Sony Hints At Digital-Only PSP2

[TM2-Megatron]

Wow, while I often don't quite agree with what Sony decides to go for in the market, I've never really credited them with being really stupid... for the most part, they seem to know their business.

But this... did they really learn nothing from the PSPGo? People don't want a purely digital distribution model... for one, paying full-price for something with no media, packaging, instruction manual, and limited ability to transfer from one console to another is a very unattractive concept for many people. For me, 100% digital distribution (or cloud gaming, or anything like that) is a deal-breaker. Atm, I buy every single game I play, even I do most of my portable gaming from backups. The day it goes all digital is the day I stop buying; period.

If this is true, the PSP2 will fail.

 

[Maikel Steneker]

Only recently I've been playing on the PSP, and I was really surprised about how incredibly bad UMD is. Not only can you easily scratch them and does the PSP look like it's about to break any time, it's also extremely noisy and probably eats away the battery really fast. If I were to buy a PSP, I wouldn't buy anything for it on UMD. For me it's either cartridges or downloads.

Easy to scratch? Unless you're taking a pencil to the gap in the casing I doubt you could scratch one up easily. They're harder to scratch than DVDs and we don't complain about them. The noise issue is something I notice a bit on my PSP-1000 (which is quite old and probably needs the drive replaced) but its not hideous. The Battery issue would be build into the design of the console (hence the 1800mah battery compared to the original DS's 850mah). Using discs is the cheapest way to get a large amount of storage for games, Sony saw this and did their best to make them as much like cartridges as possible.

I have to admit that I haven't scratched any games yet. Still, for a portable device that I take with me in a suitcase etc. I'd rather not have something that can damage. A lot of the time I just throw my DS cartridges in a box without fear of damaging them.

I don't know if the noise is different in a PSP-2000 model (which I use) but it's really annoying. Then again, most other people don't care about it so I guess it's just me.

And even if the battery has a larger capacity, that means that if you download games regardless of the UMD option you'll be able to use your PSP longer.

I hope we'll get more info at E3. If this has PS2 emulation (which I very much doubt) I'll be sold anyway.

 

[Overlord Nadrian]

I don't mind paying £10 for downloadable games but full price I won't and I doubt that Sony will have its big games at anything less than £20, if we're lucky.

Well, £20 for a full, good game is still not that much.

 

[Gore]

won't work because not that many people percentage wise have high speed internet

 

[Law]

I don't mind paying £10 for downloadable games but full price I won't and I doubt that Sony will have its big games at anything less than £20, if we're lucky.

Well, £20 for a full, good game is still not that much.

It is when you don't actually own anything.

 

[Cermage]

I don't mind paying £10 for downloadable games but full price I won't and I doubt that Sony will have its big games at anything less than £20, if we're lucky.

that. DD is only good (steam) when there are sales, like steams christmas sale or something. paying full retail price for some data is pretty sad considering the publisher is saving money on not printing the discs, manual boxes e.t.c

 

[DSGamer64]

PSP2=Hello large hardware sales
Digital Only=Goodbye large hardware sales.

When it comes to games I want them in a physical form if I'm buying. I dislike buying digital downloads because I feel like I've bought nothing.

Yeah but less clutter and more economically friendly as well since you don't have to pay any delivery form or go to a store to buy the game, just purchase it on your computer and download it.

The PSP Go is great, haters just don't have one, lack the internet bandwidth to download games or they don't have a credit card. I love mine and prefer digital distribution for everything over having a massive amount of clutter for game discs and stuff.

 

[Deleted User]

So, reading through this thread, several points have become clear.

-PSP2/PSPgo > Digital Distribution allows them to cut costs
^--This creates a rift between your local game stores, such as Gamestop and the manufacturer Sony.
PSP UMD support has not, yet, been explicitly ruled out, this is just an assumption.
-Fewer Purchase options mean that content is only available from the mother source > Sony.
^--seems to stem from the rampant piracy on the original PSP. [The more time it takes to crack the better]

PSP-3000 Bundle Kits (ie Peace Walker) > PSPgo
Seems as if local gaming stores are pushing these kits as opposed to the go, whereas
Sony seems to have more or less abandoned it.

-Homebrew > Still seems like it will make or break the hand-held.
As far as computer architecture of handhelds goes, where would a 4-Cell-Computer Stand?
^-Original X-Box > Graphics. That being said; Homebrew speculation...
-How much of an improvement on emulators seems possible from PSP-PSP2
[Given that homebrew isn't in Sony's best interests] it seems probable that the system
will be very secure for a long time]

There have been a lot of "break through" moments in the PSP-scene as of late
most of which seem to stem from the chinese hacker who managed to crack the
Anti-Piracy protection on: Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep

which has seemingly led to the;
--> "Prometheus Method" - Patching 6.XX games like God Eater.
and the recent Half-Byte Loader landslide compatibility update.

 

[heartgold]

LOL, basically say Nintendo has won this

Epic fail

 

[Lubbo]

sony are fucked in the head regards to handhelds, digital only... please they just want to stop piracy somehow

 

[Maz7006]

It seems sony doesn't take into consideration people like me that are limited to 3GB download quota per month ...

i think ill just have to pass over this one to.

 

[Schlupi]

What. The Fuck. Is Sony. THINKING?

Why would they follow the PSPGo's "blazing trail" of fail?

Sony's fucking up.

 

[iFish]

I actually like this idea :/

I have a ds flash card... the is downloaded media... i use a flash cart to take all my games with me.

On the next PSP..... I don't wanna be carrying like 10 "insert physical data here" i would rather it all on my built in memory...

So, I like where sony is going with this

 

[mrfatso]

If it's me, i would like psp2 to have a digital and a physical copy of the game, i like smelling the fresh smell of game manuals, flipping through was and still is my favourite past time

 

[shakirmoledina]

i bet u they are mainly concentrating on specific hardcore fans and not the general public hence
1.) they dont care about ppl's views
2.) they have a low goal... 25k only is still something they wouldnt worry about
3.) they are stretching the console since nds is very strong so they should atleast have something to keep going

 

[ProtoKun7]

I actually like this idea :/

I have a ds flash card... the is downloaded media... i use a flash cart to take all my games with me.

On the next PSP..... I don't wanna be carrying like 10 "insert physical data here" i would rather it all on my built in memory...

So, I like where sony is going with this

Downloaded media is ok, but not when it's the only medium. They should at least have physical support for people that prefer it.

 

[manobon]

you know- if they had "encrypted" memory stick micros with games on it for the PSP Go/PSP2 (and an adapter for the older models), that would eliminate much of the UMD-Drive problems that a lot of commenters seem to have.

However, they don't even need to encrypt them- just use the same license-activation stuff they already have for eboots (not sure how they would be able to activate it without PSN connection, but that would be Very important).

Publishers would then be able to help Sony sell their memory stick micro format (which is used for Some cell phones and digital cameras...I'm guessing only those made by Sony/Sony subsidiaries), physical media gets people in the stores, license activation can increase second/used sale profits (at least, just activation required for the online stuff- which they already have implemented), and No More UMDs. If you've created a digital download-only device that has access to memory sticks (which, Sony has), you clearly don't care as much about proprietary formats exclusive to the system. 4GB cards would cover any game for the system, and can carry multiple Other games/minis/songs- a Compromise (!!!) for those complaining about UMDs, being unable to carry backups, and lack of on-board space for media.

 

[heavyknight]

PSP2=Hello large hardware sales
Digital Only=Goodbye large hardware sales.

When it comes to games I want them in a physical form if I'm buying. I dislike buying digital downloads because I feel like I've bought nothing.

Yeah but less clutter and more economically friendly as well since you don't have to pay any delivery form or go to a store to buy the game, just purchase it on your computer and download it.

The PSP Go is great, haters just don't have one, lack the internet bandwidth to download games or they don't have a credit card. I love mine and prefer digital distribution for everything over having a massive amount of clutter for game discs and stuff.

So, if someone has a PSP and gets a Go, would they need to spend more money buying/download games they already have? A lot of people get the next system/spinoff system not only for new games/experiences, but also for backwards compatibility. DS/DSLite - Sure I'd want a DSiXL, but I have a GBA and would like to have some slot 2 bonuses -and- to not need to switch systems.

I can understand if the PSP2 went with games on memory sticks, like the DS but more 'advanced'. Digital only - it already takes a while to get 4gb games, if it's a first day release and there are a lot of people who are buying it, wouldn't you want to play it instead of waiting for it to download? Not everyone has infinite time. Plus, where would you store all those 2+GB games? It's no different than putting games on a memory stick - cart style.

Sure, some people like to simply have less to carry when traveling with portables, but you have to consider the space requirements for games. Since you can't exactly delete the game unless you can redownload them (are you really going to constantly redownload 1GB over and over?) it'll be permanently lodged. Though PSP->PC would work, but, if you're traveling, are you really going to be next to a PC? Not everyone has a laptop either.

That and, the PSP has other uses, IE - Music, Videos, etc - This would limit people, they'd have to find a way to balance games and music. Though someone can easily say something like get an MP3 player, wouldn't that just be like carrying a UMD or a cart or something?

 

[MelodieOctavia]

Until the price of digitally distributed games are cheaper (and don't argue the point, because they should be. No plastic case, no disc, no shipping, no manufacturing = CHEAPER), I will not now, nor ever support digital only games.

Not only that, but if you drop your PSP2 and it breaks, its out of warranty and you have to buy new one, you have to buy all the games all over again also.

Oh, and forget about trying to recoup costs for games that you bought, only to beat 5 hours later. They're tied to your account.

Bought a game that didn't have a demo, and decided to take a chance on it, just to find out that the game was total crap, and at worst, totally broken? Too bad. no refund for you.


Bottom line: Unless the digital distribution policies make a MAJOR change, I don't see this ending well at all.

 

[Zerousen]

PSP2=Hello large hardware sales
Digital Only=Goodbye large hardware sales.

When it comes to games I want them in a physical form if I'm buying. I dislike buying digital downloads because I feel like I've bought nothing.

DS= IT PRINTS MONEY
3DS= IT PRINTS MONEY.... IN 3D!!!

Don't get me wrong, I love my PSP as much as the next guy, but I'll have to side with Ninty for now. These guys did change video game history with the NES, also with the Wii and the DS, and they can do it again, with the 3DS.