SCEE announces its PS3 Slim 250GB bundles and a PSP Go Reward program

[Elios83]

About the 250GB PS3 bundles:

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/35907/250G...dles-confirmed

As has been rumoured, SCE UK has confirmed that a brand new 250GB variant of its Slim PS3 is heading to retail with a number of bundles based on some of the console’s most popular software releases. Arriving on October 1st, the initial offering will include any two of Sony’s Platinum game collection or Naughty Dog’s infamous. This will be joined on October 16th by a bundle including the anticipated Uncharted 2: Amongst Thieves. As previously reported by MCV, a Blu-ray Movie Pack is also on the way that includes copies of X-Men Origins: Wolverine and The Dark Knight, as well as Sony’s Blu-ray remote control. Each pack will retail for £284.99, representing a £5 premium over the cost of the standard PS3 Slim SKU.

European price will be 349€.
About the reward program:

Got PSP™? Thinking of going digital with PSPgo? Get three free games with PSPgo Rewards* LONDON, 24th September, 2009: To celebrate the upcoming launch of the latest model of PSP™(PlayStation®Portable) Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) is pleased to announce a special promotion to help existing PSP owners with UMD®s (Universal Media Discs), to start their digital games collection for PSPgo. If you enjoy your PSP, you’re going to love the all-new PSPgo. Say hello to entertainment in your pocket as the sleek, slimline look of PSPgo comes packed with 16GB of built-in storage space – meaning that you can take all your favourite games, photos and more with you wherever you go. And to help you get your PSPgo collection started, we’re giving away three full games for free.* With PSPgo Rewards you can download three much-loved, or totally new PSP titles for free, and put your new PSPgo to the test. Pick your favourites from a number of popular PSP titles. Get in on the action with Killzone™: Liberation or SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3. Give your reflexes a pounding with WipEout® Pure. Put your skills to the test with Everybody’s Golf™ or echochrome™. Give your brain a workout with Buzz!™: Brain Bender or Master Quiz. Or get quirky, with LocoRoco™ or Patapon™. There are seventeen titles to choose from in all, and the process is simple... 1. Unwrap your shiny new PSPgo and start it up 2. Connect to PlayStation®Network and activate your new or existing PlayStation Network account for PSPgo Rewards 3. Start up your current PSP and connect to PlayStation Network 4. Login using the same PlayStation Network account , and launch PlayStation®Store 5. Pop one of your UMDs into the drive of your current PSP and register on PSPgo Rewards when prompted 6. Download a PSPgo theme 7. Wait for your email voucher for your three free games 8. Choose, download and enjoy! PSPgo puts you in control, because you can download and store your choice of entertainment. It’s about what you like to play, what you like to look at, what you like to watch and what you like to listen to. And with an ever increasing range of services from Skype® to the soon to launch PlayStation Network Video Store and Digital Comics, plus remote access to your music, photos, videos and more on your PlayStation®3, PSPgo is entertainment without barriers. Be entertained in style - wherever and whenever you are - with PSPgo. Promotion starts on 1 October 2009 and runs until 31 March 2010. Promotion open to owners of a PSP-1000, 2000 or 3000 and at least one UMD, when they purchase a PSPgo. Titles may vary by territory and age restrictions apply.

The idea is really interesting, in this particular case they're giving three games for free but the same method could be used to get the downloadable version of specific titles.

[Bearillusion]

"...or Naughty Dog’s infamous."

What?

[CrushDance]

"...or Naughty Dog’s infamous." What?

[Benjamin1981]

I need to borrow a PSP with a UMD game next week for the PSP Go launch

[Elios83]

"...or Naughty Dog’s infamous." What?

Professional journalism FTW ;) They also state £5 instead of £35 but probably they wrote the article in a hurry.

[hamchan]

That's pretty good.

[Sentry]

"...or Naughty Dog’s infamous." What?

That better not be in the official press release or Sony is on a role. Also nice to hear that U2 is getting a bundle, and a 250GB one at that!

However, what is up with that reward program? You mean I can only get 3 "free" DD titles even though I have a dozen UMDs? Please tell me i'm mistaken or else that service is pretty useless.

[Raist]

Naughty Dog’s infamous

smh

And wait, that means you can only get 3 games max? Even if you have 15 UMD games?

[snap0212]

Wow, that's a nice move. :)

[Drame]

So, you can only get 3 of your old UMD games to the Go?

[plufim]

And wait, that means you can only get 3 games max? Even if you have 15 UMD games?

Only 3, and only from the list of games provided.

The best option I see is to keep all your UMD games and claim 3 off the list you don't have.

[deepbrown]

SO you get GT PSP AND three other games?

[Elios83]

So, you can only get 3 of your old UMD games to the Go?

At this point they're only talking about three free games but the same method could allow for individual and specific download althought they're not committing to that at the moment.

SO you get GT PSP AND three other games?

GT PSP and three other games if you already own a working PSP.

[toasty_T]

However, what is up with that reward program? You mean I can only get 3 "free" DD titles even though I have a dozen UMDs? Please tell me i'm mistaken or else that service is pretty useless.

If you only had one UMD it would be a pretty good deal. You shouldn't have bought so many games.

[Cat in the Hat]

Sony is trippin

[hamchan]

That better not be in the official press release or Sony is on a role. Also nice to hear that U2 is getting a bundle, and a 250GB one at that! However, what is up with that reward program? You mean I can only get 3 "free" DD titles even though I have a dozen UMDs? Please tell me i'm mistaken or else that service is pretty useless.

They haven't announced the UMD trade in program yet. I suspect this is simply 3 free games for existing PSP users to entice them to buy a GO! Not useless at all since it's tempting me.

[criesofthepast]

I knew they weren't going to offer 1 for 1 swap of umd for digital download. I'm not buying the PSPgo anyways as I am happy with my 2000 but if I had a large umd collection I wouldn't consider buying the PSPgo. I guess 3 games is better than nothing. What's stopping people from borrowing or renting a umd to get the free games, though?

[thuway]

Thats not such a bad deal. Capcom I'm sure wants my money again for Street Fighter Alpha 3, and Monster Hunter Portable. Oh well.


PEACE WALKER AND DISSIDIA HERE I COME .

[rainking187]

Wow, that sucks. I wasn't considering a Go anyways, but I figured they could do better than that. Not having to give up your UMDs is great, but none of the games listed are ones I'd consider important to have on the Go. I can't wait to see what kind of shitty alternative we get in the US. Mail in your entire collection and get one free game not of your choice?

[mrklaw]

Can I borrow my friends PSP and a game from him, log into my UK PSN account and then get the email? That means four free Sony games for my go which isn't bad.

Still can't play my UMDs but then I can just sell/give them away

[gofreak]

350 is a pretty extraordinary price given what you're getting over the regular slim. Can't see how anyone wouldn't buy one of these bundles vs the 120GB if both are available.

[plufim]

They haven't announced the UMD trade in program yet. I suspect this is simply 3 free games for existing PSP users to entice them to buy a GO! Not useless at all since it's tempting me.

Dude, this IS the program. They never said there'd be a 1:1 trade program, just that they'd "look into" an incentive to trade up to a go.

[HunkyDory]

However, what is up with that reward program? You mean I can only get 3 "free" DD titles even though I have a dozen UMDs? Please tell me i'm mistaken or else that service is pretty useless.

Can you think of an alternative method that couldn't be easily abused?

[thuway]

I knew they weren't going to offer 1 for 1 swap of umd for digital download. I'm not buying the PSPgo anyways as I am happy with my 2000 but if I had a large umd collection I wouldn't consider buying the PSPgo. I guess 3 games is better than nothing. What's stopping people from borrowing or renting a umd to get the free games, though?

Ehhh, the Go is the only option for me. I can only carry around so many games with me. The only thing I'll bitch about is no 3G in the Go, but thats nitpicking. My real reason for support is I'm praying for a realized version of PSN on the mobile platform.

[Jonnyram]

If you only had one UMD it would be a pretty good deal. You shouldn't have bought so many games.

[thuway]

The movie bundle is some hot fiya right there. Hopefully they come in equally fancy boxes . Are these for the US or Europe / Japan only?

[seb]

To all the idiots that are so proud to borrow their friends UMD to get games for free:

That's piracy and you are the reason why there is a 3 games limit on the system. Thank you.

[Sentry]

They haven't announced the UMD trade in program yet. I suspect this is simply 3 free games for existing PSP users to entice them to buy a GO! Not useless at all since it's tempting me.

Hopefully this isn't the trade program, because I have a ton of UMDs and I am not going to trash them all and settle for just three to keep on my go.

Sorry, but fuck that! Definitely a deal breaker for existing PSP owners with a UMD collection.

If you only had one UMD it would be a pretty good deal. You shouldn't have bought so many games.

What did you just say?

[Zen]

If this promotion is worldwide (it isn't I guess) then it could put me back on buying a Go for sure.

[Castor Krieg]

Surprise, surprise, all those titles are Best of or already selling for way less than $20. Sony fails again.

[Raist]

Also, is that 2 plat. games OR inFamous OR U2?

or

2 plat. OR 1 plat + infamous/U2?


My first guess would be #1 but hey, you never know.

[DMeisterJ]

Very nice bundle prices. 2 platinums and 130 gigs for 50 euros/35 pounds? Wow. Sony is pricing smart as of late.

[Raist]

Surprise, surprise, all those titles are Best of or already selling for way less than $20. Sony fails again.

Yep, saw U2 for 20€ brand new at my local VG store yesterday.

[Kurosaki Ichigo]

Am I looking at a different PR?

Its 3 games out of 17 available, its a one-time-offer and you just need to have 1 UMD.

You get to choose 3 out of 17, not just 3 you want or even the UMD you used.

[Jonnyram]

Can you think of an alternative method that couldn't be easily abused?

Sure.
Send your UMDs to a freepost address, Sony sends you them back, along with download codes for the PSPgo versions, and slaps a tag on the disc that can only be seen in UV light. HOW COULD THEY FUCK THIS UP!

[thuway]

Very nice bundle prices. 2 platinums and 130 gigs for 50 euros/35 pounds? Wow. Sony is pricing smart as of late.

If I were them, I would have added one more controller and upped it to a slightly larger figure. Called it a PS Exclusive pack or something. Whatever, its fucking smart and its hot.

[Raist]

Sure. Send your UMDs to a freepost address, Sony sends you them back, along with download codes for the PSPgo versions, and slaps a tag on the disc that can only be seen in UV light. HOW COULD THEY FUCK THIS UP!

So basically one could send his UMD, get it back with a vousher that he could give to a buddy who bought a PSPgo?
Wtf man.

If they keep the UMD, it would make sense, but if they send it back it will be abused left and right.

[Sentry]

To all the idiots that are so proud to borrow their friends UMD to get games for free: That's piracy and you are the reason why there is a 3 games limit on the system. Thank you.

How am I the reason if I am the effect and not the cause? If I bought a bunch of UMDs is it fair for me to upgrade to a new PSP and only be able to transfer three of them?

How about they just give me ONE "free" game, the game of the UMD I entered into the system. That is fair enough, no? 1 UMD = 1 DD title, instead of 1 UMD = 3 free DD titles.

Hell for all I care I will give you all my UMDs (in the mail), I just want a fair transfer of my titles. Not my fault the go doesn't have a UMD drive, I shouldn't exactly suffer for it...

[DMeisterJ]

Surprise, surprise, all those titles are Best of or already selling for way less than $20. Sony fails again.

Are you talkin about the PSP? If so, you're dumb because Fireteam Bravo 3 isn't even out yet, so how could it be selling for less than 20 bucks you dolt?

[Jonnyram]

So basically one could send his UMD, get it back with a vousher that he could give to a buddy who bought a PSPgo? Wtf man. If they keep the UMD, it would make sense, but if they send it back it will be abused left and right.

Well that's cool and all but it prevents you from getting the game for free for your own PSPgo in the future, or whatever other digital plan Sony may roll out. Who in their right mind would do that? And why should they get to keep a UMD that you bought? *sigh*

[HunkyDory]

Sure. Send your UMDs to a freepost address, Sony sends you them back, along with download codes for the PSPgo versions, and slaps a tag on the disc that can only be seen in UV light. HOW COULD THEY FUCK THIS UP!

That sounds like a nightmare to coordinate - and what would stop people stocking up on dirt cheap UMDs from e-bay to trade for digital copies?

[thuway]

Surprise, surprise, all those titles are Best of or already selling for way less than $20. Sony fails again.

[mrklaw]

Sure. Send your UMDs to a freepost address, Sony sends you them back, along with download codes for the PSPgo versions, and slaps a tag on the disc that can only be seen in UV light. HOW COULD THEY FUCK THIS UP!

the simple fact that the only free games are Sony ones should highlight the likely issue - other publishers probably said 'fuck off' to Sony's suggestions of making this broader.

I personally think its a reasonable offer, it lets you keep and resell your games, I'm assuming the download codes will still work across 5 PSPs so it'll cover the original one you have?



At this stage I'm sure some people are railing on it for the sake of it. If you have that big of a UMD collection, why would you even be considering the go? there is presumably a largish bunch of people that have a few games and might like to switch, and this provides an incentive

[Jonnyram]

That sounds like a nightmare to coordinate - and what would stop people stocking up on dirt cheap UMDs from e-bay to trade for digital copies?

You still bought the game. Why should you not get a download version?
Anyhow, it sure beats the shit out of owning 20 games and only being able to get THREE OUT OF A GREAT SELECTION OF SEVENTEEN!

[thuway]

That sounds like a nightmare to coordinate - and what would stop people stocking up on dirt cheap UMDs from e-bay to trade for digital copies?

This is why its limited to those seventeen titles. Most of which are first party. Its a good-will program. I'm sure Sony is aware of the insane amount of abuse thats coming their way. And thats fine, the more PSP gos they sell, the better.


They should have just "given" these games away, but hey, you know what, no one is complaining - oh wai...

[chicken_ramen]

Sure. Send your UMDs to a freepost address, Sony sends you them back, along with download codes for the PSPgo versions, and slaps a tag on the disc that can only be seen in UV light. HOW COULD THEY FUCK THIS UP!

Freepost addresses and offices that manually marks UMDs? Really? It's a less abusable system but a significantly more expensive one.

To be honest I'm surprised they're doing this much. If you own UMDs you own a PSP to play them on. That PSP will be able to access everything the PSPGo can. Any sort of large scale UMD buyback/trade system will more cost than it could possibly be worth to Sony.

[Elios83]

Also, is that 2 plat. games OR inFamous OR U2? or 2 plat. OR 1 plat + infamous/U2? My first guess would be #1 but hey, you never know.

It's 2 platinum OR 1 new game OR two BR movies+remote
Those are the basic configurations.

[plufim]

Sure. Send your UMDs to a freepost address, Sony sends you them back, along with download codes for the PSPgo versions, and slaps a tag on the disc that can only be seen in UV light. HOW COULD THEY FUCK THIS UP!

...aaand then you sell the game to a friend, or someone on the internet, who don't know or care about the tag.

A thing occured to me - this system only works if you aren't going to trade your PSP towards the PSP Go. If you do, then you won't have your original PSP around to connect at the same time as your Go. Yay, a system for people with 2 PSPs!

[Sentry]

At this stage I'm sure some people are railing on it for the sake of it. If you have that big of a UMD collection, why would you even be considering the go? there is presumably a largish bunch of people that have a few games and might like to switch, and this provides an incentive

Because before I did not have the option to play games without a UMD, did I? I HAD to get UMD's in order to play games, which is the point of purchasing my PSP.

Now that I DO have the option to go all digital, I want to use that. What shall I do with my dozen or so UMD's I had to buy? Throw them away for 3 digital titles? No thanks.

...aaand then you sell the game to a friend, or someone on the internet, who don't know or care about the tag. A thing occured to me - this system only works if you aren't going to trade your PSP towards the PSP Go. If you do, then you won't have your original PSP around to connect at the same time as your Go. Yay, a system for people with 2 PSPs!

OK than have Sony keep them for all I fuckin' care.

[hamchan]

Dude, this IS the program. They never said there'd be a 1:1 trade program, just that they'd "look into" an incentive to trade up to a go.

Yeah I'm trying to remain optimistic. I'm hoping Sony has enough sense to not drive their new system into the ground even though they're not doing a very good job so far.