Q? Entertainment: Music licensing, other issues keeping portable Lumines off PSN for now

by JC Fletcher { Oct 21st 2009 at 11:00AM }

Lumines was one of the most popular launch titles for the PSP -- but Q? Entertainment's puzzler is notably absent from the PSP Go's initial lineup. Q explained the reason for the non-downloadability succinctly in a Tweet.

"We would love to bring Lumines/Lumines II to the PSN store," Q's rep said, "but there are complications, music licensing, was published by Namco, etc." However, "That said, we're obviously looking into it. :)" Q went on to single out the songs "Shinin'" and "Lights" as requiring new licenses for digital distribution, and clarified that it would be Bandai Namco's decision to publish the first Lumines on PSN, since it published the game on UMD (in Japan).

While the licensed music in Lumines makes it even harder to republish, this is starting to sound really familiar. As Sony's Eric Lempel told us, it's especially difficult for publishers of older PSP games to go to PSN, because licenses will have elapsed, and won't have covered digital distribution in the first place. And Sony isn't requiring third parties to pursue digital distribution, so unless they see significant revenue potential from, say, PSP Go sales, many publishers just won't. That said, it's hard to imagine a PSP without Lumines, and we're confident it'll happen eventually.

[Via PSN Stores; thanks, Kassatsu]

Tags: digital-distribution, lumines, playstation-store, psn, psp-go, puzzle, rhythm, tetsuya-mizuguchi

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

IonAion @ Oct 21st 2009 11:25AM

I guess music licensing is also an issue with regards to Psone classics. Since they also carry the same technicalities of being an old game ported digitally. In comparison to Jap PSN the US PSN is lagging way behind with the number of digital ports. Up untill now I always assumed SCEA was just slow when it comes to porting PSone games to PSN. Interesting.

Publishers should lobby for laxer regualtions concerning this kinds of things now if digital distrubution is to be come standard. Otherwise thre will be alot of games the future will be missing.

McWeen @ Oct 21st 2009 11:46AM

Best game on the PSP.

bass1x @ Oct 21st 2009 11:52AM

wait did lumines 2 get a english release i missed??

Baconmonk @ Oct 21st 2009 12:30PM

Yes

tcc3 @ Oct 21st 2009 11:54AM

Shouldn't they have checked on licensing for downloads before they created and released a download only system?

Neuromancer @ Oct 21st 2009 12:40PM

For every aspect of every game? That's a little unreasonable.

tcc3 @ Oct 21st 2009 12:49PM

The post said this was a widespread problem. At a certain point I think releasing a new version of the same system that breaks compatibility is foolish.

The smarter move would have been to wait for a true PSP2, added that ever important 2nd nub, removed the umd and went d/l only. The sour medicine of "no back compat" would go over alot better if people felt like it was a real upgrade.

Engerz @ Oct 21st 2009 12:02PM

The ":)" gives me hope.

Please make it happen!

charlie b. @ Oct 21st 2009 12:26PM

maybe the remedy would be to release a Lumines 3 on the PSN?

linebeginstoblur @ Oct 21st 2009 12:28PM

Speaking of digital distribution, can we please, PLEASE have Rez HD and E4 for the PS3???

CaramelZappa @ Oct 21st 2009 1:30PM

Nah, just get a 360.. Or a dreamcast.

Don't they have E4 for the PSP and XBLA? Seems kind of odd to leave out a PSN version.

linebeginstoblur @ Oct 21st 2009 1:45PM

They made E3 for the PSP and I have Rez for the PS2, but I would really like Rez HD and E4 for the PS3. And it's not unfair to ask. When asked, Mizuguchi said that they "started on Xbox 360, but we have no reason not to provide this game to other platforms."
Source: http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2008/01/interview-mizug/

Phil @ Oct 21st 2009 3:43PM

E3 is PSP exclusive and E4 is XBLA exclusive, granted they both play the same but I 'believe' they have different modes or something and don't share the exact same visual style.

Phil @ Oct 21st 2009 3:41PM

For those interested, here is one of the songs in question.

Figures something like this is the cause, but it will blow if it doesn't make it to the store, it's one of the best if not THE best track in the entire game...

Even as a non-PSPGo or PS3 owner, it's still a real bummer they're missing out on one of the most addictive puzzle music games ever.

Phil @ Oct 21st 2009 3:42PM

And like a dumbass I forgot the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJbr4kB8lnk&feature=related

Nook @ Oct 21st 2009 4:28PM

...and this helps get RE2 on PSN how? oh yeah, it doesn't. Seems I don't care then.

linebeginstoblur @ Oct 21st 2009 8:25PM

Well... you can guess from the name.. E4 is better than E3, which is better than E2.

I know it IS exclusive, but I don't believe they HAVE to be exclusive (MGS shouldn't own the rights to those properties). All the PSN got lately is Lumines Supernova, which is nice, but lacks in features that other versions, such as Lumines Live, had. Not to mention that they released a "classic" pack, yet, as you can guess from the article, they didn't try hard enough to get songs like "Shinin'" in it. :/

linebeginstoblur @ Oct 21st 2009 8:28PM

I'm sorry that, when I click a link in my email and it shows ONLY the ONE thread, that I assume that it already knows I'm replying to that thread...

JeremyR @ Oct 21st 2009 10:29PM

This is one of those games I want to like (have it on UMD), but I keep thinking, I'd rather just play Tetris. Indeed, sometimes right in the middle of playing this, I'll freak out and look for a straight piece to clear some lines. Then realize I'm playing Lumines and usually a little later, die. (or game over)