No UMD Conversion for PSP Go

[clint g]

http://tgs.gamespot.com/story/6230410/no-umd-conversion-for-psp-go

Existing PSP owners hoping to pick up a PSP Go and transfer their existing UMD games to the handheld are going to be out of luck--Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Sony Computer Entertainment America have confirmed that there will be no way to transfer existing UMD purchases to the new download-only PSP Go.

"We were evaluating a UMD conversion program, but due to legal and technical reasons we will not be offering the program at this time," a Sony representative told GameSpot.

FAIL.

Makes me glad that I picked up an old school PSP

 

[Timby]

I'm guessing there's a fairly murky U.S. copyright issue at works here. You also have to consider the idea that publishers started raising a fit.

 

[Rii]

It's kinda hard to implement a system like that after the fact. If there's no unique identifier for the media, you're screwed. It's just like X360 discs having to be in the tray even if the game is installed on the HDD.

 

[clint g]

What they probably should have done was stuck it out with the current PSP and used all these innovations for the PSP2. As it is, releasing a new version of a system that ignores the primary method of playing the games just boggles my mind.

 

[Timby]

It's kinda hard to implement a system like that after the fact. If there's no unique identifier for the media, you're screwed. It's just like X360 discs having to be in the tray even if the game is installed on the HDD.

It truly is putting the cart before the horse. The PSP is five-year-old hardware. At this point, it makes more sense for Sony to fine-tune its network, ensure the best possible facility for direct-download, upgrade the hardware and phase out the original PSP.

 

[Rii]

I agree. Clearly they're not looking for folks to upgrade as much as to attract new consumers who won't be bothered by the UMD issue. That might not be a bad idea as far as it goes, I don't imagine the proportion of folks who'd go in for an upgrade like that is all that high in any case, but at this late stage of the game I can't see the PSP expanding its market much.

A couple other factors that could bear on the situation are that the new PSP is almost certainly cheaper for Sony to make than the old one, also that the PSP has had major piracy issues, there's probably a fair proportion of PSP owners out there right now who don't actually own any games on UMD.

I wonder if the success of the iPhone has caused Sony to rethink their "portable console" approach for any successor devices...

 

[clint g]

That doesn't make sense though. If you can't expand your market and you aren't going after old customers who want to upgrade than who are you going for?

I do think the iPhone has an impact on this decision, but that doesn't mean it makes sense. Now if the console was cheaper than the standard PSP than yeah, it would make sense. As it is though you pay more for a smaller screen and no disc drive. If you could transfer your old games to it than I could see some of the hardcore buying it, if only to have the latest and greatest tech but as it is who are they trying to attract with this thing?

 

[Rii]

Sony obviously thinks they can expand the market significantly. Maybe in Japan.

The price is definitely odd.

 

[clint g]

I do agree with that, they do believe they can expand the market. I think they're wrong but whatever it probably will do well in Japan, they did buy the GBA Micro after all. I think its going to fall flat in the US though

 

[firehawk12]

The big sticking point is that it's the same exact software... it's not even like buying the same copy of Mario again on a new platform.

I don't know if there's a good answer though. If you could generate a time limited iso based on the UMD, that might work for longer games. Or maybe make you register every day or something. Oh well.

 

[Servo]

I was toying with the idea of picking up a PSP in the January sales. This new PSP doesn't really impress me though. I'll probably just pick up a 3000 on the cheap with a few games and a memory card.

 

[Jim Steele]

Here's an idea: play your UMDs on a system with a UMD drive.

 

[CommodoreKong]

Sony obviously thinks they can expand the market significantly. Maybe in Japan.

The price is definitely odd.

Yeah the fact that existing users can't trade in their UMDs is going to limit the number of existing users upgrading to the PSPGo and the fact that the PSP 3000 is still available and will cost less will also limit the number of new customers buying the PSPGo. Seems like a poor strategy all around, but then again what do you expect from Sony?

 

[Sephiroth]

*takes a deep sniff of the air* MMMMMMMMMMMMM is that 32X I smell?

 

[crouteru]

This seems a bit pointless. It's only going to divide their user base. Sony needs to concentrate on making some AAA exclusive titles instead of release after release of model updates.

 

[Subspace]

I do'nt see the point in a PSPGo, Its the same price as the PS3 But Offers no Real Advantages over the Older PSPs, Just a Waste of Money Really.

 

[Sephiroth]

I do'nt see the point in a PSPGo, Its the same price as the PS3 But Offers no Real Advantages over the Older PSPs, Just a Waste of Money Really.

that's just what Sony has become, have you seen thier latest commercial, basicaly it goes "your an idiot, and were doing your wife"

 

[firehawk12]

I'm pretty sure the plus-200 price is due in part to the fact that stores will be cut out of software sales. Honestly, I'm surprised GameStop is even carrying it.

I guess they can do an iPod thing and try to whore out cases and cables, but how much money could that bring in?

 

[Sephiroth]

I'm pretty sure the plus-200 price is due in part to the fact that stores will be cut out of software sales. Honestly, I'm surprised GameStop is even carrying it.

I guess they can do an iPod thing and try to whore out cases and cables, but how much money could that bring in?

not much, my local game stop guy says they sell like 1 or 2 wii wheels a week, some wiimote grips and thats it, the rest of the DS/psp armor, cases ect. don't sell too well if at all

 

[firehawk12]

Yeah, but there they can sell used Wii games at least.

It's the same way where Best Buy sells iPods and CDs... but most people who buy iPods would never, ever buy a physical CD... so it almost defeats the purpose.