also find your disdain for the UMD drive almost hilarious. So before you were saying that the vibrations were annoying, which then I said you didn't have to use it at all since it also uses flash memory for games, just like the Go. Then for whatever reason you go even further and say that the mere presence of the drive is what irks you to no end. What's next? I really want to know (actually I really don't).

You're also wrong about Sony going digital for the sake of the PSPgo. Sony is actually doing this for all models. All models will benefit from faster loading times and not having to carry multiple UMDs around, and Sony would love for the original users to start buying stuff digitally since they would make tons more money that way. Sony would also love to just get rid of UMDs altogether, but since they are still releasing UMDs and doing that trade-in program, it's actually the original audience that Sony is trying to cater to.

Also, it's clear you need to learn to read better, since you obviously did not understand the argument about the games slipping through the cracks. The Xbox360 can play all Xbox360 games, PS3 can play all the PS3 games, so on and so forth. There has never been any system that couldn't play all of ITS OWN games. However, the PSPgo is NOT like the transition between the original Xbox and the Xbox360, or the PS2 and PS3. The PSPgo is the SAME DAMN HARDWARE as the original PSP, just dressed up to fool people like you into paying almost $100 more for the same thing. Since Sony never made any announcement as to which old games will be digitized, the PSPgo's library FOR NOW is strictly limited to what they showed at E3, which include GTmobile, MGS, etc.

Now you see why people are peeved about this new model. As a lot of current PSP users would probably agree, it's definitely not worth upgrading to this new model when the original PSP is essentially the same or even exceeds the GO in functionality. But that's the thing, only current PSP users would know what kind of rip-off this new model is. Sony is trying to con people like you with the new makeover and from the looks of it, it's working.

you're commenting on MY post, remember that. I've said nothing against you, other than you're rude to the extreme. for the benefit of other readers, let me recap what you've said about me:
- hate to burst your bubble
- you're comments don't make sense
- you shouldn't make it personal - it's just your opinion (obvious, I made it to be that originally)
- you're a fool
- you can't read
- I say you're a fool
- sony is trying to con people like you (and it's working) - does that mean I'm a tool?)

Now let me make it clear, again in order:
- all of my posts are an opinion, and have been from the start. Non-offensive, just a personal opinion on something that is subject to opinions more than stats.
- being poor doesn't mean I like crap. it's also not going to stay that way as soon as I get out of the hole I'm in. poor is a state, not a lifestyle. I don't want a poor lifestyle. similarly I use mac's, own a ps3, have good furniture, own a working printer, and so forth. The money will come as I work for it.
- the UMD complaints are changing, and they're compatible. think about that (or actually don't)
- while I don't have proof (do you?), I'd say if sony wasn't going to introduce the go, I'd highly doubt they would go through the trouble of digitizing umd games. remember even though they're capable, the psp doesn't have extensive storage without buying it seperately.
- I separated those examples for a reason if you care (or apparently not?). I also justified those statements with "depending on how you measure it". those systems are supposed to be able to play the previous games. the xbox360 said it could play xbox games. the ps3 (originally) said it could play ps2 games. the wii says it can play the nintendo back catalog. the psp go doesn't advertise to ability to play umd's, just the newer downloadable games.
- sony has not and will not "con" me. I know it can't play umd's. I also know it's a smaller form factor. I know it's more expensive (though as someone pointed out it has 16 GB, which isn't cheap). don't assume that sony is conning me into buying an inferior product. in my opinion (counter to your OPINION), this is a product I could buy, while the other one I couldn't. now stop trolling me.

you're commenting on MY post, remember that. I've said nothing against you, other than you're rude to the extreme. for the benefit of other readers, let me recap what you've said about me:
- hate to burst your bubble
- you're comments don't make sense
- you shouldn't make it personal - it's just your opinion (obvious, I made it to be that originally)
- you're a fool
- you can't read
- I say you're a fool
- sony is trying to con people like you (and it's working) - does that mean I'm a tool?)

Now let me make it clear, again in order:
- all of my posts are an opinion, and have been from the start. Non-offensive, just a personal opinion on something that is subject to opinions more than stats.
- being poor doesn't mean I like crap. it's also not going to stay that way as soon as I get out of the hole I'm in. poor is a state, not a lifestyle. I don't want a poor lifestyle. similarly I use mac's, own a ps3, have good furniture, own a working printer, and so forth. The money will come as I work for it.
- the UMD complaints are changing, and they're compatible. think about that (or actually don't)
- while I don't have proof (do you?), I'd say if sony wasn't going to introduce the go, I'd highly doubt they would go through the trouble of digitizing umd games. remember even though they're capable, the psp doesn't have extensive storage without buying it seperately.
- I separated those examples for a reason if you care (or apparently not?). I also justified those statements with "depending on how you measure it". those systems are supposed to be able to play the previous games. the xbox360 said it could play xbox games. the ps3 (originally) said it could play ps2 games. the wii says it can play the nintendo back catalog. the psp go doesn't advertise to ability to play umd's, just the newer downloadable games.
- sony has not and will not "con" me. I know it can't play umd's. I also know it's a smaller form factor. I know it's more expensive (though as someone pointed out it has 16 GB, which isn't cheap). don't assume that sony is conning me into buying an inferior product. in my opinion (counter to your OPINION), this is a product I could buy, while the other one I couldn't. now stop trolling me.

Wow, I would never have thought that saying "hate to burst your bubble" would be construed as "rude to the extreme". Alright everyone, noone from now on uses that phrase, as well as "your comments don't make sense," even when they don't. Because that would be "rude". I would hate for you to cry to mommy about this. Do you even read the other posts by the majority of people here? It's a miracle you even read joystiq or even post here at all since you probably couldn't get over "teh rudeness" to begin with. Seriously, get over yourself.

"you're commenting on MY post, remember that."

So?

"all of my posts are an opinion, and have been from the start."

Why do you think that just because you have an opinion that it wouldn't be scrutinized by, or commented by others? That's why there is a reply button.

"Non-offensive, just a personal opinion on something that is subject to opinions more than stats."

Pretend you own an original PSP, and then read your comments again. Your opinions have been offensive. You're just too self-absorbed to notice.

"being poor doesn't mean I like crap"

But you like the PSPgo. And I think it's crap. So sue me.

"the UMD complaints are changing, and they're compatible. think about that (or actually don't)"

I have no idea what this means, speak English please.

"while I don't have proof (do you?), I'd say if sony wasn't going to introduce the go, I'd highly doubt they would go through the trouble of digitizing umd games."

I never disagreed with this. But Sony already started down the road with digital distribution long before the go was introduced (PSN, PS1, Patapon 2, etc.). So PSPgo or not, Sony was already headed down this path. Therefore your earlier argument "if sony makes all future releases digital - do you really think it's for any other than the go?" is still wrong.

"remember even though they're capable, the psp doesn't have extensive storage without buying it seperately."

Yeah, but it's also almost $100 cheaper, which is more than enough to buy a 16 GB card. The PSPgo is forcing you to buy the storage on day 1, even if the 16 GB isn't worth the difference.

"those systems are supposed to be able to play the previous games. the xbox360 said it could play xbox games. the ps3 (originally) said it could play ps2 games. the wii says it can play the nintendo back catalog."

Seriously your analogies don't make sense either, let alone your comments. THE PSPGO IS NOT A NEW SYSTEM. The appropriate analogy is more like going from the fat PS2 to the PS2 Slim. However, the Slim PS2 can play virtually all games made for the fat one. Get your analogies straight.

"the psp go doesn't advertise to ability to play umd's, just the newer downloadable games."

WRONG AGAIN. THEY NEVER SAID "JUST THE NEWER DOWNLOADABLE TITLES". They just announced the trade-in program, PLUS they said they would make the older UMD titles available for download, although noone knows exactly which titles. But my complaint was NOT that the PSPgo couldn't play UMDs, but that Sony will never be able to make all of the games available for download. It could be zero for all we know, they never gave details. Try to read my arguments word for word, it might be better than all of this nonsense you are spewing.

"sony has not and will not "con" me."

Sony already has.

"now stop trolling me."

Now look who is trying to be offensive. As long as I disagree with you responses I'm going to keep hitting that reply button since I know you're going to say something stupid.

wait, how do you save the money if you're buying a bunch of 8gb MSPD cards? I mean I guess if you don't sell the old psp and buy the new one... but who would do that?

Well, I already have one 8 GB card (and a 4 and a 1). Buying one more for around $30-40 would bring me up to the memory in the Go. So it's spend $30-40, or spend $250 +whatever it costs to get the USB and TV out cable, since the PSP Go no longer has a mini B USB port. I've already got a 2000 series with the battery upgrade. I'm starting to think it'd be smarter to put the money towards the pile of games that are coming this fall instead of a Go.

For less than the price of the PSP GO! you can just buy the PhotoFast MicroSDHC to MS Pro Duo Adapter($7 on amazon), two 16GB Micro SD's($45 each), a pandora + magic card($5) and with the help of an auto downgrader you could install Custom Firmware. Now you can dump your own games save them on your 32GB memory stick and not worry about ever dealing with swapping UMDs ever again.

So for about $102 and a some of your time and patience you get a decent PSP GO! alternative, that also does homebrew.

Before anybody yells PIRATE! this is simply just for back up purposes, if the end user then decides to break the law or SCEA terms of agreement (which you kinda have to, to install CFW) then it solely is the moral judgment of the user and not the software's intent. Chainsaws can cut trees(or heads) depending on its user :P