Sony Planning UMD to PSP Go game transfer

PSP News | Gamers could be able to swap their UMDs for free digital copies of their games.

According to a Gizmodo report, Sony is at work planning out a system which would allow gamers to swap their UMD-based PSP titles for digital copies of the game - enticing them to make the upgrade to the download-only PSP Go.

Director of Hardware Marketing, John Koller gave little information on how the program would work, or whether a monetary cost would be attached, stating: "We're in the midst of putting together a good will program. A short term good-will program that would continue for years afterward."

Although he revealed very little of what the good will program will entail, Koller likened the program to the Portable Copy system which allows Blu-ray movie owners to download their films onto the PSP - though he has denied that users will be ripping their UMDs for play on the PSP Go.

Koller also suggests that not all UMD-based titles will be part of the program, explaining that Sony is "looking at what kind of games will be offered" under the proposed program.

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12 Comments

He need to cut the ego.

8 months ago

It would be incredibly stupid if they didn't do this.

Island_Wolf

8 months ago

Quote

Koller also suggests that not all UMD-based titles will be part of the program, explaining that Sony is "looking at what kind of games will be offered" under the proposed program.

*Sad face*

seany

8 months ago

that is why i upgraded my 2000 to a 3000 series. There a just to many cheap games on UMD to let the UMD go. Yes I will get a PSP Go but will keep a 3000 series to get all those cheap games. Game have 3 for $50 at the moment and I was in EB and they have heaps of titles for under $25. The current price for download games is to expensive. For example Locoroco is $29 on Playstation Network but you can get it for a little as $19 at EB Games (preowned).

"Koller likened the program to the Portable Copy system which allows Blu-ray movie owners to download their films onto the PSP" (How do you do this?)

game on

Sambo110

8 months ago

seany wrote

"Koller likened the program to the Portable Copy system which allows Blu-ray movie owners to download their films onto the PSP" (How do you do this?)

game on

In America at least (not sure about here), they can download Blu Ray's onto their computer. Not sure if it's on disc or from the internet.

Jaws

8 months ago

It's a good initiative my Sony as opposed to the alternative of leaving UMD owners out in the cold, but I can see this opening up some issues.

What would happen if your PSP wiped out or you needed to send it in for repairs? There's no way to utilise your games on any other machine. Here's hoping Sony would either reimburse you or allow you to redownload your titles for free again..

Better still.. why not host all your games in their digital form on a server somewhere for retrieval to your machine if the worst case scenario occurs? I'd be a fan of that.

How much easier is this for thieves? If your house gets broken into or you lose your machine, there goes your entire gaming 'investment' down the pooper.

No more lending games to your friends or family either..

On the plus side, it does make the device ultra portable. No more lugging around discs with you on long trips.

Call me old fashioned, but I prefer the physical media method..

Dutch Rootsman

8 months ago

While I am grabbing a Go! regardless, this sweetens the deal.

Time to grab the Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops w/ Coded Arms (or Silent Hill) Double Pack.

Mr Waffle

8 months ago

Jaws wrote

How much easier is this for thieves? If your house gets broken into or you lose your machine, there goes your entire gaming 'investment' down the pooper.

I imagine the game would be tied to your PSN account, meaning you could download it at any time after the initial activation...?

My worry is to do with regions. I have numerous American and Japanese PSP games (since my first PSP was a Japanese launch PSP), I hope that won't cause an issue with getting the games onto an Australian PSP Go... I assume you'd log into your relevant PSN account and tie the games to you with that, so I could just log on with my various region accounts and not have a problem. But you know what they say about assuming...

Jaws

8 months ago

I agree with your concerns Mr Waffle. Right now, for things to go smoothly, Sony need to be far more open about factors like this (allowing all regions of titles to be tied to your machine) than ever, or this idea may bomb quicker than you can say "Betamax". I hope that Sony recognises that they need to break a few eggs to harvest the PSP-Go omellette and are willing to give a little more in order to break through to high adoption rates.

Macka

8 months ago

I'm not sure about the PSPGo. On one hand, I really like the look of the system and the concept of having all of my games on me wherever I go, but I'm materialistic. I like having a disc, a case, etc. The only way I'd get the Go is if you don't have to exchange your UMD's to get the digital versions on the system, but that isn't going to happen.

rconnor33

7 months ago

There's another glaring issue here I think needs addressing, and forgive me if there is a response to this I haven't found. I actually love the idea of the PSPGo and having games downloaded direct to the machine - but does this not eliminate the concept of competitive pricing? When i shop for a game i can go into several retailers and online stores to get the best price; surely this 'download-only' idea gives sony the power to control the price of the games. I'm worried this will turn into a Microsoft-type negative lock-in effect.

shinhawk

7 months ago

This sounds like a very convenient idea and I'm sure lots of people will like it. However, I feel safer having a physical copy of the game. In addition, I don't like the idea of having to swap my physical copy for a digital especially when I already have the ability to back up all of my UMDs.

oh i think they like me

4 months ago

ok plz tell me what UDM'S are i don't know what you are all talking about plz help out lol and can you tell me how much it costs to download a game on psp go???

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