Sony Connect To Hook Up With PlayStation Portable? 99
An anonymous reader writes "UK video game site C&VG has posted a story rumoring Sony's PlayStation Portable handheld game console will allow both music and games to be downloaded via the newly announced Sony Connect online download store. An industry source quoted in the article says: 'PSP is intended to be able to link up with Sony Connect to offer digital music for download, but the bigger deal is the plan to put PSP games up there for download eventually, too.' C&VG says this rumor, if true, shows 'Sony's alleged drive to ultimately cut-out retail and handle distribution of software itself' - we'll find out for sure next week at E3." Elsewhere, GamePro/Famitsu interviews leading Japanese PSP developers, with Atlus producer Hideyuki Yokoyama saying: "I expect downloads and fees to be the primary business model."
Interesting move (Score:5, Insightful)
So to combat that, they've created "value added" features, such as their Connectivity system: if you want to get the Tingle Tuner for the Gamecube, you need a GBA + Gamecube + an actual copy of the game. In some cases, it's worked (see "Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles" and others), so that's Nintendo's move.
Sony seems to have a different idea: use the Internet. Assuming that you'll be able to use Sony Memory Sticks with your PSP, then you can just download games off the 'Net and play them. Granted, these games won't be the 1.8 GB that their PSP disks can hold, so it will be the difference between playing, say, "Final Fantasy VII" on your PSP and playing "Chrono Trigger".
Still, it's an interesting move: Sony's betting that there won't be a PSP emulator for long enough to squeeze profits out of this. And if they allow people to create their own "burned" PSP disks from downloads (sure, 1.8 GB takes awhile, but you never know), then they just have to make their system difficult to mod for "pirated" games.
I'm still in a "wait and see" for both the DS and the PSP, but I think both items will have different markets that should prove interesting to a range of gamers.
Only... (Score:3, Insightful)
I'll wait until the PSP itself is cheaper. (Score:5, Insightful)
If Nintendo can beat this price, I don't think Sony has a chance at getting the handheld market. I personally wouldn't want to pay that much for just a handheld.
I hope they consider.. (Score:4, Insightful)
Value add of retail shops? (Score:5, Insightful)
I would think a retail store staffed with knowledgeable, helpful people who know & play the game, and can help with appropriate selections, would have nothing to fear from online distribution.
Of course if someone is just pushing boxes, then they should be afraid...
Re:I'll wait until the PSP itself is cheaper. (Score:3, Insightful)
Besides, I have my iPod for music.
Re:Value add of retail shops? (Score:1, Insightful)
But if Sony has a "try before you buy", then these types of shops are in big trouble. After all, usually knowledgeable means they know something about the games to help you select. Well, if you have a large body of people evaluating games (i.e. the internet) and the ability to then try this narrowed list of games down before you spring for them, then exactly what becomes the value proposition for that shop. They're left with selling to parents and grand parents who know nothing about the games and just want to ask somebody "what's the best baseball game" during xmas and as gifts.
Vapour (ohhhh! UK spelling!) (Score:3, Insightful)
Show me the money. Err, downloads.
You can talk all you want, and thats great. But I don't believe Sony until its in my hands. Sure, I love it once I can buy it, but promises from never-never land mean nothing.
Re:Thoughts (Score:2, Insightful)
I have a phone that I use as... a phone. Sure, it can do calendar, contacts, all kinds of organizer functions, but I use it as a phone. I have an iPod that I use to *gasp* play music. I have a PDA that I use as an organizer. I have a watch that I use to tell time. I have a GBA that I use to play games. I have all these neat little toys, and I LIKE it that way.
I don't want one device that does it all. Not because it's not good... I'm sure the NGAGE^H^H^H^H^H PSP is good at what it does, but I want multiple devices because he who dies with the most toys wins... at least that's how it works for geeks.
Convenience (Score:5, Insightful)
Sure, I could go buy a DVD player for cheap, but really the PS2 does the job, and nowadays I use it more for video than games.
Remember, not all of us have an ipod. If Sony adds said functionality for cheap and it works half-decently, it'll probably be useful.
What about piracy? (Score:3, Insightful)
Over Hyped (Score:1, Insightful)
Just like Sony claimed the playstation 2 would be able to render toy story in real time, the psp wont provide revolutionary handheld graphics without an absymal battery time.
However I hope that they can at least provide competition for nintendo to help lower prices in the handheld console area.
PSP Pipe Dreams (Score:2, Insightful)
Then again, judging by the damp squib that was the PS2 launch lineup I'm not surprised.
Re:I hope they consider.. (Score:1, Insightful)
This was insightful like 3 years ago. Today it's like complaining that Microsoft isn't supporting Windows 95 users.
Re:Downloadable games (Score:3, Insightful)
How are you going to burn those little discs?
Which brings up a good point... (Score:3, Insightful)
It seems that only the shit titles see a price cut to attract otherwise uninterested customers.
Either the game companies are greedy or piracy has relatively little affect on console game prices.
... wtf? (Score:3, Insightful)
Yet, when Nintendo announced, and implemented, this feature into the iQue, I heard nothing but bashing from the internet community. Why the hell is it that everything nintendo does is a stupid move, but when done by Sony, it's the best business strategy ever? Not to mention the fact that they're touting PSP/PS3 connectivity, a la GC/GBA. -_-
Re:I hope they consider.. (Score:2, Insightful)
Too expensive to move just for broadband (Score:3, Insightful)
For people in many geographical areas, the choice is still either dial-up, ISDN, or a $$$/mo T1 line, without any offer between ISDN and T1. What suggestion do you have for them?